| 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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Respectable performance; so far!, May 22, 2007
By Duck (Glen Allen, VA United States)
This was my first attempt at going wireless. As far as setup, it took me about an hour and a couple of router resets but mainly I think it was my lack of unfamiliarity with wireless terms. Now I am up & running a wired WIN XP, a wired WIN 2K, desktop with a NETGEAR wireless PCI card along with a notebook that had a pre-installed wireless 802.11g unit. So far this router has worked competently but I will update if any problems arise.
Mini update: My two wireless units seem to compete for bandwith when both are accessing the router with the notebook usually winning out. Not bad with four computers accessing the router simultaneously.
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Satisfactory Product, May 14, 2007
By Chandan Sukhija (Richmond, VA)
Have been using this wireless router from the first day I bought it. Haven't had to restart or any other problem. Has been running giving good performance through out. Would say I am happy with the product.
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Netgear WGR614 802.11g Wireless Router Review, May 14, 2007
By Dingobabies (Grass Valley, California)
I am not very pleased with the Netgear product. It should have been mentioned that no Tech support is provided with a refurbished router. I was having trouble connecting a laptop wirelessly and when I called Netgear they said they would offer no support for a refurbished item. I had no problem hooking up the PC's in my home (with wire) but still have not been able to use this as a wireless router. I have 2 desktop's connected (directly, with wire) and the laptop (which does have a wireless card) still is not connected through this router. I could have, and may as well have, simply purchased a hub instead!
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Great signal and connectivity, right price, May 13, 2007
By Pedro (Berkeley, CA United States)
I use this wireless router in my 2-bedroom apartment and get good signal in every room. Three computers are routinely connected without any noticibly degraded speed in the internet connection. The configuration software had plenty of options for security, filtering, scheduling, visibility to outside users, etc. without being unnecessarily complicated. Works simultaneously with macs and PCs on the network; network setting configurable by either OS.
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It works, May 13, 2007
By seaseachick (seattle)
I bought this wireless router about one month ago and it works great. I've had no problems connecting Mac and Windows machines, and there have been no dropouts at all. I suggest turning of the SSID (in the html based setup pages).
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Could not get it to work, May 13, 2007
By USLivingInPeace
I never could get this to work even after following the instructions, and then it turns out that Earthlink will only let this operate if I pay a separate monthly fee for the opportunity of connecting my laptop in another part of the house with the desktop in my office. I cannot blame Netgear here. So I give it a neutral, feeling angry about lack of aviso re specific major ISPs.
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Works good., May 13, 2007
By Mrs P. (Florida)
I have been using this for about a month. I had to have help setting it up. I am using a new Toshiba notebook and an older Dell Tower, so I had to also purchase a Wireless USB Adapter for the Dell. The only problem I had was with Netgear tech support. I could not get them to respond to my email or phone calls, so I called Dell, and they helped me figure it out, and they also got a technician from Netgear to help. We had a 3 way conversation, and I finally got it working. I love it. Both my machines are now wireless.
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This router works, May 12, 2007
By Woody (Wisconsin)
Happy with the product. With Verizon DSL and Wirespeed Modem there was a conflict in the instillation process. Verizon Customer Service was able to fix this snag remotely after a lengthy discussion with an outsourced representative with a thick accent named Eugene (?).
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Plug it and forget it, May 9, 2007
By Hemant Singh (San Francisco, CA)
Apart from small issue that my office VPN is not working via this I have no problem at all, Was DAM easy to install.
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Prepare to Re-start your router, May 8, 2007
By J. Skaff
Got this a year ago, and we have had to restart it every other day. Now, after reading other reviews, it seems like it is a common experience. The old saying you get what you pay for is true here. Save your money, and get an Airport Extreme from Apple.
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terrible, May 7, 2007
By Wayne Defloria
after using for 15 minutes it kept resetting itself. I constantly restart it and in under 5 minutes its resetting itself. I RMA'ed for a refund and got a belkin, set it up once and never a problem.
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Great product, May 7, 2007
By Lou A. Brink
This product is easy to use and comes with a great help guide. Even if you have no history of networking it's still easy to use. Alot of the settings are self explanatory. I bought one for my girlfriend and I plan to buy one for my self soon.
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Wow, has NetGear gotten better!, May 7, 2007
By Brian Fending (hamburg, ny USA)
I've been setting up NetGear routers for myself and friends/family for several years now. The 192.168.1.1 admin interface has always been pretty clean and I could even walk people through screens without seeing them, just because they behaved in expected ways. I *just* got home from setting up the newest iteration at my parents' house (the last one didn't survive a coffee disaster...) and I have to say, it was FANTASTIC. I did *not* install the NetGear client software, just plugged it in and started in on the admin interface to configure them. WOW. I didn't need to make the trip. Even setting up WEP and changing the admin password for the admin interface was part of the wizard-style setup. Amazingly good product enhancement. I just wish other vendors would catch on and realize that they don't always need a NEW product, but can just make the old one BETTER. A+ to the technical writers and dev staff at NetGear for making this happen.
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Over a year and still going strong!, April 28, 2007
By anonreviewer (California)
Good little router, basic, but generally works well..haven't tried the WPA security on it though since my connected devices don't support it. The WEP works fine though, as does the ethernet switch component. Rarely needs a reboot, in contrast to what the other reviewers here say. But this is Version 6 of this router, there are 7 versions now according to the Netgear site..maybe the other reviewers had one of the earlier versions..?
The range on this router is not great, although it's good..thus the 4 starts instead of 5..
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Simple, safe, fast enough ...., April 15, 2007
By PB Addict (Indianapolis, IN USA)
This router definitely isn't lead edge or sexy (in a geeky way). But that is what is great about it. Our home use of the router is almostly exclusively for web surfing and file/print sharing. A typical "G" standard router like this one is more than adequate for those purposes. The performance is rock solid working with Vista as well as XP. I tried some of the "N" routers and wireless cards and had far more problems than benefits. Sometime the "N" bandwidth wireless tools will be as reliable as the "G" products. But until then routers like this provide excellent performance and reliability for a low price.
This was a freebie when I bought an networkable HP printer. I took the opportunity to replace my Linksys G router, which is 2 years old and was not pleased with the Vista laptop I recently bought. Everytime I start my Vista laptop, it knocks all the other laptops off the network. They boot back up and work fine, but my wife is not amused. This router works fine with the mix of Vista, XP and the HP printer.
One of the features I like about the Netgear router over the Linksys router is the Netgear router allows you let the router permanently reserve an IP (network) address. I use the remote attach feature of XP and Vista to go between the computers and it is a pain if the addresses are constently changing. I've also set the dynamic address parameters so it only has enough numbers to support the addresses I have reserved. One more security link to add to the other recommendations about not broadcasting the SSID, using security, locking down to specific MAC ids, etc.
I didn't think I would ever get another Netgear product. I am zero for three the last three times I have submitted rebates to them. All sorts of excuses, no money. I'd decided I will not get another Netgear product unless the purchase price without rebate is reasonable. Since this was a freebie, the price was right.
I strongly suggest if you a buying one of these, check to make sure it is version 7. The version is stated on the outside of the box.
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needs a reset every now and then, April 15, 2007
By tcjohnsson (USA)
This router needs to be reset (unplugged then plugged in) almost every other day. All of my computers will recognize the router but for some reason the connection is lost every now and then. A reset takes care of it every time. But that's annoying enough for me to rate this product one star. Other than that, it works but definitely not the way it should.
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DON'T BUY IT!, April 13, 2007
By mauurenaa (Costa Rica)
I just buy one of this a few days ago, I connect it and works just fine the first day, however stops working the next day. No signal of life after one single day using it.
Botton line, if you want to waste your money, this the way to do it.
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do not buy this or any other netgear wireless products, April 11, 2007
By G. Praud
I suspect most of these reviews were written shortly after buying the product. But god forbid 6 months down the line you install another card into your network.
I bought all netgear stuff (router, PC card and PCMCIA card) to satisfy networking needs, so there would not be any issue about "oh you gotta call linksys for that problem" type of thing). I swear these guys put in code to make it stop working when the warranty is up. I know it sounds conspiratorial, but for 3 items this happens? come on!
First the router, looks nice. But why are the download speeds a fraction of the speed of the wireless connections? Can't get that question answered becuase my warranty is up even though these miserable speeds only came about when i installed the new cards.
I install a PCMCIA card on a laptop. Works good, but now my PC with a wireless card in it failed...guess what.. my warranty is up on that card too. It fails just when i install the laptop card? and i cant get help on that, becuase (everyone say it....): my warranty is up.
Knowledge base help is useless, ask anyone. email support is slow and they just give you canned answers which is useless. Netgear has truly terrible technical support, and it would be nice to see a company treat their customers in a way that would make them want to buy their products in the future. I know I wont be buying any more netgear stuff.
Buy equipment from a reliable company. Linksys (why did I switch? Why oh why?).
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Very Good, April 2, 2007
By Rafael Luciano
Excellent, the product works fine so far and was very easy to install.
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Probably one of the better ways to go now, April 1, 2007
By A. Nelson (New York, NY United States)
It works - no complaints there. I looked around alot and if you're staying under $50 (you might as well - what's the point in all those features - you'll never use all that bandwidth in a home situation unless you're streaming HD video wirelessly to your TV.
Web interface is clunky - I think I like Dlink better but seriously - it's time to step up here. None of the router config interfaces I've used is very good yet.
Blinking lights. It's 2007 now. Personal electronics like this shouldn't be condensed versions of professional products. Do I really need diagnostic blinking lights behind my stereo? Couldn't you put a switch on the back to turn them off? It's important when the Cisco router at work has diagnostics but this is supposed to look nice. Maybe some Apple engineering could rub off here and some more innovative LEDs could be implemented.
Antenna - It's time for all of these things to come without an external antenna. Most of us don't really need the range - and for those who do, maybe an antenna could be bundled that would be optional.
Size - The size is fine - and I like the white. It would be nice if this were smaller though. They've already done a pretty good job but this device should be as small as possible.
Transformer *** - The transformer is small. This is a giant plug. Hats off to Netgear for getting that right - it's the most important part.
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