Netgear Router Basics. Netgear WNDR3800 Dual Band Wireless Router

NETGEAR is one of the leaders in the SOHO class networking market, in particular, it ranks first in terms of production of NAS network storage devices in this segment. Like most companies that make networking devices for offices and home users, NETGEAR releases wide range models for different market segments. And if we have already reviewed the network storages of this company more than once on the pages of our magazine, now the ComputerPress test laboratory has received a new model of its wireless router - NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router. Note that the products of this company are distinguished by an acceptable price, high quality assembly, ease of use, as well as timely technical support.

Specifications

Before talking about the main functionality of the router, let's draw the reader's attention to the name of the device - NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router WNDR3800. NETGEAR decided to change its typical WNDRXX00 marking for routers and added another designation with the letter "N" to the name of all new models. So there were routers with the names N150, N300, N450, N600, N750 and N900. Initially, it may seem that the numbers after the letter N are nothing more than the usual rebranding of models aimed at increasing sales. But in fact, the last digit indicates the theoretical speed wireless transmission data. How is it, - the attentive reader will ask, - after all, the speed of 900 Mbps is currently not achievable using the 802.11n protocol? Here, NETGEAR is a little tricky: it summarizes top speed transmissions for each of the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. For clarity, we decipher the designations of the models in Table. 1 .

NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router

Based on the data given in table. 1 , we can conclude that the new NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router is dual-band. As the name implies, the router also has gigabit LAN ports and WAN, and the maximum data transfer rate over the wireless network of each of the ranges can reach 300 Mbps. All this makes it possible to attribute the new model to the class of high-performance routers that provide maximum performance for both wired and wireless networks in SOHO class (small office home office). This model belongs to a series of high-performance routers and, accordingly, can effectively work with both office and online gaming applications, providing high data transfer speed and connection reliability. This model has numerous settings and extended functionality for organizing Internet access for both wired and wireless clients.

Compared to previous similar models in this line (WNDR3700v1 and WNDR3700v2), the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router has a slightly changed case design, including a change in color front panel and signatures on it. Otherwise, they are like two drops of water, and this is not surprising, since the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router in terms of "stuffing" is a consistent upgrade of the NETGEAR WNDR3700v1 router. We remind readers that the difference between the versions of the WNDR3700v1 and WNDR3700v2 routers is only in a larger amount of memory, increased from 8 to 16 MB, and modified antennas for the 5 GHz band. New model The WNDR3800 features a large amount of memory, which has been increased from 64 to 128 MB. Otherwise, the WNDR3700v2 and WNDR3800 routers are identical in hardware. Since this is a further development of one model, the design of the devices is the same. The display panel, which occupies almost the entire front of the device, has 11 indicator lights (Power, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, USB, WAN, four LAN ports, Wi-Fi and WPS) that display Current state devices. During operation, the indicators glow dimly in green, except for the 5 GHz band indicator. Note that when the network interfaces are active, the indicators do not blink, which is somewhat unusual, since others similar devices the activity state is displayed in this way. On the rear panel of the router there are RJ-45 LAN and WAN ports, a power connector and a small hole for hard rebooting the router and resetting it to factory settings.

Like most NETGEAR wireless devices, this model does not have external antennas. It uses the MIMO technology formula - 2Tx/2Rx for each of the bands. On the printed circuit board inside the device case, next to each of the wireless units, there are antennas soldered directly on the board. If necessary, the user can connect external antennas, for which the board provides special MMCX connectors, two for each of the wireless controllers.

This model has an Atheros AR7161 central MIPS processor running at 680 MHz, an RTL8366SR switch responsible for the local wired network, and two wireless controllers: Atheros AR9220 (2.4 / 5 GHz) and AR9223 (2.4 GHz). Although this hardware is the same as the WNDR3700v2 router, the Genie firmware versions that control them are noticeably different.

Next to the router's WAN port is a USB port that is compatible with the USB 2.0 specification. This allows you to connect various external drives flash drives, external rigid discs or printers, thus turning this model into a small network center And network storage. A sticker is attached to the back of the device with important characteristics models (administrator login/password, serial number, MAC address WAN port and other information).

The NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router supports all common connection types used by ISPs to access the Internet: Static IP, DHCP, PPTP, L2TP, PPPoE, PPTP and L2TP. For each of them, there are several options that are activated when you select a connection from the list. The WAN port supports IPv6 protocol, for which there is a special “6to4” mode. However, the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router does not support IPv6 routing for local clients - they only work with it over IPv4. The built-in system for auto-detection of connection settings in some cases can determine and install necessary settings without user intervention. Since tunnel connection settings are usually different for each provider, we tested this model for working with networks (Static IP / DHCP), corbina (PPTP) and compot ( PPTP connection and binding to a MAC address on the local network). With all networks, the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router worked without failures and disconnections for quite a long time.

The access point built into the router supports all modern specifications for wireless data transfer technologies - IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n. The router has two internal antennas for each of the ranges, and the maximum data transfer rate for each of them can theoretically reach 300 Mbps. Note that the user can set the network operation mode depending on the presence of devices that support outdated protocols. By default, the router settings are set to a combined network operation mode, when the built-in access point works in conjunction with the more outdated 802.11a/b/g protocols and automatic selection of the channel width - 20 or 40 MHz. Note that in the case of connecting wireless clients with adapters using old protocols, the channel width will be set to 20 MHz, which will reduce speed indicators for higher speed clients. To do this, you can simply disable access to the wireless point for clients using older protocols. The router supports disabling each of the radio modules and has a lot of additional settings for each of them.

Built-in hotspot supports everything Newest technologies data encryption for wireless network - WPA / WPA2 / WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK, WEP (64, 128 and 152 bits) and WPS, for which it is provided special button on the front of the router. Appropriate settings can be entered for each of the access points - 2.4 and 5 GHz. It is impossible to ignore the fact that wireless network encryption using the WEP protocol is available only if the 802.11a/b/g operating mode is set in the settings. This is because the latest 802.11n protocol specifications only work with WPA encryption and its further modifications, and WEP encryption is considered unreliable. Unlike many similar devices, in this model the user can configure guest networks for each of the radio modules. Such networks may have their own names and security settings, and may be implemented in software. At the same time, by default, guests work only with the Internet channel and do not have access to the router's local network, but this setting can also be changed.

Of particular note is the Clear Channel Selector technology introduced in this model, which was previously used in expensive wireless devices business class. This function automatically detects when the channel used by the device is overloaded with traffic, that is, there are other networks on it, such as neighbors, and automatically switches to a channel that is less busy. This feature is becoming increasingly important as the use of 2.4 GHz radio frequencies by various household devices such as cordless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, etc., eventually leads to channel overload, and the noise on the air becomes large. problem. Due to the increase in the number of access points in some "sleeping" areas, all channels can be used by neighbors, which affects the efficiency wireless communication many users. Using the 5 GHz frequency band, which has large quantity non-overlapping channels with a width of 40 MHz compared to the 2.4 GHz band, will partly solve this problem, but for this you need to have an end device that supports the specified frequency range. Dual-band end devices have not yet become widespread in our country, since the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi range - 802.11b / g / n is still the de facto standard in Russia. That is why Clear Channel Selector technology will come in handy for users.

For external and internal network, in addition to encryption protection, a built-in firewall is used that allows you to filter both wired and wireless network clients. Filtering by physical addresses of network cards (MAC addresses) is supported. It also provides the ability to manually map IP addresses to MAC addresses bypassing the DHCP server, which simplifies the control of unauthorized access if wireless point works without encryption.

It is very difficult to describe all the protection and control parameters for this model due to their a large number. Many of them are standard for routers of this class. We only note that all standard functions protection and work with networks this model supports. Among other things, the device supports the ReadySHARE function, which provides access to the connected drive through the router's local network. Access with different rights is provided (two users: administrator and guest). In addition, the administrator can restrict access to certain folders on the connected device or create their own directories. As shown by preliminary tests for downloading and downloading files over the network, the transfer rate in both directions for the connected drive did not exceed 13 MB / s.

In addition to the ReadySHARE function itself, this model provides for its additional implementation - ReadySHARE Cloud, which is similar to that used in some network drives of this company. It allows you to host USB storage files on the Internet over an encrypted channel. Implemented given function by creating an encrypted VPN channel to the router from anywhere in the world through a NETGEAR service. Specifically to provide this functionality, the company bought out Leaf Networks in January 2010, the main direction of which was the development of remote encrypted channels. In order to start working with this function, the user needs to install a special program, which will then create a Leaf Networks virtual network adapter on the computer (network addresses 5.x.x.x/8 are allocated), through which data will be transferred. As stated on the device box, the ReadySHARE Cloud feature is available to users in free version until January 1, 2013.

In addition to accessing files on a USB drive from the outside, the router provides the ability to connect a printer, scanner or MFP and work with this device from all computers on the local network. This feature on the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router is called ReadySHARE Printer. Note that this router supports the ability to work through a USB hub, that is, two or more USB devices can be connected to one port, although this function does not always work.

The NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router introduces a new Live Parental Controls feature compared to its predecessors. Unlike other similar developments, where all actions for setting up parental control of sites occur on the router, this function allows you to entrust this matter to professionals of the well-known service OpenDNS (http://www.opendns.com/). The user can register on the site for free (this is necessary to use the service) and set Internet access settings using special application, which can be downloaded from the NETGEAR website (www.netgear.com/lpc).

Control interface

All new models of network devices for home use NETGEAR has a redesigned internal Genie management interface. It should be noted that the company always strives to please end user, making it easier to work with devices. New version of integrated software convenient and easy to use. An intuitive control interface, where all functions and parameters have their place, will certainly please users. During testing, the latest version of the router firmware was installed - 1.0.0.24 and the latest version of the language interface - 1.0.0.84. Note that the ability to load the language interface separately will allow you to quickly and efficiently correct translation errors in the future.

To access the management interface, when you turn on the device for the first time, you need to connect your computer to one of the LAN ports of the router, and then enter the following address in the address bar of your browser: http://routerlogin.net. Also, the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router is configured with a secure wireless network by default, information about which is located on the sticker located on the cellophane packaging router.

Testing wireless and wired network segments

The router was tested in three stages. At the first stage, the performance of the router itself was evaluated when transferring data between WAN and LAN segments, at the second - between local segments LAN and WLAN (with laptop and PC), and in the last step between wired local clients (LAN and LAN).

Performance testing was performed using dedicated software NetIQ Chariot version 6.7. For testing, a stand was equipped, consisting of two PCs and a laptop. One of the computers was equipped with a D-Link DWA-547 wireless adapter that supports the 802.11n protocol (3x3:2 formula, that is, the maximum data transfer rate is 300 Mbps). On a laptop Lenovo IdeaPad The Y570 was equipped with a Broadcom BCM57781 wired adapter and a Broadcom BCM4313 wireless adapter (2x2:1 formula). The ASUS P53E laptop was equipped with an Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 wireless adapter (2x2:1 formula) and an Atheros AR8151 wired adapter gigabit ethernet. All computers were equipped with the 64-bit version operating system Windows 7 Ultimate SP1.

Test 1. WAN-LAN routing speed (wired segment)

Initially, the router's throughput was measured when transferring data between WAN and LAN segments, for which a PC was connected to the WAN port of the router, simulating external network, and to the LAN port - a computer simulating an internal network.

By using software package NetIQ Chariot 6.7 measured traffic by TCP protocol between computers connected to the router, for which scripts were run for 5 minutes, emulating the transfer and receipt of files, respectively. The initiation for data transfer occurred from the internal LAN network to a computer that was located behind the WAN port. Data transfer from LAN to WAN segment was emulated using the Filesndl.scr script (file transfer), and in the opposite direction - using the Filercvl.scr script (file receiving). During testing, the built-in firewall was activated in the device, and all algorithms for prioritizing traffic based on QOS were disabled.

Test 2. WLAN-LAN routing speed (wireless segment)

At the next stage, the speed of routing was evaluated when transferring data between the internal interfaces of the router - wireless and wired. For this to LAN port a PC was connected, and then data was transferred between it and another PC with a wireless adapter using the 802.11n protocol. In another case, a laptop was connected to the access point built into the router via the 802.11n wireless protocol. Routing speed was measured in both cases in the same way as in the previous test. Thus, testing was carried out both with a typical laptop using the 802.11n protocol, and with a specialized wireless PCI adapter that provides maximum speed over a wireless connection.

Test 3. LAN-LAN routing speed (wired segment)

This test measured the speed of data transfer between two local clients of the router connected to its LAN ports. To do this, two computers with gigabit network adapters were connected to the LAN ports of the router under study. The measurement of routing speed in both cases was performed in the same way as in the previous test.

Test results

The results of testing the speed of the interfaces of the NETGEAR N600 Gigabit Router wireless router are presented in Table. 2.

As can be seen from the test results, the overall routing speed between LAN and WAN segments in this model is more than 330 Mbps. The speed in the first test is very high for such devices and is actually equal to one third of the maximum allowable speed on gigabit network interface. Of course, in most Russian local networks, this speed is excessive, since in many cases the subscriber is given not a gigabit port, but a 100-megabit one on the router in the entrance. For users connected via high-speed channels to the Internet and home network resources, this means that the router itself will not bottleneck data channel. And this despite the fact that it provides full analysis of incoming packets (SPI firewall). In the third test, the routing speed between the LAN and WAN segments was not very high compared to the operation of two computers through the built-in gigabit switch. In the third test, the RTL8366SR switch built into the router provides almost protocol data transfer speed - about 1 Gb / s. Accordingly, using this model to transfer data over a gigabit network, the user can be sure of the high speed of this process.

In the second test, a relatively low data transfer rate should be noted in the case of a wireless client connected via 802.11n protocol (laptop) and an access point built into the router. This is because laptops rarely see 802.11n implementations with more than two streams. Therefore, even purely theoretically, the data transfer rate according to the formula 2Rx / 2Tx in this case will be half as much as in the case of using an adapter with the formula 2x2: 2. This assumption is confirmed by the fact that in the second part this test when using a wireless PCI adapter, the 802.11n data transfer speed is almost twice as high. However, the real data transfer rate for the 802.11n protocol is, of course, much less than the declared one (300 Mbps), but still it is more than four times higher than for the 802.11g protocol, which is a very good result for this class of devices. In many modern laptops wireless adapters based on chips from Atheros, Broadcom, RaLink and other well-known brands are installed. However, despite the seeming reliability of these devices, in reality, most of them have a 2x2:1 formula, which neutralizes the entire effect of using a high-speed wireless router.

In conclusion, we note excellent speed performance for both wired and wireless clients. The high data transfer rate will allow users to use all modern data transfer technologies: watch HD video, download the necessary information using torrent technology and play their favorite online games without delay. Full support for all modern technologies, as well as a formula for both wireless modules 2x2:2 will provide high-quality Internet not only for an apartment, but also for a small cottage. Friendly, thoughtful and user-friendly interface control makes it possible to set up this model in just a few simple steps. A wide range of features to ensure safety and comfortable work makes this model recommended for both beginners and experienced users.

We recently took a look at the WNDR4000, which sits at the top of Netgear's lineup (aside from the announced but not yet on the market WNDR4500). A little lower is the WNDR3800 model, which is the successor to the WNDR3700 and provides 300 Mbps modes for two of its wireless modules.

The hardware configuration has changed little, so the main reason for releasing an updated model is a new version embedded software and the additional services it provides. In particular, this model has support for the Netgear Genie program for configuring and monitoring the device, compatibility with time machine, cloud technologies ReadySHARE and Clear Channel for automatic selection of the optimal radio channel in the process. In addition, the device began to support the L2TP technology common on the local market, access to the provider's network during VPN connections and IPTV.

Contents of delivery

The device belongs to a high-performance series, so the package design is made in red colors. The box design of our sample is mainly in English and includes photos of the device, specifications(including the frequency of the processor and the amount of memory), a list of the main features of this model. Localized only short description. Russian official deliveries of this model (WNDR3800-100RUS) use a fully localized design of the box and all documentation.

Standard delivery set - router, stand for vertical installation, impulse block power supply 12 V 2.5 A, gigabit patch cord, CD with electronic versions multi-lingual manuals, quick install flyers, separate brochure on the “premium features” of the model.

The device is backed by a two-year warranty and technical support.

Appearance

Netgear continues to use the same case design, only implementing minimal updates. In the WNRD3800, they consist of changing the background color on the end with indicators to red and the LED operation mode to constant (it will no longer be possible to visually determine the activity of the ports). The rest is preserved - the dimensions of the case are 22 × 16 × 3 centimeters, it is made of dark plastic, the top cover is glossy, the bottom is matte. The set of indicators is quite large: status, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, USB, Internet, LAN1-LAN4. Also on the front end there are two buttons - for quickly disconnecting wireless modules and for connecting a WPS client.

On the back you can find the power supply input with a switch, four gigabit LAN ports, a gigabit port for connecting to a provider, one USB 2.0 port. There is still plenty of room, so it would be more interesting to see more than one USB port.

The reset button is at the bottom, and if the router is placed on the wall, you will have to remove it to reset the settings. Note that the case supports all installation options - horizontally on rubber feet, vertically on a complete stand and on the wall in any of four positions.

Taking care of the safety of its users, Netgear implemented Wi-Fi networks with encryption out of the box in this model. All devices have configured WPA/WPA2-PSK modes and individual network names and passwords, which are listed on a sticker located on the bottom of the case and repeated on the top cover. In addition, there are labels for all ports, buttons and indicators and instructions for connecting to the device's web interface.

Ventilation, like its predecessors, is provided by holes located along the contour of the case and around the logo on the top panel. During testing, there were no problems with overheating of the device.

Hardware configuration

As a hardware platform, this model uses the Atheros chipset, as in the first version of the WNDR3700 device. The AR7161 processor operates at a frequency of 680 MHz, the amount of RAM is 128 MB, the firmware is stored in a 16 MB flash chip. As you can see, the memory has doubled compared to its predecessor. It is unlikely that this will affect the speed of routing, but it will be useful for additional services. The radio blocks have not changed - AR9220 and AR9223. The device has two antennas for the 2.4 GHz band located directly on the printed circuit board, as well as two antennas for 5 GHz, made in the form of microplates, which are located under the housing cover. All antennas have micro connectors, so if necessary, you can try to replace them with external ones.

Chips of the processor and network switch (Realtek RTL8366S) are covered with radiators. The radio block is traditionally located under special screen. Note the presence of a console connector on the printed circuit board. But it's easier to use a utility to open telnet access, which is easy to find on the net.

Testing was carried out with firmware version 1.0.0.24.

Customization and features

The WNRD3800 uses the next generation web interface - Netgear genie. We have already met him in the WNRDMAC review. The changes mainly concern the external design. It is possible to choose a language, Russian translation is present. Because of fixed width Pages sometimes encounter design errors. Note also the built-in help system. The menu is presented in two versions - "Basic Mode" and "Advanced" - designed for users with different backgrounds and requirements.

In the first case, the main page shows the current status of the router, including Internet connection, Wi-Fi operation, number of clients, operation of parental controls, disk access (ReadySHARE) and guest network. The pictures are also links to the corresponding settings pages.

To connect to the Internet, all modern options can be used - direct connection, PPPoE, PPTP and L2TP. The set of parameters is traditional - you can set IP addresses, change MAC, select the connection mode in case of using a VPN.

The router uses two independent radio units for the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The basic settings for wireless networks include choosing a name, channel number, mode (indicated as the maximum speed, which is not very convenient and understandable), security settings (there is support for open networks, WEP (not available in 802.11n mode), WPA / WPA2 with password and via a RADIUS server), enable isolation of wireless devices.

Additionally, you can create guest wireless networks - one for each of the ranges. They can have their own settings, such as names and security settings. By default, guests can only use the Internet, but you can allow them access to the local network segment as well.

The "Connected devices" item shows a list of current clients with their IP and MAC addresses, as well as the system name, if any.

The "Parental Control" function has already met us in recent reviews. It uses an external OpenDNS service to filter and restrict access to resources by category and time. The system will be of interest to those devices on which it is difficult or impossible to install traditional security tools, such as smartphones, tablets, game consoles. In our opinion, this is a very good element of additional protection for home users. The only thing it lacks is convenient reports on system operation.

The "ReadySHARE" section is used to set up work with USB devices, and we will talk about this a little later.

In general, "Basic Mode" allows you to carry out the initial configuration of the router for accessing the Internet and working with wireless networks. For more complex settings, you need to use the "Advanced" mode.

Its main router status page differs from the “basic” one: information about the device model and firmware version is indicated, instead of a simple indication of the health of the Internet connection, here you can see the MAC and IP addresses of the external interface, as well as wireless network parameters. Note the presence of a button to reboot the device.

There are two "wizards" - for setting up the Internet and connecting WPS clients. They, perhaps, would look more organically in the basic mode.

The "advanced" menu consists of five groups of pages. The first of them, "Settings", contains the pages already described above for selecting Internet connection parameters and organizing wireless networks. New will be additional parameters of the Internet port - enabling DMZ, activating an IGMP proxy for IPTV operation in multicast mode and defining ports for broadcasting a stream (including wireless networks), selecting MTU size and a few more options.

The local network segment is also configured here - you can set the IP address and router name, enable RIP, configure the built-in DHCP server (address range and fixed IP-MAC assignments).

The last item in this group is configuring the QoS traffic control system. As before, we are of the opinion that this function is of little use for home devices, since the processors in them are relatively weak and it only works for transmission from the user to the Internet. The mere activation of this system reduces the speed of work by direct connection twice. Rules specify applications (identified by port numbers), MAC addresses, or physical ports on the local network. They can be assigned one of the priority levels. If necessary, you can also limit the overall transmission channel speed.

In security functions, in addition to parental control, they implemented blocking sites by keywords in the link (you can specify the IP address of the client that can visit all sites) and blocking services by port numbers for all or selected clients on the local network. These services can operate on a schedule - one time range for selected days of the week. The built-in clock can only be set in automatic mode.

In the same group, sending messages and logs by e-mail is programmed. You can use only one recipient and authentication on SMTP server. The log is quite detailed and allows you to select the categories of displayed messages. These include site and service blocking, system messages, wireless client connections, UPnP port forwarding, attacks, and port scans. Traditionally, in the "Administration" section, you can find options for saving / restoring / resetting the configuration, changing the password and updating the firmware.

IN last group, "Advanced settings", have collected more customizable device settings. For wireless modules, you can set a work schedule (more precisely, shutdown periods with an accuracy of 30 minutes), reduce the transmitter power, program an access list by MAC addresses, and activate the relay function. You can use the UPnP protocol for port translation, or you can specify rules in manual mode.

In this case, it is allowed to use different internal and external ports. Implemented support for initiating ports, useful for some online games. The built-in DDNS client is designed to work only with the DynDNS.org service. The user can add their own entries to the device's routing table. Remote access to the web-interface of the device is possible. You can change the port number and limit client IP addresses. The router has several options for using the IPv6 protocol, including automatic, tunnels, fixed, and PPPoE.

The router has a built-in counter of downloaded and sent traffic, the report of which provides information for the day, week and month, which can be useful for assessing your needs.

In general, the new interface looks more convenient and beautiful, but it still needs to be worked on - change the location of some items, add new features.

In addition to the classic configuration via the web interface, you can also use a special separate program, available in versions for Windows and Mac OS. It also includes monitoring, problem solving, and reference system. Because of this variety of jumbled options, currently it does not seem to be very useful and convenient, especially since it will still not work out just for her alone.

Working with USB devices

One of the hallmarks of high performance devices is the USB port. It is used to expand the capabilities of routers - the implementation of a network drive and / or a network printer. If necessary simultaneous use Multiple devices can be connected via a USB hub. To work with a network printer, installation is required on a computer USB programs control center. It is available in versions for Windows and Mac OS, it provides for the translation of the interface into several languages, including Russian. The utility connects the printer to the desired PC in automatic or manual mode, which allows you to implement its alternate use with several computers. There is also a built-in scanning module for the MFP, but any standard programs can be used to solve this problem.

As media, you can use flash drives and hard drives. To safely disconnect disks, you need to use the appropriate button in the web interface of the router. It is allowed to have multiple partitions on one disk, fully supported file systems FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, HFS+. Each section will be represented by a separate shared folder. Data is accessed via SMB protocols, FTP and HTTP (read-only). The speeds are relatively high for a router, as can be seen from the following graph.

There are few settings in this mode - network name and title working group, enable/disable protocols, allow access from the Internet via HTTP and FTP, and service port numbers can be changed. With the restriction of user access, everything is rather sad - there is only “everyone” and “administrator”, additional accounts cannot be added. But you can change the names of shares and create new ones from folders on existing drives. The router can be used to store backups from an Apple Mac with the included Time program Machine (including Mac OS 10.7).

Another option for using external drives is to create DLNA servers. The router supports working with files JPEG formats, MP3, WMA, AVI, M2TS, MKV, MP4, MPEG, WMV and more. To store the database, a temporary directory is used on the first detected drive, and scanning occurs immediately for all connected devices.

The WNDR3800 also implements the ReadySHARE Cloud function - providing remote access to a connected hard drive via the Internet. The description of the service in the documentation is as follows: you register an account on the site, specify a name and password in the router (adding it to your pool of "cloud" devices, which may be several), get the opportunity to view the list of documents in the browser via the Internet or full access using special program for Windows/iOS/Android, control the access of other users of the service to your data. It looks, of course, attractive, but the reality turned out to be much more prosaic. In the browser, the device name and the list of shared folders were indeed visible. Installing the client program on a PC made it possible to mount disks as ordinary network resources, but the speed of working with them via the Internet was catastrophically low - about 300 KB / s. So at the moment we would not recommend using this feature in any way. And of course, paid (!) programs for mobile devices look quite strange today. It is possible that with the end of the free use of the service and the introduction subscription fee at the end of this year, the situation will change.

Performance

A practical test of the device was carried out on the 30/15 Mbps channel "Beeline Internet" in L2TP mode. We didn't have any connection problems. We note the support of IPTV from this provider, including via Wi-Fi (we used the SimpleTV program on a laptop for testing). The load in the form of hundreds of tasks in the uTorrent program turned out to be quite capable of the device. In this mode, the data download speed was more than 3 MB / s, which corresponds to tariff plan. When setting limits in the client on the maximum number of simultaneous connections at the level of 1000, the router also managed to simultaneously watch TV and access the Internet. If the limit is not set, then the number of connections can reach 3000, however, artifacts may appear on the TV image. Working with a 100 Mbps channel with a direct connection is also not a problem for this model, including when working with p2p at the highest possible speed and without affecting Internet access.

The methodology for testing routers at the stand is in the process of improvement. In this material, we used two changes in it - firstly, the overall performance was increased test systems, and secondly, new tests for wireless connections have been added. To measure performance, the IxChariot program is used, all Internet connection options supported by the device are checked - permanent address, PPPoE, PPTP and L2TP.

The speed of the device even with a direct connection does not allow talking about gigabit speeds - the maximum access speed is about 450 Mbps. At the same time, if you are using a 100 Mbps channel, then the WNDR3800 will handle it in any mode, including full duplex in L2TP. Despite the gradual abandonment of PPTP/L2TP by providers, these technologies continue to be widely used, so the high performance of the model in question will come in handy here.

The router allows you to use local resources provider when connecting to the Internet through an access server using a username and password. The following graph shows the distribution of speeds when downloading data from the provider's network and the Internet at the same time.

The performance in this scenario is also at a high enough level, and the 100 Mbps channel can be fully utilized.

The router has two wireless modules for 2.4 and 5 GHz bands with support for speeds up to 300 Mbps. Unlike the previous model, 2.4 GHz operation is possible on full speed regardless of the state of the ether, which cannot but rejoice. D-Link DWA-140, Intel 5300, LevelOne WUA-0603, Netgear WNA1100, TP-Link TL-WN821N and AirPort adapters included in the Mac were tested mini release mid 2010. It should be noted that the performance of the main test laptop is clearly not enough to work with high-performance adapters, and in the next publication we plan to use a new platform and new adapters, including those for 5 GHz.

Device settings for test - 300 Mbps speed, fixed channel, WPA2-AES security, short header (in additional options wifi). The distance between the router and the client was about five meters without obstacles. There were several 2.4 GHz networks on the air with negligible signal strength.

The best results in the 2.4 GHz band were shown with the Intel 5300 and D-Link DWA-140 adapters. Their users can expect speeds in excess of 100 Mbps. TL-WN821N and WUA-0603 performed a little worse. The Netgear WNA1100 adapter receives data very well, but its transmission is very sad. However, it has shown similar behavior before. Manufacturers should consider checking joint work router with its own controllers. Despite the setting of the Europe region in the router, the Apple AirPort adapter in the 2.4 GHz band clearly did not use dual-channel mode and showed a result of 80-90 Mbps, but at 5 GHz it overtook the Intel 5300 and reached speeds of 170 Mbps However, this is a consequence of a more powerful platform in Mac mini than in the test laptop, where the processor has a nominal frequency of only 1.5 GHz.

The above figures were obtained on a LAN-WLAN pair and show performance in information exchange tasks within a home local area network. However, with the growth of Internet access speeds and the abandonment of desktop PCs, it is also of interest to study the performance of the WAN-WLAN segment. Some inexpensive routers may experience slowdowns WiFi access to the Internet if it is implemented via a VPN. To test this scenario, the Intel 5300 adapter was used as one of the most productive. All modes of operation of the router were checked. The results are presented in the following graphs.

With the WNDR3800, we see a relatively low speed drop in this scenario. In the case of unidirectional flows, the maximum speed drop wireless access is about 20%. Moreover, the greater impact is on the 5 GHz band.

conclusions

Netgear WNDR3800 belongs to the class of dual-band high-performance home routers. In a sense, it can be seen as an improvement on the WNDR3700. Domestic users will be interested in new firmware features that allow you to fully use the device with our providers. The performance of the model in routing tasks will be more than enough when working on 100 Mbps channels in any mode. If you are lucky enough to connect to a gigabit channel, then here you can get 200-450 Mbps, depending on the type of connection.

The presence of two independent wireless modules will help to achieve a high connection speed when operating on the still lightly loaded 5 GHz band. In general, the router shows wifi speeds at the level of 100-170 Mbps with high-performance adapters and about half as much with the simplest single-channel devices. Thanks to a powerful platform, wireless clients will be able to fully enjoy high-speed Internet access.

The presence of a USB port can turn the device into a print server and NAS. In the first case, work with several PCs and support for the scanning function are provided. But the possibilities of working with disks by modern standards do not look very attractive. The speed of access to them is relatively high, but access control is clearly not designed for multi-user use.

The firmware update, in addition to making it more attractive for Russian users, has also brought several other useful features, in particular parental control and the ability to select the least loaded radio channels in the process. Unfortunately, we cannot list the ReadySHARE Cloud feature here, which is currently not implemented very well.

The WNDR3800 router will be of interest to those users who need fast device to work on 100 Mbps channels with IPTV support and a dual-band radio unit. We also note the possibility of effective work with modern Apple devices- support 5 GHz wireless networks, HFS+ on USB drives, and Time Machine compatibility.

The device is already available in domestic stores. The average retail price in Moscow, current at the time you read this article: $142().

So why is the “Premium Edition” inscription flaunted on the device, since there is no gold or diamonds? And it's all about a few features: ReadySHARE Cloud- access to data on a connected USB drive over an encrypted channel, anywhere and at any time (as in some company drives; do not confuse with normal function ReadySHARE) - to implement this feature, in early 2010, NETGEAR had to buy Leaf Networks, which developed remote encrypted channels.

… And ReadySHARE Printer- the ability to connect a printer (scanner or MFP) to the device's USB port to provide access to it from all computers in the local network.

I will dwell in more detail on the first function, which can be considered an analogue Dropbox service(with the only difference that there can be much more space). Register on the site:

Log in to the site or mobile application(available for Android and iOS).

And then we get access to the drive that is connected to the router via a USB port (in my case, this is a 4-gig flash drive):

Files can also be accessed from the iPhone / iPad - there are already corresponding clients for them in the AppStore (although they didn’t forget to rip off the money here too).

“While working with wndr3800, I noticed the following bugs:

1. There were problems connecting a laptop with an Intel5300 network card. At first I thought it was wrong LAN card, but in fact it turned out that the firmware of the router was to blame. After switching to openwrt, the problem disappeared. In general, by the way, native firmware was with very modest capabilities.

2. When setting up the router through LuCI, I received a brick twice. At the time of saving the wifi settings, the router was dying and no longer reacted to external stimuli. Restored via tftp.

The rest, in general, is all at a high level. Because On the factory firmware, I used it for less than one day, then there is nothing more to particularly note. ”

During operation, the device heats up, but not critical. It will be much worse if the working router is covered with something, which I did during cleaning - I accidentally left a rag on the router (which I wiped the dust), because of which it got very hot so that the logo on the top cover “floated” a little.

The price of the device starts from 4500 rubles (at the time of publication of the post) - it seems like a lot, but on the other hand, you buy a router only once and continue to use it until you run into its capabilities.

▌ Specifications

Standards
- IEEE 802.11 b/g 2.4 GHz
- IEEE 802.11 a/n 5.0 GHz
- Five Gigabit Ethernet ports (1 WAN and 4 LAN) with auto-sensing
- Support for IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6)

Performance
- Powerful 32-bit 680 MHz MIPS processor
- Memory: 16 MB flash and 128 MB RAM
- Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features
- QoS support based on Wireless Multimedia (WMM)

Safety
- Wi-Fi security and business-class firewall - a strong security system for your home network
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2-PSK) and WEP
- Dual firewall (SPI and NAT)
- Denial-of-service (DoS) attack protection

physical characteristics
Dimensions: 223 x 153 x 31 mm
Weight: 0.5 kg

▌ Pros and cons

Nice appearance
Three ways to mount the device
Hardware WiFi off button
Excellent speed characteristics
All ports are gigabit, the presence of a USB port
Rich customization options, ReadySHARE Cloud function
Eat alternative firmware
✘ Can get very hot during operation
✘ Fairly high price

I won’t even think of imposing this device on anyone - I’ll just say that it does an excellent job with the tasks assigned to it and in my case exceeded all expectations. Decide for yourself, not small already =)

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• router
• netgear
• review

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All main connectors are located on the back of the router. Turn the device over and notice the ports for connecting network cables. As a rule, there are five of them: four for cable connection home network devices and a separate connector for connecting the cable provided by your Internet provider. Insert the cables into the required slots, and insert the power supply connector into the round port. After that, plug the power supply into an outlet and press the button on the router to turn it on.

Attention! Netgear does not recommend plugging and unplugging internet cables while the power is on. This may damage the router.

An interesting feature of Netgear routers is that budget models have two LAN ports instead of the usual four. In this case, the ports are not visually separated, but differ only in color. The cable from the provider must be inserted into the blue port, and wired devices home network - in yellow.

Connecting the cables is followed by specifying the data for entering the admin panel of the router. You will need the address of the control panel, login and password from the device. Turn the router over, find this data on the sticker at the bottom. Typically the default name account: admin, and password: password (on early models, the combination 1234 was also used). In addition to the IP address of the router, there is a special address for logging into the Netgear control panel: routerlogin.net. When using it, the IP of the router is determined automatically, after which a redirect occurs.

Important! If there is no login sticker on the bottom of the router, check the router box. The necessary sticker with information can be located on it.

Basic setup

Open any browser and enter the address of the router that you specified earlier in the address bar. Go to this address and enter the specified username and password, then click "Login". Upon successful authorization, the Netgear Control Panel will open the Status tab. It displays the network status, Wi-Fi settings, the number of connected devices and the status additional features router.

Note! In this and the following screenshots, the configuration is performed using the Netgear R7000 router as an example, since it has the maximum number of parameters. In other Netgear routers, the setup is similar, but some functions may not be available.

Of the conveniences of the latest versions of the Netgear web interface, one can note the division of all router settings into “basic” and “professional”. It is implemented in the form of two horizontal tabs: "Basic mode" and "Add. settings". For example, the "Status" tab from the basic mode corresponds to the "Router Status" tab from the advanced settings. At the same time, in professional mode, much more technical information is displayed.

To set up the connection, go to the menu "Settings -> Internet settings". Specify the type of connection, as well as the presence of a username and password in your agreement with the Internet provider. If the connection is password protected, check the "Yes" option in the first setting item, and then select the connection type from the drop-down list. There are options to choose from: PPTP, PPPoE, L2TP. Enter your username and password.

An IP address may also be specified in the contract if a connection with a static IP is used. In this case, enter it in the "IP address of the Internet port" section. In the field for selecting the IP address of the DNS server, it is recommended to set the value "Obtain automatically from the provider". For the MAC address of the router, leave the default value.

Setting up a Wi-Fi network

After that, you can go to the Wi-Fi settings. Select the menu "Settings -> Settings WiFi networks". Set the region in which the router will be used (select from the drop-down list). The "Enable SSID Broadcast" checkbox controls whether your network name will be displayed when searching on client devices. If you remove it, the network name will need to be entered manually when connecting. In the "Channel" drop-down list, select the "Auto" value so that the router independently determines the free frequency range. In the value of the "Mode" parameter, it is recommended to set the maximum speed from the available options.

Configuring network security settings

Next, set the security options. The best choice is WPA2-PSK encryption. It will protect the data that is transmitted over Wi-Fi, and also restricts the connection of third parties to your network. Password length is limited from 8 to 63 characters.

In addition to the traditional wifi frequencies 2.4GHz, modern models higher netgear routers price segment support new standard: 5 GHz. To work at this frequency, a separate wireless network is created with its own security settings. Among the advantages of the 5 GHz frequency, one can note a higher data transfer rate over Wi-Fi and better protection against interference from neighbors' routers. The main disadvantages are: a smaller coverage area (due to the difference in the physical characteristics of the wave) and incompatibility with older wireless equipment.

Guest network setup

The Netgear Wi-Fi router allows you to not only set up the main wireless network, but also create a guest one. At the same time, on models of routers that support 5 GHz, guest networks can also work in this format. For guest access, you set your name (SSID) and security settings: encryption type and password. The most important parameter guest Wi-Fi- "Allow guests to see each other and share my local network." By unchecking this box, you will be able to provide a guest Wi-Fi password without fear that guests will gain access to personal files on your computers.

MAC address filtering will help ensure maximum network security. To configure it, go to the "Security -> Access Control" menu. Activate the "Enable access control" checkbox and select the filtering mode (allow or block the connection of new devices). All connected devices will be displayed in the table. For each of them, you can set your own rule - allow or block connections to Wi-Fi. After activating the “Block connection of all new devices” item, only those devices that you have allowed access to will be able to connect to the network.

Note! To check the MAC address in Windows, press Win+R, type cmd and select OK. In the window that opens, type getmac and press the Enter key.

If you use a limited connection or just want to have statistics of transmitted and received information, use the menu "Additional settings -> Traffic counter". In addition to simple traffic accounting, it allows you to set a monthly limit on the amount of sent and received data. Optionally, you can also enable alerts to be displayed before the end of the monthly traffic allowance. In addition, a connection time limit is available, but it is no longer used by the vast majority of modern Internet providers.

To change the network addressing, select the menu item "Settings -> LAN settings". Here you can change the name of the router and its IP address. Do not forget that after changing the IP, you must use the new address to access the web interface further. The item "Use the router as a DHCP server" is responsible for automatically assigning IP addresses to various clients. You can set the address range yourself by entering the start and end IP address. If you need to set up manual addressing, be sure to add the MAC addresses of all devices to the "Address Reservation" table and allocate your IPs for them. Devices that were not included in this table will not be able to interact with the network.

Advanced setup via Netgear Genie app

Another way to configure a Netgear router is the Genie utility. It comes on a disk bundled with the router, but the best solution is to download latest version from the manufacturer's website. The size of the installation file is about 45 MB because, in addition to standard features settings, the application provides tools for network properties and diagnostics.

Run the program after installing it. The download window will be displayed, and at this time the initial connection parameters will be determined.

The interface of the Netgear Genie program looks about the same as the control panel of the router. But at the same time, the utility has a number of useful functions that are not available through the admin panel. At the bottom of the window there is a banner with a link to the iOS and Android versions of the application. Although their functionality is smaller, they are more convenient than the web interface of the router when used from a smartphone.

New generation routers are becoming more complex in design, while becoming easier to use and configure, so an article on how to configure a NETGEAR router using the NETGEAR N300 model as an example will be useful to many. Today, even an ordinary user is able to create a wired or radio connection to the Internet, having a step-by-step algorithm of actions in his hands.

Device preparation

To start connecting the n300 router to the Internet, you need to perform a number of preliminary operations:

• Connect the power supply to the rear panel and turn on the device;
• Plug in the WAN cable and connect the PC with the second patch cable (plugged into one of the five dedicated ports);
• Press the power button, which this model has moved to the front panel.

After these manipulations, the indicator lights should indicate that the device is turned on in one of the ports and the network cord is connected to the router, which means: you can proceed to the software setup.

It begins with setting automatic receipt of IP and DNS addresses by the router. To do this, we need to get into the settings panel of the wired and wireless network adapter. The algorithm for Windows 7 and 8 is as follows:

• Cry right click mouse on the network connection icon in the right corner of the monitor;
• Open the Control Center and in the side menu select the settings for the adapter;
• Right click - properties of the current cable connection;
• In the window that opens, look for the line of settings for the fourth version of the Internet protocol, open the properties (by clicking on the button a little lower);
• The settings selectors for both items in the new window must be set to auto fetch;
• We save the settings, close the open windows.

Modem setup

To get into the area of ​​​​the web configurator of the router and connect to the Internet, you need to enter the following ip in the address bar of any browser - 192.168.1.1

To enter the settings, open the browser, and enter the address: HTTP://192.168.1.1

Then, in the form that appears, enter the login “admin” and the password “password”. We click on Ok and we get into the main settings menu. A feature of the Netgear n300 model is that the instructions for setting up the connection will differ for different Internet providers. And the first difference is the presence of a dynamic or static IP.

If your provider (and most of them) works with dynamic ip-addresses (that is, you are assigned a new address for each new session), then the setup should be as follows:

• In the menu on the left, select the Internet item;
• We refuse to enter information when connecting to the Internet;
• We do not specify anything in the account name and domain name;
• Specify automatic receipt ip-addresses and DNS servers;
• In the event that the provider does not work with binding to MAC addresses, leave this settings item with the default value and set the “address of this PC” otherwise;
• Save the changes and check if the connection works.

If your provider uses a connection using the PPPoE protocol, for example, as with Rostelecom or DOM.RU, the setting is as follows:

• Open the Internet menu item;
• In the first selector, set the value to "Yes";
• Next, select the connection type "PPPoE";
• Below we indicate the authorization data that the provider provided us in the contract;
• The network connection mode must be permanent, therefore "Always on";
• As well as in the previous case, we select the automatic installation of addresses;
• If your provider is Dom.ru (it uses binding to MAC addresses), set the selector to use your computer address in the last settings item;
• We save the results, open any site for verification.

If your provider uses an L2TP connection, as is the case if your operator is Beeline, the instruction above will change to the following:

• Instead of PPoE, select the connection type for your router - L2TP;
• Manually enter the address of the Internet provider's server (for Beeline, this is tp.internet.beeline.ru).

For the rest, we use the same settings (without reference to the MAC address of your device). We check the automatic receipt of the IP and save the changes. After that, the wired network of the Netgear n300 router should work.

WiFi setup

In order to connect wifi network on the n300 model, do the following:

• Open the item from the menu on the left "Wi-Fi network";
• A new window opens: in the line with the name, set the name for your wireless connection;
• Channel selection can be left automatic, or you can set eigenvalue if there are many other wireless networks around;
• The connection mode must pass up to 300 Mbps;
• In the security settings, select the last selector (the most advanced type of encryption);
• In the area for specifying the password, enter our key, which should contain numbers and letters (preferably in a different case);
• We apply the changes and try to enter any website via wifi.

How to update the firmware?

So that in the future the router can be connected to the Internet without problems, you need to install the latest version of the software, that is, reflash the device. This is done in several stages:

• The first step is to enter the official website of the manufacturer and download the latest firmware version, for example jwnr2000v2;
• We disconnect the Internet cable of the device, but leave the one that connects it to the computer;
• We enter the device settings menu, click on the firmware number in the page header;
• Select the update file on the computer by clicking on the Browse button;
• Download, wait until the router reboots and we can go back to the settings;
• Download the configuration file from the official site or from the disk;
• We select the item "Manage settings" in the menu of the router, then - "Restore settings";
• We download the necessary file from the computer and wait for its installation.

After that, try to go to the settings page again, and then insert the WAN cable (Internet) and enter any site. If everything works, congratulations! You managed to connect the Internet to the Netgear router yourself.

If something went wrong, you can return the settings to the factory settings. To do this, there is a Reset button on the back of the device, holding which you need to wait 10-15 seconds. After we release and wait until the n300 starts up. After that, you can try again to set up the Internet and update the firmware.

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