Wireless Routers: The Truth About Superfast Draft-N

New wireless routers promise big speed and coverage improvements. But our lab tests show that the new products have big drawbacks.

Introduction
"Twelve times the speed!" "Four times the range!" "Faster than wired!" Like barkers at a carnival, home-network equipment vendors are touting the revolutionary performance of the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n. And yes, its promise is great: 802.11n networks should enable superior range and data speeds of up to 270 megabits per second (and eventually 600 mbps). Although (as with previous Wi-Fi standards) real-world performance won't be nearly as fast, 802.11n products should deliver more than enough throughput and range to support high-quality video streaming and Voice-over-IP phone service, graphics-intensive online games, and other bandwidth-hogging goodies throughout a typical home. We can hardly wait to buy the gear. Problem is, that's not what the vendors are selling.
Instead of products based on a final standard--which should appear by early 2008 and will be Wi-Fi Alliance-certified for interoperability--what we have now is a flood of "draft" 802.11n products based on a preliminary and incomplete version of the standard. These products might be--but are not guaranteed to be--firmware upgradable to the final spec.


Erratic Performers
We wouldn't complain if the products worked as advertised. But in our tests, four draft-n router and PC Card lines--Belkin's N1, Buffalo's AirStation Nfiniti, Linksys's Wireless-N, and Netgear's RangeMax Next--were generally outperformed by two older product lines (Netgear's RangeMax 240 and Asus's 240 Wireless MIMO) based on nonstandard technology from Airgo Networks.find pcworld.com/53514). -->
We also found that routers based on different draft-n chips (the Belkin uses Atheros chips, while the other three are based on Broadcom chips) do not interoperate at high speed. Buying products from the same vendor doesn't always ensure that all of them will use the same draft-n chips, either: At least one company, Netgear, is selling similarly named routers and PC Cards that are based on different draft-n chips, and you can determine which chip a product uses only by checking its model number and/or the chip logo on its packaging (see "Draft-N Product Look-Alikes").
Finally, we found that at long range especially (in our tests, about 60 feet, from a router in a suburban home office to a notebook located in the backyard), the draft-n products were generally erratic in coverage and performance--particularly the Atheros-based Belkin line. (Atheros attributes the irregular performance results to its implementation of technology that is designed to prevent interference with neighboring Wi-Fi networks.)
On the other hand, the two older product lines, both based on Airgo's True MIMO Gen3 chips, have a couple of significant drawbacks: They will never be upgradable to the final 802.11n standard, and will interoperate with 802.11n (draft or final) products only at poky 802.11g (54-mbps theoretical maximum) speeds.
Vendors are aggressively addressing draft-n performance problems, bugs, and compatibility issues with frequent firmware updates (even as we tested, we were receiving updates to shipping devices). In fact, we revisited one draft-n product--D-Link's shipping Atheros-based RangeBooster N 650 line--after the deadline for our print issue had passed, to see if updates improved performance. (We dropped the product from the main review in print because it could not complete our tests.) But we'd rather vendors didn't use paying customers to do their alpha and beta testing. You shouldn't have to install multiple firmware updates to see promised performance on a brand-new product.
Faced with a choice between work-in-progress draft-n products on one hand and products that perform better but use proprietary technology that can never be upgraded to 802.11n on the other, we chose not to name a PC World Best Buy.
We did, however, assign each product our usual PC World Rating based on our lab tests of performance and other key features (see our separate chart). We particularly looked for QoS (quality of service) and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), two technologies essential to running the coming wireless video and entertainment applications that are among the main reasons to buy a high-speed router.
See our Wireless Routers chart

Features to Look For
QoS helps ensure smooth streaming media and VoIP calls by prioritizing multimedia packets on the network. All but the Netgear lines had this feature when we tested, and Netgear planned to add it via firmware updates. (Note that QoS support must be present in both your router and your adapters to work.)
UPnP enables automatic peer-to-peer connectivity of networked computers, hard drives, game consoles, streaming-media players, and even kitchen appliances, so that they can recognize one another and share data intelligently. We were pleased to see that all the tested routers had this capability.
Note, however, that in calculating the PCW Ratings we did not give draft-n products extra points for upgradability potential, since without vendor guarantees the value is uncertain at best.
Indeed, our bottom-line advice is to hold out for certified 802.11n products (turn to "What's Ahead for 802.11n" for more on the standard's progress), unless you just can't wait to get the added bandwidth for entertainment applications and large file transfers.


Wait If You Can
Remember that unless you upgrade all your adapters to match, you won't see the true benefits of any of these high-speed network technologies; this requirement adds nearly $100 per device to your investment in potentially nonstandard equipment. Just upgrading one adapter doesn't work well, since using older 802.11b/g devices at the same time can seriously affect router performance.
Also, older adapters are unlikely to support WPA2 encryption, which is needed to get the maximum out of draft-n. Finally, consider that for now new adapters are primarily for notebooks--only a few vendors also offer desktop cards, and most consumer electronics vendors are expected to hold off on products with fast Wi-Fi support until 802.11n is ratified.
If you must have added range now, consider the Netgear RangeMax 240, which earned the top rating in this group for its combination of performance, design, and features. If you're willing to take a performance hit in order to gamble on upgradability to the eventual standard, look at Netgear's draft-n-compliant RangeMax Next line, the only one in our tests that could approach the range of the Airgo-based products.
Though the Belkin N1 Wireless and Linksys Wireless-N routers had top-rated features, design, and usability, they faltered in performance. The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti line performed similarly to the Belkin and Linksys products, but It suffered some serious flaws, such as a lack of strong WPA2 encryption--a must-have for this class of router.
Another option--if you are on a strict budget and are primarily concerned with improved range (as opposed to top speed)--is to invest in even older and cheaper Airgo-based gear, such as Belkin's Wireless G-Plus MIMO router. This unit's range is nearly as good, and its price is much lower.
Asus 240 MIMO Wireless Router (WL-566gM)
Asus 240 MIMO router: Fast, few frills. The Asus 240 MIMO is based on the same Airgo Gen3 chip set as the Netgear RangeMax 240 (with which it shared top performance honors), but otherwise it's quite different. Some of its features are better, such as a three-year warranty, support for authentication by a Radius server (an important feature for many enterprise customers), and a tool for wireless-encryption setup. In other respects the Asus suffers by comparison.
For example, its installation is essentially a manual affair, with no PC-based setup wizard or automatic settings detection. The quick-start guide's pictures are too small to decipher, and the Web-based quick-setup mode doesn't explain any of the required choices; we had to refer back to the printed quick-start guide for help.
Our chief complaint, however, has to do with the router's main configuration screen. Context-sensitive help comes solely in the form of roll-over pop-ups, which makes quick comparisons of options difficult. Also, when you type in an encryption passphrase, you see a series of asterisks--a common security precaution--and, for WEP, the resulting hexadecimal key. But because you aren't asked to enter the passphrase in a confirmation window, you can't know for sure whether you've input a long passphrase correctly. Even worse, we couldn't find any way to retrieve the current key information from within the router, a common task. The Asus does have an encryption setup utility, eliminating the need to enter codes on the client side, but it works only with Asus adapter cards.
We also had problems with this product's client card and connection utility. While equipment based on Airgo Networks' True MIMO Gen3 technology is supposed to be interoperable, the Asus card would not connect to the Netgear RangeMax 240 router with WPA2 encryption. The utility showed the encryption for the connection as WEP, and wouldn't let us specify WPA2. The same thing happened when we tried to use Windows to set up wireless encryption on the Asus card, and we had no way to resolve the issue without changing to the less secure WPA on the Netgear router (Asus says that its latest drivers, released as we neared press time, correct the problem). Another concern was that both the Asus and Netgear adapters connected to the Asus router only with WPA, even though we set the router to use WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (it does not have WPA-PSK-only or WPA2-PSK-only modes); we would have preferred to use the stronger WPA2-PSK scheme.
We liked the nicely designed white plastic Asus case, with its band of indicator lights on the front edge. It's superficially like the Netgear RangeMax 240's, but bigger and heavier, and it has taller and beefier antennas that might account for its performance edge. The case also includes wall-mount holes. However, the Asus model's great price and performance do not completely compensate for its usability issues, and inexperienced users especially will be better served by the Netgear RangeMax 240.
Belkin N1 Wireless Router (F5D8231-4)
Belkin N1: Great design, poor performance.In almost every measure besides performance, where it unfortunately hangs around the rear of the bunch, the Belkin N1 is the star of this review. It is head and shoulders above the rest of the products in design and usability, with Apple-like attention to detail in the packaging, manuals, interface, and help files. It also has top-notch features, a lifetime warranty, and excellent support.
On opening the Belkin box, the first thing you see is a large card completely illustrating all the possible physical connection possibilities and detailing the order in which they should be made. Cables are numbered to match the card. The setup CD worked flawlessly, detecting our DSL modem settings correctly and automatically connecting us to the Internet. It then directed us to the Web utility to set up wireless encryption.
The N1's 103-page PDF manual was the longest and most comprehensive in the bunch. Every setting option was clearly explained, along with its implications.
As for features, the N1 is one of only two routers in the group to support WPA/WPA2 Enterprise encryption and Radius server authentication for use in office and educational environments. It also has a full complement of router capabilities, including QoS support.
But while the N1's speed at close range is several times that of an 802.11g router, its overall performance simply wasn't as good as that of the other products in this group (especially the Airgo-based lines). Performance in our long-range tests was particularly erratic, even compared with that of the Broadcom-based draft-n lines.
Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti Wireless-N Router and Access Point (WZR-G300N)
Buffalo Nfiniti: Lacks key features.The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti has some unique features, such as an external switch that toggles between router and access-point modes; Buffalo's AOSS one-touch encryption setup for easy Buffalo client-card connections; and an upright-oriented antenna cluster. But it also lacks important specs we've come to expect in a high-end router, such as WPA2 encryption support (though Buffalo said it planned to make this available via a firmware update that it expected to post by the time you read this).
In addition, the AirStation is the only router of the group that is missing Dynamic DNS support, which allows cable and DSL customers who don't have fixed IP addresses--the vast majority--to host Web sites or mail servers. Also absent are WPA Enterprise or Radius support, putting the AirStation at the bottom of the features heap in this group.
Designwise, the antenna cluster means you can use the Nfiniti only in an upright position, and you get no wall-mount option. With this model we had the same problem as with the Netgear RangeMax Next, as our many ethernet cables toppled the router (although this happened less frequently with the Buffalo product since it weighs more than the Netgear).
In performance, the Buffalo was in the closely bunched bottom group of draft-n models, which all suffered on our long-range tests. But our biggest issue with the Buffalo was with its Web configuration tool, which was decidedly subpar. Explanations in the pop-up help on each page weren't very helpful, and the poor graphics and confusing division of functions into Basic and Advanced pages just made things difficult to find, even when we knew what we were looking for.
Another annoyance is the wireless-card utility, which cannot distinguish between encryption types, so you have to know what type of encryption the network is using and select it from the menu before entering your key (unless you use the AOSS system, of course).
Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router (WRT300N)
Linksys Wireless-N: Top features, middling performance.The Linksys Wireless-N is a very good all-rounder in design and features; like the Belkin N1, it seriously stumbles only in performance, although not as badly. It has QoS, WPA/WPA2 Enterprise encryption, Radius server support, and truly comprehensive routing capabilities, making it our features champ.
The installation experience was very good. A CD setup utility led us through the physical connections and then took us to the router's Web-based Smart Wizard for Internet setup. The 90-page PDF manual was nearly as good as Belkin's, but the context-sensitive help within the Web configuration tool was not. It offered no information on the 802.11n features of the router and looked like it was simply copied from another Linksys model. Even a firmware update did not address this shortcoming in the router setup software.
The Linksys has a flat antenna situated in between two pole antennas, a departure from the usual three-pole design. It has no wall-mount bracket, but you can stand the router horizontally or vertically. The case sticks to Linksys's trademark purple and black color scheme, which we wish the company would ditch in favor of more decor-friendly choices like the white, black, and silver of the other routers. On top of the device is a big button that doesn't do anything, but is "reserved" for future use. Maybe one-touch encryption setup? Linksys isn't saying.
What about speed and range? As we did for the Belkin and Buffalo draft-n products, we gave the overall performance of the Linksys Wireless-N line a Fair rating due to its poor throughput at long range (60 feet through house walls) and multiple failures to complete file transfers, a symptom of its lesser range. Even at close and midrange distances, the two tested non-draft-n routers did better.
Netgear RangeMax 240 Wireless Router (WPNT834)
Netgear RangeMax 240: Top performer.Netgear's Airgo-based RangeMax 240 topped our medium-range performance tests and came a close second in the long-range shootout. The RangeMax 240 also sports excellent router features and has the best Web-based configuration tool of the bunch, thanks in no small part to the ever-present and very thorough context-sensitive help.
Installation using the included CD and the Web-based SmartWizard was straightforward and without incident. The process leads you through the cable connections that vendors generally recommend for setup, basic configuration, and then security. We had an equally good experience with the adapter card, as the setup wizard offered to help configure the first connection after installing the drivers and Wireless Assistant connection utility. While the utility could confuse a first-time user, it provides lots of practical information about your connection, such as traffic graphs and statistics.
Designwise, we really like the unit's mod white plastic case with glowing iconic indicator lights that let you check the router status from afar. The RangeMax 240 also has a label on the bottom detailing the functions of all the ports and lights, as well as the default IP address and log-in information you need for browser-based configuration after a router reset--data we wish all vendors would make so handy.
The one design flaw is the model's lack of wall-mount holes, although you can orient the router horizontally or vertically on a desk or other flat surface.
Other nitpicks concern the product's lack of QoS support (Netgear says it will come soon in a firmware update) and the failure of the router firmware's "check for updates" feature to find a firmware update that was available on Netgear's Web site. (To be fair, no router in this review successfully located and installed firmware updates--we had to get all updates manually from support sites.) Overall, however, the RangeMax 240 has the best combination of performance, features, design, and usability here. Its only major drawback is that it will never be upgradable to the 802.11n standard.
Netgear RangeMax Next Wireless Router (WNR834B)
Among the draft-n routers, only the RangeMax Next, based on Broadcom's Intensi-fi draft-n technology (as opposed to the newer but identically named WNR834M model based on Marvell's TopDog chip, which we did not test), came close to the Asus and Netgear RangeMax 240 models in short and midrange performance. However, it faltered in our long-range tests, indicating a smaller coverage area than that of its top-rated RangeMax 240 sibling.
In other respects the RangeMax Next is much like the RangeMax 240, offering the same straightforward setup and advanced client-card connection utility, although its cost is a little higher. Only a few settings differ significantly, mostly those having to do with draft-n. For example, the RangeMax Next is the only draft-n router in this group that does not support WEP encryption when in high-speed 40-MHz channel-bonding mode, since that would result in poor performance for draft-n adapters.
The most visible difference between the RangeMax Next and RangeMax 240 is in case design. The RangeMax Next is a slim upright box with internal antennas, as opposed to the typical external design. While attractive, it has no wall-mount option, and we found it hard to use in the upright position since our cables kept pulling the lightweight box over. You can place the unit flat, but then the internal antennas will likely not be oriented optimally since, unlike external antennas, they cannot be flipped to accommodate the box orientation.
If you want to purchase a draft-n router now and bet on the product's being upgradable to the final standard, Netgear's RangeMax Next is our top choice, with the only major disadvantage being its long-range performance.
What's Ahead for 802.11n
Given the relatively mediocre performance and the interoperability problems we found with draft-n products, it's worth asking why vendors have rushed them to market. Two wireless companies that have chosen to stay out of the draft-n fray (at least for now)--Wi-Fi chip maker Airgo Networks and network equipment vendor USRobotics--say they don't want to ship products that may not be upgradable to the final standard, a guarantee none of the current crop can make. Instead, Airgo says it will have chips ready for 802.11n compliance testing as soon as the specification is ratified.
The rest of the wireless universe, however, doesn't seem to be waiting--and customers aren't either. "Our Wireless-N family offers customers technology they can immediately take advantage of to get the most out of their networks," Linksys said in a statement, noting that in June its Wireless-N router came in third on the best-seller list for all home networking products.


Draft-N Timetable: Products in 2007?
Meanwhile, the standards process is moving, albeit slowly. Voting is set for January on Draft 2.0 of 802.11n, which could possibly be ratified as final--but most observers expect a third draft to appear later in 2007, followed by ratification and certified products by the end of the year or early 2008.
While 802.11n will include a host of enhancements to the current 802.11g standard, the most notable are theoretical data speeds that will range from 270 to 600 mbps, depending on the device (PDAs, for example, are likely to stick to lower rates to conserve power consumption). The zippy data rates, like those of the non-draft-n routers in our review, are made possible by MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) antenna technology that Airgo Networks pioneered a couple of years ago. That's why you typically see three antennas poking up from these routers.
High speed Wi-Fi also uses channel bonding, which combines two side-by-side 20-MHz Wi-Fi channels into one wide 40-MHz pipe. Channel bonding, however, can blast out neighboring 802.11b or g networks since it takes over virtually the entire 2.4-GHz spectrum that these products use. Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) technology to protect nearby networks is included in the first 802.11n draft, but it's not clear whether CCA will be mandatory.
A fix for spectrum overcrowding is available, thanks to 802.11n's support for both the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequencies. Most experts expect the broader 5-GHz band (currently used by 802.11a) to emerge as the unimpeded fast lane for high-bandwidth applications. And by next year most vendors will likely introduce dual-band routers, although some of them may not simultaneously support 5-GHz and 2.4-GHz devices.
Networks based on 802.11n will also slow down if one or more clients use older WEP or WPA security. Only WPA2 encryption (which began appearing in the last year or so) supports certain performance-enhancing techniques specified in the standard. Netgear says to expect about a 5 percent performance drop with WPA and an even bigger hit with WEP--issues that will persist until you retire all legacy devices lacking WPA2 support.
Expect to see several draft-n gigabit ethernet routers for customers who also want faster wired networks. Netgear already sells the RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition, and Linksys should ship a gigabit draft-n router by the time you read this.
Power-Line Networking: A Brewing Standards War
Wireless isn't the only networking technology that's speeding up. The power-line networking industry is also stepping up to the plate with ethernet adapters that use your home's electrical circuits to send data at up to 200 megabits per second, much faster than the 25 to 30 mbps required for streaming high-def video. And while draft-n Wi-Fi adapters are so far available only for notebooks and desktop PCs, you can use power-line products with any PC or consumer electronics device with an ethernet port.
Netgear, for example, recently introduced its Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters ($250 for a kit with two, or $130 sold separately), small boxes with plugs that connect to standard wall outlets and ports for included ethernet cables. I tried them out by plugging one unit into an ethernet port on my router and the other into my desktop computer's ethernet port. This got me on the Internet immediately, and it took only a few seconds more for me to add security (so neighbors on my grid wouldn't be able to hop on my network) by changing the network name through the included desktop software.


Alternative 200-mbps Options
However, the same software indicated that data between the adapters was moving at only 20 to 40 mbps (Netgear says this could be because of the many other devices plugged into power outlets near the adapters). A more important concern: Netgear's product is based on chip maker DS2's technology, which is trying to gain traction as the basis for the Universal Powerline Association's Digital Home Standard. (UPA previously developed technology for the use of utility power lines for broadband services.) But so far, no other vendors have announced Digital Home Standard chips or products.
Netgear's aren't the first high-speed power-line networking products. Last spring, Panasonic launched adapters similar to Netgear's but based on its own HD-PLC technology. Panasonic says that other consumer electronics companies will be using HD-PLC in products due later this year or in early 2007.
Meanwhile, several companies, led by Intellon, are making chips based on the competing HomePlug AV spec introduced by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, which developed the 14-mbps HomePlug 1.0 standard that is the basis for today's power-line networking products. (Regrettably, neither Digital Home Standard nor HomePlug AV will interoperate with legacy HomePlug 1.0 products--you need to plug separate adapters into your router for each standard you want to support.)
At least one major vendor--Linksys--has indicated it plans to have HomePlug AV consumer products by year's end. But Netgear notes that so far no specific HomePlug AV gear has been announced for North America. "Netgear doesn't want to wait," Netgear product line manager Kartik Gada says, adding that HomePlug AV products are likely to cost more than DS2 gear.
For the time being, those consumers who wish to use electrical wiring for high-bandwidth networking have a good option in Netgear's product, but also no sure standard in sight.
Yardena Arar


Draft-N Product Look-Alikes
Draft-N equipment based on different chips may not interoperate at full speeds. But it isn't always easy to tell which chips products use--even products with similar names from the same vendor.
Netgear, for example, has two RangeMax Next Wireless Routers, the WNR834B (which we tested for this review) based on Broadcom's Intensi-fi draft-n chips, and the newer WNR834M, which uses Marvell's TopDog technology (also used in Netgear's RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition router). Similarly, the RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition PC Card (WN511T) employs TopDog chips, but the RangeMax Next PC Card (WN511B) uses Intensi-fi technology.
Netgear says it will ship products based on only one draft-n technology to any given retailer, and product packages include chip logos. The company also says new firmware upgrades fix interoperability issues. But we recommend that buyers stick to same-chip products to be safe.
Yardena Arar

D-Link's Draft-N Wi-Fi Router Fumbles in PC World Tests
We dropped D-Link's RangeBooster N 650 Router and Notebook Adapter from our roundup review of fast Wi-Fi gear because they were not able to complete our tests.
But because D-Link's products are widely distributed, and because (like other vendors with products based on draft one of the IEEE's 802.11n standard for ultrafast Wi-Fi) the company said firmware upgrades would improve performance and address compatibility problems, we decided to retest the RangeBooster N 650 line a few weeks later. Unfortunately, the products were still unable to complete our tests, so we did not assign the line a PC World Rating. Instead, we decided to describe the RangeBooster N 650 Router, and our experience with it.
The bottom line is, the RangeBooster N 650 has a lot going for it in terms of design and features--but we cannot recommend it until D-Link resolves the performance issues we encountered in repeated unsuccessful efforts to obtain usable test results.


An Atheros Problem?
When we first tried testing the RangeBooster N 650 along with six other products for our October issue's roundup, we ran into an assortment of problems that we were unable to resolve in time to meet the deadline for the print version of the review.
Some of the difficulties involved replacing malfunctioning hardware. But others--most notably highly erratic and inconsistent performance--were similar to obstacles we'd initially encountered with Belkin's N1 gear, the only other product line in the roundup based on Atheros's XSpan chips (the company's implementation of the first draft of the IEEE's 802.11n standard for fast Wi-Fi).
Because Belkin had shipped its product earlier than D-Link had, by the time we conducted our testing for the roundup Belkin had released firmware that at least allowed its products to complete our tests. However, the Belkin's failure rate for our long-range test (an FTP file transfer from a server in a home office to a notebook outside the home, about 60 feet away) was still 28 percent, meaning that it was unable to complete the transfer in one of every four attempts. Overall, we gave the Belkin's performance only a Fair rating.
On the other hand, when we retested the D-Link equipment several weeks after the roundup, using the latest firmware and drivers, we were never able to complete a single file transfer at long range. The products did complete our short- and medium-range tests; but since range is a principal reason to buy such products, we felt that we could not rate its performance without any results at long range.
In the course of our original troubleshooting, we were able to complete some long-range file transfers with beta software that D-Link did not make available to the public in time for our retest. We hope to reevaluate the RangeBooster N 650 line eventually, with updated software that permits it to complete our long-range test.


D-Link Response
"We have not encountered connectivity issues such as those reported in this PC World review in our own internal testing or in other reviews, nor have we received consumer reports of this issue from any of the thousands of purchasers of these products," D-Link marketing director Daniel Kelley said in a statement.
"In fact, consumer response to these products has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are happy to report that users are enjoying the benefits of higher throughput, whole-home coverage, and reliable wireless connectivity with D-Link's new line of draft-802.11n products.
"That said, we respect PC World's test methodology and believe they have taken steps to administer a fair test. For this reason, we are engaging in extensive testing and diagnosis of our products relative to the PC World test results. We will promptly provide updated drivers and firmware on our Web site should we identify any issues that need to be addressed."
We also asked Atheros about the D-Link problems and the Belkin N1's high failure rate in our distance test. "To date, we have not been able to duplicate the performance issues as reported by PC World," Atheros senior product marketing manager Harpreet Chohan said in a statement. "In fact, a variety of reviews by other third parties of these same Atheros-based draft 802.11n products have cited Atheros's superior connectivity at range.
"Each wireless test environment is unique, providing its own set of challenges, and Atheros is committed to understanding what is occurring in the PC World test environment. Upon completing our assessment, we look forward to retesting these products in an upcoming PC World review," Chohan added.


Hands On With the RangeBooster N 650
Performance accounts for a full 50 percent of our rating, so it's impossible to tell how the RangeBooster N 650 would have scored overall. But in specifications and usability, it matched or surpassed the best of the products in our roundup--although at $160 for the router and $100 for the PC Card, it was also the priciest offering.
Its security features are top-notch, with WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise encryption and Radius support. Among the routers we saw, it is the only one with a USB port for Windows Connect Now, a year-old technology that lets you transfer wireless settings from the router to a USB key that you can then plug into a PC or other device to put it on the network.
Installers for both the router and that card are excellent, with clear directions that cover more situations than most. The envelope containing the router's software CD has blank spaces for you to record your network's SSID, encryption key, and router password. The manual and context-sensitive help are also high-quality: They don't just define settings, but tell you why and when you'd want to use them.
In addition to the initial setup routine, which senses your Internet connection settings and configures the router automatically--even prompting you to choose an SSID--the router comes with a utility that has its own Internet connection and wireless security wizards.


Two D-Link Draft-N Routers
The black case with a silver band is better looking than the exteriors of past D-Link routers, but the painted plastic still looks a little cheesy compared with the iPod-like glossy acrylic of Netgear's products, for example. However, the RangeBooster N 650 does have wall-mount holes, a useful feature lacking in several of the high-performance routers in our roundup.
One warning for potential shoppers: D-Link has two draft-n routers on the market. The RangeBooster N 650 (DIR-635) described here is not to be confused with the RangeBooster N (DIR-625), which is less expensive and has only two external antennas, as opposed to the three in the N 650. We did not test the RangeBooster N, which uses the same Atheros chips, but we'd expect that with one fewer antenna it would likely be slower than the more expensive model.
Yardena Arar and Becky WaringHow We Test
We tested each router and corresponding PC Card adapter in a series of short-range, medium-range, and long-range tests conducted in a suburban home.
In the close-range tests, we set the router up in a home office and put the client approximately 6 feet away in the same room. In the medium-range tests, the router remained in the office while the client was stationed two rooms away. In the long-range tests, the router remained in the office while the client was set up in the backyard, about 60 feet away.
Our server test bed, which was connected to the router via ethernet, was an ABS 3-GHz Pentium 4 system running Suse Linux 9.2. Our client test beds were identical IBM ThinkPad T43 notebook PCs with their internal Wi-Fi cards removed.
We ran a script that contained a series of uploads and downloads of a 106MB file using the Windows FTP client. We ran our tests multiple times over several different days.



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