Belkin N600 Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router (Latest Generation) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Updated June 02, 2011: This review was beginning to resemble a short novella, so I've substantially edited it.
This is definitely a lot of router for the price. Its feature list reads like a dream:
# Dual band networks (2.4GHz and 5GHz)? Check!
# Guest network for visiting friends? Check!
# Support for standard features like port forwarding, MAC-based security, MAC address cloning, wireless security, etc.? Check!
# Support for advanced features such as Dynamic DNS services (dyndns.org), or Quality of Service (QoS) manipulation? Check!
# Ability to exercise parental control by tailoring access schedules and allowed URLs, giving me super-Dad powers? Check!
# Support an external USB drive? Check! Serve as an DLNA-compliant server? Double check!
# Ability to turn off all its router functionality and function as a barebones Wireless Access Point? Check!
# Unique aesthetics with lots of power saving options? Check! (unless you prefer your router lit up like a Christmas tree).
# A generous 2-year warranty? Check!
So what bothered me?
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[1] The implementation of administrator security seems a bit flawed. The router authenticates a user based on the IP address of the computer you are using to log in, and the admin password you configure.
Unfortunately, at various times in the past 8 weeks, admin authentication has failed to kick in. This allows any computer that can connect to my network to access the admin screens (and view my wireless passwords in clear text) without prompting for the admin password. Even the default 10 minute inactivity timeout for admin authentication is ignored when this happens. The only "fix" is to reboot the router. After the third such occurrence, I returned the router to Belkin for investigation.
See my uploaded screenshot for details (a link is in the Comments below). Notice that admin info is being displayed even though I did not provide an admin password. Also note that the header says "Login" (it should say "Logout" when you are authenticated).
I have a suspicion (possibly unfounded) that the "self healing" option (defaults to ON) masks this problem for most users by periodically rebooting the router.
[2] Unlike my Netgear WNDR3700, the N600 did not support DHCP Address Reservation. This is a feature that lets you reserve a given IP address for a particular device (such as a wireless printer or security camera) on your network. Without it, a router reboot could assign a different IP address to your device, requiring you to adjust its properties to get it back online. Some devices can be configured to request a particular IP address, but address reservation is a lot simpler.
[3] On the admin console, the SSID and password are on two separate pages, and each change needs to be committed before making the next. A commit requires a reboot of the router, which kicks you off the wireless network!
[4] Any change to the router settings takes 40 seconds to apply. This is perilously close to Windows reboot times!
[5] The router setup software did not work well on one of my computers. See the "additional notes" section below for an easier way to setup this router.
Conclusion
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This is a good value-for-money product. It is built well and is fairly stable. I was able to stream video to my PS3, and was able to connect with very decent range on both the 2.4 and 5 GHz network bands.
My favorite router is the solid Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR3700. However, given that the N600 costs about a third of what the WNDR3700 retailed for when it was first released, and that it costs about half as the WNDR3700 today, I am very impressed by the value that this router represents.
Unfortunately, the security issue was a deal breaker for me, and so I have returned this router to Belkin for inspection. I have returned to my Netgear, which works well, and I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder for abnormal behavior.
Other users seem very happy with this router. So until someone else corroborates this problem, I'm going to assume that this is limited to my router and will rate this at a neutral 3-stars to avoid skewing its product score.
Additional notes:
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If you have setup a router before, the standard router setup procedure is far easier to follow:
1. Power down your cable modem, router, and computer
2. Connect an Ethernet cable between the WAN port of the router and the cable modem
3. Connect an Ethernet cable between a LAN port of the router and your computer.
4. Power on the cable modem and wait for the lights to settle.
5. Power on the router and wait for the power light to steady.
6. Power on the computer, and navigate to the router (for the N600: 192.168.2.1)
7. Set up an administration password, and inactivity timeout
8. Set up the wireless SSID and security.
9. On the computer, establish a connection to your SSID, providing the appropriate passphrase.
10. Your computer is now connected on both your wired and wireless networks. Logout of the router's admin console. Else the dreaded "Duplicate Administrator" error is likely to raise its ugly head.
That's it!
Happy Networking!
~Damodar

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The Belkin N600 Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router is the fastest N600 router at long range versus other leading national brands.†The Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router features advanced wireless performance for video streaming, online gaming, and other media-intensive applications. Belkin's exclusive MultiBeam technology minimizes dead spots and provides advanced coverage throughout your home, allowing you to stream HD video on more devices in more locations. The N600 DB can be installed in three easy steps, and preset security settings ensure that your network is safe as soon as it's up and running. With speeds of up to 300 Mbps + 300 Mbps, four Ethernet LAN ports, and one USB port, the N600 DB provides versatile, multi-device coverage. The router also comes with a suite of Belkin apps designed to enhance your wireless experience. † Results based on independent third-party testing. Visit belkin.com/router-speed for details.*The standard transmission rates-300Mbps (for 2.4GHz), 300Mbps (for 5GHz), 54Mbps, and 11Mbps-are the physical data rates. Actual data throughput will be lower and may depend on the mix of wireless products used.

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