Rating: 6/10
The wireless network market's frustration with the new super fast 'n' standard is plain for all to see, with a plethora of 'Pre-N' equipment flooding the market. Only time will tell if any of this will work with real 'n' when it arrives, but in the meanwhile here's another flavour from TRENDnet.
This solution is aimed squarely at cable customers, as it doesn't include an ADSL modem, just an RJ45 port for 'WAN' (wide area network). You also get four standard LAN ports, so the box can operate as a hub. While this is useful, its real strengths are elsewhere, specifically its wireless specification.
This box supports standard 'g' class communication, which by definition includes 'b'. To that they've added two new ones: Super G XR and Super F MIMO. The purpose of these technologies is to extend the range of the service and enhance the performance at greater distances. The catch, much like with their wireless access point also reviewed on these pages, is that to use these enhanced protocols you'll need wireless network adapters that support them - i.e. those made by TRENDnet.
From what I understand MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is true future of wireless networking, and could make massive improvements to the performance we currently get. But, only time will tell if it's to be standardised in the way TRENDnet have implemented it. This works now - before 'n' is a true standard - but only in the context of this range of equipment. That, for some curious reason, doesn't include an ADSL router yet.
Unless you intend to buy this and the wireless adapters from TRENDnet, then this is just a 'g' class Wireless Network Router and Access Point. It's well made and has all the key features you'd expect, but at around £80 it isn't an inexpensive option.
For more information, visit Micromart.co.uk