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Get a free router (almost) | | ||
 Allen Fear, senior editor | Get a free router...well, almost free. These routers may not be free, but they're dirt cheap, and an expensive wireless solution that delivers long-range and ultrafast throughput may be more than you need. If you live in a small apartment and have only one computer, consider spending less for a router that may not be top-notch but is up to the tasks in your humble circumstances. We found four wireless routers that can be had for a song and come equipped with an integrated 802.11g access point and a built-in firewall. Though they may not be the cream of the crop, these routers are perfectly capable of servicing a modest home or small-office network. | |||
| Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | |
| Product name |
D-Link DI-524 AirPlus G router |
Wireless-G Broadband Router |
NetGear WGR614 54 Mbps Wireless Router |
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| Review date | September 17, 2004 | February 25, 2003 | May 30, 2003 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
7.4
Very good |
6.9
Good |
7.0
Very good |
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| Buying choices |
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| Review summary | With a little hunting for a good deal, you can get the faster version of this router, the DI-624, for the same price or less. | The low-cost Linksys WRT54G features fairly high throughput. But it has a relatively short operating range, and its poor performance with 802.11b devices makes claimed backward compatibility moot. | The WGR614 is a good choice for those unfazed by the bleeding-edge nature of 802.11g. |
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| Product series | N/A | See all products in this series | N/A |
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| User comments | 5.4 Average (from 163 users) | 5.9 Average (from 426 users) | 5.5 Average (from 342 users) |
| Basic Specs | |||
| Device Type | Wireless router | Wireless router | Wireless router |
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| Weight | 7.1 oz | 1.1 lbs | 9.2 oz |
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| Data Transfer Rate | 54 Mbps | 54 Mbps | 54 Mbps |
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| Data Link Protocol | Ethernet , Fast Ethernet , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g | Ethernet , Fast Ethernet , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g | Ethernet , Fast Ethernet , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g |
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| Network / Transport Protocol | PPPoE , L2TP , PPTP , IPSec | IPX/SPX , TCP/IP | PPPoE , L2TP , TCP/IP , PPTP , IPSec |
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| Remote Management Protocol | HTTP | HTTP | Info unavailable |
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| Communication Mode | Info unavailable | Full-duplex | Info unavailable |
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| Included Accessories | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Vertical stand |
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| Features | Auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X) , Firewall protection , URL filtering , MAC address filtering , Auto-negotiation , IP address filtering , Auto-sensing per device , DHCP support , VPN passthrough , Dynamic IP address assignment , NAT support | DMZ port , Firewall protection , Full duplex capability , Packet filtering , MAC address filtering , VPN support , 256-bit encryption , DHCP support , Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) , NAT support | DMZ port , E-mail alert , Firewall protection , URL filtering , DoS attack prevention , MAC address filtering , Auto-sensing per device , DHCP support , VPN passthrough , Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) , NAT support |
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| System Requirements | Info unavailable | Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP | Microsoft Windows NT , Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP , Apple MacOS , Novell NetWare , Linux , Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows 98 , UNIX |
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| Manufacturer Warranty | Info unavailable | 3 years warranty | 1 year warranty |
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| Form factor | External | External | External |
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| Product name | D-Link DI-524 AirPlus G router | Wireless-G Broadband Router | NetGear WGR614 54 Mbps Wireless Router |
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| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| Price range | Email me when this product is available |
 Check latest prices$34-$65 from 7 stores |
Check latest prices $35-$178 from 20 stores |
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