Belkin N1 Wireless Router

SETUP/EASE OF USE Belkin has outdone itself: The N1 router has a slick design and much easier setup process. A removable sticker on the N1 shows you exactly which steps to perform, and the completely redesigned setup program—now with an Apple look and feel—is easier than ever to use. We had the N1 running a few minutes after we unpacked it. Both the Linksys and Buffalo N routers offer one-click options for security, which makes the overall setup process faster and smoother, but the Belkin N1 accomplishes the same goal through its software.

 

FEATURES Like just about every 802.11n router, the main feature enhancement on the Belkin N1 is the speed. Where Belkin truly innovated beyond that specification is in the new router design and setup. The WPA encryption, SPI firewall, MAC address blocking, and other features are nearly identical to the Belkin Pre-N model. The N1 router also includes ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, which offers parental controls.

 

PERFORMANCE The Belkin N1 matches the speed of both the Netgear and Linksys 802.11n routers, and provides just a bit more coverage in your home—extending its signal to about 1,200 feet. That’s still well short of the 1,500 feet than the previous-generation Belkin Pre-N router provided. There were no interference problems from nearby 802.11g devices with the N1 as there were with both the Netgear NEXT (which had video streaming problems) and the Buffalo Nfiniti (which lost throughput much faster as we connected farther away from the router).

 

VERDICT It doesn’t quite match the raw speed of the Buffalo Nfiniti at close range, but the Belkin N1 gets the highest praise for providing the best signal coverage, as well as for a much better setup program than previous routers.