Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router (F5D8232-4)

Belkin's N1 Vision enables you to view Internet download activity as well as manage some security features via the LCD screen (click to see larger image).

You can view both download and upload activity, current and 24-hour activity for PCs accessing the network, or just display the current time.

The N1 Vision offers easy plug-and-play setup, for the most part. Configuration is done either by the software from the included disc, or going through your Web browser (by typing in "routersetup" into the address field). It can configure your Internet settings from a range of embedded ISPs, and we selected Comcast. However, we weren't able to automatically connect and had to do the unplugging dance--first the modem, then the router, then restart each one. After we were up and running, we made sure to select security settings (which, largely, can only be done via these two methods).

Featuring one of the best looking router designs around, the N1 Vision's main claim to fame is its monochrome LCD and push-button navigation for accessing stats as well as some control over security. The inital screen provides an overview of all functions--including detected Internet connection, whether wired or wireless computers are using the network, and if security is turned on. Pressing the left/right buttons on the navigation pad gets you to more granular info screens, showing upload/download activity in speedometer format, current speeds, connected users, and date/time. We caught ourselves staring at the speedometer quite a bit, but happily discovered you can set the screen to turn off after two minutes of inactivity (which helped return our focus). On the downside, there's no view of throughput between PCs on a network--you just get Internet upload and download activity. And we found that the navigation buttons were frustrating to operate (they require a hefty press). Also note that the N1 doesn't come with a USB port for connecting a NAS hard drive or printer.

As far as speeds, the N1 Vision compared closely to our Apple Airport Extreme--both of which reside in the middle range of throughput for 802.11n routers--and we were pleased with both its reliability and overall performance in downloading large multimedia files quickly and efficiently. Over Wi-Fi, we downloaded an 80 MB QuickTime file from MySpace in just a little over 2 minutes (an average of 633 KB per second, or about 5 Mbps). In PC to PC transfers, a 200 MB file was transferred in an average of 32 seconds over Wi-Fi (6.25 MB per second, or 50 Mbps) while it took only 8 seconds via Ethernet thanks to the router's Gigabit speed. Because of its draft-N capabilities, the N1 Vision provides excellent Wi-Fi range, and we seamlessly streamed 128K MP3 Internet radio without it rebuffering up to half a block from our home (over 200 feet).

Comparing the N1 Vision to our Airport Express, both had similiar Internet download speeds and the Belkin easily bested the Non-Gigabit Apple router in the wired Ethernet PC-to-PC test. However, the Airport Express did a better job with intra-network transfers over Wi-Fi by about 20 percent.

Aside from the screen and the speed, the N1 Vision also offers some interesting security features. In addition to standard WEP and WPA (the latter being the more secure), the N1 lets you to set up separate service set identifier, or SSID, which basically enables you to set up guest access to a Wi-Fi connection without allowing access to other areas of your network. It's easily accomplished via the N1's LCD menus, which creates a second Wi-Fi connection called "guest" and provides a passkey that can be shared--all the while continuing to provide your main Wi-Fi network.

While the LCD screen is one of the big selling points of the N1 Vision, the router loses a bit of its wow factor when the LCD is programmed to turn off when not active. But it was helpful to have to check when Internet download speeds seemed clogged. And overall, the N1 Vision provided sturdy (though not at the top of its 802.11n class) Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet speeds as well as a broad coverage range. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Steady, sturdy Draft-N Wi-Fi and Gigabit networking
• Excellent Wi-Fi coverage--strong signal easily reaches up to 200 feet
• Handy LCD screen provides quick view of activity
• Guest feature offers wireless access partitioned away from main network

Cons:

• Wi-Fi speed is in the middle range for 802.11n routers
• No USB port for connecting hard drives or printers
• Navigation buttons were frustratingly hard to press
• No LCD view of PC-to-PC network activity--only Internet download/upload

What's in the Box
N1 Vision router, AC adapter, RJ45 Ethernet cable, QuickStart guide, CD with manual and set-up software

A sleek, revolutionary design with an innovative network display. View larger.

View your network's upload and download speeds.

Quickly check the status of your networking devices.

Instantly reveal computers accessing your network.

Stay on top of network problems.

True Plug-and-Play Ease and Easy-to-Read Info
With the N1 Vision, you can kiss those long and arduous days of configuring your router goodbye. The N1 Vision offers a true plug-and-play "CD-less" installation and simple network security set-up. No confusing manuals to follow, no endless CD wizards. Simply plug the router in, follow the on-screen commands, and you'll be connected in no time.

Once your computers are online, its time for the N1 Vision to shine. Instead of the uninformative and confusing blinking lights that you've struggled to decipher all these years, the N1 has an easy-to-read LCD display that tracks your upstream and downstream speeds; logs your bandwidth; displays date, time, and network access info; and also shows you what devices are connected and how much bandwidth each one is using. Do you suspect that your child is spending his or her "homework time" downloading videos? Or that one of your roommates is eating up all your bandwidth? The N1 knows--and shows--all. The monochrome display offers a virtual "Download and Upload Speedometer" that gives you all the information you need.

802.11n: The Latest in Wi-Fi Performance
Featuring Wireless-N, the very latest standard in wireless networking technology, the N1 Vision will vastly increase both your network speed and your operating range. At the heart of this router is a high-performance, draft 2.0, 802.11n chipset with 3x3 MIMO, which achieves its superior capabilities by simultaneously overlaying the signals of multiple radios. This "Multiple In, Multiple Out" (MIMO) technology multiplies the effective data rate, and unlike ordinary wireless networking technologies that are confused by signal reflections, MIMO actually uses these reflections to increase the range and reduce "dead spots" in the wireless coverage area. The signal travels farther, maintaining wireless connections up to four times farther than the previous standard Wireless-G.

The bottom line: Under ideal conditions the N1 Vision can give you link rates of up to 300 Mbps (compared to previous rates of 54 Mbps), and an operating range of up to 1,600 feet. And you don't have to fret about your existing wireless devices; the N1 is compatible with IEEE 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.3ab devices, which means you don't have to upgrade the rest of your hardware. (While the router will work great with standard Wireless-G and -B equipment, it will perform at its peak with other Wireless-N devices.)

The N1 Vision also features four gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as the latest in security standards, including Wi-Fi Protected Setup, WPA, WPA2, 64-/128-bit WEP encryption, and multiple SSID. Compatible with any PC running Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, and Macs running OS X v10.4x, the N1 Vision is designed to set the new standard in wireless home networking.