Features Comparison: Netgear Zooms Ahead

Features Comparison: Netgear Zooms Ahead (chart)

Wireless networking kit	Rank			Inventory number	Bullet	Bullet	Bullet	PCW Bullet	PCW Bullet	PCW Bullet	Comments
18882	1	Best Buy	Netgear WGR614 router	22653	WG511 PC Card, WG311 PCI card	802.11g	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	WPA security pending firmware upgrade	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $255	Netgear's 11g kit takes top honors for great performance, an intuitive interface, and bulletproof reliability in our tests. Pending WPA capability and full Wi-Fi certification will complete the picture.
18885	2		Linksys Wireless-G WRT54G router	22643	WPC54G PC Card, WMP54G PCI card	802.11g	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	WPA security, Wi-Fi certified	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $255	Though only a middling performer, this Linksys kit gets kudos for being one of the few products certified for 802.11g and WPA compatibility at the time of our review.
18888	3		Belkin F5D7230-4 router	22645	F5D7010 PC Card, F5D7000 PCI card	802.11g	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	WPA security	Lifetime warranty	Kit price when ranked: $270	Solid kit's components come with handy installation CDs and generous printed documentation. But reader reports about Belkin's reliability give us pause.
18891	4		Buffalo Technology AirStation WBR-G54 router	22649	WLI-CB-G54A PC Card, WLI-PCI-G54 PCI card	802.11g	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	WPA security, Wi-Fi certified	Two-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $250	Good performer with full Wi-Fi certification is hindered by weak documentation and confusing configuration screens, though that shouldn't be a problem for advanced users.
18894	5		D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DI-624 router	22659	DWL-G650 PC Card, DWL-G520 PCI card	802.11g	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	WPA security	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $245	Merely an adequate performer among the 11g kits, this router has slightly confusing configuration pages, but context-sensitive help menus make tasks easier. The router and PC Card support WPA.
18897	6		U.S. Robotics Wireless Turbo USR8054 router	22666	USR5410 PC Card, USR5416 PCI card	802.11g	64-, 128-, and 256-bit WEP encryption	WPA security pending firmware upgrade	Two-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $260	A good choice for geeks, the U.S. Robotics kit offers great performance thanks to proprietary speed enhancement, but it provides little hand-holding.
18900	7		D-Link AirPlus DI-714P+ router	22546	DWL-650+ PC Card, DWL-520+ PCI card, DWL-120+ USB adapter	802.11b	64-, 128-, and 256-bit WEP encryption	WPA security pending firmware upgrade	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $245	Proprietary technology provides above-average performance for an 802.11b kit. The router's print server with parallel port is a nice extra.
18903	8		Netgear MR814 router	22499	MA401 PC Card, MA311 PCI card, MA111 USB adapter	802.11b	64- and 128-bit WEP encryption	No WPA security	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $245	Basic 11b kit has a good interface and comes at a bargain price. You should upgrade the firmware to at least version 4.13 to keep the router from launching accidental attacks on Internet time servers.
18906	9		Linksys Wireless A+G WRT55AG router	22664	WPC55AG PC Card, WMP55AG PCI card	802.11a and 802.11g	64-, 128-, and 152-bit WEP encryption	WPA security pending firmware upgrade	Three-year warranty	Kit price when ranked: $206	In addition to offering Linksys's clear install wizard and configuration screens, this kit supports all Wi-Fi standards--but its doing so adds substantially to the price.

New 802.11g networking products provide higher data throughput and better security while remaining compatible with the earlier 802.11b standard. Our tests of nine wireless kits--each a bundle of a company's router and cards--confirmed their ability to send data through open space at impressive rates. But vendors still must overcome tenacious glitches afflicting product reliability, equipment setup, and customer support. To learn more about our findings, and about the various benefits and drawbacks of Wi-Fi, see "Warp-Speed Wireless."