ASUS RT-N15 Wireless Router Review

[ad#review981-top]ASUS is making a name for itself these days. Everyone knows about the ultrapopular EeePC netbooks, and ASUS has always been a top motherboard, video card, and sound card manufacturer. Let us not forget ASUS’s networking division and its excellent, inexpensive wireless routers. Our January 2007 review of the WL-500W was featured on the front page of Digg, and our March 2008 review of the WL-520GU had a lot of traffic, as well. ASUS submitted for review the RT-N15, a 300 Mbps 802.11n-capable unit featuring gigabit Ethernet, as well as green ports for power efficiency. ThinkComputers has the review.

Features & Specifications

– 802.11n draft 2.0 certified, fully compatible with 802.11b/g
– SuperSpeedN up to 300Mbps data rate, suitable for seamless multimedia stream
– Four Gigabit ports for faster local network data and audio/video files transmission
– EZConfig – WPS and WCN let any user setup secure Wi-Fi network within minutes
– EZQoS (Bandwidth-On-Demand) – Powerful and easily-operated BOD streamlines your Gaming/Audio/Video experience
– Standards IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11n Draft 2.0 Device Management Bandwidth Management: Allow multiple network activities (FTP, Game, P2P.) to work smoothly at the same time
– Smart Wizard browser-based administration
– Remote management
– Save/restore configuration files
– Upgrades via web browser
– Firmware restoration
– Device discovery
– DHCP server, WAN DHCP client Security 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, MAC address, 802.1x WPA/WPA2 WPA2 Ports 1 x 10/100/1000M WAN; 4 x 10/100/1000M LAN Data Rates Up to 300Mbps
– Frequency Band 2.4GHz – 2.5GHz
– Antenna 3 x PCB antenna
– Transmitted Power 15.5~16.5dBm(g mode), 15.8~19.5dBm(b mode), 15.8~19.5dBm(n mode) Interface Ethernet Port
– Wireless Adapter included No

Packaging

The box for the ASUS RT-N15 is the standard ASUS router box: lots and lots and lots of information about the product inside. On the front, stickers and icons denote the unit’s draft-N readiness, support for WiFi protected setup, gigabit Ethernet, Bandwidth-On-Demand QoS, and green networking.

The rear hits the main points of the unit: 802.11n, 300 Mbps data rate, four gigabit Ethernet ports, WPS/WCN, and QoS. Some graphics show layman users how the router can be used, but of the most interest to me is the blurb about green networking. More on that later in the review.


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Included in the package is the router, a power cord, an Ethernet cable, and some documentation.


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Interestingly, there is no UPC on the packaging. Not labeled for individual sale, I guess.

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