LINKSYS Wireless N Home Router (WRT120N) - not what the name implies!

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MrAndreas

62 posts

Master Geek

#71810 17-Nov-2010 12:58

Beware of "LINKSYS Wireless N Home Router" (WRT120N) that companies are selling. It isn't what the name implies, i.e., it isn't a certified Fi-Wi N router even though the name would suggest it is. Yes, sure it exceeds Wi-Fi G speeds, but the box only has a Wi-Fi B and G certification logo on it so it isn't guaranteed to work with other Wi-Fi N equipment and even then it won't give you true Wi-Fi N speeds.

The main point I'm trying to make is that, if a router doesn't have the Wi-Fi N certified logo, then it really shouldn't be implied to be a Wi-Fi N router. In my opinion Cisco are purposely deceiving customers by their choice of name. I would think New Zealand has laws against such practices.

Note also that this router is just an ADSL router and not an ADSL2+ router.

[Mod (LC): moved to correct forum]

Nety

2584 posts

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Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#405876 17-Nov-2010 13:20

Interesting read.. I did not realise there was this issue with N devices that are not really N.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-features/30882-three-things-you-should-know-about-t...

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Ragnor

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#405928 17-Nov-2010 15:03

MrAndreas: Beware of "LINKSYS Wireless N Home Router" (WRT120N) that companies are selling. It isn't what the name implies, i.e., it isn't a certified Fi-Wi N router even though the name would suggest it is. Yes, sure it exceeds Wi-Fi G speeds, but the box only has a Wi-Fi B and G certification logo on it so it isn't guaranteed to work with other Wi-Fi N equipment and even then it won't give you true Wi-Fi N speeds.

The main point I'm trying to make is that, if a router doesn't have the Wi-Fi N certified logo, then it really shouldn't be implied to be a Wi-Fi N router. In my opinion Cisco are purposely deceiving customers by their choice of name. I would think New Zealand has laws against such practices.

The specifications say: "Complies with IEEE 802.11g and 802.11b standards, and compatible with some IEEE 802.11n draft 2.0 features"

Sure the marketing of N is over the top for this model when it's single stream and not certified.

However, if you take all marketing at face value and never research what you buy you are going to run into this sort of issue a lot with lower end products that have implemented new features before they are standardised.

Yes you can probably return it (by arguing the marketing is misleading) under NZ law.

MrAndreas:

Note also that this router is just an ADSL router and not an ADSL2+ router.

The WRT range never contain DSL modems. If you wanted an all in one: modem/switch/wireless ap/router you should have been looking at the WAG range not the WRT.