... and finally decided on this one (TEW-639GR) to go with a TEW-637AP. I have Verizon FIOS with the Actiontec MI424-WR that has 'G' wireless that Vz thinks is perfectly fine looking to the future and has no plans to upgrade. I can't just change it out because that router has the coax connection that distributes the on-screen channel/program guide to a couple HD-dvr's and an HD stb. So that router and the broadband WAN connection is in the home office at one end of the hacienda. At the far end of the place is a collection of networked entertainment pieces -- TV, home theater ensemble, mega-changer juke box, et al -- some of which have both usb (which could take wireless adapters) and RJ45 ports, except for one box. Sony, bless their hearts, think that RJ45 ports are still the only way to go, and that's all they included on their otherwise excellent 400-disc Blu-Ray juke box that catalogs your collection automatically via Gracenote. What I really need at that end is a nice simple wireless hub, but nobody seems to offer something like that, thus the need for a feature-laden router-cum-switch with WDS.
After a couple evenings on the web doing the research, it looks like ALL brands drive their 802.11n customers into two camps -- those who love the products because the setup was easy and/or the thing has been stable in operation, and those who hate the products because the setup was a nightmare and/or the thing has been unstable from day 1 or perhaps was stable for awhile but now it's not.
So, why am I choosing Trendnet? Well, it started with the generally positive comments from folks who have experience with the TEW-637AP. Then I just needed a router most likely to be compatible with that, thus the TEW-639GR. So they're shipping now. Five stars 'cause they can only go downhill from here. I'll try to remember to come back and report on the setup and operation later.
A comment for those who have reported frequent connection drops: have you tried just changing channels? Do a search, and I'll bet every network your laptop's radio discovers is on channel 6. Sooner or later, there will be interference, and that will cause your connection to blow up. So first try moving your network to channel 5 or 7 or one of the other 11 and see if that doesn't stabilize things. Maybe the hardware is crap, the manufacturer's tech support is incompetent, but it could just be too much rf noise for even a digital radio. Yes, 5Ghz IS less congested, but the range IS comparatively poor, and that's just physics too. This issue occurred here not long ago with the FIOS Actiontec wireless-g net I'm running. It has been stable for a couple of years; suddenly it starts dropping connections every few minutes. When I surveyed the neighborhood, I noticed 3 new SSIDs in the list. All 7 discovered, mine included (I was the first in my area), were broadcasting on channel 6. What to do? I switched to channel 5. Result: everything's immediately stable again and has remained so for over 3 months.
Post-installation update Feb 14, 2010:
So my application is somewhat oddball, but only a little, and so a top-down setup wasn't quite the right thing to do. A call to Trendnet hooked me up with Sean, an extremely knowledgeable and patient tech who got me going in the correct sequence adjusting settings so the TEW-639gr router would be recognized by the Actiontec router via the TEW-637AP, and I could hit the Internet from a laptop connected via RJ45 to the TEW-639gr thence wirelessly to the WAN over the wireless-n link we'd created. All of this was done while the two Trendnet devices were about 6 feet apart in my home office. Then I moved the TEW-639gr to its final location at the far end of the house, which is around 70 feet away straight-line, but 4 walls and quite a bit of furniture and other stuff apart in terms of intervening obstructions. Even with much fiddling with antenna positioning, and despite the successful passing of 1000-packet ping tests betweeen the Actiontec and the TEW-639gr, the performance of an 'n'-only link was simply dismal. I had to switch the pair to g/b mode, in which it covers this range with what we've come to expect as acceptable performance for streaming media. So, one star off for the inability to operate in 'n' mode over this relatively short distance. Will report back if any issues with long term stability or reliability.
Average Rating:
Brand: Trendware
Color: Black
Model: TEW-639GR
Languages:
Original Language: English
Product Description:
The 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router offers unsurpassed wireless speed, coverage and reliability. Enjoy up to 14x the speed and 6x the coverage of a wireless g connection*. Gigabit Wide Area Network and Local Area Network ports transfer your data fast. Wi-Fi certification ensures optimal wireless throughput signal strength and compatibility. Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technology eliminates wireless dead spots. Wireless encryption and a manual on/off wireless switch keep your data safe. Wireless Protected Setup (WPS) integrates other WPS supported wireless adapters at the touch of a button. Seamlessly stream HD media, download files, surf and play games at wireless n Gigabit speed.
Features:
- 14x the speed and 6x the coverage of wireless g
- Seamlessly stream video, download files, talk online and play games
- Features one-touch Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and manual wireless on / off switch
- Advanced wireless encryption and a firewall provides robust security
- 3-year limited warranty
Format: CD
Special Features: nv:Device Type^Wireless Router|Form Factor^Desktop|Wireless Network Standards^IEEE 802.11g|Wireless Network Standards^IEEE 802.11b|Wireless Network Standards^IEEE 802.11n [draft 2.0]|Wireless Data Transfer Rates^300 Mbps|Security Protocols^128-bit WEP|Security Protocols^64-bit WEP|Security Protocols^WPA-802.1x|Security Protocols^WPA2-802.1x|Networking Standards^IEEE 802.3 Ethernet 10Base-T|Networking Standards^IEEE 802.3u Ethernet 100Base-TX
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 79.99
Lowest New Price: USD 48.59
Customer Reviews
Easy Setup - Fast Page loading WIFI
Great Price!, Super Fast 2 day shipping, Runs Cool and FAST, and Security was easy to set up.
It has the power to reach my neighbor down the street, I just typed my Security password on his computer wifi program and he is good to go.
There is a very noticeble increase in page downloading speed from my Lynsky g speed WIFI.
Best router I have owned to date
I've tried several other brands of wireless routers, the big names, and this is by far my favorite to date. Setup is easy and simple. Performance is great, I had no problems playing a MMORPG while my kids enjoyed a netflix movie streamed over the internet to my TV. Glad I chose this router over other brands. If I have any issues with range or overheating as I have read about in other brand reviews I will update the post.
Great router for the Money
Arrived on time, installed without a problem. Works fine on both my WIN 7, N laptop and my LINUX/UBUNTU 9.1, G laptop.
Very good router
I recently got this to replace my linksys, I've gone through 2 Linksys, They're so unstable. So far the trendnet hasn't given me any problems, Although when the router arrived, The AC adapter came defective. It wouldn't turn on so I tried my linksys AC adapter and it turned on, I tried shaking it trendnets AC and you could hear something was broken inside, I was going to RMA it, But I'll just keep linksys power adapter.
+1 Trendnet router/Linksys AC
-1 Trendnet AC/Linksys router
hehe.
