Cisco-Linksys WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router
by Linksys
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List Price: Our Price: $109.98 You Save: $90.01 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $49.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router
Customer Review: Linksys WRT610N Dual Band Router Install (Quick and Easy)
Summary: 5 Stars
This router was purchased to replace a Linksys "G" router which we had used for several years to connect our 2 PCs and HP All-in-One printer to our Comcast cable internet service (16 megabit max download speed).
Our objectives were to get more range for the wireless connections, and to hook up High Def video streaming from the internet to a newly acquired Bravia internet link that came with our Sony HD TV. As the new router supports 2 simultaneous frequency bands, I wanted the PCs and printer on 2.4GHz, and the video streaming to be the only application for the 5.0GHz band.
The Linksys Router install Wizard is very quick and easy to use, and will get you up and running in 15-20 minutes if you use the Wizards setup options, and are familiar with Routers so you know what you want. In my case, I wanted WPA2 encryption to secure the network itself, and password protection to control access to the Router itself. The Wizard will do that for you, just follow the steps.
The WRT610N is a very sophisticated product, and if you want to do your own setup by talking directly to the Router via a browser, you can do that, and set up things like MAC address filtering to restrict in an additional way the devices that can use your network.
I broke our project into 2 steps, and initially got the PCs and printer running wirelessly, and hooked up the Bravia internet link via a long ethernet cable to the Router. This allowed us to check out the video streaming and learn a bit about the internet link, without the need for the Bridge device.
This worked very well, and then I replaced the long cable with a Linksys Wireless N dual band bridge (WET610N) . This was quick and easy, using the Wizard that came with the bridge (separate review is posted covering that part of the project)
Customer Review: Don't buy this for the storage feature
Summary: 3 Stars
I was impressed by the installation software. I have a large network with print servers, XBOX360, laptops and desktops, TIVO, IPHONE, and network storage. I run Windows 98, Windows XP, and Vista 32 and 64 bit systems. The software found them all although it took some time to do so. It also simplified connecting the laptops wirelessly. The desktops and other devices are wired. Wireless transmission has been excellent although I have not tried it at any great distance.
I knew that the bios had to be upgraded. The online help feature did not tell me how to do this for this model but I was able to follow directions for another model.
I was unable to find any documentation for the USB external drive storage capability. I ended up calling technical support to get instructions. The rep I talked to had to talk to others to assist me but was patient and we were able to get through the process. I was able to store some music files on the external drive and access them from several PCs. However, the router must be accessed to perform a soft shutdown of the external drive. My cable modem was replaced and the Linksys software detected the problem and told me to cut power for a few secods to the router. I did so and lost the files.
Linksys makes very little mention of the external storage capability and provides no documentation that I could find on its usage. Since I spent about 45 minutes with tech support learning the process of enabling this feature it would probably benefit them financially to provide this documentation.
The router does a great job of connecting all of my equipment and the software can analyze connection problems. Next time I would probably go with a Linksys router without the storage feature. Notice that the packaging barely mentions this feature.
Customer Review: Good Product So Far
Summary: 4 Stars
I like the look of the unit. It provides good information via the LCD lights, but you have to be looking down at it so, it would not be very helpful if you wanted to place it on a shelf that was above your head. (Though you can mount to vertically to the wall, if you don't mind putting holes in your wall.)
Setup is a little annoying and you can't disable or remove the default administrator account, the best you can do is give it a really strong password. The other issue is, unlike the D-Link router that it's replacing, you have a limit on port rules. I haven't counted, but it's about 25 slots that are given for each type (eg. port routing, port blocking, etc).
I also had a problem initially with the administration web interface not showing/or allowing changes to some of the features. I corrected it, but I don't remember how. (Basically it brings up a new page to say "successfully completed," with a continue button on it, every time you save and access was being blocked at that point.
Otherwise, it has been performing beautifully and it has removed the headaches I was having with the old router dropping connections all the time. I don't have any wireless audio visual components so I don't have any experience with the 5ghz band that it comes with, so I can't comment on that. The gigabit connection via wire is great.
I really like having the usb port for storage for the whole network, but I am finding that there is a frequent, but inexplicable delay of about 10 to 20 seconds when saving or accessing files on it. I currently have a 8 gig flash thumb drive attached to see how it works. I was thinking of putting a teribyte solid state for backups, if they get cheap enough, but that might not be feasible with this delay that exists.
Customer Review: Solid performance and way better looking than my wrt54gs it replaced
Summary: 5 Stars
Setup was typical Linksys, not too difficult at all. Had initial problem getting to internet, could not browse but setup said I was connected. Called my ISP and confirmed I was authenticating they advised perhaps my antivirus was at fault. Sure enough, the software firewall in my AV client saw the new connection as a threat. Reset the rules and was up and running, so I wonder how many people may be blaming the router on their connection problems in error. Many reviews mention this router gets hot but new (to me anyway) in this stock configuration manager I found a radio power setting. Set both radios to low power and still have excellent signal on both bands everywhere in my house which is good in two ways, 1 it limits the range at which my wireless is detectable and 2 it seems to be keeping the unit fairly cool. And file transfers between my workstation and server simply fly now on the built in gigabit switch which was my main reason for getting this to replace my still serviceable wrt54gs. My only complaint is Amazon's tracking notification, the number they provided me to track the shipment does not appear to be valid with any of the major carriers and on the website, despite the fact it arrived early today, it still says it is being picked up and estimated delivery date is still a week away! Whats up with your shipping AMAZON? (NOT that I am complaining about getting here so fast but I would still like to know about when to start actually looking for the package on my doorstep!) Also, being familiar with the product I opted to not install the LELA software that ships with it so I cannot comment on that. If you have ever configured any of the other linksys products you should have no trouble at all manually configuring this one, don't bother with LELA.Customer Review: Incredibly unreliable!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I've owned this router for less than 24 hours, and I've already decided to ship it back to Amazon.
I'm struggling with FREQUENT and spontaneous disconnects. The router simply CANNOT stay connected to ANY of my machines. The two main machines that I've been using have EACH been disconnected over a dozen times in the past 24 hours.
This isn't a distance/physical-obstruction issue. I'm in a one-story apartment with thin walls and a lot of open space. The machines that connect to this router are at most TWELVE FEET AWAY - and there's almost a clean line of sight to the router!
This also isn't an OS or network adapter issue. I'm experiencing the same results on four different machines (a Dell Studio Slim Desktop running x86 Vista; an HP dv9700 notebook running x64 Vista; an HP zd8000 notebook running XP; and an old Dell Inspiron notebook running XP.) All four machines have different brands and models of network adapters. The only common thread is the router.
This also isn't a configuration issue. I followed the instructions to a T, even going so far as to run Linksys's "easy setup" utility (rather than just busting into 192.168.0.1 and configuring it myself.) It's running a pretty vanilla router configuration with WPA. And according to the Linksys website, I'm running the latest firmware.
And it's not just me! A Google search for "WRT610N disconnects" turns up hundreds of forum posts by other users experiencing the same exact issue. The best advice is to ENTIRELY SHUT DOWN the 5GHz band... thereby invalidating the ONLY feature that distinguishes this router from other 802.11N that are $100 cheaper and more reliable.
Bottom line: DO NOT BUY THIS ROUTER. IT IS DOA, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.