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"Super-sweet" on by fieryfennix
Pros: Strength, setup, security
Cons: Nothing at all.
Summary: Bought this to replace my outdated Linksys (new Vista laptop) and was blown away. This thing practically set itself up. It replaced the wired router and wireless routers I was using, as the signal strength is awesome. I'm still pulling over 5meg (which is what I get hard-wired) from 70 feet away, through 6 walls, a kitchen, and countless wires and electrical interference. Again, best router for the money. Don't get cheap ignore this router. It's so worth it.
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"Great Deal" on by tazindenver
Pros: Fast and Easy Setup
Cons: None So Far
Summary: I purchased this Linskys WRT160N Wireless-N Ultra RangePlus Broadband Router on Sunday, 5 days ago and i am very impressed.
It is very easy set-up and the range and speed blow my old Linksys Wireless G out of the water.
Even on the computers that dont have an N Card yet there is a big difference in speed and connection strength.
In areas of my home where the signal strength was poor before, the strength now is always excellent.
I highly recommend this router. -
"Worked well with XP but not with Vista" on by crater3
Pros: The installation was easy on the XP and worked well.
Cons: When I tried it with a new computer running Vista 64, it would install but the Linksys System Advisor would not. After 1 chat and 4 phone calls with support the system will still not run.
Summary: It is a good product with XP, but if you use Vista 64 good luck. After several hours of working to get it running my patience and options have run out.
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"Not worth upgrading from a G router" on by FunkyMan3333
Pros: Installation process was relatively easy, assuming you know Linksys routers. Their automatic software configuration tool kept crashing. But, resetting the router a couple of times got me hooked in.
Cons: TERRIBLE signal strength. See WirelessMon tests below. Not worth upgrading from a WRT54g version 1.0.
Summary: I upgraded from a Linksys WRT54g ver 1.0 router in order to get more range (as I had heard that wireless N provided this even with G adapters). I was very disappointed.
The installation process was fine (assuming you know Linksys), although their software configuration tool crashed repeatedly. I got the router working with no problems.
Then I noticed the range was much worse on this router. I conducted my own tests using my internal Intel Wireless G adapter on my Dell Inspiron laptop. I conducted the tests with WirelssMon software program. I positioned the routers in the exact same spot each time, and the laptop was also in the exact same place each test. Here are my results of my signal strength testing:
Basement (right next to the router):
Wireless N (20 MHz): -40 dB = 67%
Wireless N (40 MHz): -32 dB = 75%
Wireless N (auto): -37 dB = 70%
WRT54G: -29 dB = 79%
Main floor (one floor above router):
Wireless N (20 MHz): -53 dB = 51%
Wireless N (40 MHz): -55 dB = 51%
Wireless N (auto): -54 dB = 50%
WRT54G: -44 dB = 62%
Front Porch (one floor above router, a bit farther):
Wireless N (20 MHz): -86 dB = 16%
Wireless N (40 MHz): not conducted
Wireless N (auto): not conducted
WRT54G: -71 dB = 32%
Main bedroom (two floors above router):
Wireless N (20 MHz): -74 dB = 27%
Wireless N (40 MHz): -72 dB = 30%
Wireless N (auto): -71 dB = 32%
WRT54G: -65 dB = 39%
Clearly there is a benefit to the WRT54G (by about 5-10%) in terms of signal strength. I have returned this router. I might try another Linksys with a stronger antenna (?WRT610N), but I was very disappointed with the performance of this router. -
"Abysmal product" on by lemonsniffer
Pros: Small and shiny. Software "set-up" easy to use.
Cons: Never worked well or consistently. Tech support couldn't help.
Summary: I would say to stay away from this router. It is the worst I have ever tried to use. A true lemon. The company admitted they'd had issues with this model. It worked for a day or so, but it proved wholly unreliable. I spent hours on the phone with tech support and then even paid extra for them to take over my computers and try to make my simple network remotely. It worked until I got off the phone with them. Repeat. They could offer nothing and this contraption does the same. Many people have had similar experiences with this model. It proved an absolutely worthless and I wasted lots of time.
As another reviewer said, the company admitted that mixing operating systems often proved detrimental to this router.
Updated on Nov 12, 2009
Linksys WRT160N user reviews
