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Via e-mails and discussions with people, I've recently discovered that a lot of folks out there still have the impression that 300Mbps Wireless-N routers are not as affordable as the old 54Mbps Wireless-G routers are.

The D-Link DIR-615 costs just around $40 and offered very good performance in our tests.

(Credit: CNET)

Granted, you may be able to get a Wireless-G router for free from your service provider, but those tend to be very basic and limited in networking features. If you are willing to pay anything more than nothing, Wireless-N routers can be really affordable.

The D-Link DIR-615, for example, can be found online for about $40, and the Tp-Link TL-WR941ND for just $50.

Check out our list of Wireless-N routers that won't dig a hole in your wallet.

Note that these routers tend to be affordable because they lock out high-end features, such as support for dual-band or network storage (all of these routers are single 2.4Ghz band, but so are Wireless-G routers). They also tend to offer shorter ranges compared with higher-end, more expensive, Wireless-N routers.

However, for most home networking needs, they will work out just fine.

Like most editors at CNET, I often receive questions from CNET readers about specific problems. Here are a few that were brought up to me in the last month.

It's probably time I went wireless myself.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

Q: My laptop's Wireless-N adapter only caps at 130Mbps even though my D-Link DIR-855 can offer 300Mbps speeds. What can I do to boost the wireless speed of the laptop?

A: That might already be the best you can get. Wireless-N (802.11n) comes in different "tiers" with different amounts of streams (also referred to as antennae). Each stream offers a throughput speed up to 150Mbps.

While most routers are dual-stream and cap at 300Mbps (future ones can even support multistream, offering speeds up to 450Mbps or even 600Mbps), a lot of adapters built in to laptop and notebook computers to conserve the battery life use the single-stream standard. This means they cap at 150Mbps (which translates into something around 130Mbps, which is plenty fast, by the way). Also note that the throughput decreases as you increase the range. Generally the optimal range for the Wireless-N is between 15 feet and 70 feet away.

Q: Does my laptop have to have a dual-band adapter to take advantage of dual-band routers, such as the Linksys WRT610n, the Apple Airport Extreme or the D-Link DIR-825?

A: No, it doesn't matter how many bands an adapter supports; wireless networking devices only connect to one another in one band at a time. ... Read more

Since my CES blog on Netgear's WNDR3700, I have received a numerous e-mails asking about the availability of the product. Today, I can provide readers with a definitive answer.

Netgear announced Tuesday the immediate availability of what it calls "the ultimate networking machine for gamers, media enthusiasts, and small businesses," the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit router WNDR3700.

The WNDR3700 wireless router

(Credit: Netgear)

This is Netgear's highest-end draft-N router that offers true dual-band (concurrent signals in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands), as well as other features such as ReadyShare for high-speed access to a USB hard drive from any device on the network, broadband usage metering, Digital Living Network Alliance support and video quality of service.

According to Netgear, the router is equipped with a 680MHz processor to offer up to 500Mbps WAN to LAN speeds and up to 350Mbps real-world wireless throughput. It's also on of the first consumer wireless routers that compatible with DLNA-certified products. This supposedly makes it better at streaming digital media than other non-DLNA compatible routers.

The broadband usage metering is actually the first to be seen in a consumer-grade wireless router. This is a feature that lets users monitor the download traffic used; it is especially useful for broadband users with bandwidth quotas, such as Comcast members.

The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router is now available worldwide. The router comes with a one-year warranty, 24/7 technical support, and has an estimated price of $190. You can get it now or wait for my review of the product, which will be available later this month.

(Credit: Netgear)

I am not a big fan of parental controls, but that might be just because I'm not a parent.

If you are not like me and have been wondering if paying a yearly fee for the comprehensive parental control feature that accompanies the lackluster iBoss router is worth it, Netgear may have just made your life a lot easier.

Netgear announced Tuesday the release of Live Parental Controls, a comprehensive Web-filtering feature it has developed in collaboration with OpenDNS.

The new feature enables parents and small businesses to restrict Internet access to all the devices that connect via the router, with filtering based on more than 50 categories of content. The Live Parental Controls incorporate a comprehensive set of filtering features including some not available in other parental control solutions, such as remote management from mobile devices and highly flexible settings.

The best things about the new features are that they're free and are included with Netgear's new routers. The first one that comes with this is Netgear's Wireless-N 300 WNR2000 router. Netgear plans on putting Live Parental Controls in its future routers and Internet gateways.

The WNR2000 is available immediately and costs less than $80, which is very good for a Wirelesss-N router and it's a great deal considering the new Web filter, especially when compared with the iBoss.

Hands-on testing and a full review of Netgear's Wireless-N 300 WNR2000 wireless router will be available soon.

(Credit: Apple)

For those of you looking for more capacity in Apple's combo 802.11n router/NAS drive, the company has boosted its top-end Time Capsule to 2TB and slapped a $499 price tag on it.

More significantly, Apple also dropped the price of the 1TB model--which just Wednesday cost $499--to $299. Aside from the higher capacity, nothing else appears to have changed.

Previously, Apple also offered a 500GB Time Capsule, but that model has been discontinued and can only be found in the refurbished aisle, where it's going for $199.

All I can say is that if Apple was able to shave off $200 on the 1TB model, it must have had one hell of a nice margin.

Comments?

(Via: Engadget)

The $20 802.11n router: You're not likely to find a lower price.

(Credit: Netgear)

If your wireless router doesn't have the muscle to reach all corners of the house, or you need a faster connection for copying files and streaming videos, it might be time to consider an upgrade.

Newegg has refurbished Netgear WNR2000 802.11n Draft 2.0 routers for $19.99 (shipping will run you a mere $1.99).

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the "new" Wi-Fi protocol (which seems forever destined to be known as Draft-N) delivers better range and faster throughput speeds than 802.11g.

The WNR2000 is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two internal antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Keep in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router--but you'll still enjoy better range and, based on my experiences, faster wireless connections, even if you have 802.11b/g gear. (Make sure to download the latest firmware updates from Netgear.)

CNET hasn't reviewed the WNR2000, but the user comments on Newegg's product page are mostly positive. And over at Amazon, it averages four stars out of five. That's pretty impressive, as even high-end routers often get crummy reviews.

The WNR2000 has a list price of $79.99, so you're saving quite a bit by opting for a refurbished unit. It does have only a 90-day warranty, but what is there to break? Either it works or it doesn't. I think it's a steal, and at this price, I suspect they won't last.

Few things are less sexy than the humble router. But this wireless workhorse is our portal to the wonders of the Internet, and it's overdue for a makeover. Art students, backed by U.K. phone and broadband company TalkTalk, have come up with four clever and cool concepts to bring sexy back to Wi-Fi gizmos.

Photos: Redesigning the router

TalkTalk turned to Goldsmiths of the University of London, the crucible of learning that begat the band Blur and artist Damian Hirst and is so minimalist and stylish it's dropped the word "college." And it's on Twitter (@GoldsmithsUoL). Damn, we reckon even the porters' uniforms are primary-colored skinny jeans.

The designs consider four factors: signal strength, home style, energy efficiency, and pure enjoyment. Members of the public--that's you--get to vote for their favorite at futurerouters.com. Or just leave a comment moaning about your broadband, it's up to you. These are concepts rather than finished designs, so if you have any suggestions on how they could be improved, or if you have any ideas of your own, be sure to share your thoughts.

Click through the gallery above to meet the concepts.

(Source: Crave UK)

The ZoneFlex 7762 outdoor Wireless-N access point

(Credit: Ruckus Wireless)

Wireless-N has gone outdoor for a while now with Meraki and Tropos having taken turns to release their their products.

However, Ruckus Wireless on Monday announced new outdoor wireless products it claims to be "world's first and only outdoor dual-band 802.11n with dynamic beam forming." The new product, the ZoneFlex 7762 access point, is supposedly designed to solve problems that have hindered outdoor Wi-Fi deployments, including interference, physical obstructions, as well as network management complexity and cost.

Ruckus outdoor access points

The ZoneFlex 7762 is the company's first centrally managed, concurrent dual-band 802.11n (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) outdoor access point. It's capable of sustaining performance of up to 150 Mbps over 1,000 feet between meshed nodes and up to 50 Mbps to client devices over 500 feet. It can also work in a group of multiple units that covers a large area, such as an apartment building complex.

The focus point of this new product is its dynamic beam-forming antennae that automatically direct transmissions to the best performing signal path, using real-time feedback mechanisms of 802.11 protocol. This allows the access point to constantly and intelligently adapt to changes in the environment that, as Ruckus claims, results in a three to four times improvement in terms of both range and throughput performance over other similar products. Ruckus also says that the ZoneFlex 7762 offers reliability comparable to wired connections.

The ZoneFlex 7762 supports both 802.3af and 802.3at power over Ethernet standards. The device even provides additional power over an Ethernet output port that can be used to connect and power devices such as an IP camera without additional cabling.

Designed for outdoor environment, the access point can withstand water submersion, is protected against dust, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 149°F. It also has an integrated heater for use in cold climates.

In addition to the ZoneFlex 7762, the company also announced the ZoneFlex 2741, an 802.11g-based access point that has similar characteristics as the ZoneFlex 7762.

Both of these access points are available in August. The ZoneFlex 7762 is priced at $1,999, while the ZoneFlex 2741 costs $899.

It's probably unlikely that any of you reading this don't already have a wireless network at home. But hey, if you don't, it's not too late: I have some quick tips for you on how to get one up with the least amount of money.

The high-performance, low-budge Trendnet TEW 633GR router.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Go free
This is not always the case but a lot of Internet providers, such as AT&T, offer a free gateway (most likely after rebate). Take it. I have also learned that if you have been a long-time customer who originally got only the modem, you can call in and ask to exchange the modem for a gateway, which is a combination of modem plus wireless router. Obviously this only works on a case-by-case basis but a slight "threat" to switch the service sometimes can be a sufficient push.

Most free routers are Wireless-G. They are generally rather simple and without great performance or range, but for regular casual Internet and networking needs they are good enough.

Upgrade the current router
If your current router is not wireless-capable or a Wireless-G one, you can very easily upgrade it to Wireless-N by adding an access point. Some access points are very affordable, the Trendnet TEW-637AP Easy-N-Upgrader, for example, only costs around $30 and offers great Wireless-N speed and a good range.

Also about add-ons, if you buy a desktop and intend to use wireless networking with it, don't get a wireless card from the computer vendor. You can easily find an add-on wireless card from an online store, like NewEgg for much less than what the computer vendor would charge you for this upgrade.

The Belkin N+ router offers great performance at an affordable price.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Buy off-brand names
There are three major wireless networking vendors on the market including Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link. Routers made by these vendors tend to be more expensive than those made by Belkin or Trendnet. It varies by model, but some off-brand-name routers can be very good, too. Both the Belkin N+ and the Trendnet TEW 633GR got excellent ratings and cost less than $100.

Avoid fancy features
Generally, I like routers that offer everything including dual-band (both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz), USB port for printers and external storage, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi Protected Setup, and so on. However, most of the time you just need a 2.4Ghz Wireless-N functionality. A simple Wireless-N router can be had for just a bit more than $50. Example of these are the Trendnet Wireless N-Draft Router, TP-LINK TL-WR941ND, or any router on this list.

Buy used
Craiglist and eBay are good venues to find used routers that can cost just $20 or even less. Garage sales are good spots too. Just make sure you check CNET Reviews before you decide to make a purchase. Generally, routers are designed to work 24-7 so if you buy a router that have been released for a year or less, chances are it's as good as brand new. Make sure you upgrade the router to the latest firmware, which, along with the instructions, can be found at the vendor's Web site.

Share your hot spot
The best thing about wireless networking is the ability to easily share your Internet connection with your roommates or even neighbors, especially if you live in a condo. If your building is secluded and everybody agrees to pay their part, you can just leave the wireless network open. Otherwise, make sure you encrypt and only give the encryption key to those who agree to chip in with the monthly payment. Most routers can support more than 200 users at a time. Of course, this doesn't mean the bandwidth to the Internet is always enough for 200 heavy downloaders. So, pick carefully those you want to share it with.

That's it. Now you have no excuse not to tuck those wires away and make your computer corner a bit less cluttered. Happy (wireless) networking!