NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router Review

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(More customer reviews)This seemed like one of the best home use Netgear wireless routers when looking at the Netgear model line up. When I bought this router, I didn't fully understand how "dual band" worked, but it sounded good for reducing interference. I wanted the best, so I got this one.
Now I realize I cannot benifit from the dual band. The WNDR3300 can only be wirelessly configured in the following ways:
N at 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps (uses +- 4 channels for extra bandwidth, a/b/g clients also work)
N at 5 GHz with max 270 Mbps and Legacy G at 2.4 GHz with max 54 Mbps
N at 2.4 GHz with max 130 Mbps (considered neighbor friendly version, reduces number of channels utilized)
N at 5 GHz with max 130 Mbps and Legacy G at 2.4 GHz with max 54 Mbps
So if you don't have any N clients that can utilize 5 GHz, you cannot benifit from dual band. I also ended up having a client (LG BD390 Blu-ray player) that just would not work using N at 2.4 GHz (even though LG documentation says it is compatible with 802.11n draft standard). For this one client, I had to step down to Legacy G at 2.4 GHz. I would have been fine with just an old fashion G router.
Doing some tests, I realized with Legacy G, I was getting the same performance with N at 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps, so I wasn't too disappointed about having to step down to Legacy G. Hopefully LG and/or Netgear will provide a firmware update that will allow the two devices to communicate using N.
Signal stength is better than what I had before. I can now stream Vudu HDX wirelessly (extreamly demanding). With my previous router, I could only stream Vudu HD (less demanding). So I hesitate in taking this back, thinking I paid more than I needed to. There are multiple antennas in this device and the lights on the big blue button tells you which antenna is being employed. This antenna technology also seems to benifit Legacy G. By the way, you can shut off the flashing blue lights just by pressing the big blue button (hold less than 2 seconds).
-- Begin Update 12/15/2009 --
I did some further tests comparing N with Legacy G. It seems the N on 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps has worse range than the Legacy G. I'm comparing signal bar strength of various apps in various locations in my home. So it seems stepping down to the older G works better. All in all, I've decided to keep this router dispite my uninformed decision to purchase it. I'm convinced the 8 internal antennas is helping matters compared to my previous router. Performance is markedly better than before, so I don't want to risk taking the time and money to experiment.
-- End Update 12/15/2009 --

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What is NETGEARs WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router? Surf, email, stream HD video, on-line game, make Internet phone callssimultaneously More wireless channels, less interference and better connections using dual band Wireless-N Wirelessly connect new devices easily and securely with Push `N Connect Automatically adjusts to the needs of Internet, voice, video and gaming applications (QoS) Use with a RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter and boost your performance and rangeFeatures New Wireless-N technology delivers exceptional range and speed Dual Band has more channels, less interference and better connections Works with older Wireless-G and newest Wireless-N devices at the same time Push `N Connect wirelessly connects new devices easily and securely No need to remember your security password For use with other Push `N Connect supported devices Easy setup with Smart Wizard installation CD

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Cisco-Linksys Range Plus Wireless USB Compact Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)The big problem with this adapter, is that if you use windows XP (which many people still do) and you have Service Pack 3 (which 99% of XP users do) it will work for a few weeks and then not work anymore, as I experienced and was later told by Linksys support. The adapter works fine with Windows Vista, XP - SP1 or SP2 -just not SP3. The specifications on the product packaging do not specify this issue and after calling Linksys 4 or 5 times perhaps you will get a representative who knows enough to inform you of the issue. Almost everyone who has XP has SP3. When an XP user installs updates SP3 will eventually be installed unless they manually install updates and refuse to install it. New Windows XP installations are SP3 at this point unless you specifically get SP2 (Which most people won't) so there is really no point in installing this adapter with Windows XP, unless you can uninstall XP3 as an update or install Windows XP SP2 and manually not install SP3. I was told by Linksys support to purchase Linksys Wusb54gsc, since it was made compatible with XP SP3. While the phone support was somewhat helpful and expedient, the company's customer satisfaction standards are pretty low. They refused to take this product back and send me the right adapter even though they were 100% at fault. Another company that doesn't really care about their customers - imagine that. Linksys should: ----- A) stop selling these adapters to Windows XP users ----- B) List the problem with XP SP3 on the package under compatibility ----- C) Issue a recall for all XP SP3 users and either replace the adapter with one that works with this application or fix current adapter. To find your systems compatibility (Operating system, version or year, service pack #, memory in ram and processor version and speed) click start, control panel and system.

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Cisco-Linksys WPC600N Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N PC Card Review

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(More customer reviews)This wireless adapter is great. I'm using it with the Linksys WRT600N Router. I've heard that people have had issues using the Linksys wireless utility that gets installed when you run the startup CD, so I installed the adapter first, and then when windows prompted me for a driver I put the cd in. That way I just used the CD for the drivers and did not install the wireless utility that comes with it. I haven't had any issues using the standard Windows wireless configuration tools. I would also recommend changing the radio band on the Linksys WRT600N router from Auto to the Wide-40mhz channel (for the 5ghz network only, leaving the 2.4ghz wireless network setting to auto) then connect to the 5ghz network using the WPC600N and have all of your other b, g and 2.4ghz-N devices connect to the 2.4ghz wireless network. This setup has worked great for me, I'm really happy with both products.

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Medialink - Wireless N USB Adapter - 802.11n - 150Mbps - 2.4ghz - Windows 2000 / XP / Vista 64-Bit /128-Bit Windows 7 Compatible Review

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(More customer reviews)I own a computer that utilizes Windows Vista (64 bit) and was not having success installing wireless adapters from two reputable companies. At this point I was ready to cut open walls and run the ethernet cable to my computer. I mentioned the problem to my computer geek cousin and he told me to purchase a medialink wireless adapter as it supports Windows Vista 32 and 64. So I googled the wireless adapter and found that Amazon carried it. So I went to Amazon.com and there it was in the medialink adapter's product information, compatible with Vista 32 and 64. At $29.99 ( $10.00 cheaper then the previous two adapters), I thought it was worth the risk. I recieved it two days later and proceeded to install the medialink wireless G USB adapter and again no success. At this point I'm ready to punch a hole in the wall out of frustration. I finally decided to contact Mediabridge to convey my dissatisfaction. The phone was picked up after one ring and a customer service person rerouted me to technical support. Technical support picked up after one ring and I'm thinking to myself, this is amazing, no machine telling me to push buttons. After running several test on my computer with technical support, I still was not wireless. The tech support person, who was professional and knowledgable, recommended trying their wireless-N USB adapter. He said Mediabridge will ship it out right away at no cost. I received the wireless-N adapter the following day (again,amazing). I install it and within five minutes I was wireless. The installation was a snap. I'm on the internet several hours a day and I haven't had any problems at all. I forget sometimes that I'm wireless. At the price Mediabridge is charging for their wireless adapters, this is a steal. Kudos to Mediabridge for backing their products and lowering my blood pressure. I recommend this product to anyone who wants a quality wireless adapter at a great price.

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