You’re unlikely to find a draft-n router that costs less then the Linksys Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Router (WRT160N). As with the Linksys RangePlus Wireless Router (WRT110), the four wired Ethernet ports are 10/100 only, and there’s no USB port for sharing a printer or storage device. But the WRT160N can use Linksys’s relatively new home network management software, and the throughput at 20 feet, 116mbps, is a bit above WRT110’s. Performance falls precipitously with increasing distance, though.

Connecting the router to the internet via DSL or cable caused the install wizard to hang. Once I’d killed the wizard the router ran correctly, but to access the network manager (which, confusingly, has almost the same name as the installer), I had to eject and reinsert the install CD, then select the manager from the menu. Perhaps by the time you read this the installation routine will be fixed.
You’ll find the impressive Web-based manager every Linksys router has, though not all the goodies pricier models offer. Advanced options - as in the WRT110 - include VPN pass-through, DHCP, NAT, and SPI firewall, and QoS (though not via the new Wireless Intelligent Stream Handling or StreamEngine technologies in the higher-end routers like the SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N, and the Trendnet 300 Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router, among others).
The WRT160N will make most home users happy. There are better routers out there, but few for under $100.
To receive updates on new articles, subscribe to Technology Tricks today.


















2 Comments Received
June 4th, 2009 @ 6:39 AM
1.0 out of 1000000.0 stars -..-”
I really hate your fucking product -.-”
It’s really bad, bad bad!!
nobody buy it!! never!!
ASD
June 4th, 2009 @ 6:40 AM
YOU SUX LINK SYS!!!
Leave A Reply