| Belkin N1 Wireless Router |
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Model: F5D8231-4
Brand: Belkin
Manufacturer: Belkin Components
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 112
Operating system: Windows XP Professional Edition
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11n (draft), IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Stream HD Video
Listen to digital music
Play online games
Transfer photos and home videos
Shop online and surf the web |
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| Description: |
| Based on the 802.11n draft, N1 Wireless enables multiple receivers and transmitters to send and receive data wirelessly.Intelligent MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) spatial multiplexing techniques build upon the widely deployed 802.11g standard by greatly increasing speed, range, and faster speeds of up to 300Mbps.Using this smart-antenna technology, N1 Wireless from Belkin delivers greater range and faster speeds, for a quick and efficient way to distribute video, music, photos, and files among the networked computers in your home. The built-in Network Status Display lets you see your connections working. Each icon represents a network component, so you can easily monitor for fast troubleshooting. |
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| User Reviews (112 total): |
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 of Total 6 Pages
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Superb router in my honest opinion, December 28, 2006
By user
Super easy to set-up and use. I was online within minutes of setting the router to the modem. Excellent coverage throughout my home.
The 2 desktops, laptop, PSP, XBOX 360, and PDA all work great and received great signals with this router. Highly recommended.
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HUZZAH to the solid VPN-friendly routtAH!, December 20, 2006
By user (NJ)
This is a superb product by Belkin (the winner of many industrial design awards so its not surprising). I had no trouble setting it up, its got some excellent security features.. much better than Netgear's recent bought of craptastic N-routers.
Of particular interest is the N1's ability to pass IPsec and VPN packets through without a hassle. With the growing number of companies adding VPNs (even small businesses) its a worthy investment.
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Best Router So Far..., December 7, 2006
By user (Auburn, AL)
Prior to having this router I had trouble getting a decent wireless signal throughout my house when using my laptop. Now I have excellent signal using this router. I love the easy to use interface as well which makes it easy for anyone to setup this amazing router.
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Another Winner from the folks @ Belkin, December 2, 2006
By user
Belkin is making a name for itself in the WiFi market with this gem. I own a Belkin USB Wireless Adapter for a PC in my Local Mesh and it works like a charm...I was so impressed with the PC Adapter that when it came time to upgrade my LAN to all wireless as some of the CAT-5 Cables were degenerating over time, I decided to give up my Linksys 'G' router and opt for the Big Belkin N.
Now...here's the deal. There are actually two phases of setup for the Router...one is easy and the other a bit more challenging. The first part just gets the unit communicating with the other wireless adapters in your network...the second part gets you hooked to the internet.
After following the instructions...YES, I had to read the users guide, I was able to get the Mesh up and running. After a brief conversation with the techies @ Belkin, I was hooked to the internet in about 10 minutes.
Let me say at this point in time that the unit is also UPnP for media streaming and shows up as an icon in your 'My Network Places' Window. Just right click the icon to 'Invoke' the Set Up Page and you've got enormous control over the setup and nuances of your Belkin N Router.
As a side note...it works great with my Roku M500 streaming music device which is another great wireless item and when used with Yahoo's Music Jukebox with Unlimited service, you may never have to buy another CD in your life. Also, the Belkin delivers great video signals to my Sony Location Free TV system and works like a charm when I'm viewing TV & DVDs at my local Hot Spot.
A lot of problems that others encounter may not be issues with the Router itself but with the Modem supplied by their ISPs. The Netopia DSL Modem supplied to me by AT&T is a bit quirky as it is a Router as well as a Modem...so a bit of tweaking and uncoventional thinking was used to get the two Routers to cooperate. As I said, after about 10 minutes with the Belkin agent..I was painlessly up and running.
Now...about the signal. It is very strong...very fast...and very reliable.
That being said....spend the dough and get one.
Warren
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Great Range When It Stays Connected, November 14, 2006
By user
Listen folks....
If Belkin made a defibrilator and you had a heart attack.....
you would be six feet under by now.
Garbage.....If you really want to buy this I suggest you rip your ears off with pliers before you do...much more pleasant experience.
NUF SAID? Thank You :)
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Belkin N1 or Bellsouth DSL Modem, November 5, 2006
By user (Florida)
Daily I have to disconnect the Modem and Belkin N1 to access Bellsouth.Net. I strongly suspect it is not the router, but the modem; however bellsouth tech advises to disconnect both for at least 60 seconds. All active lights are lit on both, but the PC advises "cannot find internet connection".
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easy user interface, November 5, 2006
By user (nyc)
This router does what it is supposed to do, namely, broadcast a strong dependable signal, in my case - throughout a 4 story brownstone. The interface is VERY user friendly. It has WPA security features and a clean, simple design. Some N1 routers look like they were designd by someone who has a fetish for "transformer" toys.
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I can now connect from the back patio!, November 3, 2006
By user (SAN CLEMENTE, CA)
Had belkin router "g" series previously, but sometimes could not connect in the family room. Now i can connect anywhere inside or outside my home. Set up was easy. My router is in an upstairs closet, but the design with the icon lights is so cool, i'm tempted to move it to my desktop!
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Junk, October 9, 2006
By user (MD, USA)
I have had nothing but trouble with this router. It constantly lost connection with wireless and to the modem. It would take me several reboot trys to get it back up and running. I recommend that you purchase another brand.
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Excellent Speed-Easy Installation and Setup, September 23, 2006
By user (Valparaiso, IN USA)
I first installed the latest firmware from Belkin's site on my PC, and then hooked up the Router via the supplied cables to one of my PC's. I then installed the latest firmware for the matching wireless card on another PC, and the installed the PCI card itself, (I made sure to FIRMLY push the antenna cables onto the card. The connection was snug and I had no problems with it loosening up.
After powering up the router and the PC's, the router virtually set itself automatically with no problems whatsoever.
The wireless signal strength is excellent and constant acroos two floors of my large house. I'm getting download speeds of almost 30 mbs according to the "SPEAKEASY speed test" is use via the internet.
The only complaints I have are minor. One is, that I wish the user manuals were supplied via hardcopy and not just on a CD. The other is, that the antenna cable for the wireless PC Card needs to be longer to more easily place the antenna on my computer's furniture cabinet.
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Wireless connection constantly drops/hangs, September 22, 2006
By user
PROs: the visual display showing status on the front is very handy - but it doesn't reflect reality in most situations. It does, however, let you see the unit boot. User interface is straight forward and well laid out. Updates are very simple.
CONs: I've loaded two different firmware/SW versions on this unit. The first version would lockup anytime I browsed a remote computer file system more than 3 directories deep. The latest version is significantly worse. It has the same problem and additionly, the wireless unit shuts off after 10 minutes or so, requiring a power cycle to get it restarted. The on-line support is pathetic (just FW downloads, no FAQ or knowledge base at all). Only the latest FW version is posted, so once you upgrade, you can't go backwards. Performance with the Belkin N card was not noticeably different from other systems with generic 'g' cards.
Overall, a tremendous disappointment. I'll update as I continue to work with their technical support for a replacement/refund.
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Works Great, September 14, 2006
By user (Salem,OR)
Had a Laptop and desktop which I wanted hooked up to my new fiber optic 10mg connection. Few complications but tech support came through and learned how to resolve issues. Works great and enjoy the speed. Best decission of what is out there to buy.
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Horrible, September 8, 2006
By user (LA, CA USA)
I had this router for 8 days. One notebook worked fine, another constantly lost its connection, and the third would not connect at all. I tried a few simple fixes and none worked. Called their tech support and in 30 minutes he told me to reset my router. Nice job! Of course I had already tried this. I told him I did not have this problem with Linksys (although I had many others) at which point he told me to go buy a Linksys. What a joke. I asked him if he was serious but that was enough for me. Giving Netgear a shot now.
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Yes, it is buggy, but still, August 9, 2006
By user
I wanted to leave my initial review below, so that you can see that when I used this router it initially worked quite well. However, I have no idea what happened, but the thing got progressively worse and eventually stopped responding altogether. It actually seemed to drop connections more frequently when more people were using it or when there were either multiple or very large downloads occurring. So, in the end, I was forced to abandon what, I thought, was a great router. I have since changed to another one which works much better, can handle large networks, and has no problem with large downloads as well, which is unfortunate since I really like Belkin as a company, but they really seemed to drop the ball on this particular router. If you are in the market for a new N router I have to say that, unfortunately, you will be better off passing this one by. Personally, I use the Apple Airport Extreme, but even that is not for everyone.
I bought one of these for the place I work since they did not have any internet apart from dial-up. Setup took very little time, it was just tweaking and setting things up like security (I really like the TKIP WPA PSK option). The range is unbelievable and covers from my office which is one side of the building to the other side of the building with no problem. Unfortunately, it cannot reach a few offices on the far east corner of the building, but I think that may be due to the bathroom that is located over there.
There are currently 8 different computers (Mac and Windows) connected to this router by G wireless, and I have not had any issues at all. Many people recommend just using a G wireless router, but I was looking for range rather than speed and the N1 fulfills that need.
I do agree, however, that it does tend to drop the connection from the surfboard modem, but I find it does not happen as frequently when people are using it. It is not a major issue, and I am sure it will be remedied when the firmware is updated.
All in all, I am very pleased with this router, and have owned many belkin products in the past with no problems. The only issue I ever discovered apart from the router dropping the modem was when I used a wireless adapter that was pre-N capable, that seemed to lag the network because all the others were G, and I have heard that if the router sees an N on the network it gives it priority, which does cause major bottlenecks, so be careful.
Otherwise, I have had no issues and, like I said, am very pleased. In fact, I did the same for another small company, and also use one at home as well with no problems. Granted, I never tried the other N's out there, but I tend to like Belkin and stick with a name I trust and like.
I just wanted to add a follow-up. I have two of these routers, one seems to work well the other seems to constantly drop the connection. The one that is working well is the one I set up at home, the one that is dropping connections is the one I installed at work. I cannot figure out what it is that is causing the dropped connections, but, unfortunately, the one at work winds up dropping the connection at least a couple of times during the week, and I know when it is about to happen. I usually get no response from the internet, then looking at the router the wireless light goes dark and the internet signal (the earth) starts blinking orange. It will then sometimes come back up or just go completely down. When it does go completely down, it is not normally enough to power cycle just the router, you also have to do the same to the modem as well.
So, unfortunately, though I initially gave it a glowing review, I must withdraw a full five stars, maybe 3 or 4, since when it does work, it works great. I am just wondering if it is not something with the firmware or if it has to do with many users using it at once. For the life of me, I still cannot figure it out.
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Solid though overly simple router, August 4, 2006
By user (CA USA)
The router works fairly well and is simple almost to a fault. The flashing lights on the face of the machine have nice little icons instead of tiny little green lights with text written beneith them.
However, the router does lack a few features such as QoS and the ability to write in long ISP host names. This is irritating if you're sharing the connection with a few people and would like to priorative certain types of content. And not being able to put in long ISP host names makes that whole feature useless as most ISP hostnames are long.
The good news is that the hardware is very good. It's range even on G standard devices is awsome both in it's clarity and range. However the modes it can be in are also a bit lacking. It can only opperate a mixed G/N mode as opposed to pure N.
On the whole what this router needs is a good firmware update which I'm sure is forthcoming. However, it's a good router for home use regardless of that.
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Easy Install and Smooth Running!!, August 1, 2006
By user (NYC)
I was not always a Belkin fan. I thought they were good at making knock-off iPod accessories and USB hubs. But Belkin has proven they are a true tech company to me again and again. ALL their products work flawlessly. I bought the Pre-N to replace the Netgear 240. Don't get thrown off by the child-like icons on the front of this router. It is actually quite useful and something new in the industry (to tell you exactly what part of your network is or is not working!!). From opening the box to surfing the web, I would say it took me 10 mins tops. The instructions are EASY to follow, you cannot miss a step unless you are blind. The config page is very easy to use and I even setup wireless encryption without much effort at all. The sleek high-gloss black case is very cool as well. Kudos to Belkin for a great product at a great price. I highly recommend this product.
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Five Stars, July 26, 2006
By user (Bay Area, CA.)
Piece of cake to install. Better range than my old linksys.
Using the notebook adapter as well. Get it!
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Buggy Firmware, July 14, 2006
By user (Ohio)
It's a great product that deserves 5 stars, BUT I won't give it that until they fix the 2 issues I found. First, as others have noted, it drops it's connection to the modem, and in the router log you can see it doing so and renewing it's ip to the same ip that it was before from the modem (this is a firmware bug). Secondly, I have not seen this reported yet, but sometimes you will get a login error when logging into the router (and it's not a typo), yet another bug. These could both be fixed via a firmware update. Yet if you call tech support like I did (and I work in IT, so I am no newbie), they are no help at all. I asked if they are aware of these issues, of course not, and wanted to email them the log file so that they would be aware of the issues and start working on a resolution. The agent told me there was no way for me to email it to him as they do not have access to email (NICE!!). I think that Belkin has great products, as this thing has killer speed wirelessly, but I also have other routers (Pre-N & a simple "wired" router) that have their firmware issues as well. It's a love/hate thing. I just wish they would "get it together" so that I could give them 5 stars. Great router, it's just that their engineers are a little slow on the firmware updating. I feel like I am educating them, which is absurd, as they should be ahead of it already for a $150 dollar router!!!
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Not ready for prime time, July 12, 2006
By user (Chattanooga, TN USA)
I have had the Belkin pre-N router for quite some time and it has performed flawlessly. My two year old recently decided to remove the antennae so i thoght I would try the new draft n products. Belkin hadn't released the N1 so I began with the Netgear Rangemax 240. This was a dismal failure and support was atrocious. Undeterred, I then tried the Netgear Next. Equally poor result. Finally after weeks of waiting, I got my hands on the Belkin N1. Easy setup,and blazing speed-when it works. It loses connection with my Motorola surfboard modem at least once a day(seven days in a row). The N1 laptop card crashed my computer twice. In the mean time I'm using a very dependable Belkin super G router-no problems whatsoever. I ordered a new Belkin pre N today. If it ain't broke ,don't fix it! I love the Belkin product. Documentation and support are superb. Setup is a snap. I just think that wireless n is just not there yet. I suspect that backward compatibilty with wireless g is not as seamless as the vendors would like you to believe. I'll keep my N1 and look for firmware upgrades. Can't wait to reinstall old Faithful
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This Baby Is Awesome, July 7, 2006
By user (CO USA)
I Tried Linksys N1 and Netgear N. But I had to return both of them, because of some wired problems. But Belkin works right out of the box. I have been a proud owner of this baby for over 3 weeks now. During this time-span it naver dropped even a bar of signal within my apartment. I am even sharing this connection with my friend right next to my house, almost ~60 feet away from the position of the router. He never complained me about drop of signal. I am using the signal in mixed mode and 20/40MHz frequency range.
Only bad thing I could mention about this router is that It does not offer 802.11b mode transmission.
Otherwise This baby really rocks hard and steady. Belkin rally knows what they are doing. Way to go Belkin. Two Thumbs Up!
In a nutshell, This router is awesome. Steady signal, Higher speed with even MIMO based cards (108 MBPS). I highly recommend this router.
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