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Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router

Saturday, February 25th, 2006 | Networking (LAN), Reviews

If you want to be online and connected wherever you are at home, then the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router is your top buy. The Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router boasts of providing users with approximately up to 500,000 square feet of coverage. That’s 1000% more than 802.11g. So does it deliver? According to most consumers, it does.

For the novice, the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router comes with an installation CD with SmartWizard, which basically helps you to install the wireless-networking device as painless as possible. SmartWizard automatically identifies your ISP’s network settings and succeeding steps are clearly outlined. If you still cannot figure it out, we come to one of the product’s downside – many users complain that Netgear’s tech support is not so good. Although this does not directly impair on the product itself, it does bring a user down and is cause for much aggravation especially if you can’t even get it to start working.

Another ‘con’ is that there have been repeated reports of the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax not working well with legacy 802.11b devices. So if you have older Wi-Fi devices on your network, prepare to be challenged when setting up this wireless router.

Well, on to the good points! The Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router features MIMO technology AND a new technology called Video54, which enables the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router to have seven internal antennas. This enables the RangeMax to be constantly ‘on the prowl’ for any interference and adjusts the wireless signal ‘on-the-fly’ to make up for these barriers. This ensures that you get consistent high-speed connection anytime, anywhere in your home.

Note too that the seven antennas are discretely located inside the device offering users a sleek n’ chic design. Speaking of design, some users are a bit annoyed with the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router’s blue pulsing light at the top of the device (which is actually an indicator as to which antenna is currently transmitting) but I think it’s cool and with its white casing, the device is a nice and ‘clean’ gadget to have amongst your other hi-tech devices.

To sum up the pros…

• lightweight and sports a nice, clean design
• is easy to setup
• great range
• features advanced Smart MIMO technology with Video54 which makes ‘dead spots’ less of a problem

To sum up the cons…

• does not work well legacy 802.11b devices
• difficult to reset and reconfigure

All in all, the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router is great buy if you need to be online constantly, anywhere in your home.

Buy it online right now at the Internet's most trusted retailer

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