Still holding on to that 802.11g router? It’s time to step up to a network that delivers the performance a modern household or home business needs for rapid backups, high-definition movie streaming, and stutter-free online multiplayer gaming. What you need is a dual brand router, one that can transmit simultaneously on both the 2.4-GHz frequency, which has better range but lower throughput and on the 5.0-GHz frequency, which offer higher throughput, but shorter range. We took three models for a spin that promise to let you live in the wireless fast lane.
D-Link DIR-855 Xtreme N Duo Media Router
Cost : $329
Design: Like most D-Link routers, the DIR-855 is clamshell white, but an OLED screen for monitoring connections will catch your eye first. The two buttons on top of the device are not labeled.
Ease of Use: The included setup program was easy to use. The OLED display shows which clients are connected, if the internet is working, and when new firmware patches are available.
Features: The D-Link has a USB 2.0 port for sharing a printer or hard drive across the network. It conserves energy by powering down Ethernet ports automatically when the connected computer is turned off, and goes into standby mode when the router is not in use. D-Link claims these features result in an 80 percent reduction in power use.
Performance: The DIR-855 ran at 86 Mbps at 5 feet from our access point in mixed 802.11g/n mode (2.4 GHz) using the D-Link DWA-160 X-treme N Dual Band USB Adapter, slower than most dual-band routers. Over the A-only 5-GHz band, the connection was much faster, about 105 Mbps yet still below the 802.11n router average of 111 Mbps.
Still, the slower-than-expected speeds had little bearing on our media-streaming tests. We used a Playstation 3 to The Bourne Ultimatum streamed from an HP EX487 MediaSmart Server over the mixed-band 2.4-GHz g/n signal. At the same time, we connected a Lenovo ThinkPad W700 laptop and used the 5-GHz band for streaming music and slideshows. None of the files ever paused or stuttered, thanks to the DIR-855’s superior Quality of Service features.
Verdict: Sure, the D-LinkDIR-855 has an OLED display, green tech, a USB port, and good performance. But we’re not convinced that all these features are worth twice the price of competing dual-band models.
Linksys WRT610N Ultra RangePlus Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router
Cost : $149
Design: The WRT610N sports a futuristic design you won’t want to hide. Forgoing an LCD display to show network problems and wireless speed, the hand-size WRT610N fits unobtrusively on a bookshelf.
Ease of Use: With help from Network Magic (who provided the underlying code), the setup wizard prompts you with nontechie options, such as replacing an existing router versus adding the WRT610N to a router you already own. When you configure security, you will see unobtrusive warnings that educate rather than scold.
After router setup, you have the option of installing Linksys EasyLink Advisor, which helps you troubleshoot network problems and see a graphical picture of your network. The software nags you with pop-ups any time you attach a new Wi-Fi device or lose your Internet connection.
Features: The WRT610N supports WEP and WPA security, has a USB port for networked storage, runs at Gigabit Ethernet speed on its five wired ports, and supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), a way to add a router in Windows that’s faster and more secure.
Performance: The router performed amazingly well on our lxia Chariot tests, clocking in at 1172 Mbps in the 2.4-GHz band and 120 Mbps in the more media-conscious 5-GHz band, in separate tests from about 5 feet. The WRT610N offered the worst performance from 300 feet in 5-GHz mode but by far the highest data rate from that distance in 2.4-GHz mode.
Since both Wi-Fi bands work concurrently, we connected a Sony VAIO AR790 and Apple MacBook Pro simultaneously; the AR790 ran at 100 Mbps and the MacBook Pro at 60 Mbps, that’s a lot of throughput. We tested a Roku Netflix Player streaming The King of Kong, which played without a pause. Archiving 100GB from the AR790, which included video, music, apps, and system files, to a Windows Home Server over 802.11n using the 5-GHz band took only 4 hours.
Verdict: The Linksys WRT610N Ultra RangePlus Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router broke just about every router-speed record. It’s a sleek stylish, and most important, super-fast Wi-Fi router. And at $149, it’s even cheaper than the last generation Linksys WRT600N.
TrendNet TEW-672GR 300Mbps Dual-Band Wireless N Gigabit Router.
Cost : $99.99
Design: Aesthetics-conscious home-office and small-business users might balk at the dull black TrendNet TEW-672GR. It sports three large antennas but, at 6.4 x 5.9 x 1.0 inches, is relatively compact. To save power, the TEW-672GR has a tiny switch for shutting off the Wi-Fi signal.
Ease of Use: Setting up the router using the bundled CD program was pretty painless, however adjusting settings after the fact was not as intuitive as with the Linksys WRT610N.
Features: The TEW-672GR comes with a range of security features, supports Gigabit Ethernet for fast wired transfer and has a WPS button for configuring the router’s security in Windows. TrendNet uses GreenNet, which draws less power for shorter cables, powers down Ethernet ports automatically, and enters a standby mode when idle. The company claims these features reduce power consumption by 70 percent.
Performance: We used a Logitech Squieezebox Boom to stream music while downloading game demos and performing a 2GB backup to an HP MediaSmart Server, never saw any hiccups. When we streamed the movie Domino to a PlayStation 3 over Wi-Fi while copying files between two laptops, the movie stuttered and paused over the connection. The TEW-672GR’s top connection speed in the 5-GHz band (100 Mbps at 5 feet) is 11 Mbps slower than average.
Verdict: A low-cost, dual-band router, the TrendNet TEW-672GR 300Mbps Dual-Band Wireless N Gigabit Router is a smart buy for those who care more about performance than style. Although it’s not quite as fast as the Linksys WRT610N and doesn’t have as many frills, it costs $50 less.
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