Wireless Reviews

Routing Performance

I ran the 14-N through our usual router tests and updated the table comparing it to the DIR-655 and TEW-633GR. The results in Table 1 again show very similar performance, with slight differences more likely due to measurement accuracy than product performance. Of course, to create your own comparison, just use the Router Charts.

Test Description	SMCWGBR14-N Throughput (Mbps)	TEW-633GR Throughput - (Mbps)	DIR-655 Throughput - (Mbps)
WAN - LAN	245	239	231
LAN - WAN	261	241	245
Total Simultaneous	260	259	254
Maximum Simultaneous Connections	200	200	200
Firmware Version	1.0.6.2	1.0.2.3	1.04

Table 1: Router performance comparison

Figure 8, below, is a composite of the WAN to LAN, LAN to WAN, and simultaneous up/down throughput tests in IxChariot. Although variation is noticeable, unless you have a > 100 Mbps Internet connection, I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

Figure 8: Routing throughput composite plot

Wireless Features

The 14-N's wireless feature set is identical to that of the TEW-633GR's. Figure 8 shows the Basic > Wireless Settings menu. The larger version of the screenshot shows the WPA-Enterprise security mode menus expanded out.

Figure 8: Routing throughput composite plot

Wireless network settings include Enable Auto Channel Scan or a Wireless Channel selector, 802.11 Mode, Channel Width, Transmission Rate, and Security Mode.

Enable Auto Channel Scan allows the 14-N to scan available channels and find the one that offers the least interference. 802.11 Mode includes mixed n/g/b (default), mixed n/g, mixed g/b, n only, g only, or b only. Channel Width switches between 20 MHz (default), or Auto 20/40 MHz.

Transmission Rate lets you force a particular rate from the smorgasbord of draft 11n link rates. Play with this if you must, but I would accept the Best (automatic) default. Security Mode supports None, WEP, and WPA Personal and Enterprise (RADIUS server) modes. WPA options include Auto (WPA or WPA2), WPA2 only, or WPA only; and TKIP, AES, and TKIP and AES.

The Advanced Wireless settings are the same as the 633GR's and include support for WDS bridging and repeating, which I did not test and Low, Medium and High Transmit power levels.