Cisco-Linksys WRT160N-RM Refurbished Wireless-N Router
by Linksys
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List Price: Our Price: $29.99 You Save: $70.00 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $19.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT160N-RM Refurbished Wireless-N Router
Customer Review: "Old Faithful"
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally purchased the WRT160N brand new from a Best Buy 2/09. This router was very reliable but had minor issues that I'm pretty sure were firmware related. My original router was V1. I tried updating the firmware, but I don't think it took. When I connected in "mixed mode" or "N only" my computer showed it connected at 150mbps but I was getting very slow internet speeds (on speedtestdotnet it was showing 1.5mbps on a 20mbps connection). I changed it to "G only" and my connection instantly jumped back to 20mbps so I left it at that. In the year and a half that I had this router, there were no other problems. I can honestly say that I had to reset the router maybe 5 times in that year and a half! (half of those times were when I was changing settings). I recently moved and to minimize packing, I gave my original router to my dad. I saw the WRT160NRM (remanufactured) on Amazon for roughly 1/3 of the price I paid for the first one so I decided to take the plunge. I'm glad that I did! The unit arrived in a "remanufactured" box with all of the contents my "new" one came with. Set up was a snap and I haven't had any issue. This router is V3 and I'm not having the issue I had w/ V1... connection is showing 150mbps and speed tests are showing I'm now getting my full bandwith. Highly reccomend this router! at this price, I'll buy extras to give out as gifts!Customer Review: DD-WRT = Not Optional with this router
Summary: 4 Stars
This router basically won't work without DD-WRT installed. If you aren't prepared to install DD-WRT, DON'T BUY THIS. If you are, DD-WRT installs pretty painlessly and once upgraded, the router starts up quickly, holds a strong, stable connection, and runs pretty fast with a good range. (My router is hooked up to a university housing network so I can't comment on speed since the network's speed is...nothing to write home about. >_> ) If you don't install DD-WRT, the router will basically do as it pleases: drop regular connections and block new ones before it curls up and closes down the network all together. It comes to you borked straight out of the box. I had to reset it every time I took my netbook out of the apartment because it refused to recognize the connection anymore once I came back home. I installed DD-WRT and haven't had any connection problems or needed to reset it again since.
With DD-WRT, there is a small chance that the router could break during the installation especially if you do not read and follow all the directions very carefully. As such, installing DD-WRT will mean reading more about routers than you probably ever wanted to. If you don't want to bother with that, Don't Buy This Router! If you are willing to take a risk and spend a few hours researching for your price cut, it's a good router once you install DD-WRT.
Customer Review: Followed the DD-WRT instructions and it's perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
I followed Christopher's instructions on DD-WRT (made me willing to buy this router in the first place), and tried it out. At first I thought I bricked my router, but then when the new firmware loaded up (after installing the two ones), it suddenly worked perfecty, and my speed is terrific.
In fact, and maybe this is just because I live in a dorm, my download speeds went from 100 or less kbps to 500-800kbps...that's 5-8X faster internet!!! ***again note that it might be because I live in a dorm and now my router is using more bandwidth than I would otherwise be allowed using a regular Ethernet cable :)***
Anyway it works like it's supposed to so far on my MBP and iPod touch. I will be testing its signal strength/coverage over the next few days to give you a final verdict.
Final Verdict (4/7/10):
I live in a dorm with the cafeteria three entire floors below my room, and you may have guessed it- I get perfect wireless signal three floors down. It's very good signal, I mean even my iPod Touch gets signal (and great speed). So far I've had no issues whatsoever. Once, the power went out, and when the router turned back on, everything resumed as if nothing ever happened.
This is an excellent router so far. (Just make sure you use either the DD-WRT firmware or the new linksys one)
Customer Review: No problem here...except...
Summary: 4 Stars
I expected the setup for this wireless N-router to be a pain, based on some of the reviews, but I guess I lucked out. My home network is in the same sub-net as the router and I have no devices on 192.168.1.1 that's the router's pre-set address. So I just patched one of the Cisco switch ports (not the broadband one) into my broad band router and then opened a browser to 192.168.1.1, changed the address, set up wireless SSID and security and stuff and it was in service in less than 20 minutes.
I'm using this for additional switch ports and as a wireless-N media access point and as a backup for the broadband interface, so I didn't need to do the broadband setup. I never did use the install CD. So if your LAN setup is like mine, give this setup procedure a try. If this thing gets flaky any time soon, I'll post a followup. I'm happy with this $30 device.
Day 2 update: As reported elsewhere, the wireless network does not say up with the firmware as delivered. I bit the bullet and applied the dd-wrt update.
see: [...]
Be careful doing the update. There's great advice given in several of the reviews here and the on-line documentation is complete. Don't skip through it as errors may brick your device rendering it unusable.
Customer Review: Purchased 4 of these
Summary: 5 Stars
I have purchased four (4) of these refurbished routers for making a wireless network in a multi-building church complex. Using DD-WRT firmware, has made this device fantastically versatile. I have one set as an access point, two set as a repeater-bridge, and another one set as as repeater. With this setup I cover one city of block of buildings comprised of 3 separate buildings with multiple floors.
I have used 2Wire, D-Link, Linksys, Cisco, Motorola, and Actiontec routers and they all require above average network understanding and knowledge (I have a D-Link Dir-655 at home). I haven't seen a router for newbies to my liking yet. After installing DD-WRT firmware, the Wiki online step by step help for setting up the router for various uses is second to none. Again, this process isn't terribly complicated if a person is willing to read directions and learn as you go. Also, the dd-wrt firmware is extremely stable.
After using the products for about four months, I have no complaints. I believe the value ($30.99), refurbished (known problems fixed), and DD-WRT firmware upgrade make this a good product for the money.
If anyone would like to learn from my experiences in setting up this wireless network (I am not a professional, just a learning amateur), contact me.