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Belkin N1 MIMO Wireless Modem Router
Wireless is gradually becoming the new norm
for connecting to the internet and before the days of wireless and ADSL,
many users were stuck for dialup internet access. Since then, ADSL has
taken over Australia by force and in order for users to experience true
wireless internet access, they needed both a router and an ADSL modem or
sometimes a wireless modem router. Although these hybrid devices exist,
they were sometimes plagued with installation and speed problems but
fortunately Belkin has come to the rescue with their latest addition to
the market, the N1 MIMO Wireless Modem Router (Part #F5D8631au4A) which
puts the competition to shame.
Features
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Share your broadband
ADSL connection wirelessly and simultaneously
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Stream HD video
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Listen to digital
music
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Play online games
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Transfer photos and
home videos
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Shop online and surf
the Web
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Email and chat
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Handle multiple VoIP
phone
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Easy setup and
troubleshooting with Network Status Display
The Network Status Display shows the status of your network. The
icons represent each component of your network and show you whether
or not each device is working properly.
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Built-in Modem
capable of connecting to G.DMT (Upto 8Mbps), ADSL2 (upto 12Mbps and
ADSL2+ (Upto 24Mbps) enabled internet services.*
So what is a router? A
router is an electronic device that
connects two or more networks and routes incoming data packets to the
appropriate network which in laymen terms means a device that can
connect your computer to other computers in order to share information,
print or access the internet. Which leads onto the next question, what
is a modem? A modem (modulator/demodulator) is a piece of hardware that
allows computers to interact with each other via telephone lines by
converting digital signals to analog for transmissions along analog
lines or in other words, a piece of hardware that lets a computer talk
to another computer over the phone line.
With that said, Belkin have flawlessly
integrated both pieces of technology into one device that allows you to
share your ADSL2+ internet connection with other computers either wired
or wireless that boasts a linkup rate of up to 300Mbps. Interestingly
enough, the N1 MIMO Wireless Modem Router supports up to 32 computers
via your wireless network that also makes it the perfect accessory to
your small office.
To quote the official Australian Belkin
website, this device is "based 802.11n draft that enables multiple
receivers and transmitters to send and receive data through the air,
using Intelligent MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) spatial
multiplexing techniques. This smart-antenna technology builds upon the
widely deployed 802.11g standard by increasing speed, coverage, and
reliability of wireless systems. Providing greater range and faster
speeds, N1 Wireless offers a quick and efficient way for people to
distribute video, music, photos, and files among the networked computers
in their homes." With that said, we tested all these facets of the modem
router which can be found later during this review.
Our first impression of the N1 MIMO
Wireless Router was that it had a sleek modern feel to it which boasts
four Ethernet ports for wired computers and three antennas for wireless
access which allows for G, G+MIMO and N1 MIMO wireless. Belkin have also
ensured that the LED’s on the device have a real meaning and if your
network has issues, one of the LED’s will inform the user of the
problem. The only downside to the unit is that there are no port
indicator lights on the front of the unit, although not really a major
issue, it may be an issue for some.
Package Contents
The installation of the
N1 MIMO Wireless Router was a painless experience thanks to the
installation CD (provided you follow the installation guide) that is
ideal for the inexperienced user and in around 5 – 10 minutes, the
device was figured on our two test machines. The software is basically
an easy walkthrough your computers connections to ensure that everything
is covered without the need to contact either Belkin support or your
local IT technician.
The operating systems that we tested the
wireless router included Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista
Ultimate with no configuration issues whatsoever on both operating
systems, although I must admit that the installation on Vista is a far
superior installation than Windows XP which is due to the revamped
operating system.
Once our network was configured, we flawlessly transferred and shared
our information that also allowed us to stream music and video without
any connection issues whatsoever. A nifty feature of the unit is that
supports multiple VOIP connections that allows anyone connected to your
network experience true internet phone access. I also commend Belkin for
making this item backward compatible with a variety of wireless network
standards. The
performance of the N1 MIMO Wireless Router is brilliant and it truly
leaves the competition behind with its high range coverage which we
tested throughout the entire building (40 square metres) and in almost
areas of the building, it kept a strong connection. Interestingly
enough, we even took a laptop several places down the street with the
connection still being accessible. Although impulsegamer is generally
not a technical site, when tested the unit with three other wireless
routers, the Belkin N1 MIMO Wireless Router simply conquered its
competitors with its speed and performance that was also
cross-compatible with other network standards.
In conclusion, the Belkin N1 MIMO Wireless Router is the perfect
accessory for your home and business for users who wish to have the best
wireless performance at small nominal cost. Easy to install, great
performance both wired and wireless, the Belkin N1 MIMO Wireless Router
is a must have piece of equipment and to make things even more
appealing, the item has a lifetime warranty.
System Requirements
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