(Longer bars indicate better performance)
On paper, the Wireless MaxG router's performance statistics are impressive. According to U.S. Robotics, the router's turbo mode maxes out at 125Mbps (most routers with high-speed modes, such as the Netgear WGU624, top out at 108Mbps), and the device offers "the maximum 802.11g range in the industry." Yet despite its faster turbo rating, the Wireless MaxG router transferred data at 37.5Mbps in CNET Labs' maximum-throughput tests, which was slower than the WGU624's 42.1Mbps. The Netgear also beat the U.S. Robotics in our range tests, with the former shuttling data across the network at a fast 35.6Mbps compared to the latter's 19Mbps. We should note, however, that the WGU624 costs close to $50 more than the Wireless MaxG router. Among similarly priced routers, such as the D-Link DI-624, the Wireless MaxG router is the clear long-range champ.
U.S. Robotics bundles an industry-standard two-year warranty and mail-in service with the Wireless MaxG router. You can access toll-free tech support during that period, though the limited hours--Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT--are disappointing. At press time, a search on the Wireless MaxG router in the knowledge-base section of the company's support Web site came up empty, though the device's product page listed a handful of general troubleshooting tips.
