First Looks
The ASUS RT-N13U is a thin, white book-like device which is meant to stand vertically. Its base does not permit it to lay flat. A silver bezel is underneath a transparent cover which lines the top and front of the device. LEDs on the front show LAN, WAN, WLAN, and power status. The top bears the name of the product in solid black lettering.
There are five Ethernet ports on the rear of the RT-N13U. Four are yellow, meaning that they are LAN ports, while the other is blue, meaning it’s a WAN port. The power cord port is at the bottom of the device, while the USB port is above the Ethernet ports.
One of the more interesting features of the RT-N13U is its easily-switched mode setting. A hardware switch on the bottom of the unit can switch the RT-N13U from router mode to repeater mode or AP mode. In router mode, the RT-N13U is connected to the WAN and coordinates all traffic with the WAN through itself. In repeater mode, the RT-N13U can repeat another wireless router’s signal in order to extend the range of the wireless network. In AP mode, the RT-N13U is connected via its WAN port to another router, but simply coordinates traffic for the wireless devices accessing the network.
The RT-N13U is the kind of networking device which offers an aesthetic not often found in networking products. It can easily be hidden away on a bookshelf in between books or in another inconspicuous yet effective location.
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