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Pakistan, Islamabad
1 Level
714 Review
33 Karma

Review on πŸ”Œ NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router - Wall Plug Design by Craig Walters

Revainrating 1 out of 5

A good solution to increase the range of a wireless network

I have successfully deployed a wireless router at home. However, the range is pretty weak or my house is too big and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last one. As a result, I investigated many solutions, none of which seemed too attractive to implement (bridges, wireless range extenders, a new RF antenna, etc.). It all just seemed too complicated and I consider myself quite tech savvy. Luckily, I read some technical reviews and came across the Netgear Wireless Wall Mount Network Router. It seemed pretty easy to set up and easy to use. Well, I can report that it is. No installation software is required at all. You simply plug an ethernet cable from a cable modem in the same room into a Netgear jack and then into the wall. Make sure all three green lights are on and you're done. The next step is to move the other half of the Netgear plug to the correct room in the house and plug it into an outlet. If the three lights are lit, you have a connection and can enter there. My laptop immediately picked up the radio signal and I was surfing the internet in no time. In fact, it was flawless. So WHY do I only give four stars? Two reasons: First, the wireless range of the Netgear connector is quite weak. It definitely doesn't have the performance of my main wireless modem. Again, it doesn't have an antenna AND it still works, so it's not a big deal; it's just not ideal. Second, the Netgear connectors need to be plugged in a bit close together to work properly and the Homelink green light to be green. When the Netgear plugs were plugged into opposite ends of the house (which I hoped would increase the range), it wouldn't connect to the house line. However, when I plugged into outlets that were closer together (but still out of range of my wireless routers), it REALLY worked. So, partial credit is here again. While I can't explain why this didn't work, it's possible that the house wiring electrical signal degrades as the outlets are further apart. In any case, everything is running pretty smoothly now and I'm glad I can get a signal in another part of the house that wasn't previously covered by the internet.

Pros
  • Ease of use
Cons
  • Not everything is as good as it says