| Netgear WGR614 54 Mbps 2.4 GHz Cable or DSL Wireless Router |
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Model: WGR614
Brand: Netgear
Manufacturer: Netgear
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 712
Operating system: Windows
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Router
WGR614
4 port
54 Mbps
Wireless |
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| Description: |
| Netgear WGR614 802.11g Wireless Router with 4-Port Switch - The amount of homes with high-speed Internet access and multiple computers is growing steadily. Wouldn't it be nice to share that high-speed Internet connection with all of the computers in your home? Wouldn't it be great to also share files between your computers? And wouldn't it be amazing if you could do all of that wirelessly!? Well you can, with this 802.11g Wireless Router. Just add optional 802.11g, or 802.11b, adapters to each computer, connect your modem, run through the easy installation process, and you're ready to go. It even supports the slower 802.11b wireless protocol for increased compatibility. VPN pass-through |
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| User Reviews (712 total): |
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Shoot the QA people., June 2, 2005
By slartibartfast (CA USA)
Basically, I'm mostly very happy with this router.
The web interface provides an easy configuration for a load of useful features (DHCP, works as a Dynamic DNS client to connect your dynamic IP address to a fixed URL (with someone like DynDNS), port forwarding/blocking, WEP keys, can block all but known MAC addresses, etc....) Pretty much all you might want.
However, the router frequently crashes (at least once a week), requiring a power-off to fix. Essentially, this makes it worthless if you want to run an ssh or web server.
I tried contacting Netgear's online support about this -- no response.
I tried upgrading the router using the router's web interface as directed on Netgear's website. The update didn't complete after 60 minutes. Basically, it destroyed the router -- hasn't worked since. Holding in the hard reset button while powering on should restore the factory settings. It does not.
Again, tried contacting their online support -- no response after 6 weeks.
In summary: nice features, not tested, no support, throw it in the bin.
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Good range, bad firm ware and no updates., May 18, 2005
By Linux Forever (Atlanta, GA)
This router is serviceable and has good range but the firmware corrupts the memory. This causes the configuration tables to
become corrupted beyond the ability of the web interface to
correct.
For example this causes the port forwarding to stop working and the port forward menue to no longer show the configuration. I can not redo the forwarding because the web interface is confused and will not let me delete, edit or add port forward. If I have been unfortunate enough to save my configuration during this corruption then that too is corrupted. If I have a backup that isn't corrupted I can do a hard reset back to factory defaults, via a little button on the back and restore the backup. Most of the time the corruption is in the backup too and I have no choice but to reconfigure the router from scratch. This happens about every month.
This router has very bad firmware, and no prospects of improvement. This router has wasted a lot of my time and
a little money.
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Disappears from network, UPnP doesn't work right, May 12, 2005
By maxvideo (Philipsburg, PA United States)
I have the v5 of this router. I put the latest firmware on it. None of this made any difference to all the tests I discuss below.
I am a very experienced software engineer. I just want you to know who was doing these tests.
Since my initial testing about 2 weeks ago, I must correct my
initial assessment that the router's throughput is bad. Actually, it's very very good. I was having problems with a wireless notebook card. However, the rest of my negative
opinion stands, and I'd still say "get another router".
If all you want to do is surf the web and read email, this router will work. If you want to do ANYTHING ELSE, run, do not walk, to the store, and get yourself a different router.
I'm in a lab, with perfect Ethernet connections on both the WAN and LAN sides of this router (no ISP involved), and my wirelessly connected computer is sitting feet from the thing, so there's no "bad signal" issues.
Here's what's wrong with this thing:
1. Discovery is awful. Using it in wireless mode: now you see it, now you don't. Discovery by the Windows wireless manager fails a lot.
2. UPnP doesn't. It times out, locks up, and loses UPnP entries at the drop of a hat. So you can forget chat, messenger, videoconferencing, and any other tools that use the handy UPnP setup to open the port forwarding entries.
3. Every setting you change in the web interface requires the router to restart and it takes FOREVER (like 30 seconds).
4. Out of the box, the wireless doesn't work, BY DESIGN. You have to use some obnoxious "configuration" program they include on a CD, or, connect with the WIRED side, and go to the main config web page.
5. Change the wireless SSID from the default "NETGEAR" and it's goodbye wireless LAN. You won't be able to connect to it every again, until you connect using the wired side, change the name BACK to "NETGEAR", reboot, and then change it again to what you want. Then it finally works.
6. When you change "some" configuration settings, it will spontaneously lose other ones. When you change settings, "sometimes" after it saves them and reboots, you won't be able to find the router again until you power it off and on.
You might think it's just a defective unit. But don't bet on it. Like I said, if you just set it up and use the web and email, it never hiccups --- very unlikely if it had a hardware problem. But if you do anything else to it, it's a total piece of junk.
My experience a week ago with support for their older MR814 router led me to NetGear's useless tech support call center in India (no, this isn't racist, it's really in India). And what do you get?
1) You have to go through an arduous web page "registration" process before the call center will even help you.
2) The web page registration would not work, insisting that the "purchase date" I entered was invalid, even though it's not.
3) The call center person told me they would register my router for me, and that I would have to call back in 20 minutes after the registration had time to get into their database.
In short, their tech support is such agony, that I am not going to call them on THIS router. It's going in the dumpster.
I am in the process of reviewing routers for a videoconferencing software product my company sells. Specifically, I'm looking for ones that support UPnP well, because I want to set up the ports on the router to let video get in without making the user setup the router themself.
As a result, I have a big pile of different routers here, and I can tell you that this one is the worst, bar none.
Stay away from the D-Link DI-624 too, while you're at it.
The Linksys models I've tried work the best, by far.
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Don't waste your time or money on this one!, May 1, 2005
By S. Ferro
Buying this router was definitely the worst experience with a consumer product I've ever had. I received it and hooked it up and it worked fine for basic internet connectivity. But I really wanted a wireless connection I could use with my work laptop so I could use the VPN and connect to my office network. The VPN would work fine ONLY IF I connected my laptop with a patch cable directly to the routed. The VPN would not work wirelessly. I spent HOURS on the phone with the "off-shore" difficult-to-understand, support technicians. We tried SO MANY different configurations. I downloaded the new firmware at least 3 times. At one point, they said they would call me back the next day. The ended up calling me at 1AM! I guess they didn't know how to convert to my time zone from India!
After about the forth time on the phone with them I finally said I was done. I didn't want to keep "experimenting" with them any longer. I just wanted to return the router. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN RMA! I was furious.
I put their router in the trash can and bought a Belkin router. WHAT a difference! It worked out of the box, no issues, and about $50 cheaper. Good bye Neatgear!!!
I hope this review saves someone from the frustration I've had!
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Worked Okay for 7 months and then just stopped, April 29, 2005
By Pasha (Boston, MA USA)
I would not recommend this router to anyone. At first it worked okay even with sporadic connections. I could never hold connection steady for a few hours. It was constantly disconnecting and looking for connection. If you are like me who listens to online radio and that would cause a constant problem of disconnecting and connecting again and again. The worst happened after 7 months, when it completely stopped working. I am not sure what to recommend as I had two wired Linksys routers which only lasted 12 months each. I don't know what the problem with them but they simply stopped working. So look else where for your router needs. Help Support is non-existent with both linksys and netgear. If this things goes down, you pretty much on your own.
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Don't throw your patch cables away..., April 26, 2005
By JR (Morris Plains, NJ)
Seems to be a recurring theme. Utilizing the WGR614 with a wired connection works great. However I got sporadic wireless connections (at best) even when sitting right on top of the antenna. Tried every firmware update (even beta versions) to no avail. Tech support wasn't very supportive. Spend the extra money and get the linksys.
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Good for a while, but not built to last., April 22, 2005
By T. Diep
I have the v4 version and it worked great with my Macs running OSX when I first got it. Easy, smooth set up and decent documentation, which is often rare for Mac users. But just like so many of the previous reviewers, after several months my wireless connection would drop frequently everyday requiring constant power unplug/replugs. I contacted customer support, tried everything including resets, and going through every Netgear router firmware available. The router continued to work great with a wired connection, but that kind of defeats the purpose of a wifi router. I just bought a Buffalo router to replace this one.
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No Customer Support, April 14, 2005
By D. Park
I bought the netgear wireless router over cheaper alternatives because of its supposed higher quality. The router, however, only gave me intermittent access to the internet. I called netgear customer support numerous times, and after long waits, I received "solutions" that did not fix my problem. After five (maybe more--I lost count) calls to customer support, I asked that netgear replace my defective router. Netgear then put me on hold and after fifteen minutes no one had ever come back to my call so I hung up in disgust. I definitely recommend against buying a netgear product if you think you will ever need true customer support.
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One of the better Routers, April 9, 2005
By Balanced Opinion (USA)
I started my quest to set up a wireless network at home with my Dell laptop and a Belkin F5D7230-4 router. The experience was painful and time consuming and ended up with me throwing the Belkin router into trash (Belkin's tech support told me that their routers are incompatible with Intel Centrino chips! I wonder what they are doing in wireless market then).
This is when I talked to my friends and almost everybody suggested Linksys or Netgear. A local Fry's store was selling Netgear WGR614 at discounted prices during a sale. I jumped on it.
To rate any router, one has to comment on its 3 "S", setup, specs and security. I have done quite a bit of research and below is my report on these.
SETUP: Took me less than 5 minutes to complete the setup. Only thing I had to do was to connect all the cables and turn the power on. Then choose a SSID, password, provide your connection information (depending upon what type of internet connection you have) and voila! I had a wireless network up and running.
SPECIFICATIONS: It supports both 108.11b and g networking. Weighs about half a lb. and is small (7"x1"x4.5") Mine is silver and looks so cool that I don't mind putting it on my tv!
SECURITY: Netgear router not only provides wireless network for your home but also protects it. It has a strong firewall to insulate your home machines for malicious hacker attacks like Denial Of Service, or attempts to access your machine from internet. It can also help you manage the content being accessed (if you have kids, this is a great feature). It allows remote management too and you can get the logs emailed to you.
I had to do almost no other maintenance in last 6 months that I have owned this router. It has a decent range. I can go to a park across the street and still access my network.
For 95% of us, this is enough.
I cannot comment on Netgear's customer service since I have never used it and I hope I won't have too!
In conclusion, I believe most known brands like Linksys and D-Link may also have some good routers. But you still have to make sure that the one you buy works for your laptop and your home (for example, according to Belkin's customer service their wireless routers are incompatible with Centrino chips.)
Netgear has worked great for me and I am sure it will work well for you too.
It is being sold for a great price right now, so go and grab yours. You won't be disappointed.
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worked fine, died, no warranty support, April 5, 2005
By Jack Dallas (Dallas, TX)
This device worked great out of the box for almost a year. Then would not even power on correctly. Had one response from e-mail support to try obvious remedial steps. After, heard nothing. Evidently Netgear not only lacks support but does not honor warranty. I replaced it with an Airlink for $16.99. Now if I can only get a year out of this one!
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Works but new white version is VERY UGLY, April 1, 2005
By Etienne (CA)
Decided to buy Netgear instead of Linksys because of the lower price ($20 rebate) and the favorable reviews; and also because it looked nice on the picture. The silver would look nice on my black desktop... Turns out that the latest version (V5) comes now in a white enclosure. VERY UGLY AND CHEAP LOOKING....
Seems to be working fine so far, as long as you really EXACTLY follow the instructions. Not sure yet whether I will keep it...
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Go with LinkSys, March 28, 2005
By MediocrityX (Berkeley, CA)
I chose to buy the NetGear router because it was about $10 cheaper than LinkSys, plus it got a great review from CNET. I was disappointed with the router, though. The connection drops to a really low speed all the time, and the farthest I've ever used it is about 30 feet with two walls of separation.
Also, when my friend came over with his laptop, he was unable to even connect to my network because he uses .11b instead of .11g. Be warned, if you plan on using b and g simultaneously, this router is definitely not for you.
In conclusion, I would recommend paying more for the brand that more people trust: LinkSys.
Happy hunting!
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Easy to install, hopeless for heavy use, March 27, 2005
By mathew (Austin, TX USA)
I bought one of these to replace an SMC7004AWBR which stopped allowing admin logins and wouldn't reset to factory defaults.
It installed like a dream, was really easy to set up, and worked fine--at first. Unfortunately, I work from home as a software engineer and system admin, and really need a reliable router--and this isn't it. Once I open too many simultaneous TCP connections, it'll crash--the lights blink as if it's still working, but it stops actually routing packets.
I've tried a firmware upgrade, I've tried changing the MTU size, and next I think I'm going to try another brand of router... If you use BitTorrent, RSS aggregators, or other software that opens lots of TCP connections, avoid this router. Similarly, if you have several computers in simultaneous use, this device will only frustrate you.
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rebate is bogus, March 26, 2005
By thora (NJ)
While the product works very well, the Rebate, I can only conclude is bogus. I submitted my rebate form with all required docs in January and have not received my rebate yet. Don't know how to contact them either.
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Speedy and Secure, March 26, 2005
By croenisch (Marin County CA)
The WGR614 v.5 router is the current 'standard of measure' for simple home wireless networks. As with all electronics, get the latest drivers! Go to the Netgear website - find the product and download version 1.7 (it replaces 1.3 shipping with the product). Once you have the new version on your computer type 192.168.1.1 into your browser enter the user id 'admin' and password, 'password' and upgrade the firmware. Select upgrade and specify the file you downloaded.
This is my second wireless network and it performs very well. I had an older MR314 but this was an 802 11B (11 MBS vs 54 MBS for the WR614) I bought the WGR614 at Comp USA for $14.95 (with rebates) and have been enjoying the higher speed. Part of the reason I upgraded was to take advantage of the WEP security that was not available for the older MR314. If you want more robust security the unit also supports WPA, but this is harder to set up and slows the transfer speeds.
I have been using the router for about three months and it has performed well. It isn't as sturdy as the MR314 (blue metal case was a lot more durable than the white plastic) but it is good enough. Currently 802 11G is the slowest speed you should consider when purchasing a router - this will provide good service for the next year when Super G routers (108 MBS) will be very common. For now though this is a great router especially at the low price point.
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2nd Netgear Wireless Router, March 26, 2005
By Ronald Davis (portland)
There is some good stuff in the review by Cyberdesi. David McCulloch's review is a good recap of my experience except I think David overstates how hard it is. I just set up my second one (a gift to a friend). Turn off your computer & modem. Plug in the router: to the computer, to the modem & to the wall. Turn on the modem. Turn on the router. Turn on the computer. In that order, per directions. All done. Well, it's wise to fire up net access & double check. Make any of the adjustments Cyberdesi addresses now. It isn't obvious to me how to make it any easier to do.
Now I hear we are getting cable at the condo at the beach. Guess I'll get a third Netgear wireless. Maybe I should buy stock??
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Not worth the hassle, March 22, 2005
By Bilbo Baggins (USA)
I bought this router even after the mixed reviews since most of the time problems are more to do with the system/user - that was a mistake. After spending hours on the technical support site and going over the troubleshooting guide I still couldn't even get the computer to talk to the router atall. All the LED's were lit as required but the software just wouldnt go to the setup sequence. After trawling the guide and going through the nine steps I was told to contact technical support - no thanks - I want a product that works as advertised - I didn't sign up for hours of networking troubleshooting.
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Cheap Product, Poor Support, March 22, 2005
By bono review (San Francisco CA USA)
I'm tech savvy and ended up spending hours upon hours network troubleshooting this router ONLY to find out that the problem I was experiencing is KNOWN. My only solution to many of the issues encountered, was to disconnect the firewall (leaving my computer totally exposed, not good). To resolve the issue, I had to update firmware multiple times. After all this, it still doesn't work right.
$50 router. $500 in my time to fix it.
Note: you get what you pay for.
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A rough start, but an awesome router!, March 19, 2005
By proxops-pete (Houston, TX)
Well, prior to getting my laptop, I decided to get a wireless router. It always starts with a decision, right? So I find an AT&T 6800G Wireless router for decent price of $30 off eBay... Install was a sinch! However, it dropped my connection constantly and randomly!! So off you go, I said. Sold it off for $22 (at a loss) and got instead Netgear WGR614v5 b/g Wirelss Router.
Not only is it cute, but performs very solid! Well, almost... the install was a bit rough. It kept detecting my DSL connection as a static IP w/ no login! Being quite frustrated, I decided to register the sucker and get some tech support! I swear, if I have to speak with another Indian outsourced tech support, I'm gonna... Well, I shouldn't since EVERYONE is doing it... SBC.. now Netgear! However, she did fix my issue... she didn't have to walk me through but just mentioning that pointing to www.routerlogin.com/basic.htm would've been fine instead of the default one!
Once that was squared away using PPPoE setting and inserting my login ID and password, my PC was up and running!! Not a single drop of any kind whatsoever!! Now, I got my laptop (review of that coming!) and wireless network works beautifully.
My laptop was able to connect to the internet w/o a hitch... just detecting automatically the connection via Control Panel's Networking did the trick. It has built-in 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and once I shared the appropriate folders between my laptop and the PC, they were able to "see" each other clearly and transfer files at beautiful 54 Mbps (~7 MB/sec).
In other words, I love it! I give it 9/10 (1 deducted for not a flawless setup).
Pro: Easy hookup. Great speed, dependability and performance!
Con: A bit rough setup experience.
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Doesn't Handle Multi-Computer Networks Well, March 18, 2005
By V. Nguyen (San Jose, CA)
I purchased this router about 8 months ago. It was easy to set up and get my one computer online.
My problems with this router began as I added more computers to the network. I now have 4 computers on, 3 wireless and 1 ethernet. When users on the network are sharing files, the router crashes and has to be reset.
This is getting really irritating and I am looking for an enterprise router to avoid having this problem again.
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