The lowdown
There's really no need for me to harp on about the benefits of Wi-Fi nowadays; so many different products are becoming equipped with wireless connectivity (games consoles, laptops, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc) that there has been no better time to leap on the bandwagon. This RangeMax router is tailored towards the home user with an emphasis on getting your wireless connection out to all the far flung corners of your house from just one single box. It is capable of transfer speeds up to 108Mbps if you have a compatible network card or USB adapter and the built-in ADSL2+ modem should see you through any upgrades you decide to make to your broadband connection in the next few years.
What's good?
Most people opting for one of these will probably be replacing one of those free USB modems that you get when you take on your broadband subscription. Mercifully, NETGEAR has made it incredibly simple to replace your current hardware with its device. There's no massive instruction manual or installation CDs; instead there is a very decent setup wizard which does all the hard work for you.
The major selling point of the RangeMax is its six internal 'smart antennas' which adjust automatically to get you the best reception no matter where you are. Wi-Fi's biggest problem is that it gets interference from electrical products like mobile phones, it also gets disrupted by other wireless signals and even thick walls can often prove impenetrable. Therefore trying to use my PSP in the garden three floors down on the other side of the office was perhaps a bit of an extreme test. We also happen to be next to a university where I can usually count at least four other Wi-Fi sources of interference but I was amazed to discover that it managed to somehow retain a 15% connectivity signal and web browsing worked as well as it ever did. I expect that the smart antennas are going to be well suited to NETGEAR's Skype phone when it comes out.
What's bad?
In a market flooded by equally experienced competitors, the NETGEAR RangeMax wireless modem/router fits in almost too carefully - there's not much in the way of big surprises here. The near £100 price tag may perhaps be a bit of a turn-off for the average home user, so some may make do with slower 54Mbps 802.11g but even still, the extra outlay merely makes sure that your equipment is well prepared for the future, such as when you have more 108Mbps cards or an ADSL2+ connection or a wireless VoIP phone.
The flashing bluelights on top could be annoying but you can turn them off very easily, or even set them to come on at a certain time for extra kicks.
Do you need it?
This probably a best bet for anyone just thinking of entering the wonderful world of Wi-Fi; more experienced users probably have their own preferences but in this market there isn't a lot to distinguish between manufacturers in terms of quality. The RangeMax is nicely future-proofed and competitively priced as well as being easy to install and not looking like a reject from the Doctor Who set. NETGEAR also has a pretty good reputation for reliability and we've had an older NETGEAR router running happily for about two years now without incident. You can pick up a NETGEAR 108Mbps RangeMax ADSL router/modem (DG834PN) now for around £93 including VAT.
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| Useful Links: |
Zoodex
, http://www.netgear.com/ |
| Features: |
Ultra-fast 108Mbps Wi-Fi speeds
Six internal smart antennas adapt on-the-fly to get you the best reception wherever you are
Future-proofed ADSL2+ modem
RangeMax technology for 500% more coverage than ordinary 802.11g Wi-Fi
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| Verdict: | 
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