| NETGEAR WGT624 Super-G Wireless Router |
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Model: WGT624
Brand: Netgear
Manufacturer: Netgear
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 302
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Super-G Wireless router improves your wireless speed and range
4-port switch delivers twice the speed and four times the coverage of the standard Wireless-G protocol
Configurable for private networks or public hotspots
Double Firewall protection to defend your computer from external hacker attacks
Device measures 6.9 x 1.1 x 4.7 inches (WxHxD) |
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| Description: |
| The NETGEAR WGT624 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router is 10 times faster than 802.11b routers. When used with NETGEAR's WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card, it delivers speeds up to 108 Mbps, using Super GTM Technology. It's the next generation of home networking, with the power to stream MP3 & video, share printers, chat and distribute large photo files Exceptional range keeps you connected at the farthest ends of home or office 4 RJ-45 Ethernet ports, 10/100 Mbps auto-sensing Dimensions - 1.1H x 6.9W x 4.7D |
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| User Reviews (302 total): |
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netgear 624, December 19, 2004
By user (cornwall, new york)
trying to connect windows 98 to windows ME.unable to do it myself, called india.waited 45 minutes, he said I need 2nd edition windows 98.my buddy downloaded 2nd edition of win 98 still no connect. called india waited 45 min, man wanted me to download drivers .I said no. Went to computer store in town, he hooked me up in no time. works excellent, better than expected. i am 80 ft. from main computer in a detached garage.the speed is impressive. dsl service. upgraded win 98 to windows XP, by the way. been a month, no problems.
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Not reliable, December 15, 2004
By user
i own a netgear he102+ha501 combo (purchased in 2002). it's been rock solid. not this unit (wgt624+511t). as several reviewers have already mentioned, this unit will reboot constantly. if you read broadbandreports.com's netgear forums, you'll find several workarounds for this problem (setting preamble mode to long, enable broadcast ssid's etc.). i use it only as a wireless access point not a router (i have an older almost 3yr old SMC barricade which works great). since putting in the workarounds (and also the fact this is only an AP), the reboots have decreased in frequency but they haven't stopped entirely. for me the it's my 2.4GHz phone which causes this piece of junk to reboot. not all phone calls, only some, and fairly at random. i don't think i have to get a new phone just for this access point.
in any event the Super G (108mbs) is not really worth all the hassle. besides it's a rare occurence that you will get persistent 108Mbs anyways.
thus unit, even with the latest firmware, is not worth it. so save yourself the trouble and buy a linksys or a buffalo router. Netgear's product quality is so bad, i would give this as a gift to my worst enemy.
oh btw- if you are on linux/*bsd, madwifi+wpa_supplicant works okay with this router and a wg551T card. of course madwifi will only support upto g mode (54Mbps) and not super-g. ndiswrapper+wpa_supplicant works in super-g (108Mbps) but the driver will constantly crash.
on windows, if you have the wg511T cards, you can try the atheros reference drivers (i did), but it doesn't make that much of a difference anyways.
in any event don't let the marketing drivel fool you. if you see this hunk o' junk, run.
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I will never buy Netgear again, December 14, 2004
By user (Austin, TX USA)
I'm writing this to save you grief and down time. I bought this router and used it for about 1 month. It died suddenly so I exchanged it at the store where I purchased it. The next one seemed flakey in that it kept restarting randomly. I would notice that all my connections had dropped. Looking at the router log, I would see a message that it had initialized - no reason. Finally I saw that there was a firmware update available (it is nice in that it can check for updates and apply them at the click of a button - or so I thought). I accepted the firmware update only to have the process fail and my router dead as a doornail. Being under warranty I figured bad products can happen so I'll just call and get it replaced. Boy was I wrong. First of all for the past 3 months they have had hold times in excess of 15 minutes. On top of that the 5 calls I made to tech support all ended with sudden (convenient) disconnection. Odd that I can remain on hold for 20-30 minutes and then get dropped while talking to a support rep (one for only 5 minutes). After having lost over 2 hours of my life, I decided to use the web support instead. I typed in 2 messages one to support one to feedback about how bad my service had been so far. Neither message was ever responded to. A few days later I typed some more messages - still no response. I continue to flood them with messages - certain that someone must read them eventually. A month later one of my messages gets a response. Today I got thought to tech support on the phone after 10 minutes of hold. Even though they had all my other calls recorded, it still took 20 minutes to get my RMA number from them. Now they will exchange my router as long as I pay to ship it back. So while legally they are upholding their warranty, they are not a company I will ever do business with again.
Needless to say I have already purchased another router (linksys) and will be selling the Netgear as soon as it is fixed.
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Don't buy it , I tried 2 models and none worked !!!, December 10, 2004
By user (Bronx, NY United States)
This router is really fast when it works. Unfortunately, it constantly reboots, even after upgrading to the newest firmware. First, I thought it was defective so I returned it for a replacement. The second one had exactly the same problem. Neatgear has to work this out and release a new firmware upgrade.
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BUYER BEWARE, December 8, 2004
By user (Santa Cruz, CA)
This is a fast router. WHEN IT WORKS. All the people on this page who think this router is great probably are having the same experience I did when I first got it. It has great range and speed, even in my problem house. However, eventually, it will start to reboot it self constantly (chek google if you think it's just me!). With my first one, this happened every week or so. I called and after several calls and about 2 total hours of listening to obviously wrong suggestions (Netgear has the worst tech support in the industry), they sent me another totally new version of the router. It went for a month or so, then I had the same problem. However, the new one had new sypmpton as well: You could ping it, but the configuration page would not load (Yes, I tried on several computers and browsers). So now I have a brick. I bought a new one (my third) from a local store and after 2 weeks -- reboots all the time. I was able to return that one. But I also have the essentially dead one. Netgear won't replace this one unless I pay for extended support. I use this one as a support for my new D-Link DI-624. I'll never buy another Netgear product. Ever. You shouldn't either.
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Random Reboot, December 8, 2004
By user (Florida, US)
I wish I had read reviews on this product before I purchased one. It does have an excellent range and it is fast ( when it works ), but it tends to reboot itself very often, especially if it is under heavy usage. My first guess was that it was over-heating, so I placed a large fan next to it overnight while I downloaded a few gigs worth of files, but with a room temperature of 65F and a 10" Fan blowing at it at full speed the wonder Netgear still managed to reboot itself several times over the course of 4 hours. In my honest opinion Netgear should stop selling this item until they fix the problem. I have been working on computers for over 15 years and I have worked as a technician for over 8 years. I'm not blowing smoke, save yourself the trouble and buy a linksys.
F------ for the product. Worse router ever.
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Netgear is NO BUY-Waste of Money & Time, December 5, 2004
By user (Seattle, WA)
I bought this peace of trash because I thought I would be able to get a better signal-range and 108 MB transfer rate in my two-bedroom apartment (using with Netgear desktop-PCI card) but I all get was very low signal sometimes or nothing... Mannn, my neighbor uses a Belkin-Router and I am able to get an excellent signal. It seems to me that almost always Netgear likes to be first to bring new technology, but cheap+crappy, to the market. If it is a new technology and it is made by Netgear don't buy from them AND JUST WAIT, please wait, I am sure Linksys, D-Link or Belkin would probably make something better than Netgear.
Furthermore, WPA never worked... For technical-support, talked someone from India, who I thought just wasted my time. Disastrous ---
N E T G E A R = I DO NOT RECOMMENDED IT
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I take back all the bad things I said about Netgear, December 4, 2004
By user (Worcester, MA)
I origianlly gave this unit 1 star and I guess its too late to change it now.
This is an update of my previous negative review and I'd like to upgrade my rating to 4 stars now.
I wasn't too thrilled with this router when I first got it. It just wouldn't hook up. I spent two sessions, about 5 hours total on the phone with Netgear customer support, and I must admit they were a lot more patient than I was. Anyway it turnred out that the reason for the unit not connecting was due to a problem at Verizon DSL, NOT Netgear. So if all you guys at Netgear are listening, I take back all those bad things I said about you guys .... We are now fully connected. We've got a laptop downstairs that has its own built in 54g adapter running Windows XP SPII and my PC running Windows 2000 PRO and a Netgear WG311T adapter is upstairs. Just as an oh-by-the-way, I added a Dlink ANT24-0400 antenna to the WG311T instead of the stock Netgear antenna that it came with, otherwise the stock antenaa would have been buried among a bunch of cables and hidden in the back of the PC and not exacttly in the best possible position for maximum reception. We've been up and running for couple hours now.
I'm happy. I'm up and running or should I say "flying".
I'll have to wait and see if the performance degrades over time as some people have experienced.
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great router great price, December 4, 2004
By user (Burlington NC)
I researched this router and it has been everything I read it was..easy to configure and very fast!!! 3 Desktops and one laptop all work great. This is my first wireless router and I am very pleased.
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Works for me .... ( * UPDATED * ), November 11, 2004
By user (Menifee , CA)
I have used this router for almost a year now (v2) and have had no problems what so ever to date (and always using the latest filmware) . I have used the router "wired" for this last year (for threee pc's) , but thats soon to change with a newly purchased Wifi card(s) WG3IIT . I will update my findings on wireless usage and report back ; but at this time I see no reason to worry .
Bottom line is that Iam happy with the router results thus far .
*UDATE on wireless results with WiFi card(s) 311T installed *
Just installed the WG311T PCI cards on two pc's connecting through my WGT624 and so far everything is great . Good signal and speed on both computers with no dis-connects .
IMPORTANT NOTE ON INSTALL WITH WINXP AND SP2 (using WG311T pci cards) !!!
1.)If you use the Netgear application to monitor/manage your Wifi then you MUST disable the "wireless-zero" in the Adminstative tools" in the control panelfor things to work correctly ( start/settings/contrpl panel/administative tools/services/wireless zero ; and put to DISABLE)
2.)If you use WindowsXP to monitor/manage your Wifi , then you MUST disable the Netgear application (start/run/ then TYPE IN: "msconfig"/ then go to "startup"/ then DIABLE(uncheck) the line saying "GEAR 311T".
You must do one of the two items Ive listed to make sure your netgear Wifi works /connects properly . Seems you cant NOT use both applications together in anyway . Ive done ALOT of testing on this and this is the ONLY method(s) Ive found to work (and is not mentioned by Netgear or Microsoft) .
I hope this helps future users of this equipment . =)
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Unreliable. No log of wireless connections., November 9, 2004
By user (Atlanta, GA United States)
Unreliable. 4 Port switch doesn't work correctly. No log of wireless connections.
The first one I got kept rebooting even though it was a "v2" model. After much diagnosing and fiddling, I finally convinced the Netgear tech (who barely spoke English) that the unit was defective.
I just hooked up the replacement one and it has stayed up long enough for me to use it a little bit and I have discovered that it has a problem setting speed and duplex. My configuration is: PC-netgear624-othervendorhighendswitch-server. Even if I set my PC fixed to 100/FDX and the othervendorhighendswitch to 100/FDX, the 624 won't work properly. You also can't hard set the port speed and duplex setting.
I am an IT networking professional and have set up many wireless networks. I WON'T be buying Netgear again and I won't be recommending it to my customers or friends.
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Good for basic use only, October 27, 2004
By user (Mountain View, CA USA)
This device worked well as long as I kept all the default settings, which is the way most home users will use it. However once I customized the router settings to interoperate with my in-home LAN, it became extremely unreliable. It would drop connections and refuse to re-establish them until the router was restarted, it would refuse remote management, and it would sometimes mysteriously alter its own settings. I used to rely on Netgear as a safe brand to purchase and rely on, but sadly the last two products I've bought from them have turned out to be throw-aways.
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I Am Happy With It, October 27, 2004
By user (California, USA)
2004 OCT - I am definitely not a computer tech, but rather an average internet surfer and emailer. So far, this wireless router is great. The dsl internet speed seems just as good whether I have the cable hooked up or using the wireless. I have had no trouble with being randomly disconnected. However, I did find the Netgear documentation to be mediocre. I ended up having to call tech support when I couldn't get my wireless network password working. My call was answered immediately and my problem solved in minutes (call time: Wed 3:10pm).
2005-JUL-24 The router is still going great. No problems what-so-ever. The router is in the front room of the house, and I have my laptop in the backyard with no internet connection issues.
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Synch to hook up and fast, October 21, 2004
By user (NJ)
I have to say, I am really impressed with this router. First, I expected nothing but headaches but was pleasantly surprised that between the three computers, the wireless hook up worked the first time with no trouble whatsoever. I get good connection speeds with both the wireless card and the notebook card. No percieved dropouts either. Highly recommended.
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Bought 6 routers and all work to perfection!, September 29, 2004
By user (TX)
Installed six WGT624 routers at a hotel and all work flawlessly. Range is great. I can sit in a corner on the third floor and pick up at least 4 SSIDs. Never have had a problem with dropped connections or needing to reset. Upgraded all routers to latest firmware with no problems. Works much better than the Linksys wireless B I had.
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TERRIBLE...DO NOT BUY IT... 3 ROUTER & NO SOLUTION, September 24, 2004
By user (Illinois, USA)
I have gone through 3 same routers. All the same reason...router being rebooted very very frequently. FYI, I also have the matching 108Mbps card to go with it. I have given it enough chances that it had to be refunded finally. Tech support of ok but after making me try different things, all three times they told me the unit is defective and should get a replacement.
I would definitely NOT recommend this product at all...!!!
You will lose lots of time and left with frustration and anger...
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Defective Router, September 24, 2004
By user (Palo Alto)
1) No icon on my screen to let me know if the router is functioning correctly
2) I never got anywhere near 108Mbps. This router performed worse than the 54 mbps router I owned. In fact, I never got an adequate connection and am now looking at router expanders.
3) After 1 week, the router stopped working completely. I spent an hour on the phone with a woman whose Indian accent was VERY difficult to understand. She finally determined that the router was defective and should be returned. I had to pay shipping costs to send it to Memphis TN even though Netgear was responsible for manufacturing a defective product.
After I returned my router, I checked the online information page and found that she had gotten my address wrong. I guess she had as much trouble understanding me as I had understanding her. I am lucky I checked this before they sent the replacement router to the wrong address.
4) Beware: There are two different WGT624 routers. version 1 and version 2. Version 2 has a different chip set and is labeled "WGT624v2" I don't know which is better, but I didn't even know there were 2 versions before I bought mine.
So far, this router has not lived up to expectations.
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Just OK... & here's a tip for getting outgoing email to work, September 13, 2004
By user (nyc)
I bought this router to compliment the SuperG notebook card I have. It installed pretty easily thru the web-browser control panel. Everything worked fine except my outgoing mail (I use Outlook with a Lycos POP email account, and my internet access is thru Optimum Online). I could browse the internet, receive mail, but not send mail... I got a couple of different errors when trying to send. I called Netgear right away (the problem started right after installing the router) and got their tech support in India, which was basically useless to me, as I had already tried the 1st-tier solutions. They upgraded me to 2nd-tier support and promised to call back in 48 hrs. Meanwhile I read about email providers blocking port 25 (SMTP, for sending mail) if they are connecting via a different provider. Now my old Lnksys router had been working fine all this time, but I tried switching my outgoing (SMTP) server from smtp.mail.lycos.com to mail.optonline.net. I left the pop3 server alone. NOW IT WORKS! I don't know why. And I still haven't heard back from Netgear, three days later.
The speed is great, 108 Mbps, even out on my patio and two floors above the router (in the basement). This morning while connected to the router by CAT-5 cable I experienced the connection being dropped every 5 minutes or so, then picking back up in 30 seconds.
And as an industrial designer I'm impressed by the design of this product. Very slick and I like the tpe foot for standing the router up on end. I would be happy to put this router on my living room shelf.
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WireLESS, September 11, 2004
By user (Rockland NY)
The wired part of the Router works fine, but the Wireless signal was not usable in my home within about a thirty-five feet distance between the router and adapter. Even with a high gain directional antena replacing the Netgear G adapter antena, no usable signal got through! Their Technical support line had very long hold times (around 45 minutes). When I got through to the 'outsourced 'Techies they told me anything to get rid of me. Worse-one immediately hung up the phone when he/she answered (up/down/click)! Worst Tech support I have ever encountered.
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Connections Dropped. (...), September 11, 2004
By user (Seattle, WA)
(...)
Since I have installed various Wi-Fi Routers and Access Points for a number clients the Router was fairly easy to configure and set up WPA security. This Router is cerainly not the easiest product to set up.
The router drops wireless connections and the only way to reconnect is to reboot the router. This is true for Netgear PC Card with Super G as well as other Wi-Fi vendors.
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