4 x 10/100Base-TX LAN, 1 x 10/100Base-TX WAN - IEEE 802.11b/g - 108Mbps - MPN: WPN824
Strengths: Great range, great speed, great price, clean design, LED switch allows blue lights to be ON or OFF based on personal preference, no problems with using in line with Vonage's Motorola VT2442.
Weakness: Marginally helpful setup disc, inexperienced people may have difficulty/ require support.
I am using this router to create a secure wireless connection for my Wii and for a notebook I plan on purchasing soon. I am completely inexperienced in setting up a home network beyond a single PC, and did not have any trouble to speak of.
We have no problem connecting to the Nintendo WFC, and I am pleased with its clean, internal antenna design.
I purchased it for just over $65 new, and am very pleased thus far.
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TopStrengths: Nice streamlined low-profile design. Great connection speed with my WG511T Netgear PC Card. Easy to set up. UI is intuitive.
Weakness: My IBM Thinkpad T41 802.11B internal card does not seem to work with it unless I plug in the WG511T PC card. Auto 108mbps doesn't seem to work well with B networks; must use 108Mbps only setting
Overall, this is a great product and I recommend it. The router design reminds me of an Apple product. It is not an eye sore if you need to have it located in the kitchen. It is white in color and the circle on top is frosted blue with the NETGEAR logo embossed clear. The front status panel is made of clear plastic that looks like glass. The rear has 4 Ethernet ports, power, and an up-link. There also appears to be a tiny hole, maybe for the reset feature.
Now this router is a bit pricey. I got mine for $120 shipped which is a pretty good deal. You can get the older Netgear Super G router for a fraction of this one because of all the current rebates. I could have saved a bundle but I wanted something new with better range coverage so I ended up having to pay for it. Aside from that, this thing is blazing fast.
The range testing I have done is limited. As for the actual home coverage, I have no dead spots. I am able able to get great connections all over my one-story home from 72Mbps-108Mbps. The kitchen is central and that is where the device is located. I am able to go to the end of the backyard fence about 50ft and get a good 108Mbps speed. That should be expected because there are no walls obstructing the two devices. Out in the front of the garage is a little different. I still get a signal but since it has to go through two walls from kitchen to the end of the garage, the signal drops to 72Kbps at about 50 feet. As I walk across the street to about 125 feet (actually used tape measure) , I still get a signal at 36Kbps and this is with the two walls, garage door and other obstructions. I have not owned another Wireless G router so I cannot do a comparison. I do not know if my results are good or bad but I have no complaints. The community pool is about 200 feet away. I may need to relocate the router near the garage to get an improved signal so I can work from home this summer and watch my kid learn to swim; priceless!
For novice users, the setup wizard is easy to follow, the only setback may be understanding network terminology (but that's what Google and tech savvy friends are for!). The main drawback is you may need to upgrade to 802.11G-only devices.
Wireless Super-G is even better so you can take advantage of the 108Mbps speeds this router offers. If you have only Wireless G this router still works great at 54Mbps. If you have both Wirelesss G and Super G, you will need to set the router to the "G Only" setting" If you have 802.11B, you may encounter some problems but that is from my own personal experience with my IBM Thinkpad T41's internal antenna. I do recommend upgrading to at least Wireless G. The upgrade won't be painful because there are so many major rebates out there for Netgear and other brands; you can upgrade for about $20-$30 for a PC Card or USB adapter.
The web browser user interface is easy to use, you can change Wireless settings anytime. For example, if you are running 108Mbps only and you have friends over that want to borrow your wireless network but they are using Wireless G 54Mbps cards, you can change your router's settings right away to the "G Only" setting to accommodate them (You will won't be able to use your 108Mbps speed for awhile since it will use the 54Mbps speed instead but you will maintain lasting friendships).
Now, the big circle on the top of the device displays 7 blue LEDS representing the 7 antennas. I don't know whether the lights are actually functional or just dazzling light show effects. If you are sensitive to lights or night club dancing lights you may need to flip the router around. I don't know if covering it with something is a good idea because it may reduce your range. Personally, the lights do not annoy me. However, the lights, being on, do tell you that your Wireless Router is active. Unfortunately, I have not been to turn off the LEDs for those that truly find it annoying.
I like the fact that there is plenty of security for this router. This wireless router has many features that other wireless router brands have. You can set up the WEP encryption 64 or 128-bit. There is WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key), You can setup Access Lists so that you can specify what MAC address can use your network, you can disable SSID broadcast so no one will see your network, you can view Attached Devices to see who is connected to your network, it has logging so you can save and review your logs to view visited web sites and from what IP address accessed the site. It has many more advanced features that you will just have to read about but those are the ones that I use most often.
Other tid bids of info; the Wireless Router comes with a matching stand so you can stand your router up vertically. The quick setup guide makes installation easy. Just my two cents.
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TopMy T41p internal card works flawlessly with this; however, you might need to apply the latest firmware and make sure you have the latest drivers for the IBM (mini-pci) wireless card. FWIW, I'm using WPA-PSK/TKIP security.
This is not a router. The reviewers use of this is incorrect. This is however an access point, and wireless extender/bridge if used as such.
oops... the wpn824 IS the router... price grabber put the review for the wpn824 with the wpn802 which is the accesspoint... my mistake
Strengths: * strong range * looks cool * easy config & install
Weakness: * more expensive than 802.11g
I bought this NETGEAR RangeMax router after using Belkin's Pre-N for the past 6 months. The problem with my Belkin is that it didn't help me when I used my internal g wireless on my laptop. This new NETGEAR RangeMax router helped me a lot - I can now connect everywhere in my house. The product doesn't have these crazy antennas hanging out, they are all internal, so it looks much cleaner than my old stuff. Also, pretty simple to install - just plug in the CD and follow instructions. The cost is high (I got it for $129) compared to the 802.11g you see on sale every week, but if you have range problems, deadspots, its cheaper than buying a bunch of range extenders, external antennas, etc. Highly recommend this one.
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TopI would be extremely weary of buying this product. I bought this router and it alone it has great range it is plagued with a bunch of issues that cause the router to freeze, requiring a power cycling of the router. Netgear recently released a firmware that was supposedly addressed an issue that was causing the freeze. These disconnections can happen as often as every 5 minutes. Just puruse over to the Netgear Support forums and search for WPN824 to see all the problems people are having.
Probably the worst router I have ever owned, it does indeed drop signal every 5 minutes, requiring you to power cycle it. Obviously this is very inconvenient to the average browser, so i would agree with jesster 100% on this one. As for the firmware, no it does not fix the problem as of August 2006.
I have used this router without one single problem for quite some time. I own 2. One is used in my home and the other is used in my coffee shop. it's flawless, the range is unbelieveable (4,000 sq. ft. home, solid break) and no interference from other telephones, microwaves, etc.
At the coffee shop, the range is so strong that I had businesses across the street able to pick up an "excellent" signal. All signals held for hours upon end. I had one dropped connection but that was my own fault.
Highly recommend this "spider type" of router.
Strengths: Incredibly fast- great range- easy setup- dynamic dns support- VPN passthrough is NOT good
Weakness: Blue flashing lights can be annoying.
As noted in other reviews, easy setup, fine throughput. The port-forwarding in Firmware V1.x is annoying in that you can add any number of forwards you want, but can only edit the first 10. The only way to get rid of Forward #11 is to revert to factory settings. Firmware 2.x fixes that.
Now for the VPN issue. In Firmware 1.x, it worked flawlessly. I VPN from both Linux using pptpconfig, and from windows using the default VPN. When I upgraded to FW 2.x, I fixed the above mentioned forwarding issue, but almost killed my VPN on the Linux box. The PC VPN still works fine, but the pptpconfig will transfer about 5kB per session and then stops! If I logon a second time, I get another 5kB, and then it freezes.
Example:
ssh …..
ls;ls;ls;ls;ls;ls
Works fine,
But do it a second time and the session freezes.
Very strange. I filed a trouble ticket with Netgear, and have had it open for about 3 weeks so far. I want to regress to FW 1.x, but for that I need my lost install CD. You cannot regress using the on-line interface. Arghhh!
Does anyone have an install CD they can lend me? Thanks
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TopRouter cannot handle large volumes of terminal data - for example
ssh ....
cat /etc/passwd
(router will crash and will need a reboot, consistently)
Strengths: - Incredibly fast - great range - easy setup - dynamic dns support - VPN passthrough is good
Weakness: - annoying blue lights that are continually flashing. Makes your room look like a bad SF movie or worse. You can't disable them! I'll tape cardboard over them. - limited firewall configuration
I replaced my Linksys WRT54gs with this. It works incredibly well. I get about 250% faster file transfers to my wired boxes, even with a generic 802.11g card. The VPN passthrough works (the dlink MIMO router's didn't). This has got all the features I care about. Some that it doesn't have:
- Support for wireless bridges
- custome firewall rules
- QoS (an important lack if you want to use internet phones, bittorrent, or whatever)
I suspect that you'd be better off feature-wise with a Linksys GX box, but they cost about twice as much.
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TopStrengths: Signal strength, diversity seems to be decent. Admin interface (via web browser) works well. Aesthetically pleasing, no unsightly antennae. Auto-upgrade for firmware is nice feature.
Weakness: Converts SSID to ALL CAPS w/o warning. Limited t-shoot support. "Auto 108" didn't support older G card, requiring me to set it to "g-only." Internet access didn't work right away.
Firewall is very basic. Supports port forwarding and port "triggering" (dynamic port allocation, such as for gaming). Can block sites (by URL/domain, presumably) or ports (TCP/UDP). Logs all connection attempts, even when content filtering is disabled. No apparent way to disable logging.
My biggest complaint with this device is that it took an hour of digging through knowledgebase articles to discover that the SSID was case-sensitive and that, despite entering it in all lowercase letters, it had been converted to all uppercase. My second biggest complaint is that the "Auto 108" didn't seem to truly support my somewhat aged Linksys Wireless-G card.
Once operational, however, this unit has performed well, replacing previous Internet router and allowing me to consolidate equipment.
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TopLooks like the above comments are all addressed in the current firwmare (1.10), since my box does not convert SSID to all caps and it works just fine with a generic 802.11g mini-pci card, even set to auto-108. I agree that the logging really stinks -- I have no filter rules set, so everything gets logged as allow. duh. I'd be much more interested in incoming logs.
Strengths: Very good range. Signal strength excellent in all areas of my home.
Weakness: Price may be a little high. Blue flashing lights can be annoying.
This router was very easy to setup and get working. I did not use the wizard but went right to the configuration page since i have been using a router for some 5 years now. The only problem I had was forgetting to release my ip from the old router. Once I did that everything worked almost immediately. The range is excellent and I have been able to get a very strong signal in rooms I could never reach before. Also in the backyard the signal strength is excellent.
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TopStrengths: The range is awesome! The LED's are cool. The antenna's are internal.
Weakness: None.
This replaced my Netgear WGT624 router. This router has much better range. I have yet to have any problems with it. I am still using the WG311T for my workstations. I have tried it all over the house and outside. I don't have any dead spots.
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TopStrengths: Range is amazing. I've been able to walk all over the house and get a very strong signal.
Weakness: The wizard was somewhat difficult to use and found it easier to just configure using the webpage. Would like more clarification on PSK security.
This router was fairly easy to install. I wish netgear would focus more on clarifying the web page install method. I think its as easy if not easier to configure the router that way. Would like to see more status on what the antennas are doing.
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TopStrengths: Expanded range over other routers, more security features, upgrade rebate offer, price compared to other products.
Weakness: bothersome blinking blue lights on top of the unit, required more setup time than previous 54mbps netgear router, no print server or usb hard drive ports.
Bought this unit to replace a netgear 54mbps router. The room the that the router is placed in is an extension of the house. It is surrounded by brick. I bought the router because we are remodeling our basement and moving one of the computers downstairs. I also have an mp101 on the second floor at the other end of the house. I also wanted the capabilities to work out on our deck, also on the other end of the house. The WPN824 does the trick. I get signal on the deck while going through a thick brick wall and 100 feet. I also get signal in the basement while going through the brick and two freezers. The only problem is with the media player. I'm just not getting the strength. It might be the media player though.
All in all, it was worth the $100 and free Rangemax adapter.
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TopStrengths: Signal strength, speed and price.
Weakness: Blue lights may bother some.
I couldn't wait for 80211.n since I just moved my family in to a large house that wan't wired for internet. Decided to go wireless after a bad experience with a Linksys 80211.b router (came in handy as a trade-in for a free Netgear RangeMax wireless card) a couple of years ago. I was leaning towards the pre-n routers when an IT friend of mine recommended this router. The professional reviews were'nt great, but based on user reviews and my friend, I decided to try it. I found a great deal through Buy.com after signing up for their Visa which reduced the price by $30.
Having three teenagers living at home, everyone was looking to me to establish a quick and consistent internet connection. The setup was relatively easy and I am absolutely amazed at the signal strength throughout two stories, basement, decks and even in the yard. I was sure the brick exterior would block the signal.
I stuck with Netgear Rangemax PCI cards (adjusted direction to get the strongest signal) to ensure compatibility, though our integrated laptop wireless cards worked just as well with no dead spots. Firewall protection is great as evidenced by the test I ran at www.dslreports.com.
Highly recommended for those that can't wait for 80211.n.
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TopStrengths: great range + speed
Weakness: bright light in a dark room
the dome houses status lights which are very bright; wouldn't want to keep this in your bedroom. but it works great. I especially like the web-based configurator, very clean and smooth design, straightforward. easier to configure than Linksys; better range + performance than Linksys. also like the streamlined case. this product was referred to in a recent Macworld article as a "pre-'n' device" (referring to the future 802.11n standard)
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TopStrengths: Range
Weakness: Compatabilty, connection, networking
I have this Netgear for 5-6 months. I have HP desktop PC, Compaq Notebook, and Sony Notebook in my home. I wanted to hook them up as wired and wireless network. But the Netgear router cannot see Sony Notebook in the Network. I tried to solve it many ways. It didn't work. So, we hang on with 2 computers. We also lost the connection pretty often and have to unplug and replug the whole cycle. One day, the COmpaq cannot get wireless. So my friend told me to try changing the router. I got Linksys, the one with Speedbooster, we set it up and it's a breeze. All computers see each other rightaway and the range is about the same as Neatgear if not better. If you have many computers or devices and looking for a router, I recommend Linksys. Do not buy this Netgear. It's a headache. Trust me.
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TopPerhaps you should seek to gain a mastery of the English language before you criticize this product. Judging by your writing skills, it is likely that some of your difficulties are a result of your limited capacity to read and understand the instructions.
Strengths: none
Weakness: Slow to update any kind of settings. Hard Reset->Smart Wizard->Painful process. Might die on you and you'll need a replacement from Netgear.
I was messing with the configuration saving settings did a few things and then it died on me... all lights went solid green and the hard reset doesn't work anymore... I'm currently contacting Netgear technical support, been in the queue for 10 mins...
My ugly cheap 30$ D-Link router is 10x faster and better config are obvious to input in... pos in my opinion.
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TopStrengths: Range, Security, Great Tech Support Service,
Weakness: It is not a server & router - set-up requires more than just our run of the mill basic know-how
This is my first router, recommended by one of the GEEKSQUADS! I did not need a server; I was going to buy the cheaper Maxtor, that had the server built-in, but he said this had better range. I live in a tri-level house 2000+ square, & I love to do my work in the back yard as well - this has awesome range everywhere. I did have problems with set-up, but the free tech support was awesome, they were very helpful.
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TopStrengths: good signal if work. Easy setup.
Weakness: Firewall isn't that great. Flashing lights are annoying. Reset button = New Router
I gotta say NETGEAR WPN824 RangeMax Wireless Router is a piece of junk. I recently moved and change my ISP and this is when I see the real problem. First of all, this router reset key is a "self-destruct" button. The router gone mad after you do a hard reset. Netgear support online is not helpful. The router is not cooperate with the new ISP b/c it still with the old ISP. The only way I can adjust it is hitting the reset button but when I hit the reset button, all hell break loose. The light flashing like crazy the signal on and off (not a stable signal strength) and sometimes it doesn't even exist in my radar mode. Don't waste your money buying this stupid router. If you buy it then don't move or don't change the ISP and never try to reset the router. I'm trying to get NETGEAR replace this router (after contacted them and tried reset the router 10 more times under their supervision). I reallyd don't know when they'll send me a form to fill out for a new router. Once I get the new router, I'll ebay the new router and use the money for the D-Link DI-634M MIMO 2XR Router. It's a better choice according to most reviews. If you have time to go over all the reviews online, you'll find most of the people owning Netgear RangeMax have the same problem. Don't Risk it.
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TopStrengths: easy to setup
Weakness: Read below !!!
Port triggering does not work properly. Once setup to allow ports for torrents or emule. All other normal web surfing connectiosn grind to a halt. It does not seem to balance them properly. Port forwarding is also useless because it only allows one port to be mapped to one static ip address. The problme being that you cant use wildcards.
Truly useless for any seriosu internet surfing and downloading. I WISH I NEVER BROUGHT THIS, and will be buying a sperate router and wireless access point next time.
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TopStrengths: excellent design, no antenas naging out and like all those other people before me said there is a blue LED that bothers them, well if you got it retail you should of received a cover for that light!!!
Weakness: when there are too many tcp connections to the router it locks up and needs restarting. A firmwire should fix this with no problem.
I love the design and the router features, the software/firmware has room for improvement. So far I had very few problems with this particular router. I recommend it!
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TopStrengths: Easy setup and unbelievable range. I have a large home and don't experience any dead spots or drop off of signal strength.
Weakness: I don't care for the appearence:(Size & color). I can also do without the flashing blue lights. Thank goodness I can hide it in my network closet.
Overall this is an awesome improvement over my linksys-g device which only covered about a third of my 4000 sq/ft home. My old linksys device also had significant drop off of signal despite the placement location in my home. I picked this device over the Linksys SRX and Belkin Pre-N primarily due to other multiple reviews I have read. Unlike some of the other reviews ... I really don't care if my signal mantains it's strength 200 feet from my router, I do my work in my home and not @ the end of my driveway.
I'm very performance happy!
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TopStrengths: Don't use, for a customer.
Weakness: Range in customers house could have been longer.
This product took over 2 weeks to get here. I almost lost the account. They responded to my questions promptly. Still took longer than expected.
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TopStrengths: Signal strength, Range, Cool Design
Weakness: none
seems to have less of a range when standing up Vs sitting with untenas top part up.
Otherwise is great router, very nice IPOD like design, with cool blue antena lights.
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TopStrengths: It was so easy to set up, my mom was able to do it on her own. She (honestly) freaks out about plugging in a keyboard and mouse. It works with Crapintoshes. Seriously, it does.
Weakness: Looks like a piece of Macintrash equipment. Though that may not be a weakness from most buyers perspectives.
I returned a Linksys wireless router because it was too complex for my girlfriend's family to install, configure, and maintain. We installed it 7 times trying to get it to work with all 4 computers in the house, and had a different installation experience each time. (It never worked for all 4.)
I remembered my moms got this when they got cable internet, and I know one of my moms uses an iMac, and my other mom uses a PC laptop, and this router worked fine for them.
We (my girlfriend, her brother, and I) returned the Linksys and picked this foppish, white, blinky thing up at Circuit City for $139.00.
Saying installation was a breeze would be an understatement; it does NOT require someone who knows what they're doing. It worked right off the bat with all of the computers in their house, Macs and PCs (which the Linksys didnt, though I do not blame Linksys for this; it was just the Macs poor conformation to standards, an issue of which this Netgear seems to resolve on its own.)
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Performance is Below Average according to 13 Wireless Router experts. -- "long range"-review.zdnet.com -- "trendy design and multimedia-friendly performance"-laptopmag.com -- "Excellent range."-reviews.digitaltrends.com Read more to find expert opinions on more features like Security, Support, Setup, Connectivity, etc.
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Testseek.com has collected 11 expert reviews for Netgear WPN824 RangeMax Wireless Router and the average expert rating is 76 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.
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Who says a router must be dull and practical? The Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router (WPN824) defies the odds. With cool blue LED's that light up the case, super-fast video streaming transmitted by seven internal antennas, and superior throughput for multimedia applications, the RangeMax is remarkable. Too bad the router's range was more inconsistent than the competing gear from Belkin and Linksys....
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Early "MIMO" wireless 802.11b/g router combining a Atheros Super-G radio with Video54 MIMO antenna technology. Not a draft 802.11n product.
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Simply Awesome
Strengths: Performance and throughput
Weakness: Lights
I bought this router in Jan 2007 and simply haven't faced any issues so far.
The piece of hardware simply works!!
I waited for 6 months to be able to rate the product after having used it for a while. Here are my thoughts:
1. Installation: Very user friendly. But may be I am myself a techie, so am not sure if it would be same experience for a novice non-geek user.
2. Performance: Awesome. I get very good throughput. Have used in all the rooms in my house and even outside at some distance. Me and my wife simply loved this router for its performance. We keep wondering how we lived without it before.
Overall, I would highly recommend this router to everybody looking for a decent home networking solution.
Cons:
1. Had to stop the big blue light that keeps on glowing after a while, as it was simply distracting at night.
2. The light for connectivity keeps on flickering which is again sometimes may be annoying.
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