SMC SMCWGBR14-N Router Review

SMC is one of the fewer known companies that makes wireless devices. SMC SMCWGBR14-N is a draft N wireless router that has impressive range and decent performance. It comes at an affordable price and is aimed at home users.

SMC SMCWGBR14-N router specifications :

• Dimensions : 6.5″ x 5.9″ x 1″
• Weight : 12.3 oz
• Connectivity : Wired, Wireless
• Data transfer rate : 300mbps
• Frequency band : 2.4 GHz
• Antenna Qty : Three
• Encryption : 128-bit WEP,64-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK
• Power adapter : External
• Approx. price : $150

The design of the router seems ancient but it does the job effectively and provides a good range. It has a decent set of features. It works on the 2.4GHz frequency band and does not support the 5GHz frequency band.It also has a USB port for connecting USB devices and also offers a Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

The package contents are ordinary and only essential stuff comes bundled with the router which includes the power adapter, manual, CD and a Ethernet cable. The installation of the router is very simple and completes in flat four-steps flat.

The router has three external antennas which are responsible for the great range of the router. The front has various status LEDs and the USB port. The USB port is used for adding printers to the Wi-Fi network. Other USB devices are not supported. The back portion houses all the Ethernet ports as well as power adapter port.

The router can be controlled via web interface which is easy to use. Most changes do not require a restart. The interface is intuitive, responsive and fast which isn’t the case with most routers.

The performance of the router is its strongest point. It manages 84mbps on short range data throughput test and 52mbps in mixed mode test where both 802.11g and 802.11n devices are connected to the router. It has an impressive range of 300 feet which is greater than what is offered by other routers in the same category.

The SMC router comes with a generous lifetime warranty but with a catch! The warranty is valid until a newer version of the product is launched by the company. While this might benefit early adopters of the product, late buyers will suffer. Overall a good product to invest in for a home user.

Pros :

• Long range
• Good throughput
• USB port for printer
• Intuitive web interface
• Supports WPS

Cons :

• No 5.0 GHz frequency support

Final Thoughts

The SMC SMCWGBR14-N router is an excellent offering directed towards home users. It has great performance and has a long range. No support for 5.0 GHz frequency band is probably its only drawback which might not concern most home users. There are very few routers which offer better features and performance at this price.

My Rating : 4/5