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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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router
Customer Review: All that you will ever need in a router
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, this router is probably more than you will ever need. I myself do not have a Gigabit network but I do have the router and the cables if my internet connection ever supports it. I wanted something that would be future-proof and at a somewhat reasonable price which this was even though it is still probably $50 more than most people would want to pay. It is very easy to setup and it works well with my current High-speed DSL modem, Cisco 677. The (4) Gigabit ports in the back of the router are the usual number that you will find but much faster. I have am currently using all of the ports with CAT-6 cables that I also bought on here and have already reviewed. The devices that I am connected to are: D*TV HD DVR, PS3, Xbox 360 Elite, Vizio SV422XVT Internet-ready LCD HDTV. Wirelessly I am connecting the following: Sony VAIO (Wireless-N), iPhone 3G, iTouch, PSP. The computer is where I can really see a difference from my previous Wireless-B router which was severely outdated. I figured that I had enough devices attached to my network that I could justify such a quality router. The range seems great as I am able to move all around my house with my wireless devices without a noticeable drop in speed. The dual bands (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) seem to work in concert to give consistent connection speeds to all connected devices.
When you get the router, here are some things you will want to check/do:
1. Update to the latest firmware version: Administration>Firmware Upgrade
2. Make sure that you have V2 of this router:
a. on/off switch at the back of the unit
b. S/N starts with CTG01 instead of CTG11 for V2
3. Change the default system password
4. Use WPA Encryption - WPA2-Personal>WPA-TKIP or WPA2-AES
5. Setup Wireless Security for both 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
6. Once everything has been connected, turn SSID broadcasting off
7. setup Port Forwarding, if needed for gaming consoles, see below
Port Forwarding Settings (Gaming):
Applications & Gaming>Single Port Forwarding-
Xbox 360 Live:
Customized Applications Ext Port Protocol TCP/UDP IP Address Enable
360_1 53 to 53 both 192.168.1.27 X
360_2 80 to 80 both 192.168.1.27 X
360_3 88 to 88 both 192.168.1.27 X
360_4 3074 to 3074 both 192.168.1.27 X
360_5 4500 to 4500 both 192.168.1.27 X
PS3 Home:
Customized Applications Ext Port Protocol TCP/UDP IP Address Enable
PS3_1 5223 to 5223 both 192.168.1.29 X
PS3_2 3478 to 3478 both 192.168.1.29 X
PS3_3 3479 to 3479 both 192.168.1.29 X
PS3_4 3658 to 3658 both 192.168.1.29 X
Hopefully some of the above settings help you. In conclusion, this is a great router that will meet all of your needs and can support a large home or small office network. Whether you need Gigabit connection speeds or not this router will do the job connecting all your Wired and Wireless-N devices. If you have the $ then it is a buy plus Amazon has the best price for this product that I have seen. If you do buy it, you won't be disappointed.
Customer Review: Be on your tech game, it looks cool but that's it.
Summary: 1 Stars
I searched all the reviews from the Technologically savvy to the just connect it and get ready people to make my decision to buy this product. During the collapse of a big box giant(CC)tear..., I decided to buy this product and have been headached ever since. The very first time I set up the software, it worked great on a PC and on an older Mac. I installed the proprietary software onto the PC, because my MAC was not supported. Both computers were desired to run wirelessly, and both to this day have issues daily. The main reason I shelled out the top $$ for this unit is because I read reviews about the coverage area. Living in the bayarea, the heart of silcon valley CA, I have great upload and download speeds via my cable connection. Which is provided by a very inexpensive cable router from ... not Motorola, but RCARCA DCM425 DIGITAL CABLE MODEM (RCA DCM425). The setup disk allows the user to go into settings without typing in the ISP to access the router. The issue that I have is that the lower bandwidth will be almost non-existent for hours at a time within a 3 foot range and a clear view. The signal is very weak and it drops the connection very frequently. Previously I had a non dual band wireless modem from linksys... Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router, and that worked amazingly on 3 laptops, a PS3, and a desktop... all operating optimally wireless. Since I had such a great experiance about the ease of use of the old linksys product, when I left my old place with roomates, I decided to upgrade. Bad idea on my part. If you dedicate higher transfer speeds on the higher bandwidth, then going wireless on the 2.4Ghz bandwidth is like dial up with horrible range and dropped connections. I have no lower bandwidth upstairs in my home and constant dropping on the 5.0Ghz with my PC which is able to recieve these signals.
If you are spending more than $80, which I did, then don't buy this item. Save your money and buy a wireless system at a much more inexpensive price. The router listed above is for the plug and play person like me, while the WRT610N is over priced and lacking dumbease compatible. If you are technologically and multimedia savvy, don't dismiss the lack for automatic connections which are not user friendly on this device. I have a 52" TV, PS3, Blueray player, and a multiroom reciever connected via DLNA ethernet connections which also speak through the network... which when speaking with the wireless computers have issues unless I reset connections on a daily basis with this router. Such a pain. When wired, it works ok but takes a moment to talk. I had my friend come by to trouble shoot it, who maintains the network system of a local company who in turned off the lower bandwidth which improved the speed ever so slightly but now disabled the MAC. We undid his tinkering and have just been frustrated ever since. I tried to call tech support which left me on hold for hours with no help nad have decided to give this 1 star on price and 1 star on use. Over all is 1 star, so much more reliable routers from linksys that can be picked up for a fraction of the price.
Customer Review: All that glitter is not gold
Summary: 3 Stars
O.k so I read the technical reviews and made the pop. My home has 6 laptops (3 HP models running Vista, 2 Dells running Windows XP SP3 and 3 desktops (2 HP running vista and 1 Dell running Windows XP SP3). I have a 3 story house, with the pc's scattered throughout. My current wireless network is 802.11 g/b and it works fine for the most part. However we tend to max this out at times, hence the need to go to the dual band. I currently have an existing local area network as well. My planned configuration was to use the router as a bridge rather than a router, that is it would be added down stream to my existing wired router.
I will cut to the chaise.
Installation 3 out of 5. Half way through the automated installation there was a stall and had to call Linksys technical support to get the installation complete.
If you are using this as a bridge, that is expanding your existing wired network then the setting is different and no information is provided to guide you through this. It is important to note that that the hard wire connections are different when used as a bridge than as a router. I knew this from prior experience, but Linksys, kept insisting that the unit would not function this way. After mutiple attempts with Technical Support I was able to work with one technician to get this correctly set up the way I wanted.
Network Coverage: 3 out of 5. I placed the unit on the third floor and was able to pick up strong 8012.11 b/g signal throughout the house for the most part. The 802.11 n network which was able to be detected on the first floor with 3 bars, and weak signal strength on the 2nd floor. When I moved the unit to the ground floor I got good receptivity on the 801.11g/b throughout the house, but again the 802.11 n was limited. I had to go within 10 feet of the unit, with the lap top and then the signal strength was still poor. Linksys gave me some tips on how to increase the signal strength but that was not permanent. In short do not fall for the 802.11 n pitch. For this reason I gave it 3 stars.
I kept my old D-Link wireless 801.11 g network with the router housed on the third floor. That network was picked up with very good signal strength on the 2nd and 3rd floor quite well.
So as I move through the house with any of the laptops having wireless G and N network connectivity I can connect to any of the 802.11 g or n wireless networks, but with very limited success with the 802.11 n.
If you are planning on keeping an existing wireless network you will need to give any new ones created a new name.
Performace Stability: 5 stars. The unit has not failed since I have had it, and I have had serious downtime with the D-link unit, that required repeated resets. In this area the unit outperforms all the others I have used in the past.
So in summary, know what you want to do and what problem you are solving before buying this unit, not because it provides 802.11 n wireless technology, makes it a great buy. Hope this helps.
Customer Review: A great router when it doesn't disconnect
Summary: 3 Stars
The first thing one notices about the Linksys WRT610N router is its sleek design. It has a deep black polished finish with nary an antenna in sight. It can be hung on a wall or placed on a flat surface. CAVEAT: Hanging it on a wall may decrease signal strength in some instances.
Setup is straightforward if you're familiar with router technology. At any rate, one doesn't have to be an advanced technician to get the router up and running. CAVEAT: Once the initial installation is complete, you had better download the latest firmware. The Linksys forums are inundated with consumers who claim that they lose connectivity intermittently. I had the same problem, until I downloaded the firmware update. (If you're replacing a working router, you may want to consider downloading the firmware before you start your new installation.)
Installing the firware update: Download the update from the Linksys site. Create a new folder on your desktop and uncompress the files into the new folder. Go to the router's webpage (192.168.1.1), sign in and click on Administration. Click on Firmware (below administration)and then click Browse. Navigate to the uncompressed file on your desktop. Click on Start Upgrade. DO NOT CLOSE OR SHUTDOWN THE WEBPAGE. WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE DIALOG BOX THAT READS THE FIRMWARE UPGRADE HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
During the installation, you'll be asked many questions. Be sure to change the password you'll use to enter the router's webpage, and don't neglect to set up strong security. WPA2 is recommended.
Linksys recommends that you change the router's address to 192.168.2.1. I suggest that you do it, otherwise you may experience intermittent connectivity problems.
As you can see, setting up your NEW router can be a daunting task. The neophyte should follow the software instructions to the letter. I would recommend you visit the Linksys forum and read the FAQ page before installing your new router.
The Linksys tech support team is located overseas. There is a toll-free number that operates 24/7. The tech support members, however, are at times difficult to understand. Nonetheless, they'll stay on the line with you for hours, if necessary.
The router uses the latest N technology, and it is backward compatible with wireless G. It is dual band, which means if you're going to take advantage of the router's wireless technology, you must have wireless N adapters for your PCs. I suggest that you use the 5 GHz band for your wireless N connectivity, because the signal won't receive interference from cordless phones and microwaves, etc.
Overall, I find that the router lives up to its PR; I have several computers in my home, and we stream video, music, and photos to all of them, sometimes simultaneously, always without a glitch.
Customer Review: A potential powerhouse of a router
Summary: 3 Stars
This router is a powerhouse in and of itself but Linksys did a terrible, just terrible job with the firmware on it and updates just don't come soon enough.
I went through hell the first month+ with this thing....my internet speed would drop from 20Mb to 2Mb within a few days of use, the router would randomly reboot within a week and there were just issues that made it so it just wasn't worth the money or trouble and a surprising bad linksys product.
Being interested in technology though, I'm not one to give up easily so I worked through the problems and discovered that there's a fatal flaw in the firmware which makes it so that many of the built in features that most users would want or need have to be disabled for it to work properly.
I disabled the Home Defender and Upnp and voila!, finally I had a router that is worthy of the price.
For the record, the router can't be easier to set up and the web portal is easy to configure and use. The range is pretty great. 2k sq ft. apartment and 5 bars using 2.4GHz N and G mode. 4-5 bars using 5Ghz N mode with great speeds - the closer the better of course, when it comes to 5Ghz. Simultaneous band use means that I can use one mode for G and N and the other for N - being able to use both bands at the same time is truly a great thing at this point in time, as I have many G devices that would pull down my N speeds if I had to use mixed mode.
There has been a firmware update as of late 2010 which claims to fix some of the issues but I haven't tested it. I'd decided that I would either sell the box or run alternative firmware, and so I picked running the firmware which worked nicely for me.
In the end, I cannot recommend the router as it is. However, with some tweaks and/or alternative firmware this is a great router and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
Pros:
Good hardware
Informative lights
Great features
Easy to setup and use
Cons:
Terrible 'initial' firmware (2009)
Must disable some of the very features which make the router attractive for it to actually work
Requires too many front end tweaks to work, this is typical of a low/mid brand router - not a top brand
Remember, if you use one of these or purchase one recently and it comes with the B0 firmware simply disable Home Defender and Upnp to get yours to work as it should.
You should also attempt to update the firmware if you can, as that MAY fix some of these issues.
If you are somewhat tech savvy, consider applying DDWRT firmware to really unlock the power of this device. With DDWRT I rate this thing 5 stars all around.