Filed under: Ask Engadget, Wireless, Networking

The latest question to fly into our Ask Engadget mailbox (which is ask at engadget dawt com, for those unaware) concerns wireless routers. But not just any wireless router. We’re talking wireless routers that offer up rock solid reliability day after day, transfer after transfer.

“What is the best wireless router in terms of reliability? I know that question has been covered before, but most people just answer with whatever router they own. I’ve had issues with routers. Gone through three Netgears and a Linksys that after a certain amount of time cease to hold a decent connection. I’m wondering if people know of a solid router that might be a little less mainstream.”

Who better to ask about the underground WiFi router scene than Engadget readers, right? Help this poor fellow out — one more dropped connection whilst racking up frags and he’s going to have a catastrophic meltdown.

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Filed under: Wireless

3G WiFi routers aren’t anything new at this point, but T-Mobile’s new Mobile Broadband Share Dock is one of the slicker implementations we’ve seen from a carrier — the unit consists of a USB HSDPA modem and a base which shares the connection over WiFi, which means you can unplug the modem and take your access on the road. As long as you don’t need a persistent connection at home and can live with the bandwidth, that makes the £20 / month dock sound like a pretty good deal for someone who lives by themselves, since you’d avoid paying both mobile and fixed data fees — too bad it’s UK only for now. Should be out in the next couple of days, we’re hearing.

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Filed under: Wireless

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Filed under: Networking

Netgear, we’re here to tell you it’s been far, far too long since you threw any new 802.11n gear our way, so we’re pretty stoked to see a few new pieces roll out today. The outfit is formally introducing the WNR2000 Wireless-N router and DGN2000 Wireless-N router with built-in DSL modem this morning, both of which boast the company’s own Push ‘N’ Connect with Wi-Fi Protected Setup to eliminate the need to remember those pesky network security passwords. Both units are available in kit form as well, which sees a USB wireless adapter bundled in just in case your rig is operating sans an 802.11n WiFi module. Everything is available now for anywhere between $89 and $129.

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Filed under: Wireless, Networking

D-Link’s been sipping power of late with its newish DWA-643 and DWA-556 desktop “Green Ethernet” switches, and now it’s shipping those power savings upstream to its DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit router and DIR-855 dual channel routers with freely downloadable firmware updates. We’d scoff, but that’s a power savings of 32 percent and 41 percent, respectively. It might only shave a few cents off those electric bills, but hey, you can always melt that copper down to make arrows for the coming apocalypse.

[Via TrustedReviews]

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Filed under: Wireless, Networking

If you’ve tried every antenna and extender on the market today with subpar results, HD Communications is apt to become your new best friend. The outfit has just revealed its HD26200, a “complete outdoor wireless network bridge in the 802.11b/g unlicensed 2.4GHz band that sells for only $318.” Said device bridges wireless internet between two locales up to 5 miles apart without requiring a single RF cable, being that both Ubiquiti network radios are powered over Ethernet. If you’re looking for the catch, the bridge does require a direct line of sight between the two locations, but the firm is reportedly looking to expand its non-line of sight family by the summer’s end.

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Filed under: Networking

Like having control of your connection to the internet? Don’t tell Dan Kaminsky that — the researcher has developed a method of DNS attack utilizing typical D-Link or Linksys routers that can allow hackers to gain command of your gear. The winner-takes-all maneuver, which is called a “DNS rebinding attack,” functions by putting JavaScript into play that fools your browser into altering your router’s configuration, thus letting the operator remotely administer the device. The concept isn’t water-tight, as it takes advantage of easily-guessable router admin passwords, though Kaminsky says the enabling bug exists as a “core issue” for browsers. The attack will be showcased at tomorrow’s RSA security conference, where it’s hoped the demonstration will raise awareness about router security vulnerability. In the meantime, we suggest you change that default password.

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Filed under: Wireless, Networking

If you’ve been at it long, you’re probably tired of forking over $100 or so every year for the latest and greatest in wireless networking. The TEW-637AP, thankfully, takes a different approach. Instead of chucking your current router, the 300Mbps Wireless “Easy-N-Upgrader” just jacks into an extra Ethernet port on your existing router, and relies on that old box to do the “routing” part. The TRENDnet unit deals with blasting the 802.11n with MIMO, for theoretical speeds up to 300Mbps. Seems a bit silly, but the $64 pricetag certainly bests your average 802.11n router, so it might work out for you if you’ve got a good thing going with your existing setup, and just need a little extra push in the bandwidth department.

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Filed under: CES, Networking

Yeah, Skinit has been providing skins of all sorts to a plethora of devices for some time now, but apparently, it has just gotten around to teaming up with D-Link. Granted, we’ve no idea what type of cruel, tactless individual would actually go so far as to spend money (and simultaneously demolish any hope of resale) on vivid coverings for their router, but for those who dig this type of thing, you can finally eat your heart out. As of right now, consumers with a DIR-655, DIR-625, DIR-615, DGL-4500, DGL-4300, DGL-4100 or DIR-624 can surf on over to Skinit’s website and choose from a smorgasbord of options or create a skin of their own for $14.99, but don’t act like we’re condoning said action, alright?

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Filed under: Wireless, Networking

If you’ve been scouting an unobtrusive range extender for your ZigBee network, look no further than Digi International’s XBee Wall Router. If you’ll recall, this isn’t the first ZigBee extender sharing the same name (acquisitions tend to do that), but this little bugger simply plugs into a standard AC socket and “patches areas within a ZigBee network where signal erosion or loss occurs due to distance limitations or air interference.” Additionally, it serves to create “multiple pathways, increasing the redundancy of the mesh communications,” and the US flavor even includes an integrated mounting tab to prevent “accidental unplugging.” Sound like just what you need? If so, you can snag one right now for $79.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Wireless

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

We really, really wish we knew a bit more about Actiontec’s ZCHAV1, but our interest has been officially piqued, regardless. Following in the footsteps of a few niche products already announced, this “router accessory” claims to extend home networks to televisions, cellphones and “other devices,” and it will reportedly enable users to “control all network components from any display platform.” Granted, this firm is no newcomer to cranking out multifaceted networking gizmos, but it looks like we’ll be playing the ole wait-and-see game with the zControl.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Buffalo’s out tooting its own horn today, as the AirStation Wireless-G MIMO Performance Router claims to be the “first commercial wireless router to come with DD-WRT firmware pre-installed.” Aimed squarely at the SMB and SOHO market, the WHR-HP-G54DD (WHR-HP-G54 pictured) is the first device to emerge from the firm’s partnership with NewMedia-NET. Of note, this device features five QoS levels to prioritize traffic, optimized link state routing (OLSR), a data transfer application with VPN functionality, PPTP protocol support, WMM and DDNS, and a bevy of management applications including remote network status logging, remote web management via HTTPS and web-based backup / restore. If all this sounds like your cup of tea, you can pick one up now for £41.70 ($86), and you can check out the full (and we mean full) list of specifications right there in the read link.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Lookin’ for a WLAN router with a 500MHz AMD processor within? If you’re frantically waving your hand in a futile attempt to say yes, Saxnet’s got your goods. The German firm’s Meshnode III is a well-spec’d mesh networking router that features a “full x86-based system” within, four OSI Layer 2-compatible radio modules and “an integrated heating and cooling system” to boot. Additionally, this thing packs 256MB of RAM (expandable to 1GB), a pair of 512MB CF cards (expandable to 16GB each), 802.11a/b/g support, twin USB 2.0 ports, a rugged, water-resistant enclosure and Debian GNU / Linux runnin’ the show. As you may expect, such a loaded device comes with a fairly stiff pricetag, but at least you’ve got a few months to save up the $1,150 it’ll take to snap one up when it lands in January.

[Via LinuxDevices]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Networking

D-Link’s DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router has followed a somewhat typical route to availability, as it was first spotted in the FCC’s lair and then admired up close in the wild. Now, the time has come at long last for the unit to find its way into the loving arms of consumers. The 802.11a/b/g/n router — which features four gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, a USB connector, three detachable antennas and that svelte OLED display — can be picked up now for $239.99 direct from D-Link, and after that’s taken care of, we guess the next logical step would be unboxing it on camera, right?

[Thanks, Kydo]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

There’s just nothing more enraging (okay, so maybe there is, but that’s beside the point) than getting your shiny new DS Lite / PSP slim home and realizing that your router’s security settings are so far into the realm of overkill that your handheld will simply never make it through to the intarweb. Thankfully, I-O Data is offering up a new wireless router that provides an alternative to just deactivating your security measures altogether. The WN-G54/R4 supports 10/100BASE-T wired connections and 802.11b/g on the wireless frontier, and it stands out from the others by including a Quick Start Game button that enables a “dual configuration” setup. In essence, this feature allows your portable gizmo of choice to quickly bypass the red tape while everything else connected to your network remains locked down. If this sounds like just the solution you’ve been scouting, you can snag one now for ¥8,400 ($73).

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Networking

It’s been almost a year since we first peeped the Linksys WRT600N, and although the company missed that estimated CES ship date, it’s finally released the ominous-looking box for an MSRP of $279. As hinted by the model number, the router features 802.11n, but implements it simultaneously over both the 2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands, which should result in smoother connections for devices that support 5GHz. You’re also looking at four Gigabit Ethernet ports, built-in FTP and UPnP A/V servers, and Storage Link, which lets you turn any USB storage device into a NAS. Linksys is also touting its Easy Link Advisor setup software, which we’re certain most of you will never open. Connecting to this bad boy is the $99 WPC600N PC Card, which features the same Broadcom Intensi-Fi chipset as the 600N router. Both router and card should be in stores now, according to Linksys, with ExpressCard and USB adapters shipping in the first quarter of 2008.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

While Kyocera’s old KR1 EV-DO router should still get the basic job done just fine, those looking for a few new features may want to consider the company’s just-announced KR2 model, which brings the router up to date with some of the latest and greatest specs. Chief among those is support for 802.11n WiFi, as well as support for an expanded range of EV-DO devices, including various PCMCIA cards, ExpressCards, and USB devices. Otherwise you’ll get the usual four Ethernet ports to connect the odd non-WiFi device, an “industry leading” firewall, over the air updates, and a fail-over capability that’ll automatically kick the EV-DO into gear if your DSL or cable connection drops out. No word on what it’ll cost, but it’s apparently “coming soon.”

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!