Super Fast! The WGT624 uses Super G technology to deliver up to 108 Mbps when used with the WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card. It's the next generation of home networking with the... more
A review by Twistedpro on NETGEAR WGT624 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router - wireless router August 11th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Speed
Very fast
Reliability
Very poor
Ease of Installation
Satisfactory
Ease of use
Satisfactory
Value For Money
Poor
Advantages:
108 Mbps, excellent coverage, In built firewall
Disadvantages:
Poor reliability
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
NETGEAR's 108 Mbps Wireless Router improves network performance by offering twice the speed and upto four times the coverage of standard 802.11g connections
The Netgear WGT624 offers the following technical features
Power, test, Internet, Wireless, and LAN (connection, activity, and speed)
Firewall
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), Network Address Translation (NAT) Security 40-bit (also called 64-bit), 128-bit, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) Encryption, WiFi Protected Access Pre-shared Key (WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK) Touchless WiFi Security simplifies the selection and activation of wireless security Power Adapter 12 VDC, 1 A; plug is localized to country of sale
Most people buy NETGEAR products because it's a well known company and you would believe they would offer a superior product, however I feel that this product lets down the company severely.
The first problem is when you set the router up, the instruction manual is very basic and this can hinder the setup process. I do think that the manual needs some work. Once the router was up and running I did have 4 months of trouble free running, however this was during the winter, when summer arrived the problems started. Firstly the router would start to freeze up or slow down and wireless connection stopped working. I approached the technical support and was transferred to India. This made things difficult and communication of the exact problem harder than it should be. I was given a few technical tips to solve this, point a fan at the router, move to a window away from the computer. These fixes did not work and it appeared that the router was overheating and this caused damage. I made some strong complaints and was asked to return the router. This took around 3 weeks to replace during this time I was left without a router to use.
Tech support finally sent back a router which had been upgraded to V2 and I was assured the problems had been fixed. I set the router up again and proceeded, to use the internet, this was when the next set of problems started. I firstly had problems opening ebay and similar sites. I contacted technical services again and was told to update the firmware which I did. I was then confronted with the problem that if you visited any phpbb forum it would crash the router, this also happens with BBC weather and a host of other sites. Technical support, have not provided a fix for this and the firmware has not been updated or will be.
I have spent time looking for fixes and found a mass of other people that have the same problems. It appears NETGEAR know about this but cannot be bothered to fix this, just bring out another product
Overall I feel I have been let down by NETGEAR and would not recommend this product to other people
Advantages: bulletproof, but not for idiots Disadvantages: old firmware sometimes fails to renew IP lease
...to it. One buys netgear for SOLID RELIABILITY and power user features. Unfortunately the early firmwares for this particular model were a little weak for cable modem users (me), but alright for DSL users (me too). The new firmware solves the issue of mysteriously disappearing IP leases (which used to require a router reset every three days once the issue manifested)
The lastest firmware contains many DHCP fixes, adds upnp, and other stuff that doesn't ... ...AOLeffect. RTFM people. netgear has outsourced much of the phone support to a country whose English pronounciation is EXCEPTIONALLY POOR. Their email system LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED. One typically receives a canned response and should one be fortunate to pass the autoresponder mechanism and be issued a support ticket, a feckless soul responds from the FAQ and closes the question. It tempts one to feel emoinside.
Fortunately RARE is the circumstance ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: easy setup Disadvantages: wireless range is not impressive
Despite the reviews I have read before buying this router, the setup is extremely easy and is entered in a menu driven http site. Setting up the wireless encryption is very easy as well. Online firmware updates.
I have used this router now for about 6 months and it is fast, good firewall. I took my software firewalls down to save processor capacity on the PC's and haven't had any viruses yet. The wireless connection is fast and deteriorates with ... ...and more than 10 m distance takes the reception down to minimum. This is just enough for a normal house, but on the low side in a big house or office.
I have three PC's and a network printer connected to the router/hub.
All together I am happy with this product. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Super Fast! The WGT624 uses Super G technology to deliver up to 108 Mbps when used with the WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card. It's the next generation of home networking with the power that finally allows you to stream MP3s and videos seamlessly, share printers, chat and distribute large photo files. Your whole family can surf the net, e-mail and even voice chat at the same time - the WGT624 and WGT511T can handle the traffic! The performance of the WGT624 is so powerful that you can enjoy high-speed applications at greater range. Don't be constrained by low wireless bandwidth anymore. With the WGT624, you don't need to sit in your office to enjoy your MP3s and video streams. Super Easy! Smart Wizard gets you up and running in five clicks or less by automatically detecting the ISP connection type and reducing setup errors. The Smart Wizard Install Assistant is an interactive on-line tutorial that walks you through the entire set up for easy installation. Use the Smart Wizard assisted firmware upgrade feature to automatically check for new features and upgrade your network in just 1 click! The WGT624 is 802.11g standard compliant which ensures it is interoperable with existing 802.11b and 802.11g devices, and since it works with your existing 802.11b devices it protects your investment. And it is wireless so it allows you to connect network devices anywhere in your home without additional wiring. The WGT624 supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology for smooth interoperability among your PCs and Macintosh computers, gaming consoles, and other Ethernet-enabled devices. Super Secure! The WGT624 protects your network with over 10 security and privacy features including a double firewall (NAT + SPI), multi-VPN (pass-through) support, MAC Address Control, and, it's upgradeable to the next generation of wireless encryption, WPA (pre-shared key). "Trusted User" controls, allow you to manage access to the Internet by web address, PC name or by the time of day. You can also control access to any PC on your network. Event logs and e-mail alerts will help you maintain control of your network and notify you of hack attempts, attacks and unauthorized access to your network or Internet sites.
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