External detachable Routers

The Bottom Line: The TP-Link TL-WR741ND Wireless Lite N Router makes a great entry-level Wireless-N router at an affordable price.

Specs: Wireless router, 6.9 in x 4.4 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, 150 Mbps, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 - 2.484 GHz

The Bottom Line: At a very affordable price, the D-Link Wireless N Router DIR-615 makes a great entry-level Wireless-N router and would satisfy most situations where a wireless network is needed.

Specs: Wireless router, 4.6 in x 7.6 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 GHz, 11.2 oz

The Bottom Line: The D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router DIR-825 is a stable performer with great features and an excellent Web interface. The outdated and bulky design, relatively short range, and merely average throughput, however, lessen its appeal.

Specs: Wireless router, 7.6 in x 4.6 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 11.2 oz

The Bottom Line: The TP-Link TL-WR941ND Wireless N router is a simple wireless N router with a friendly price. If all you require is a basic network and you have a mix of 802.11N and b/g clients, it does the job for cheap.

Specs: Wireless router, 7.9 in x 5.5 in x 1.1 in, Wired, Wireless, Ethernet, HTTP, External

The Bottom Line: The D-Link Xtreme N Duo Media Router DIR-855 is a stable performer with excellent Web interface. But because it comes in a bulky, old-school design, has a relatively short range, and carries a hefty price tag, consider waiting for the price to drop before investing in this router.

Specs: Wireless router, 4.6 in x 7.6 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 11.2 oz

The Bottom Line: We like the Asus WL-500W for its wealth of unique features and its strong signal at long range, but its short-range throughput is substandard and there's no Gigabit Ethernet support. This is a good choice only for advanced users who will take advantage of some of router's USB features and aren't afraid to wade into those waters without help.

Specs: Wireless router, Wired, Wireless, 300 Mbps, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 GHz

The Bottom Line: It's cheap, easy to set up, and delivers more than acceptable performance at shorter ranges. We like the sleek, white Edimax BR-6504N router, particularly for networks with a mix of Draft N and older 802.11b/g clients.

Specs: Wireless router, 7.6 in x 4.5 in x 1.1 in, Wired, Wireless, 300 Mbps, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 GHz

The Bottom Line: The D-Link DGL-4500 GamerLounge Xtreme N Gaming Router almost succeeds for home networking and hardcore gamers. It bears a few flaws, among which is a random reset during heavy load that might be the deal breaker.

Specs: 4.6 in x 7.6 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, 300 Mbps, Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11n (draft 2.0), Ethernet, HTTP, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, IEEE 802.11n (draft 2.0), External, NAT support, VPN passthrough, Firewall protection, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), 11.2 oz

The Bottom Line: The D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router is the fastest we've seen, but we're still reluctant to recommend it as it's based on an unfinished wireless spec.

Specs: Wireless router, 7.6 in x 4.6 in x 1.2 in, Wired, Wireless, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 GHz, 11.2 oz

The Bottom Line: Although the Buffalo Nfiniti router performed admirably in its somewhat limited mixed-mode operation, like every other Draft N router we've tested, it fails to deliver on the promise of 802.11n.

Specs: Wireless router, 1.4 in x 6.7 in x 7.2 in, Wired, Wireless, 108 Mbps, Ethernet, HTTP, External, 2.4 GHz, 14.1 oz