Belkin Basic Wireless Router – Black (F7D1301)

4 Review to this product

• 

  Joshua Libatique
  November 16th, 2010 on 3:01 pm

  Rating

  I’ve set up all kinds of routers from many different manufacturers. I personally use Linksys and Netgear routers, but a neighbor bought this unit and asked his tech friend to help set up their wireless network. After agreeing to a beer and nachos as payment, I got started.

  Easiest setup ever. It’s all ready to plug into the wall and your wired internet connection, and even comes with a preset SSID (Wireless network name) and WPA2 Password (Standard encrypted security.) Unless you like to hide your SSID (most people don’t, I do.) you’re basically ready to go, even without using the included setup disc! Took maybe 5 minutes tops:

  1) Plug your internet ethernet cable into the Belkin router. (Clearly indicated)

  2) Plug the Belkin router’s power cable into an electrical socket. The ONE light on top turns green when it’s detected an internet connection and is broadcasting.

  3) See the included label. It has your preset SSID (Network name) and password. On your wireless device, just look for the matching network, and type in the provided password! Done.

  You don’t need to use the setup CD unless you can’t figure that last part out.

  4) Enjoy free beer and nachos for doing something that was really easy.

  *I’m giving it four stars, because while the setup CD is helpful, it installs a Belkin Wireless Manager program on your PC or Mac, which seems not to work if you change the preset SSID or password. TIP: If you’re connected to the Belkin’s wireless network, to make changes to your router and network settings, you can type in the word ‘router’ in any internet browser to access the Belkin’s control panel, WITHOUT the setup CD.

  Using for: Casual internet browsing, online streaming video like Youtube and Hulu. Also performed well for Nintendo Wii online gaming. (Smash Bros)
• 

  Peter Chenoweth
  November 21st, 2010 on 9:31 pm

  Rating

  I needed a cheap router for a temporary wifi network setup at our vacation home. I picked this router up at the local megamart. I didn’t expect much, just a simple, basic, cheap, bare bones router. It has far exceeded my expectations. While it’s just a 150mb 802.11n system, it has decent range (“two bars” of usable signal 200′ away LOS from the router, while I type this review) and the connections are solid. It’s sustained wifi connectivity for a whole household of laptops, iPads, and iPhones for a couple weeks without any complaints from either the router or the family. That includes a lot of photo and video transfers as well as plenty of email and web browsing. No hiccups what-so-ever. That means a lot to me because the last thing I want to do troubleshoot network problems while on vacation.

  I didn’t even bother with the included software because it isn’t really needed. The router is fully network configurable via any web browser on its network, like most routers on the market. I don’t know why the software is needed unless you’re a complete novice at setting up networks. So if that software is buggy (as another reviewer suggests), I wouldn’t know.

  If this thing had gigabit ports, it be all the router that most people would ever need, as can do all the “standard” router/AP things such as DMZ hosting, DHCP configurations, WPA2 or WEP encryption, etc.
• 

  F. Fernandez III
  November 22nd, 2010 on 10:06 am

  Rating

  I picked this lil’gem up last night, from an electronics big box store — after a similar tiered Netgear failed. It was as easy to setup as any other consumer router. Where this router really shines is in the organization of it’s “setup/settings console” — it was far easier to configure than my previous device: Netgear WGR614 Wireless-G Router.

  My only qualm with the thing, is that at first installation the wifi had a longer range but has since settled into about a third of its initial coverage.After some research it seems this is a heating issue as when the router is cool it reaches further.

  Overall this device does what its supposed to and the price isn’t bad(even at MSRP).
• 

  Red
  November 22nd, 2010 on 3:35 pm

  Rating

  It’s cheap, easy to install and works great for me. What more can you ask.