routers

While Netgear and D-Link introduced their approaches to app-supporting and cloud-enabled networking products at CES 2012, Cisco, which didn't have anything to announce at CES, turns out to be the first to materialize the new concepts.

Cisco today unveiled a line of Linksys Smart Wi-Fi routers that promises to change the face, and the body, of home networking.

The Linksys EA4500, EA3500, and EA2700 -- the "A" designation being short for "app-enabled" -- look like models in the earlier E Series but have more-powerful hardware and support Cisco Connect Cloud, the next generation of Cisco … Read more

After the excellent N+ router that came out a few years ago, Belkin has been on a streak of rather mediocre routers, such as the Play or Play Max. But the Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router is a bit different.

This is the latest router from the company and also its first one that supports the 3 by 3 450Mbps standard on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously. This is the reason for the N900 designation, which shows that the router supports the 802.11n specification and provides up to 900Mbps.

In my testing, the N900 DB lived … Read more

I waited for a while before reviewing Asus's latest RT-N66U Dark Knight Double 450Mbps N router, which is the successor of the award-winning RT-N56U.

And it was worth the wait.

The reason for the holdup was the router's initial versions of the firmware had a few known bugs. I tested it with the latest, version 3.0.0.3.108, and while I could still find some minor quirks, the router proved itself to be one of the best N900 routers on the market.… Read more

Congrats to Jake T. of Clinton, Utah, for winning a 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi tablet in last week's giveaway. This week's prize might not be the most glamorous freebie we've ever offered, but it's definitely one of the most utilitarian.

We're giving away a Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router. And as routers go, it's a mighty good one, says CNET's storage and networking reviewer Dong Ngo. He calls it a fast, feature-rich, advanced yet easy-to-use router for the home or small business--and one of the best routers of 2011 (if not the best). … Read more

Back at CES 2010, D-Link showed off a prototype of what would be the first touch-based wireless router. The final product never materialized.

Securifi announced today the Almond, which, when it ships in a few weeks, will actually be the first wireless router on the market that comes with a touch screen. It will help users quickly, and easily, manage their wireless network.

The new router has a 320x240-pixel 2.8-inch full-color touch screen that takes care of its own setup and maintenance. Traditionally, a router comes with either desktop software or a Web interface (or both), which are generally … Read more

It was clear from CES that 2012 is going to be a year of major changes in home networking, considering the availability of the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. While it's rather complicated to figure out all the differences between Wi-Fi standards, it's quite easy to equip yourself with the best as long as you follow this regularly updated list of the Top 5 networking products currently available.

This time around, the list includes the two first 802.11ac routers on the market and three cream-of-the-crop N900 Wireless-N routers. Any of these routers is able to transform your home network into something you might not have imagined possible before, thanks to features, speed, or both.

This list is sorted by the review date, starting with the most recently reviewed.… Read more

The wireless router just is not something you want to think about much. That's why we've rounded up Dong Ngo's list of the Top 5 best wireless routers in this video. Plug in one of these, enter your settings, and get back to high-speed, hassle-free connectivity.

There are a few new technologies you need to know about when buying a wireless router today. Here's a quick explanation of some of the terms you may have heard in this video. They are all technologies that can be found in 802.11n routers, which are what you'll … Read more

You counted right, the Amped Wireless R10000G router has four zeros in its name.

Those digits are intended to indicate that the router is able to offer Wi-Fi coverage for an area of 10,000 square feet, about 10 times that of a good-size apartment.

In my testing, it indeed offered really long range.… Read more

The wireless router is arguably the most important piece of computer equipment in your house, since it connects the rest of your gadgets to one another and the Internet.

Now that we're well into the new year, let's look back at the top five routers of 2011. These routers will stay relevant this year and maybe even beyond. They are a handful from among the many I reviewed last year that represent what consumers will find on the market. … Read more