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- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 7 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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1.5 stars
"Great GUI, Unreliable hardware. DO NOT BUY!"
Pros: The GUI has a wealth of options (same as DLINK GamerLounge)
Wired Gigabit, Wireless N
Attractive slick lookCons: Hardware is very unreliable (Need to manually power cycle several times a day)
Summary: THE SHORT STORY:
Poor documentation (for instance there is no mention of default IP to access http configuration page)
Odd design (The 3 antennas placed on right side can be problematic)
DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT! Despite its features and GUI interface, the hardware is so unreliable to the point you'll eventually need to go back shopping for a more reliable product.
Based solely on my experience, I would discourage anyone from buying this router! I gave it a try because I thought it may have been more reliable than my old DLINK. But in the end, although my DLINK worked for just 1 year, while it was working it rarely had problems. On the contrary in just 2 months the Trendnet router proved to be unreliable to the point that I am back shopping for a DLINK!
THE LONG STORY:
My old DLINK GamerLounge started overheating after only 1 year of continuous use, causing connection speeds to drop to just few Kbps or halt altogether, so looking for a new router my mandatory features were:
- An equal or larger number of features -
this unit not only has Gigabit Ethernet but also offered Wireless N that would be already a step up from the 801.11g o my GamerLounge DLINK
- An equal or larger number of configuration options -
this unit was perfect because Trendnet offered an online simulator that allowed me to preview the GUI and features of the unit prior deciding to buy it, and although the look is different the options and layout are almost exactly the same (note: I can't stand the layout of the GUI and the limited configuration options on Lynksys products)
- High hardware reliability -
I often need remote access to the resources connected to this unit, therefore I need it running reliably 24x7. If the unit fails to operate continuously, while remoting in, I'd be unable to access any of the machines connected to it. A failure happening while I am on location can be easily fixed by power cycling it manually and although it's still a real pain in the neck, it will not completely disrupt my work. Things are completely different though when I have no physical access to the router (hence can't perform a manual power cycle to have it back online), because that translates in a permanent service disruption, that will irreversibly end my remote work until I will return on location to manually restart the unit.
This type of hardware failure is UNACCEPTABLE when work depends on it, even more so when you rely on the proper functioning of the router for VoIP use!
My Vonage adapter happens to be connected to the router and when the router fails, the VoIP is rendered usable. Therefore the router will not disrupt just the internet connection, but also the voice one (and any other depending on continuous data connection).
So the BAD becomes even WORSE, because when you think your VoIP is up and running it may be actually down (unbeknown to you) and WILL make you loose important calls/faxes! Unless you realize that the router is failing there will be no way you will think about power cycling the router and your VoIP adapter to regain a steady Voice and Data connection!
Because the LEDs on the router's front panel do not indicate any sign of failure (which makes the router not only unreliable but also a BAD LIAR!) and the LEDs on the modem are also working properly (note: the modem was not lying to me! I tested it and internet connection was working fine indeed), you can realize that the router is failing only if you are on your computer while using programs that use your internet connection (such as web, mail, ftp, vnc, online gaming, etc), because only then you will experience a failure of data services and realize the router is failing again.
(NOTE: I CAN NOT realize the router is failing in any other way than the above mentioned, with the sole exception of the evenings "after it gets dark" because that's the only time when I may catch the blinking orange light coming from the Vonage adapter's front panel that happens when a connection error has occurred! That's something that can never happen during daytime, as I can't see that faint orange blinking light, hence I will never know if the router has failed until I start using the internet connection in some way, including trying to place a call to find out that my phone has gone mute)
The recurring failure of the router (not other network equipment) it's a proven fact, because if I bypass the router (right after connection failure), and I attach the modem to the Gigabit switch to which my computers are connected the internet connection will work fine (and that's without power cycling the modem after the detected connection failure... therefore the modem is still using the ongoing connection established prior having any problem!).
Additional proof is that if I power cycle and attach the VoIP adapter to the same Gigabit switch (hence to the modem that I STILL DIDN'T power cycle) the VoIP goes back online! This indicates that the problems were caused by the router and not by any of the other equipment present on the network because when bypassing the router, all the other units (modem, VoIP adapter, switches and computers) are working fine.
Where to buy
Trendnet TEW-633GR Wireless Router (draft n):
$119.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$119.99 | Yes |
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