NETGEAR WNR834B-100NAS Wireless N Router
by Netgear
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of NETGEAR WNR834B-100NAS Wireless N Router
Customer Review: 3 routers--3 failures--in only 3 months
Summary: 2 Stars
We first got this router in June 2007, following the failure of a D-Link wireless router. We have two desktop computers, an all-in-one printer, and 2 (or more) wireless laptops on our home network, all XP. Our ISP comes via a 2ghz wireless transmission. I ignored the CD, since we are on a static IP and I know how to input the numbers. First problem was that the router wouldn't accept Firefox input; I had to switch to IE. Once up & running, however, it worked wonderfully well--very fast on the wired computers, with solid connections for the wireless laptops throughout our 3-story house.
Then in mid-July we left on vacation. Upon return, we discovered the router had completely lost the capability to deliver a wireless signal, despite reboots. So, we exchanged it for another. This one set up flawlessly in Firefox. Again, we were happy campers--for two weeks. Another out-of-town trip and another failure (mid-August now). This time, the home network & wireless signal continued functioning, but it could not connect to the WAN, despite numerous reboots.
We exchanged once again (we were dealing with Staples, which was to our benefit at least), although the router had to be dropped shipped to us--meaning a delay of about 3 days. This time, I remembered that manually entering the IP numbers required IE. But, it didn't take! So, I switched to Firefox--no luck. Back to IE again--third try worked and again we got the fast, stable performance we expected--but only for one more week. At the end of the first week of Sept, our valley experienced some heavy rains & lightning. After one strike across the valley, the router blinked (despite being on back-up power & surge protection) and we lost the internet signal again. Wireless & home network still worked, however.
That was enough. Back to the store, exchanged for a Linksys WRT350N, and we're up & running again. The Linksys does not seem quite as fast, but it's stable and manually configuring the router was a breeze.
Customer Review: total failure -- should be recalled immediately
Summary: 1 Stars
This is the absolute WORST netgear brand item I've ever purchased in over 10 years. Whomever the product manager is should be held responsible and this product should be recalled immediately to save netgear's reputation.
I bought this item brand new to replace a mimo-G netgear router which never worked right after a particularly bad thunderstorm (even though it was on a surge protector and UPS). Rather than buying the same router which worked faithfully for a year.. a record in my household of heavy-users.. I opted for the N-series because of the extra wifi range and speed it seemed to promise.
Here's my network situation:
- 8 computers in a digital/audio studio
- 3 roaming laptops that go anywhere around the house
- heavy 24/7 useage, during the day theres a lot of traffic (although we load-balance) and during the night the machines dump their backups to an intranet raid-box.
Here's my gripe:
- I can't connect anything wifi to this router unless all security is disabled. As an experienced user, this is extremely obnoxious . I've never had this problem with any of the prior models.
- Some fancy features only work on the default wireless channel.
- wireless range is extremely low. You're better off with an ad-hoc network with a bunch of crappy n/w adapters rather than buying this router.
- with standard WEP protection, i can connect to just the router IF IM IN THE SAME ROOM but can't get out onto the web anywhere. Doesnt make any sense since the DHCP features are turned on, the router is getting an IP, and all the ethernet-connected PCs are doing fine.
Conclusion:
This is really just an expensive HUB. It's wireless features are crippled, range is paltry, and it needs to be rebooted often. An F- product, two thumbs down, 0 stars, do not pass go, do not collect $200, if you buy this router you will cry like a sissy girl. It's dead Jim.
Customer Review: Poor product, backed by unacceptably weak tech support
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased the WNR834B to set up a wifi hotspot at a local community organization. The router has been defective since day one: every 3-to-15 minutes it drops all wireless signals and resets itself. As a computer engineer by trade, I knew to try a variety of tricks, such as changing the router's location, avoiding any possible EMF interference, trying different channels, upgrading the firmware, etc. The router is simply defective.
Even the best tech companies sometimes ship a defective product, so at first I wasn't too perturbed. I called Netgear, politely allowed the tech rep to walk through a number of basic troubleshooting steps to verify the router was indeed malfunctioning, and expected to be given an RMA (Return Materials Authorization) number to get the product exchanged.
Unfortunately, no. Netgear's offshore tech group seems to have been given one and only one set of marching orders: avoid RMAs at all costs. Two months and three or four calls later, the defective router is still sitting on my desk beside me as I type this review. Netgear repeatedly "escalates" my case, has me re-run the same tests over and over at each step, and instructs me to run extended tests that most networking experts would agree have little chance of unearthing any useful data. My case has been escalated yet again, and I am now waiting for a technician to call me back sometime in the next few days -- Netgear can't estimate when. All to avoid an exchange of a $100 router.
It goes without saying that I can't recommend anyone purchase this product. Tech support for most low-end commercial electronics and technology products is notoriously poor, but Netgear has remarkably managed to lower the bar. As I note from reading the online reviews of this and other Netgear products, mine is hardly an isolated horror story. As such, and until the corporation changes its ways, I must recommend you avoid all Netgear products.
Customer Review: Poor Product
Summary: 1 Stars
I installed this product and the accompanying Netgear Wireless-N card last night.
I was switching over from a Linksys wireless G network and thought I would give Netgear a try.
The setup of the product was relatively straight forward, although the interface was very plain. My first complaint is that the quick setup forces you to have the device connected up to the internet at the same time it is connected to your PC, this is extremely annoying since most people will have their PC situated away from their broadband connection!!
I knew more than enough to take the route to manual configuration offered in the manual. So I went that way.
Before long I had my card installed and this router set up. I was getting a good signal for the first few minutes, which fluctuated heavily after that giving me anywhere from 270Mbps to 18Mbps. FYI The devices were only on opposite sides of the same room!! Also every device that could trasmit interferance was turned off.
In addition the software that sits in your system tray and provides and interface to the device, is junk. The device lost connection, circa 5 minutes and although the software said it could see the network it could not reconnect, until reboot.
When it did work I could get to the base station nicely, but not beyond - the unit could only get out to the internet periodically.
After a Friday evening wasted wrestling with this thing, its going back.
For reference I work with Computers and large scale networks as a profession and I am not someone to be impatient or give up easily, but NETGEAR I am sorry, this device just is not fitting the bill for me.
I am going take it back now and potentially try the Linksys wireless N, or wait for the standard to be set in stone.
Customer Review: Netgear 834 N router
Summary: 3 Stars
I was using a Netgear Rangemax WPN824 for years, both here and in Mexico. The one in Mexico I had outside under a piece of plastic so neighbors could connect to the internet. It worked fine for about 3 years, it finally died, I assumed from the exposure to the weather. I had it's twin brother at home in the states, again working for years without much of a problem. One day the one at home quit working, so i went for the 834N router figuring N is better then G which is better then B. I set it up ok, but it didn't have the distance my 824 had so I would lose my connection when surfing through four walls. I moved the netgear 834bV2 so I would only be going through three walls when using my laptop. I still had problems with connections, sometimes it would work, sometimes not. I found that if I made the connection to the internet in the room where the router was, then carried the laptop into my family room, it would get a connection and hold it better. I would say I had a 60 percent connection from the other room. In my office, I just ended up plugging directly into the router to stop any connection problems.
Then I bought an apple computer, it connected to my router without any problem except the ever constant problem of low signals levels and the apple dropping the connection alltogether at times. My problem with the WNR834B is you have to be careful how far you have your router from your computer. A few days ago my laptop stopped connecting to the router, and I have not been able to connect since then. I read online that apple and netgear do not always get along, and they recommend you turn off security settings. That doesn't sound like a good idea, so I am going to junk the 834 and buy an apple extreme. I will write later how that went.