Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am finally getting around to posting this review. I see that more recent users have been having good experiences with this product so I am considering giving it another try.
This review was originally drafted in Feb 2008 as I was preparing to return my second WRT600N with no intentions of getting a third.
Recommendation: after attempting to get two WRT600N's to work, I have come to a personal conclusion that the product is not mature and needs much more work. I applaud and am envious of others who have been able to make it work.
Review Synopsis: my first WRT600N failed to establish a connection with multiple laptops and an Xbox 360. After two hours with Linksys technical support, they recommended I return the router for replacement. Second router connected routinely, but every 10 - 20 minutes would drop the wireless connection on the 2.4 GHz signal. Returning it as well.
Full Review: I had been using a WRT54G v3 successfully for about three years now. Why replace it you ask? A few reasons:
1.I connect my Xbox 360 to a computer in my office via Media Extender. Because it is wireless from the router to the Xbox (linear distance is about 10 feet but through two glass windows), navigation of Windows Media Center on the Xbox has quite a bit of lag.
2.I live in a high rise condo... as you can imagine, the 2.4 GHz spectrum is crowded contributing to reason number 1, above.
3.I have many wireless devices connecting to my router at any one time: Xbox, Tivo HD, and up to three laptops.
4.Lately, the router will all of a sudden lose connection to the internet. This happens about once every three to four months. No amount of power cycling or refreshing of IP addresses on the Administration tab will re-establish the connection. The only solution I have found is to reset the router to factory defaults and then re-enter my settings. I have confirmed that I have the latest firmware.
After reading some favorable reviews of the WRT600N on CNET, Laptop Magazine, and other publications (I know... I know), the router seemed a solution that would fit my environment. Also, it offers the built-in USB port to which one could attach an external USB HDD for a nifty Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution.
First WRT600N: got the first one. Opened it up and boy it sure looked purdy. Followed the setup instructions to a "T" using the EasyLink Advisor software that came on an installation CD. Since I was transitioning from a Linksys product, the EasyLink software detected my existing router and led me through the steps of replacing my WRT54G with the WRT600N. There were clear pictures and the software even transferred the settings from my WRT54G to the WRT600N. The only thing it did not transfer were the MAC addresses of all the computers I had on my network.
When it came time to test the internet connection, the router could not get an IP address from the modem. The EasyLink software kept putting me in an endless loop where it checked for the internet connection, could not find one and the only assistance it gave was to go back one step (Back button was the only step available) to test it again. No hints on how to resolve the issue.
However, after a few power cycles, the router finally got an IP address and I was connected to the internet via a wired connection. I got my Gigabit Ethernet signal indication on my computer. This is where the success of the first router came to an end.
I wanted the following configuration on my router; the 5 GHz radio for the Xbox and maybe my one laptop. All other devices on the 2.4 GHz radio. I was able to connect my Xbox to the 5 GHz broadcast at first, but the signal was extremely weak ; one red bar. By comparison, the WRT54G maintains between 3 and 4 bars (out of four). The laptops connected to the 2.4 GHz signal a little easier and with better signal strength as compared to the Xbox, but showed dramatically fluctuating signal strength (50% - 85%) as soon as I took the laptops more than 15 feet away from the router. I live in a 2BR condo, total sq ft around 1100, so distance from the router should not be a factor.
I tried all combinations of settings before calling tech support. 5 GHz on mixed, then A only. 2.4 GHz on mixed, but 20 MHz bandwidth instead of 40. Mixed on all. Specified channels instead of Auto. Advanced tweaks discovered via some user forums. Nada worked. Called Linksys tech on the 24 x 7 line. No support was available until the next morning at 8 am. So much for 24 x 7. Next morning, after 2.5 hrs on the phone with Linksys tech support and failed firmware upgrade attempts, they recommended I return the router.
Second WRT600N: setup was a little more difficult with this one as the EasyLink software froze. Had to end it, reboot and restart. Same issue with not being able to get an initial internet connection as the first router. Several power cycles, resetting of the router etc. until I finally got an IP address from Cox Cable.
Now, on this second unit the wireless connections went easily and flawlessly. Connected the Xbox 360 on mixed mode on 5 G Hz with Auto setting for bandwidth. Smoother response and much less lag using Windows Media Center connected via Media Extender to my computer. Signal strength somewhere between 60 - 80%. All other wireless devices connected via "g" on the 2.4 GHz frequency. I was happy... until.
15 minutes into this, all 2.4 GHz devices dropped their signal at the same time for about 15 seconds, then came back on. Hmm. The Xbox stayed connected on 5 GHz. Again, 10 - 15 minutes later, another dropped wireless connection; this time all devices lose signal for about 10 seconds.
More tweaks,another call to tech support.
NOW, HERE IS THE CLINCHER that is making me return the second router and not giving a third attempt at this. When I talked to the tech support line, their first recommendation was to disable the 5 GHz radio! What?! Why? Yes, I know what they were trying to assess... are the radios interfering? Ok, so let's say they do... what's the point in having a dual radio router??? I told them that disabling was not a solution for a router marketed as having two radios intended for simultaneous operations. I asked if it was their intention that I operate the router only on the 2.4 GHz radio. They said, well, if that fixes your signal dropping problem, then yes. That's when I told them I might as well return the product. They tried to dissuade me from doing so and insisted that I turn off the 5 GHz radio, "just to see... ". Ok. Done. They told me to leave it that way for a few hours and call them back if it dropped. I asked, "What if it does not drop? Is it Linksys' recommendation that I operate only one radio?" The support person backed away from that and she did not want to give a definitive response. After pressing, I finally got her to reveal that there are issues with the dual radios and that the standard recommendation is to disable one of them.
Now I know that I could attempt to flash the WRT600N with third party firmware from [...] which some reviewers have done successfully and have said it fixes their issues, but I am of the belief that the manufacturer should make products that work. I am afraid to brick the product by doing something I am not experienced at so...
Time for a refund and kiss the WRT600N goodbye. I'm looking forward to the D-Link DIR-855.
Some equipment notes:
-Xbox 360 using Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter that supports 802.11abg
-Thinkpad T42 with Thinkpad 11 a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter (Atheros OEM), Vista 32-bit
-Thinkpad T61p with Thinkpad 11 a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter (Atheros OEM), Vista 32-bit
-Dell Latitude D620 with Dell Wireless 1490 Dual Band WLAN Mini-Card, XP 32-bit
First router: S/N MNR008107370, manufactured 1/2008
Second router: S/N MNR008107361, manufactured 1/2008
Both routers came with firmware version 1.01.35 Build 5. The latest version on the Linksys support site was Build 3. I told the first tech support person who wanted me to install the Build 3 firmware of this inconsistency, but she said it does not matter... try anyway. The firmware upgrade failed on the first router. I don't know if it made a difference.
About me: though not a networking specialist or technician, I consider myself a relatively competent and experienced user of technology, installing and setting up my own equipment (which basically means I read instructions and figure things out with a bit of internet research when I run into problems).
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