| ||||||||||||||||||||||
MALL.ShopperFavorites.com
Best Prices
Shopper Favorites Web Search |
Electronics : Netgear WGR614L Open Source Wireless-G Router (Compatible with Linux) |
- Ordered WGR614L but received WGR614v8I ordered the WGR614L router because the description stated that it supports Linux and port forwarding. We were able to get the wired connection setup but my laptop was unable to pick up the wireless signal for the router. A couple of times I got a message that I had no wireless adapter connected, even though I was able to see other wireless networks. We called Netgear and spent an hour on the phone with the rep and were still unable to get the wireless connection to work. After deciding to give up on the wireless connection, we asked the rep where to find the firewall so we could setup port forwarding. His response was 'what firewall that is on your computer'. By that time we had spent a good 4 hrs trying to get this router to work. It was also at this point that we looked at the bottom of the router and realized it had WGR614v8. Needless to say I sent this router back to Amazon. I bought a DYNEX Enhanced Wireless G Router and we were able to setup the wireless connection and port forwarding in about 20 minutes. It also works fine with Linux.
Rating:
- Great routerI bought this router in order to run custom firmware because I was sick of dealing with featureless and for the most part unstable firmware that is provided by router manufacturers. I loaded up DD:WRT v24SP2 on this and it is completely stable. Webpages seem to start loading faster than they did when I was on the stock firmware and my WiFi signal is stronger running at 70 mW instead of the default of 28 (DD:WRT lets you adjust it higher or lower). When I was on the stock firmware it used to sometimes drop the wireless connection and since installing DD:WRT it is rock solid.
I will be buying Linux compatible routers from now on. If you're not a Netgear fan then I would look into Linksys. I like Netgear better because the previous 2 Linksys routers I owned developed major problems that were unfixable with firmware upgrades. Netgear has always been good to me. I wouldn't recommend this router unless you are savvy with computers, as you can "brick" (destroy) your router if you don't know what you are doing when flashing it with custom firmware. There are ways to de-brick, but they are involved processes (involves soldering and tftp). So, if you have no need to run Linux based firmware then buy a different model, they can normally be had for cheaper as well.
Rating:
- Works better than expectedI have a lot of walls to go through between my base unit and remote unit. The netgear series has done a great job in delivering high speed wireless connection. Originally, I got the linksys series which just proved to be worthless for my situation.
Rating:
- Decent Router, Love the speed, Setup was Quick and EasyI have been using B for way too long now, so I was looking forward to upgrading to G. The instructions and setup were straight forward and clear so set up went very well. Although I should point out that I am an IT worker. Setup took literally less than five minutes including plugging in the hardware, setting up WEP protection, configuring... Once up and running, I have been very happy with the speed boost. My old Linksys B router was more of a bottleneck than I had thought.
My hopes and expectations were pretty limited, I just wanted a device that worked. The elegant design was just a plus. Set up in it's vertical orientation, it has a much smaller footprint than the Linksys it is replacing as well as a classier look.
Now that wireless routers have become a basic home appliance, perhaps the best feedback to give on this one is to say that it just plain works. With the ease of set up and the reliability I have seen, I would recommend this to anyone (not sure that I would have done the same with my Linksys.) Solid product.
Rating:
- Success!My wireless networking needs are fairly simple. I wanted my wife to be able to access the internet on her laptop computer while I use the iMac. You'd think that would be a simple thing, but after a very frustrating year with a Linksys router with performance ranging from "hey, I'm actually online this time!" to wondering if the router's performance could somehow be improved through repeated contact with a hammer, I had all but given up on the idea of a reliable wireless network.
When given the opportunity to try out the slick looking Wireless G Router (WGR614L) by Netgear, I jumped at the chance. Within an hour, my wife and I were both online with a secure wireless network, and I wasn't once pushed to profanity-laced tirades or Hulk-like explosions of rage. Sure, it was a bit annoying that the installation software wasn't very Mac friendly and that I had to use manual setup, but those were minor speed bumps in the overall process. Manual setup was easy enough for me to manage without needing technical support, as was configuring the router specifics and security preferences. Perhaps the best part was how clearly all of the ports and lights were explained not only in the instructions, but on the device itself. Everything should be this simple.
My wife is happy, so I'm happy. No more impatient waiting to use the internet, no more trying to decipher the Linksys's array of lights, and hopefully no more router rage. I may still take the Linksys router out back and go all Office Space (Widescreen Edition) on it, but then again, maybe not. The Wireless G has put me in a happier state of mind after all.
MALL.ShopperFavorites.com
|