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Review: 802.11n Wi-Fi Routers: Page 7 of 11

Although I had problems with the menu system, the Dir-655 performed extremely well and almost matched the Buffalo G300N. At a distance of 10 feet, the measured throughput speeds over a dedicated N-network reached 120 Mbps, but at distances of 50 feet and 200 feet, that figure declined to 95 Mbps and 35 Mbps, respectively.

On a mixed network, the Dir-655 actually performed better than the Buffalo G300N, with measured speeds at 10 feet of 77 Mbps.

I was quite impressed with the range of the Dir-655, which almost matched the Buffalo G300N as well. All told, the router was able to carry a signal 130 feet past the back corner of my home -- a slight 20 feet less than the G300N.

The D-Link Dir-655 is a great router that performs extremely well in both dedicated N- and mixed networks. In fact, the Dir-655 is the best router I tested on mixed networks. That said, the high $170 price tag and complicated menu customization screens should be taken into consideration.

Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router
(click image to see larger view)
Cisco Systems, Inc.

Price: $145-$199
The Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router accepts printers and storage devices that can be used by any networked computer.

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The Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WRT350N) is a competent router that works well, but doesn't stand out in any way.

Much like every other Linksys router, the setup was quick and efficient. In a matter of minutes, the WRT350N was up and running. The router comes with a disc that can be used to set it up and install necessary drivers, but most people can leave that in the box and go it alone.