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Introduction
Updated 11/11/2008: MacOS version of Storage Manager is available.
| At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Product | - Belkin N+ Wireless Router (F5D8235-4) - Belkin N+ Wireless USB Network Adapter (F5D8055 v1) |
| Summary | Single-band Draft 2.0 802.11n router with gigabit switch based on Ralink chipset |
| Pros | • Gigabit switch supports Jumbo Frames • Guest access w/ captive web portal and AP modes • Network sharing of USB flash or hard drive |
| Cons | • Basic routing feature set • No control of file sharing feature • Very slow file sharing |
Belkin is in the process of revamping at least the lower end of its draft 11n router line, which includes the Belkin N and N+ Wireless routers. I looked at the Belkin N as part of our Cheap Draft 802.11n Router Roundup. It actually did pretty well, but I couldn't give it top ranking because I couldn't attach it to the Azimuth test system that was used to test all the other products in the roundup. The "N" has since received a packaging makeover so that it looks similar to the N+, which is the focus of this review.
Like the "N", the N+ is a two-antenna router based on Ralink silicon (more shortly). But where the "N" has 10/100 WAN and LAN ports, the N+'s WAN and four switched LAN ports are gigabit. The N+ also has a USB port that will make a USB flash or hard drive available as a networked share.
Figure 1 shows the N+ front panel, which skips the fancy graphic display found on Belkin's top-of-the-line N1 Vision router [reviewed]. Instead you get the series of backlit blue icons that are used across the board in the revamped router line.
Figure 1: N+ Front Panel
The only nod to gimmickry is the "Broadband Download Speedometer" bar display that sits at the top of the front panel. I didn't find the speedometer that useful and would much rather have the Wired and Wireless Computer Status lights blink to indicate network activity.
The rear panel layout (Figure 2) doesn't have link/activity indicators on each of the auto MDI / MDI-X 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, either.
Figure 2: N+ Rear Panel
If you like to wall-mount your router, then you'll need to build a little wall-mounted shelf for the N+. There are no screw mounting slots and I couldn't remove the base without fear of breaking it off. Also note that the antennas are external and moveable, but not upgradeable.
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Related Items:
New to the Charts: Belkin N+ Wireless RouterSlideshow: Belkin N Wireless Router
New to the Charts: Belkin N Wireless Router
Slideshow: Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router
Slideshow: D-Link DIR-628 RangeBooster N Dual Band Router
User reviews
Average user rating from: 4 user(s)
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Ditto: this is worthless crap
| I've had this router for over a year and no matter what settings i set i get SLOWWW internet. i ended up hooking back up my G router in parallel. Over time realized i had every computer (3-4) and PDA on the G router because this belkin sucked: pages taking forever to load or not loading at all. I recently tried once more by turning the wireless G off. i'm again wondering what's wrong with the belkin. try some other brand! |
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died in 4 months
| Suddenly just died in less than 4 months. |
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What a piece of crap
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The Belkin N+ is the worst router I have ever owned. Constantly having to unplug it to get anything to work and have had very slow performance. Bought it to replace an OLD Linksys and have been disappointed with the performance. Would not recommend the N+ to anyone. Selected 1 on the Performance and Reliability because zero was not available on this review. Steve |
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Rock Solid!
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In my life I owned a wired d-link router that died after a year. Once again I purchased a d-link wireless router that died in a year. Then learning that cisco owns linksys, I bought a linksys wireless router never died! But is probably the router they give to bad network people in hell. I moved across country and purchased a d-link wireless router. After a firmware upgraded it died. All of these routers had poor performance, poor stability and poor long term reliability. I read a article off of small net builder a year ago about Belkin, Trendnet and Apple making the most reliable routers out there. So one day in best buy I pulled the trigger on this Belkin N+ router. The router performs great, the USB attached storage is a little slow, on top of all of this the user feature set is very limited no VPN's going through this router or other advanced features but for the average user that needs a router that will just do what it needs to do without power cycles and calls to support this is the best router I owned in that category. I am always disappointed with the lack of exposure that these not so main stream company's get. When you wonder into staples, best buy or future shop the main two routers sitting on any shelf are D-Link and Linksys. Yet companies like Beeline, Netgear, Trendnet, Apple and Asus make excellent products at great prices. I will not purchase another device from the big 2 in the home network world, and this belkin router was my proof that just because future shop dosent carry it dosen't mean it's not a good product. I love this router and would recommend it to anyone with a few computers to there name and no time to fiddle with a router. |
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