Nov 10, 2013 12:10 AM
6744 Views
(Updated Nov 10, 2013 12:13 AM)
I was on the lookout for a budget friendly WiFi router for quite some time now. Keeping a strict look on my pocket, I decided to shortlist the possible options.
I base lined the following criteria’s:
1.150Mbps or 300 Mbps: Given that there will be 1 Laptop, 2 Android devices and one printer that will be always connected to Wifi at my home, data transfer speed should be premium. Hence decided to go for the 300Mbps Router where data speeds will be more compared to the former.
2.Brand: The common and most popular brands available in the market are Netgear, Cisco, Siemens, D-Link and Belkin. Brands like Cisco and Belkin were overpriced and out of my budget hence decided to look at other options. Reviews pertaining to D-Link were mostly negative whereas Netgear had mixed opinions. One fine day, my eye caught sight of the TP Link 300N Router and Flipkart was offering a good discount for this piece. I carefully went through the reviews and decided that this would be a safe bet. Called a few gizmo friends of mine and they gave a green signal to go ahead with the purchase.
Purchase
I went ahead with the purchase from Flipkart @ INR 1550. The router was delivered within the stipulated delivery date. The packing was neatly done and it looked bigger from outside( * puts a grin on your face) .
Setup and installation - 4/5
Within minutes of the parcel arriving at my doorstep, I set sail to undo the packing and trying to configure it. I quickly went through the installation process as given in the manual. Setup took around 10 minutes. Even a novice can configure this thing blindly.( * I like it when manufacturers make UI’s simple and easy to operate. Kudos!)
Design and Build - 3.5/5
Frankly, the picture as portrayed in Flipkart was deceiving where it looked more of plastic and cheap! On opening the package, I was a bit taken aback – I did not expect this thing to look good in the first place. The quality of material used is fine if not premium! The black border mated with the white background of the router looks charming. The build is solid with two un-detachable antennas. The router is portable and does not eat up much space.
Performance – 4.5/5
I connected the router to my existing Cable Ethernet Connection. I was expecting a decrease in the download speed but gladly there was no decrease in the download/upload speed. I had tested the router by connecting up to 4 devices and it worked like a charm! The range is good too. I have a three floored house with 1600 sq feet for each floor. The router is housed in the first floor and I receive signals from both the ground floor and top floor.
Value for Money – 5/5
Sure is! * I got this router at INR 1550. There are routers of similar configurations which are priced at 3K and above. For me, this router is serving all my needs and is a good pick! Pick your poison.:)
