ZyXEL Prestige 660HW-61 - wireless router

...pricey Linksys or Netgear, the Zyxel 660HW-61 is definitely for you.

Firstly, whats in the box : You get the Router with built in 4-port Ethernet Hub and wireless antenna in sleek black. You also get a telephone cable, Power Adapter and an Ethernet Cable for initial setup/wired use. The instruction manual is clear and concise and the included CD is not really neccessary because there are no drivers to install, and all updates can be ...
...is quite easy, simply follow the manual, the basic steps are : Connect the router to the power and Phone line, connect it to a PC with an Ethernet port, and login via the web browser. After this it is a simple matter of putting in your ADSL details and settig up your desired Wireless Settings.

The Router is compatible with ADSL speeds right through to ADSL2+ so it is a great modem if you can only get ADSL now but your ISP is planning ... more

If you are looking for a well priced router with all the great features of a more pricey Linksys or Netgear, the Zyxel 660HW-61 is definitely for you.

Firstly, whats in the box : You get the Router with built in 4-port Ethernet Hub and wireless antenna in sleek black. You also get a telephone cable, Power Adapter and an Ethernet Cable for initial setup/wired use. The instruction manual is clear and concise and the included CD is not really neccessary because there are no drivers to install, and all updates can be easily found on Zyxel's website.

Installation is quite easy, simply follow the manual, the basic steps are : Connect the router to the power and Phone line, connect it to a PC with an Ethernet port, and login via the web browser. After this it is a simple matter of putting in your ADSL details and settig up your desired Wireless Settings.

The Router is compatible with ADSL speeds right through to ADSL2+ so it is a great modem if you can only get ADSL now but your ISP is planning to roll out ADSL2 or 2+ soon.

The greatest thing about this router is the Wired and Wireless option. The ethernet hub on the rear of the router allows for up to 4 PC's to be connected at 100Mbps, and the Wireless allows for multiple (lots) of wireless connections of speeds up to 54Mbps. The modem is compatible with Wireless protocols 802.11b (11Mbps) and 802.11g (54Mbps)

The wireless option is made particularly secure by being compatible with several security schemes. Ranging from WEP (64 - 256bit) and WPA, as well as RADIUS authentication. These security features are essential. Making the Security features even stronger is the potential to filter by MAC address (Basically you can specify which network card is allowed to interact with your router) Eliminating any chance of intrusion.

Other advanced features which this Router takes advantage of are the NAT or Port Forwarding features. These allow you to set aside ports which you deem safe or open for things like Peer-to-Peer applications, Vo-IP and messenger programs, increasing potential download speeds. Also, by utiliising the inbuilt content filter, you can prevent unwanted accesses to web sites, via URL or keyword filtering, great idea if you have kids!

In summing up, this Router truly exceeded my expectations for a budget modem, as I was considering much more expensive models at the same time, but after having hands on experience with quite a few different models I am extremely pleased that I stuck with my Zyxel. It is a work horse, never faltering and always giving not only great features, but also great speed and range, with the internet now available throughout my house in a safe and secure evironment.
 

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