Review: Zyxel P-336M router

The world has gone potty about Pre-n and Draft-n wireless hardware but Zyxel is continuing to push 802.11g Mimo with its maximum speed of 108Mbits/sec as a cheaper alternative that also has far better compatibility than ‘n’ hardware.

The Zyxel P-336M router is based on Atheros silicon and gave such good results in our testing both in terms of transfer speed and connection distance that we prefer it to many of the Draft-n routers that we have seen in recent months.

We were able to transfer 100MB files from a laptop with integrated Intel wireless in 38 seconds at close range. This is par for the course; however the time only dropped to one minute, three seconds when we added two walls to the equation. Most Pre-n hardware simply refused to work in the same circumstances.

In addition to a decent connection the Zyxel has a couple of neat features. The first is a simple flick switch to enable and disable the wireless connection, just like the majority of laptops, which is much easier than messing around in the configuration screen.

The second bonus is a USB port that offers Microsoft Windows Connect Now, providing you are running Windows XP SP2. This allows you to securely configure the P-336M with a USB flash drive without any need to type in a Wep key. This is a real asset when you set up a new laptop or want to allow a visitor to have quick and easy access to the internet.

Then there’s the price. The P-336M router costs £73 and the matching M-102 PC card costs £52 however at the time of writing the stores are awash with bundled offers of a router and PC card for £93 which is an absolute bargain.

Also consider:
D-Link DSL-G624M
Super G won’t suit all environments, but the extended coverage is a real bonus

AVM Fritzbox Fon Wlan 7050 VoIP router
For a device that does so much, it’s very easy to set up. A great way to set up multiple phone extensions with individual internet telephone numbers

Linksys WTR54GS Travel Router
A handy device for business users who want the ability to set up a wireless network on the move

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