The WRT610N: Who Needs Starbucks? I Have My Own Wireless Network, with Cheaper Drinks

Author's Rating:

Pros: Relatively easy set up, reliable performance

Cons: Haven't experienced problems, so hard to identify one at this point

The Bottom Line: 

For a first-timer, non-expert, the WRT610N made it fairly simple to set up a home network that meets my needs.

Author's Review
If I may begin with a bit of a caveat, I am not, repeat n-o-t a "computer guy."  I use e-mail, know my way around Microsoft Office and generally can run what's already set up, but I don't understand "geek speak" (and I mean that term with the highest esteem).  I'm not the person to ask with detailed technical questions.  I'm the kind of person the people you do ask detailed technical questions to laugh at. 

Why do I feel the need to specify all that?  Because I'm going to explain my experience with the Linksys WRT610N from the vantage point of someone who is not an expert.  That means I probably can't talk in acronyms and provide the kind of review <i>PC World</i> readers would be looking for. If that describes what you're seeking, then my apologies, but reading any further would be an even bigger waste of your time. 

So, with that preface out of the way....

A few months back our "old" PC's hard drive bit the dust.  Frustrating to be sure, but thanks to the Best Buy Geek Squad, the most precious content-hundreds of photos-were rescued.  We decided to purchase a whole new computer rather than replace the hard drive in the old one, considering its age. 

Scratch that.

We decided to purchase two computers.  One, a desktop to replace the dead one, and a laptop that could allow both my wife and I to be online at the same time, or just to have the flexibility to be online somewhere else in the house. 

That idea, of course, required a home network.  I researched the basics of what I needed to purchase and set up, and after much reading, felt like I could set up a basic network without ulcer-inducing stress.  In fact, I'd looked at the idea in the past, since I sometimes need to use my work-issued laptop to access network-based files from home, a process that tediously involved switching the cable in our modem and booting the modem each time, not to mention the incredibly tedious process of just getting on to my work network (a different story entirely, one not solved by a home network).  Honestly, though, I didn't feel like trying to set  up a network with the machine already in its cabinet.  But having to connect a new system from scratch meant it was a good a time as any to take the plunge.

Researching the widely available brands, I found as many positive comments as negative ones about nearly every manufacturer and model I looked into.  Had there been one model that earned across-the-board high marks, it might have made the decision-making process easier.  But nothing can be quite so simple. 

Finally faced with the in-store purchasing decision, I talked to the sales associate and settled on the WRT610N.  (There were comparable routers by other manufacturers in stock; Linksys happened to be on sale and given the lack of consensus about any one brand far surpassing the others, economics was a factor.)  As it was explained to me, the range was good for my needs, probably far exceeding them since I live in a small house...but what's to say I won't someday own a hammock and want to do some e-mailing from the back yard?  The WRT610N seemed to offer me most current features that, even if I don't understand/utilize them at this point, I had the option to do so moving forward.

Set-Up
Setting up the WRT610N was fairly simple.  The supplied CD provided step-by-step instructions for getting everything up and running.  The process took me about 30 minutes (and I don't count misreading one step and the resulting time to correct it in that total...user error isn't product error). 

There are four Ethernet ports on the WR610N, allowing for hard-wired network equipment.  I have the main desktop PC connected as well as our network-supported printer.  At this point, I don't anticipate a need for two more hard-wired items, but it's good to know they're available.

The WRT610N's instructions advise placing the router as close to the center of the house as possible.  I can't imagine this is easy for everyone

Once I could "see" the network running (and had set up Vista accordingly), and established my network passcode, I crossed my fingers and tried to connect the new laptop.  To my amazement, it worked flawlessly.  Likewise, my iPod Touch, which I used to more easily test the signal through my house.  I found no dead spots or noticeable issues with connectivity anywhere in my house that I tried, even in our dungeon of a basement (heaven help me if I ever need to use the Web there).

I did have a problem establishing a connection to my work network via my laptop, but that appeared to have been a VPN issue, as once I made an adjustment on that computer, I've had no issues since.

The "Dual Band" capability of the WRT610N allows for multiple networked devices to be connected on different frequencies simultaneously, allegedly meaning they won't be in conflict and degrading each others' performance.  I have not gone down that road, as the rare occasions when the home and work laptop are being used at the same time hasn't yielded any issues that I can notice.

Performance
So far, so good.  Not an issue that I've found, using one laptop or another in almost every area of the house.  I can watch streaming video just fine in an upstairs bedroom, roughly at the opposite diagonal end of the house from the router, have accessed an intranet via my work laptop without noticeable changes from being logged into the network in my office, and have been able to print via the router with no issues.  My naïve hope is that the first four months of use is a barometer for future performance (I know it isn't, but I like living in a delusional bubble sometimes).

Design
I admit it, I did like the design of the WRT610N.  Although it sits atop a nearly ceiling- high computer desk and isn't in plain sight to anyone other than an NBA center, I preferred the low profile design without the "mini satellite dish" that some units had.  Purely aesthetic, and subjective.  It does have a sleek finish with rounded edges that gives it a very modern look yet doesn't stand out from other equipment.

Final Verdict
For my basic needs (I'm not a gamer, web designer, publisher, etc.), the WRT610N more than meets my needs.  It was easy for a first-timer to set up (though if you're not even vaguely familiar with the concept of home networking, probably not so much), and has delivered reliable-hassle-free-performance.