Thread: Zyxel NBG-334SH Wireless routers

THE ZYXEL NBG-334SH was an interesting router. It came with a high power antenna, and this really made a huge difference in the coverage tests. It also was the most expensive 802.11G router of the lot, and the Web-interface isn't exactly a thing of beauty. The antenna is the most noticeable feature of the router; the rest of it is a fairly standard grey box.

The web-interface can be a little confusing for first time users. On the bright side, it was the only router to force you to change the password at first boot. This aside, the interface is best used by people who know their way around a wireless router. The documentation comes to the rescue in most places, but we feel that Zyxel could make the interface a little easier to use.



The performance tests sllowed the power ofthe antenna-the Zyxel was easily the fastest of the lot at the greatest distance. At forty feet, with four walls in between, we were able to get 4 Mbps, and an excellent signal. Latency was very low as well, and while all the other routers had problems to some degree at this distance, the Zyxel might as well have been fifteen feet away. In fact, we ran out of building before the Zyxel ran out of Signal. This excellent coverage comes at a pretty high price, but if you want to cover a large area with wireless coverage, it will come down to buying two normal routers, or one of these. At shorter distances, it managed to get a maximum through- put of 13 Mbps, which was the highest result we saw.

This router may be overkill for most home users, and the high price dropped it
down the rankings. However, we would strongly recommend this router for offices, hotels, or larger houses. In such a situation, this router will become cost effective, since a fewer number will cover a much greater area.