Belkin Pre-N Wireless Kit

An easy way to set up a wireless network, but it could be a bit ahead of its time

Price: £100

Manufacturer: Belkin

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Verdict

Good Points: Excellent connection speeds; good wireless coverage

Bad Points: Not Wi-Fi certified; expensive; interface could be better

Overall: Great for anyone wanting more than 802.11g offers, but it doesn't use a ratified standard

Active Home staff, Active Home 31 May 2005

Ask anyone who's set up an 802.11g wireless network what their major gripes are and they'll undoubtedly say poor broadcast range and connection speeds.

Although the 802.11g standard has a maximum transfer rate of 54 Mb per sec, in practice you're unlikely to exceed the 22Mb/s mark. And when it comes to streaming uncompressed video around your home entertainment network, this can be a problem.

The Pre-N wireless equipment is based on the new, yet to be ratified, 802.11n standard. This means it doesn't actually conform to a set standard and, when 802.11n is eventually ratified (which could take a couple of years), there's no guarantee this kit will be compatible.

During testing we managed to achieve transfer rates of up to 40Mb/s at a distance of 2m. More impressive was that a stable 12Mb/s connection was available at a range of just over 100m, something that 802.11g simply isn't capable of.

If you live in a two-storey house, there should be no reason why you can't pick up a Pre-N network in every room and even outside in your garden. Don't forget that securing your wireless network becomes even more crucial with this extended reach.

As far as installation goes, the Belkin Pre-N router didn't throw up any problems. The web-based interface isn't as intuitive as others we've seen, but each section has its own mini-guide.

There's no built-in modem, so if you want to use it to share a broadband connection you'll need an ADSL Ethernet modem. Belkin also supplies Pre-N PC Cards for notebooks and Network Cards for desktop PCs.

If you're desperate for greater wireless range and faster transfer rates, Belkin's Pre-N kit works extremely well. However, bear in mind that there's every chance it won't work with official 802.11n devices once they hit the shelves.

Contact:
Belkin 00 800 223 55 460
www.belkin.co.uk

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