Version: 2008
advertisement
mySimon mySimon mySimon Outdoor Gear mySimon Swimwear mySimon Home and Garden

Belkin N+ Wireless Router

Page 2

For wireless protection, the Belkin N+ supports both WEP (64-bit and 128-bit encryption) and WPA. It also supports MAC address filtering and Wi-Fi protected setup. WPS allows for quickly adding WPS-enabled wireless clients to the network without having to manually enter the encryption key.

Performance
We were very happy with the performance of the Belkin N+, especially its range. By far it offered the longest range among wireless-N we've tested. We were able to pick up its signal easily from 400 feet away (we can't go farther than that in our test environment). By comparison, most routers can't reach over 300 feet in our range test, partially because of the fact that our facility is not range-optimized.

The throughput performance of the N+ is also very impressive. It topped the charts on CNET Labs' range test by a large margin, scoring 77.8Mbps. The N+ was, by a small margin, the second best in our throughput and mixed mode test, scoring 87.5Mbps and 65.3Mbps, respectively.

What's most impressive about the N+'s throughput is the fact that during all three tests--maximum throughput, mixed mode, and range--the results were consistently high without as much variation as we're used to seeing. In comparison, the Linksys WRT310N is the fastest on our maximum throughput test, at 111.3Mbps, but its range score is significantly reduced to merely 28.3Mbps.

Ixia IxChariot long-range tests (at 200 feet)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Throughput in Mbps   
Belkin N+ Wireless Router
77.8 
DIR-855 Xtreme N Duo Media Router from D-Link
66.5 
Linksys Simontaneous Dual-N Band Wireless WRT610N
47.7 
D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit router DIR-825
45.5 
Linksys WRT310N - Wireless-N Gigabit Router
28.8 
Linksys N Ultra RangePlus WRT310N
28.8 
Apple Time Capsule
21.36 
Apple Airport Express
11.7 

Ixia IxChariot maximum throughput tests with mixed 802.11b/g and draft N clients operating in 2.4Ghz frequency (at 15 feet)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Throughput in Mbps   
Linksys WRT310N - Wireless-N Gigabit Router
95.3 
Belkin N+ Wireless Router
65.3 
Netgear RangeMax Next WNR854T
67.5 
DIR-855 Xtreme N Duo Media Router from D-Link
58.5 
SMC SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N
52.4 
Apple Time Capsule
51.5 
D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme Gaming Router
50.9 
Apple Airport Express
50.5 
Linksys Simontaneous Dual-N Band Wireless WRT610N
44.4 
D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit router DIR-825
39.8 

Ixia IxChariot maximum throughput tests (at 15 feet)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Throughput in Mbps   
Linksys WRT310N - Wireless-N Gigabit Router
111.3 
Belkin N+ Wireless Router
87.5 
DIR-855 Xtreme N Duo Media Router from D-Link
77 
D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit router DIR-825
70.2 
Apple Time Capsule
65.1 
Linksys Simontaneous Dual-N Band Wireless WRT610N
53.3 
Apple Airport Express
52.8 

Service and support
Despite the N+'s impressive performance, Belkin has little love for the router and only backs it up with a one-year warranty. This is disappointing since it gives the N1 Vision three years. Belkin's toll-free phone support is available 24-7, or you can fill out a form at Belkin's Web site for e-mail support. Its Web site also offers documentation, downloadable drivers, and FAQs.

See more CNET content tagged:
Belkin N+,
Belkin Corp.,
router,
IP address,
IP
Related Videos
  • Belkin Wireless G Travel Router
    Play Video
    First Look: Belkin Wireless G Travel Router
  • Belkin Wireless Pre-N router
    Play Video
    First Look: Belkin Wireless Pre-N router
  • Linksys Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N...
    Play Video
    First Look: Linksys Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N...
  • Close
    Close
    Close

Where to buy

Belkin N+ Wireless Router: $79.59 - $89.99
storepricein stock?rating
TigerDirect.com
$79.99 Yes 5.0 star rating
Amazon.com Marketplace
$81.99 Yes 5.0 star rating
Amazon.com
$79.59 Yes 5.0 star rating
Staples
$89.99 Yes 5.0 star rating

see prices from 4 stores

advertisement
Click Here

Special sponsor stores

advertisement

Compare this router to:

Belkin N+ Wireless Router