A couple of weeks ago we mentioned that Cisco were all set to launch their latest addition to their range of wireless routers, in the shape of the Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N ADSL 2+ Modem Gigabit Router (WAG320N).
This very cool looking router boasts dual wireless-N radio bands, (to allow you to select between 2.4 and 5 GHz bands for least interference), 4 ports offering Gigabit network speeds, QoS prioritisation for specific applications, choice of security protocols including WEP, WPA Personal or Enterprise, WPA2 Personal, Enterprise, or Mixed, or RADIUS, parental controls and easy set-up at a push of a button, thanks to Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
Also in the box, you’ll find a Storage Link port that will connect any USB 2.0 hard drive to your network – a built-in uPnP media server will play back music stored on the drive to any compatible network media player.
Our friends at Cisco sent one over to us for review – we’ll be taking a look at the router next week, so feel free to send through your questions in advance of the review, and we’ll try to cover as many of them as possible.
In the meantime, here’s the newbie, unboxed!
More Info: Cisco
24. November 2009 at 8:21 am
The biggest weakness of this Cisco/Linksys design has been the wireless signal strength, particularly through household walls. If I had one review request it would be a thorough test of the device's signal capabilities.
29. November 2009 at 7:57 am
Seconded. I bought a Linksys WAG160N last year but ended up exchanging it for a Belkin (honestly) because the Belkin had hugely superior signal strength, at least in my situation with two walls in the way.
24. November 2009 at 7:30 am
I think this is a 3×3 design so do the max bandwidth tests with a 3×3 laptop .. most are 2×2 designs.
[It tends to be topish end laptops with card like the Intel 5300 - I upgraded my Vaio TZ and get 11-12MB (that's megabytes, not megabits) a second from an apple airport (N at 5GHz)]
Also be cheeky and pretend you’re in Ireland / France so you can benchmark it with 40MHz bandwidth not the 20MHz we’re stuck with in the UK …
24. November 2009 at 2:05 pm
I'd love an ID10T guide to getting it to work with WHS and remote connections. I currently have a separate ADSL modem and WLAN router and WHS has never been accessible remotely even after applying all the port forwarding etc.
If it's simple I'll get one!!!
24. November 2009 at 3:10 pm
when, where, and how much will it be available?
GW
24. November 2009 at 5:57 pm
Any plans for a cable edition? or is this the same thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WRT610N-Dual-Band...
24. November 2009 at 10:49 pm
I just got this router, only problem I seem to have is not getting a connection of over 140 with the N Wireless.
25. November 2009 at 4:02 pm
this would be perfect!
25. November 2009 at 3:06 pm
I purchased a wag320N on 23/11/09
Not that impressed by the wireless signal strength – expect it to be better than my 2003 D-Link but it was not
Also the USB hard Drive I have set up as the media player – keeps dropping offline, this would normally be solvd by a firmware upgrade – but as this is so new I have the latest software.
When the USB drops off and removed, you have to power the device on/off to get it to see the drive again….
25. November 2009 at 7:12 pm
It may be that when the USB hard drive goes into power saving mode, the router doesn't have a way to signal for it to wake up. The original Seagate Freeagents had this problem when connected to *nix boxes. A firmware update on the Hard Drive may solve the problem.
26. November 2009 at 1:22 am
Will this be available in the US or is it already?
26. November 2009 at 6:49 pm
In concert with Rob H's question would you be able to conduct an open-air test that lists throughput vs distance between the laptop and the router please? Testing through walls is very important but unscientific since each of our homes and offices have different wall designs an open air test might give us a basline to use to understand the transmitter-receiver characteristics. Thanks.
28. November 2009 at 8:24 pm
Is this model as the same restriction like all the Lynksys line ?
I'm talking about the restriction tu only forward 10 custom port and 5 defined port ?
Because i use a WRT160N and it's like this ! i have a lot of machine with a need to access them from the Wan so it's a very big problem !
It's not in the netgear product where they are unlimited port forward line.
Thanks for the answer
30. November 2009 at 8:53 am
I purchased a WAG320N but habe not been that impressed by the wireless signal strength either – expected it to be better than my WRT540G but is only just the same (or worse).
Also, WHS did autoconfigure it but when accessing xxxx.homeserver.com it just goes to my router config logon page and not the WHS. Any ideas?
3. December 2009 at 12:55 pm
There is a big price difference between WRT610N and WAG320N. I would expect the WAG320N to be more expensive than the WRT610N because of DSL feature. And I am surprised to see WRT 610n more expensive. What then makes the difference (beside the DSL feature) ? Thanks!
3. December 2009 at 3:56 pm
I have an old Netgear DG834G wireless ADSL router, it has all the firmware updates and works ok but I'm wondering whether I would gain anything from swapping it for the WAG320N. The wireless should improve but will a new ADSL router make any difference to throughput and without changing my network cards will the Gigabit ports also make any difference?
15. December 2009 at 11:47 am
Hi, could you test if it does WOL over the internet ? I want my computer to wake up when I need to access it, and not be on all the time (environmental and economic issues
)
15. January 2010 at 1:58 am
So wheres the review?? Its been 7 weeks!