Cisco-Linksys WRT160N Wireless-N Broadband Router
by Linksys
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Our Price: $117.18 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.75 (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 Wireless-N Broadband Router
Customer Review: Buy more or else!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this unit assuming I could expect liking it based on past experience with Linksys/Cisco products. Over time though I've grown to hate it. Not so much from a performance standpoint, (overall it seems reliable, particularly if hardwired to it), but more from a setup/quality of use standpoint. I've found the setup can be pretty frustrating particularly for additional wireless devices. When things work, fine, when they don't... good luck and you're going to need it.
Documentation sucks, consisting primarily of a step 1, step 2, quickie set-up which unfortunately is inaccurate, thereby going wrong right from the start. Worse, some of the touted features might work IF, you buy a subscription to their "Network Magic" support software. If you don't, too bad, you're then pretty much on your own from that point forward. Neither the box, nor their ads, bother to point out that a subscription is required for those features.
And worse still, if you don't subscribe, you may expect to be badgered on a regular basis by an extremely annoying hype screen which pops up every third or so many times you log on.... forever, as there is no way to opt out and tell it don't bother me again. Pretty disgusting when a company like Cisco has to stoop to the "sales" methods of viral trojans and rogue software.
I own it, I use it, but I hate and wish I never bought it, nor would I recommend it. And I find I grow to loathe it even more every time the Network Magic hype screen interrupts my startup forcing me to actively click out, to opt out. Sleazy and annoying. Hardly the approach to encourage me to invest more money with them.
Customer Review: Great Product, Good Service, Install Headaches
Summary: 4 Stars
I am by no means an IT expert. But having owned 3 different routers and setup wireless networks with 4 different phone/cable companies in the past, this is by far the most struggles that I have faced.
THe unit did not come with any written material. I can understand that as its a way to cut costs and most people don't read it anyways. Well, that is until there is a problem. The stock CD explained the bare bone basics and once its stuck, as it did with my install, you have to call the 800 number.
The tech on the phone is very nice and helpful. However, she tried to sell me some additional features that I did not need. Another shameful source of revenue***Wink Wink*** I am not a fan of those "dirty" tactics and was/is not too pleased with it. I can easily see how some people can be taken advantage of.
I am not sure why they made it so difficult to install. My computer can find the rounter, but the router did not connect to the internet.....hummmmm.....she (Tech) brought me back to the "DOS" ages (Yeah, that was a little wierd) where we had to "ping" the modem. Again, WHY? It should be point and click! Isn't that what Windows is supposed to do?
Performance: A combination of 12MB speed and this N-Router = Speed. I am pleased with the range and performance so far. A quick try with Netflix showed me the power of the 2. I am very happy with the results.
In short, good powerful product. Installation was difficult, but technician is helpful. Just watch out for the "sales" tactic that the technicians are trained to sell.
Customer Review: Product works fine - beware their stupis software
Summary: 4 Stars
This product works well for me. It is upstairs in a study with lots of other equipment, and there are no dead spots anywhere in my home. Or outside. Or even next door. I have it paired with Linksys WUSB300N-RM Wireless N USB Adapters on notebook computers, and I get very good range with good throughput or EXCELLENT throughput (300mbs) at close range.
If you are comfortable with setting up equipment at all, forget their software disk. Throw it away. Connect your PC into this router via patch cable (one is included) and use a web browser to hit the default IP (192.168.1.1). The user ID is blank, default password is "admin". Change your password, then go to town.
The included software is - I guess - useful for the novice, in that it walks you through (with some silly quasi-animation) exactly how to plug in a network cable to the back, which ones to plug in, which port is port "1", etc. I assume the novice will be happy to wait half an hour while MS .net fw3 is installed and the user's machine is completely reconfigured to handle the absurdly huge footprint of their "setup" software.
I swear, I almost ripped the thing off the shelf, shoved it thing back in the box with torn cables hanging from the back, and shipped it right back to hell from whence it came. Then, my cooler side prevailed. I remembered that Linksys has a web interface onboard, I aborted all the install junk, and googled enough details to get me started properly.
Now that I got it set up (and this off my chest) I am very happy with the product.
Customer Review: The best bet for your money! Flawless.
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently had a string of bad luck while trying to replace my ancient B router. After going through 3 other routers of different brands I finally decided to buy this one. Routers can have all sorts of problems while setting them up and I think I encountered a lot of them in a short amount of time. After buying this one I reluctantly started setting it up and was pleasantly surprised to get it up and going in no time!
This one also has a lot of extra options that make it the best out there for your money. I connected a laptop, a PSP, and a PS3 to my new network with NO problems whatsoever. The range on this router is amazing. It gives a strong 100% signal no matter where you put it in the house. I have my PS3 in a cabinet and could only get about 80% tops with other N routers, but I'm always running at 100% with the Linksys. I haven't had to reboot it since I've bought it and my internet speed is truly amazing. Faster than ever even on my wired computer! Believe it or not my speed is almost twice as fast as if I just ran my internet directly through my modem! It's also really easy to monitor your network to see if there are any freeloaders on it. Security is also a breeze with this beauty. I couldn't recommend a better router in this price range. This is definitely the one to buy!
I hope you consider this one because if you try to save a few bucks by buying a cheaper brand or version you will just end up with headaches. I found this out the hard way through trial and error. Trust me on this one. Thanks for your time. Good luck.
Customer Review: Works fine but set-up was not easy
Summary: 3 Stars
This router gets the job done, looks sleek, and has a nicer smaller wall plug, so it fits in better into my power strip with all the other big plugs. The speed doesn't seem much faster than what the G router we had provided, but I realize other factors play into internet speed.
My biggest complaint about the router is its advertised insistence that set-up was a piece of cake. Nope it wasn't. It should have been, but wasn't. We reached a point where we could successfully get internet when hard-wired in, but not wireless.
Called Linksys/Cisco tech support -- the representative had no interest in really helping. He went through 3 or 4 tests, and when he was still unsuccessful, his suggestion to us was that the router was defective, and we should get Amazon to give us our money back. We laughed at that, cuz one of two things would have happened -- Amazon would have sent us another Linksys router, that may or may not be defective, or we just would have purchased a non-linksys brand, which I'm sure that rep's boss would have loved.
Anyway, a friend of ours is a network engineer. He came to the house and worked his magic, configuring IP addresses on both our modem and our router for them to play nice together. Without him, the Linksys router would have been returned for another brand. The Linksys rep should have done what our network engineer friend did, but he either wasn't allowed to, didn't know how to, or didn't want to. And that to me is very disconcerting. Linksys support is nothing like it used to be.