... You should check Belkins website to make sure this router will provide the coverage you need though as I wouldn't want to just assume it would for the purpose of this review.
It also means that my dad can use my connection from his house next door if his net ever goes down (although he'd ... Read review
The sleek and sophisticated design of the Belkin N1 Vision wirless cable router. Offers ... more
an easy way for you to view your network's broadband speed computer bandwidth usage and the status of your connected devices - all from an easy-to-read display.
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: refer to website
Belkin's N1 Vision Wireless Router with integrated Modem shows relevant network ... more
information on its interactive network display. You can quickly view your network's broadband speed, computer bandwidth usage, and the status of your network devices -
Postage & Packaging: see site for shipping costs Availability: 3-7 days
The Belkin F5D8632uk4A N1 Vision wireless router offers an easy way for you to view your ... more
network's broadband speed computer bandwidth usage and the status of your connected devices - all from an easy-to-read display. Packaged in a new sleek and sophi...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 4 to 7 weeks...
The Belkin F5D8632uk4A N1 Vision wireless router offers an easy way for you to view your ... more
network's broadband speed computer bandwidth usage and the status of your connected devices - all from an easy-to-read display. Packaged in a new sleek and sophi...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 3 to 6 weeks...
1-5 of 7 reviews of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
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Belting Belkin Router!
Advantages: Fairly easy to set up, easy to use, reliable, looks good. Disadvantages: Bandwidth Innacurate.
...previous router was also a belkin so I can't say if this was a reason for us not really needing to put too much into the router settings but it worked straight away; the only thing we did was put in our passwords to make the router and the network secure. These are both done in the router settings browser that you get to by typing your assigned address which will generally be a selection of numbers and full stops something like 192.246.4.1 (it beings ... ...to getting in touch with Belkin about it.
It also didn't recognise my fiancés computer on the wireless when we first set it up, after a lot of messing about I discovered it was because I had set the security mode to WPA2 instead of just WPA. I mention this because my computer will handle WPA2 as it's a newer system, however my fiancés is an older system and it didn't get on well with it. I thought it was worth noting as you may have ... more
We'd wanted to upgrade our router for a while to cope with Rich playing on his Xbox online mainly as we kept getting lag, which was especially apparent if I was also browsing the net (which I generally was) even to the point of Rich being disconnected mid game. He was getting annoyed with it so when we saw this router on offer at ebuyer.com for £69.99 (but has since gone back up to its previous price of £89.99); I jumped at the chance to get it and now we have it, I thought it was worth writing a review about, so here we are!
My review will be based on my experience of the router, and not a full technological break down of what it is capable of etc as that is readily available online from the manufacturer and would probably bore most people to tears anyway.
The first thing I notice when opening the box is how big the router is; from the photos I'd seen of it, I'd always assumed it to be small (I should have really looked and found out the dimensions but I was so desperate to get it ordered as there was only one left in stock that I never bothered) but it's no problem really, just a surprise and I thought I should mention it to you as you may also be considering it and thinking it's a really small router.
This router comes in both cable and ADSL versions so anybody on any of the normal ISPs should be fine to use one of them, dependant on what internet they are being provided, ours is a cable one. The router is a wireless N1 which means that the data transfer rate is up to 300mps over the network instead of up to 54mps which is what you get with standard Wireless G technology. It also has a wide coverage area which means that if you want to go and use your laptop in the garden, then you shouldn't have any big connection issues (dropping connection etc) due to its proximity… unless you live in a big house with a big garden of course. You should check Belkins website to make sure this router will provide the coverage you need though as I wouldn't want to just assume it would for the purpose of this review.
It also means that my dad can use my connection from his house next door if his net ever goes down (although he'd need me to give him the security password which I shall talk about below) as our network shows up on his laptop when he's reconnecting to his home network haha. This also reinforces the security aspect that I will address in a few moments as you don't know who else can pick up your network on a wireless search within your area!
Setting up was relatively easy, connect all the wires as instructed, power the router up and then open a browser window, it should bring up a wizard but if it's like ours, it didn't; this was easily fixed though as it tells you to type in 'routersetup' and this brings up the wizard for you.
Our previous router was also a belkin so I can't say if this was a reason for us not really needing to put too much into the router settings but it worked straight away; the only thing we did was put in our passwords to make the router and the network secure. These are both done in the router settings browser that you get to by typing your assigned address which will generally be a selection of numbers and full stops something like 192.246.4.1 (it beings up a grey and white page with information and a menu on) and then going into the relevant page within your router settings.
To secure your network you need to look at and go to the left side menu where it says security under the wireless heading and select your security mode and unique password. We used WPA PSK/WPA2 PSK as the security mode for our wireless network, which means you can assign a password consisting of both letters and numbers that is easily remembered to your network.
The other mode you could use is WEP, this needs you to use a series of hex digits (0~9, A~F) as your 'password' which is obviously not going to be as easy to remember for most people; however if you have a good memory for this kind of thing, or have a way of logging them somewhere secure then this is a very good way to secure your network. Click 'apply changes' when you are done/happy with your password settings and wait for the router to count down after it applies them.
You'll also notice that there is an option to enable guest settings; this means that when you have people over who have brought their laptops etc and wish to use your internet connection, that you don't actually have to give your proper password over for them to connect, and also doesn't allow them on your home network (thus no access to your personal files and folders). I don't have this enabled as I generally trust anybody who'd be in my home and in that position but it's a very good feature to have these days.
Hopefully now your network is secure, so I'll now tell you how to secure your actual router. You need to look back to the left side menu and scroll to the bottom where it says Utilities, and ten click on the 'System Settings' option. This will bring you to a page where you can see the date, time and more importantly blank spaces for passwords to be set. Routers ship with a blank password as standard so if you're asked for a password for any of the pages BEFORE you change this password, just click submit with the box left blank. This is also true for when you change your password as it asks for your current password so just leave that blank and type in your new password. Again, once you have done this, click apply and wait for a couple of moments for your router to apply the new settings.
I cannot stress how important it is to do these 2 small and relatively simple things as doing this helps to stop somebody using your internet connection without your permission and also securing the router stops somebody being able to lock you out of your own internet connection. It's not a 100% guaranteed as there are some very clever hackers out there, but you should still do it as it's better than having no security at all.
We have encountered a couple of tiny problems with the router so far:
Usage in past 24 hours on the router LCD seems way out, telling me I had used 6.36 GB of bandwidth in the couple of hours I'd had the router installed… when I'd barely been at my pc and didn't have anything that uses the internet open. It's not such a big deal to me, but if it's one of the features that are important to you then you may want to check if it's a widespread problem, and if so if it has a solution. It doesn't cause us a problem really hence we haven't got around to getting in touch with Belkin about it.
It also didn't recognise my fiancés computer on the wireless when we first set it up, after a lot of messing about I discovered it was because I had set the security mode to WPA2 instead of just WPA. I mention this because my computer will handle WPA2 as it's a newer system, however my fiancés is an older system and it didn't get on well with it. I thought it was worth noting as you may have a set up similar to ours and this it could save you some time/messing about to check that you have it set correctly. I appreciate this was partly my error but it would be preferable for it to have it noted somewhere on the necessary page.
So far these are the only 2 hiccups we have had with the router so are still over the moon with it. Overall the router is a nifty little thing, which has made our internet experience a much more pleasant one as it has solved the problems we had encountered. I would thoroughly recommend it, though I'll be sure to come back and edit if I have any other thoughts on it.
. .
I am pasting some information from within my router help menu (which is very good for information actually) as I believe it will be of use to some of you, I have put this at the end of my review so that it does not get mixed in with my own views/opinions.
" WPA/WPA2-Personal(PSK). WPA means Wireless Protected Access. WPA/WPA2-Personal PSK is a recent standards-based security technique where each packet of information is encrypted with a different code, or key. Since the key is constantly changing, WPA/WPA2 is very secure. The encryption key is generated automatically from a string of characters called the Pass Phrase or the Pre-shared Key (PSK). Obviously the biggest security risk in WPA is if someone finds out your Pass Phrase.
Authentication - Select the method supported by all clients. WPA-PSK uses TKIP encryption. WPA2-PSK uses AES encryption. WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK allows clients to use either WPA-PSK (with TKIP encryption) or WPA2-PSK (with AES encryption).
Pre-shared Key (PSK) - All clients must use the same PSK. The PSK can be any word or phrase from 8 up to 63 characters. Watch out for upper and lower case differences ("n" is different than "N".) Remember, the easiest way to break your security is for someone to guess your PSK.
128-bit WEP. Until recently, 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the standard for wireless encryption. If not all of your wireless devices support WPA, 128bit WEP still offers a very good security option. It will require you to enter hex digits (0~9, A~F), or else generate the keys by using the PassPhrase/Generate option.
64-bit WEP. This is similar to 128-bit WEP, but not as powerful. Belkin only recommends 64-bit mode on networks where some devices do not support either WPA or 128-bit WEP."
More in-depth information on the security modes is available all over the net but here are a couple of links that may be useful.
Claire_DC 24.11.2008 (24.11.2008)
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Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
Advantages: Extended range, capable of streaming HD video (mostly) Disadvantages: Susceptible to interference, needs matching adapters
...to losing connections than other Belkin routers I've used - any local microwave, dect phone, or next doors wireless router can bring your connection down and though reconnection is usually instant it does occasionally require a reboot of the pc or the router (or both). Overall i don't think its worth the price premium over others in the range unless the additional signal strength and distant is vital to your requirements. Its certainly not something ...
regmigrant 28.06.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
Advantages: compact, good front-panel display, wall-mountable Disadvantages: temperamental web interface, lots of virtual knobs, bells and whistles
...follow you?
Cue the Belkin N1 Wireless Modem Router (with MIMO), Part # F5D8631uk4a, EAN/UPC 7-22868-59630-2.
This black-fronted, three-antenna'd piece of networking wizardry comes with a nice matt silver casing that has wall-mount holes, and claims to push super-fast wireless networking to a radius of 425m from the unit. And it comes with a Manufacturers Lifetime Warranty (sic).
Here's how I managed to get it going to accommodate my need to work ... ...money
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The silver-topped Belkin box looks attractive, with HIGH performance being the most obvious feature on the front. One side-panel gives you three easy steps to get you started - 1. Connect; 2. Configure; 3. Set Up. The other side-panel shows the technical specs, and the back panel explains clearly what's in the box, what it does and the way the unit communicates to you in blue (or amber if something's ...
pgn0 01.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
Advantages: Looks, Innovation, Ease Of Use Disadvantages: Price
I recently had the misfortune of having to swap my cable wireless router, I say misfortune as the last time I had to do it it took me nearly three days to get everything back up and running the way it was before, so when my Linksys router decide to stop functioning you can imagine my dismay.
However when I purchased this product, mainly for the looks if I am to be completely honest, all my fears just fell away.
The router is based in our main room, ... ...I have no embarassment in showing it off. It does stand out and when you have it on the clock setting then it just looks like a very stylish digital clock, and whenever we have people round it is always the first thing they ask about.
Setup:
Setting up the router is so easy.
Un pack from the box, plug in ethernet cable from modem to router and switch on. The setup wizard can be accessed wirelessly using the internet based installer, or for more ...
dazzmandoo 20.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
Advantages: Looks Great, lots of features, High speeds, Can connect to 16 computers wirelessly at once. Disadvantages: Stand and back is made from cheap material, And Nothing else is wrong with it.
Bought this a few month ago, got to say out of all the routers such as Netgear, D-link Etc i found this to be the easiest to use, the most secure and just simply the best thanks to its many, many.. MANY features. ==Design== Well what can i say, its sleek its modern and its just beautiful. The material in the black is the same as they use on iphones, which gives it a modern, reflective, "glassy" kind of look to it. The small screen is not the most ... ...amazing because of the material around it showing off the blue of the screen. It is really light, i mean REALLY light, i was shocked because it looked like a fairly heavy object when i first saw it. The buttons on the front are smooth and reliable and can be used to navigate around the built in menu and panels easily, even with big fingers. I give the design a 9 out of 10 simply because instead of the cheap plastic that they used for the silver colored ...
Danmanc 29.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
I have had this wireless router for a few months now and I think that it is amazing. To be honest only one of my laptops has Wireless-N enabled but the main selling point was the number of aerials. May be stupid but I needed high coverage throughout my house and the picture coupled with the information and the reviews I read lead me to believe that despite the price this wireless router was the one that I would require. Connectivity - Within 30 minutes ... ...is TalkTalk and please note that this version of the router does come with a modem and works with ASDL but not cable so please check your type of internet connection in advance. Speed - With wireless - N I easily achieve 108mbps and even when I am using wireless B/G I still get great speeds and coverage on my laptop and not a dead spot around. Overall this is a great wireless router but before I end this review please remember to use a decent level ...
gunnerz123 13.11.2009
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Review of Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router
Product Information for "Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Modem Router - wireless router" »
Environmental parameters
Min Operating Temperature
0 °C
Max Operating Temperature
55 °C
Humidity Range Operating
10 - 85%
Manufacturer's product description
Belkin's N1 Vision Wireless Router with integrated Modem shows relevant network information on its interactive network display. You can quickly view your network's broadband speed, computer bandwidth usage, and the status of your network devices - all from an easy-to-read display. Ideal usage: streaming video, music and photos; online gaming; surfing the web; chatting with friends and emailing. For optimal wireless performance, use N1 clients in your network.
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