NetGear Wireless Router Review

The nice gentleman at Staples led me to the wireless routers, handed me the white box and told me "This is all you will need". Having looked up prices online, and knowing that the prices for wireless routers ranged from $30 up to over $200 I was a bit skeptical on accepting this package from the customer sales rep. "Is this the cheapest one you have?" I asked, hoping he'd take the hint I couldn't afford much.

"Honestly, no. We do have one that is $39.99, but this one is only $45 and it's worth the extra $5." Again, he repeated that this was everything I would need, so I was a bit taken aback that a sales person had chosen this wireless router to recommend and not one of the more expensive ones. So, I bought it and took it home.

Now hooking the NetGear G Wireless Router up to my desktop was much easier than I had thought it would be. The installation disc checks your current internet connection and then provides simple, easy to follow instructions for connecting everything. I was using a DSL modem, and was given step by step instructions for connecting the cables.

I did however find a problem with the laptop computer afterwards. The desktop was working just fine, and the laptop was finally reading a wireless signal but it would not connect to it. After an hour of trying to solve the problem myself, I finally caved and called the 1-800 number to have technical support help me. The receipt sat next to the box, ready to go back if this did not work.

The technical support assistant knew much more than I did, and was able to help me reconfigure everything that needed to be done and in no time I was able to connect to the wireless signal using the laptop. Now, the most important thing about this router would be how strong the signal is.

To paint you a picture, I live in a single wide mobile home. It's certainly not large, although I don't have exact measurements. The wireless router, and the desktop computer, are in a small office at the beginning of the hallway. Right next to the office is a kitchen and on the other side of that is the living room. The lap top can not connect in the living room.

According to the tech support agent, this is because there is a microwave and a cordless phone... both of which can cause interferance. So, my next example is my bedroom. Directly across the hall, which only one person can fit through at a time, is my bedroom. Again, the lap top can not connect in my bedroom. Now I do not have a Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter, which is supposed to increase signal strength and distance. With the NetGear Wireless Router, coverage is extended to 100 feet if you are using the adapter.

Without the adapter, the lap top does connect with a 'good' signal (3 out of 4 bars) if it is sitting on the filing cabinet in the closet sized office... less than 2 feet away from the router.

The verdict? Well, this has covered everything I need because I just needed to access the internet with the lap top computer, and I can. I won't even invest any money into the Wireless USB adaptor, because I am fine with not being able to use the lap top in any room but the office. However, it is important for anyone else considering the NetGear wireless router to be aware that if I have this problem in my tiny little trailer... you may want to consider another router or at least adding the adaptor if you need more mobility in your home.