Based on Broadcom's Intensi-fi chipset, the WNR834B RangeMax router can theoretically achieve throughput of up to 270Mbps, according to Netgear. CNET Labs' tests told a different story, however. Though the router did a decent job in our maximum throughput test with a throughput of 72.7Mbps (just edging out the Linksys WRT300N's 71.5Mbps), it still couldn't touch the 93.8Mbps that the older Netgear WPNT834 router earned. Similarly, the WNR834B pulled an adequate score of 32Mbps in our long-range trial but was bested yet again by the Belkin Wireless Pre-N with its 36.4Mbps throughput. In our final test of mixed-mode performance, the WNR834B puttered along with one of the worst times we've seen in a while: a dismal 26.2Mbps. Overall, none of the WNR834B's scores were the lightning bolts we'd hoped to see in this Draft N router.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
The Netgear WNR834B's warranty lasts for one year, which is about average for a Wi-Fi router yet shorter than Linksys's three years and Belkin's lifetime term. Thankfully, Netgear includes toll-free, 24/7 phone support with the device. At the time of this writing, Netgear's Web support page for the WNR834B was incomplete, lacking a link to an electronic copy of the user manual. The site also offers one of our favorite Web support options: a customer forum.
The Netgear WNR834B's performance confirmed what we've seen in Labs: the Draft N products we've seen so far are not delivering on the promise of 802.11n. Our advice is to wait out your urge to get the latest networking gear and see what later iterations of the 802.11n spec have to offer.
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