Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router

The Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router could possibly be the best router ever made because of its speedy throughput and superwide coverage. Even though there's no guarantee it will be compatible with the 802.11n standard whenever it is finalized, the Belkin Pre-N is the best option available for those planning to upgrade an aging 802.11b or 802.11g network, or for anyone who wants enough range to cover an entire mansion. Let's cut right to the results. In tests using a powerful laptop with the Belkin Wireless Pre-N Notebook Network Card ($109) plugged in, the signal pumped along at a remarkably consistent 35 Mbps near our access point. Other 802.11g routers with special turbo modes provide throughput that's just as fast or even a little bit faster, but they're not as consistent. The D-Link DI-624, for example, drops to 10 Mbps when other wireless signals are present. Cordless phones and a microwave oven had little effect on the Belkin Pre-N.

Impressively, the router also casts a wide wireless net. From 1,000 feet, the signal was strong and reliably fast, running at about 25 Mbps. At 1,500 feet, the Pre-N was still running at a respectable 10 Mbps. The closest competitor in terms of coverage is the ParkerVision WR1500, but that's an 802.11b product that provides about only 5 Mbps of throughput, albeit for a city block or more.

Most of the credit for the Belkin Pre-N's exceptional performance and coverage must go to AirGo Networks and its innovative MIMO (multiple input/multiple output) technology. Signals bounce repeatedly to and from the router to strengthen the signal and provide the wide coverage. Three antennas on the Pre-N also keep the signal as consistent as possible.

In practical terms, if you download a 200MB movie file over your network, you'll see a real transfer time of 5 minutes instead of 10 or 20 with other standards. That said, the range is also greater than we even expected. Imagine that speed 500 feet or even 1,000 feet away from the router. In tests, the MIMO signal was always strong, always fast, and always reliable.

If all the Belkin Pre-N had to offer was jaw-dropping performance, it would be nothing more than a fancy sports car for early adopters. Yet, the Pre-N is innovative in several other ways. A powerful parental filter will block pornographic sites and other offensive content for young family members. It's a single-click configuration process. And, while other routers with this feature lets some sites slip through, the Pre-N is more reliable, verifying addresses against a 5-million-record database.

The Belkin Pre-N setup wizard made network naming and cable connections easier than ever before. With just a few clicks, even Wi-Fi newbies can get their network running in about 5 minutes.

The router also provides an NAT and SPI firewall, WPA security with TKIP & AES 64-bit and 128-bit encryption, and a handy pop-up blocker. Unfortunately, the parental controls and pop-up blocker expire after a free trial period. The router is backwards-compatible with older 802.11b clients, although there is no noticeable speed increase or wider coverage area when those clients are connected.

It's a complete unknown whether the Pre-N will require a firmware upgrade once 802.11n is approved. The worst-case scenario is that Belkin will have to replace the product entirely to meet the IEEE-approved specification.

Despite these caveats, early adopters or anyone who wants the best speed and coverage should buy the Belkin Pre-N. It's a stellar wireless performer.