Cisco Valet Plus
Manufacturer: Cisco Part number: M20
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Look no further than the Cisco Valet Plus if you want to get a robust wireless home network up and running effortlessly.
Read more
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CNET editors' review
Cisco Valet Plus price range: $69.45 - $109.99
- Reviewed by: Dong Ngo
- Reviewed on: 04/08/2010
The good: The Cisco Valet Plus is by far the most easy to use wireless router to date. It also has great range, decent performance, and comes with an effective wireless networking management software for home users.
The bad: The Cisco Valet Plus doesn't support dual-band and it has no USB port for storage or print-serving features.
The bottom line: Look no further than the Cisco Valet Plus if you want to get a robust wireless home network up and running effortlessly.
The Cisco Valet Plus will change the way you think of setting up a home network in a big way. Not only is it the easiest to use wireless router that we've seen, but it also offers great range and wireless throughput performance, and it comes with a very handy tool to control your network. It also includes a parental control feature.
The router's short list of downsides includes the lack of support for dual-band and USB devices. However, its sleek, compact design and the street price tag of just around $130, more than make up for that.
If you are a non-savvy computer user looking to setup a wireless network for your home or a home office by yourself, the Cisco Valet Plus is the best choice. It's really the prime example of wireless networking made simple.
Design and setup
Unlike any wireless routers we've seen before, the Cisco Valet Plus comes in a fancy-looking, yet simple package. Inside, you'll find the router, a network cable, the power adapter, and the Easy Setup Key. There's no manual or software CD; this is all you need to get started.
The setup process is as simple as it gets. You plug the Easy Setup Key--a 1GB USB thumb drive that contains Cisco Connect software--into a computer, PC or Mac, and follow the instructions. The first time, the instructions will include steps to connect the computer to the router, plug it into the power, and turn it on, etc.
Depending on the computer, you will need to interact with the setup process about two or three times via a few mouse clicks. The first time is to agree to launch the software, the second time is to accept the software user agreement, and the last time to start the setup. After that, the software takes a few minutes to do all the necessary configurations and you're done. Repeat this on any computer that you want to connect to the router wirelessly.
Though everything is transparent to the user, the very first time you run it, the Cisco Connect software basically detects the router, creates an SSID (or network name), turns the encryption on, and chooses an encryption key. After that, any subsequent times you plug the Key into another computer that has a wireless adapter, it will apply the settings to the computer and connect to the wireless network with a few mouse clicks.
The Cisco Valet Plus has the same design as previous Linksys by Cisco routers, such as the Linksys WRT320N and the Linksys WRT610N. It comes in an aesthetically pleasing, sleek, flat, UFO-shaped chassis. The router's antennas are hidden within the chassis, making it look much more compact than other, similarly sized routers. It's also wall mountable.
The Valet Plus' layout is straightforward. On the back it has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, for local wired clients, and one Gigabit WAN port to connect to a DSL or cable modem.
On the front of the router is an array of blue LED lights that show the status of the ports, the wireless network, and the Internet. In the middle of the LEDs is the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, which initiates the window of time when you can hook other WPS-compliant wireless clients to the network without having to manually enter the encryption key. This is a nice design touch, as the Setup Key can only be used with computers, not with other devices such as printers or game consoles.
Features
Apart from making the router setup easy for home users, the Easy Setup Key can also be used for a few other features. You can use it to change the network's name or to create a guest network, which is a useful feature if you want to share the Internet connection with others while keeping them from accessing your local resources, such as printers or files.
It also contains a parental control feature, allowing you to change the way a particular computer on the network accesses the Internet. You can restrict the connection based on time, age of the user (with two options being "Teen" or "Child"), or you can block individual sites. The router also has a feature called Safe Web Surfing, which warns you if you're about to go to a Web site that's unsafe.
The nice thing about the Cisco connect software is that it only runs when you plug the Easy Setup Key into the computer, meaning that there's no software installed on your computer. You should keep the Setup Key in a safe place, or make a backup copy of it.
Though the Easy Setup Key is extremely helpful for novice home users, savvy users can also mange the Valet Plus via its Web interface. Here you can further customize your wireless network with more features like port forwarding or Dynamic DSN service. These help turn a computer within the network into a Web or FTP server.
You can also change the features that the Setup Key allows access to. Note, however, that if you use the Web interface to make certain changes to the router's settings, you then can't use the Cisco Connect software to manage the router anymore. The Setup Key will now just help you launch the Web interface. However, if you're comfortable with the Web interface, you probably won't need the Setup Key. You can always restore the router to its default factory settings if you want to use the Easy Setup Key again.
For security, the Cisco Valet Plus supports all available wireless encryption standards, including WEP, WPA-personal, and WPA-Enterprise. It also supports MAC address filtering. The router allows for VPN pass-through for all existing VPN protocols, including IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP. If you're using the router from your home, you can use a VPN client to access your work office via a VPN connection. It can toggle the built-in SPI firewall on and off, or block potentially dangerous Web services including proxy, Java, ActiveX, and cookies. This is not something you'll want to get into the habit of doing, however, as a lot of Web sites will not function properly if you, say, block Java or ActiveX.
Performance
The Cisco Valet Plus performed well in our testing. In the throughput test, the router scored 50.4Mbps, compared with the Dlink DIR-685's score of 51.7Mbps and the Belkin N+'s score of 55.44Mbps. In the range test, at 33Mpbs the Cisco was faster than the Belkin N+ , but still slower than the Dlink, which scored 46Mbps. In the mixed mode test, however, the Cisco topped the chart with 45.6Mbps.
We were also very happy with the Cisco Valet Plus' range. The router was able to hold a stable connection up to 280 feet away in our test environment. This is one of the longest ranges we've seen and the longest among all Cisco home routers we've tested.
The router successfully passed our stress test where it was set to transfer data back and forth between wireless clients for an extended amount of time. The router's wireless connection didn't reset once during the 48 hours of testing.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Mixed mode | |
Range | |
Throughput |
Service and support
Cisco backs the Valet Plus with only a one-year parts and labor warranty, which is standard for wireless routers. The company offers toll-free technical support, which you can access 24-7. Cisco's Web site includes a large number of easily accessible support-related information, such as software, drivers, firmware downloads, as well as a live chat and an FAQ section.
User reviews
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The easiest setup imaginable!
by kosseff on April 12, 2010
Pros: The setup was a snap - it did it itself
Strong, steady signal so farCons: None so far
Summary: After struggling to set up a Belkin N+ on a DSL connection for a friend, Belkin tech support gave up and so did I. More than 10 wasted hours and ...
Summary: After struggling to set up a Belkin N+ on a DSL connection for a friend, Belkin tech support gave up and so did I. More than 10 wasted hours and no steady connection. I must say that Buy.Com was wonderful about taking it back. So I went to a local Staples and bought the Valet Plus. Staples gives a promise of 15 minutes or less to set it up or they give you a $25 gift certificate. I told the sales guy that I'd be back in an hour to get my certificate.
I erased the Belkin wifi connection in the laptop, inserted the flashdrive that comes with the router into the laptop, turned on the router, clicked on the icon from the flashdrive file that says "connect", waited FIVE minutes. I was rewarded for doing nothing with a banner congratulating me and that I was connected.
Everything worked perfectly including the VPN!
It is one of the few times that a piece of technology has fully lived up to its hype. Way to go, Cisco!12 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I'm a techie moron, and if I can do it...
by hardy2500 on April 14, 2010
Pros: The most simple set-up of any pheripheral I've ever used, and I'm old. You literally just insert the flash drive that comes with it into your computer and simple directions pop up on the screen. Plug in the router, connect it to the modem and done.
Cons: None as of yet.
Summary: I'm a Mac household, and very familiar with 'plug & play'. This router couldn't be easier to set up. No magic numbers to enter. No cute network name ...
Summary: I'm a Mac household, and very familiar with 'plug & play'. This router couldn't be easier to set up. No magic numbers to enter. No cute network name to think up (it comes with a name, but it's easy to change it). No 14 digit number to use as a password. The Cisco software allows easy copying of the flashdrive information onto another flashdrive, so you always have a backup.
As I mentioned, the router is already set up with a name. I don't know if they are all the same but mine was named BigDolphin. When I check the networks that are available under my AirPort icon, there's BigDolphin and BigDolphin-Guest. The primary network is encrypted (password is on the flashdrive), and the 'Guest' network has a different password that any guest would enter from their browser when they try to connect to the internet. You can change either or both passwords, but the benefit of the Guest network is you don't have to give out keys to the kingdom to anyone you allow to use your network: Anything else on the main network (printer, etc) wouldn't be usable/visible by the guest. Plus you can limit the number of guests using the secondary network at any given time from only one user up to ten. And if from time to time you want to change just the Guest password, that couldn't be easier.
This product is so easy to use, it should have an Apple on it.11 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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NOT NAS friendly
by avagodro on May 19, 2010
Pros: Very easy to setup using the Easy Setup Key.
Cons: Web based configuration, for advanced setup, is hard to maneuver. The router has a built in universal plug and play feature, as does my windows home server, but the router doesn't recognize the server.
Summary: I bought this router based on CNET's recommendation, but the router is going back to the store in the morning. My only recommendation is that if all you want ...
Summary: I bought this router based on CNET's recommendation, but the router is going back to the store in the morning. My only recommendation is that if all you want to do is connect computer to the internet using a router, then the Cisco Valet is a good option. However, if you need more advanced features, such as attaching a network storage device to the router, then keep looking elsewhere. I'm not a networking novice, and after spending 3 hours trying to get the router to talk to my Windows Home Server, plus an hour on the phone with Cisco support, we still couldn't get the router to see the server, which was connected to a LAN port. Of course, support said it had nothing to do with their router, but was an issue with the server. I have an old Belkin wireless G router, and immediately after plugging in the server the router detected it. I was setting up the server in under 5 minutes.
Once again, if you need simple routing for multiple computers to the internet, the Cisco Valet may be a good choice for you. But to connect a network accessible storage device, forget it.9 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Over hyped - Parental Controls not effective
by quackquackquack on April 24, 2010
Pros: The product does configure very easily using the USB key - but its really no different from the CD based software tha comes with every other router.
Cons: The parental controls are not an effective filter. Valet does not filter the searches in search engines. If you search for porn images, the search engines will find them. Valet will only block them when you click the image to go to the websites.
Summary: This router is a huge dissapointment. I gave up a perfectly functional Netgear G router with extended range and spent $200 for a Valet Plus (M20) and a Valet Connector ...
Summary: This router is a huge dissapointment. I gave up a perfectly functional Netgear G router with extended range and spent $200 for a Valet Plus (M20) and a Valet Connector to provide internet to a new game computer for 11 yr old son. My #1 concern was internet filtering - so I bought the Valet since it parental controls are a big selling point. My #2 concern was Wireless Range - so I bought the more expensive M20 version.
The Parental Controls are a joke. You can set it to Child or Teen - thats it. It will block out all WEBSITES that are inappropriate to the age setting. Google is an appropriate allowed website - as it should be but the Valet does not filter the search results - so you go to Google Images - type in "porn" and up pops 10,000 porno images - of course if you click on the actual image The Valet will block that link, but it doesn't block the search - so you have to go to Google, and Bing, and etc... setting up Locked Search controls. Do not purchase this thinking that it is a filtered firewall like the kids have in school. Its a half baked concept. For example - AdamAndEve.com is not a blocked site - the Valet thinks its a legitimate shopping site for kids. I navigated to the site by going to Google Shopping and searching the common name for popular toys. The front page of AdamAndEve.com has plenty of graphic photos of adult toys that you would expect Valet to filter. If you click on the Sex Toys tab, Valet will block that. The Valet allows you to block individual sites - up to a total of 8! Why only 8 custom blocked sites - why not thousands? If you are buying this to protect your kids, forget it. Go with Net Nanny or something.
As for range - and the Valet Connector - I am 75 feet from the router and I have two of five bars. The Valet Connector is just a USB wireless adapter plugged into a stand - its nothing special. The Valet Connector cost $75 or so - for this price you'd think the base would be properly weighted - but its not - its just cheap plastic. It has a heavy cord so the cord is always trying to flip the cheap plastic usb adaptor off the desk. Might want to buy some tape to tape it to the desk.
If you are a total computing moron and don't know how to configure Microsoft Word, then this router is for you. If you do not know what USB stands for, buy this product. If you are comfortable using the words router and ethernet, then buy any other product for half the price with double the features. Here is a simple test. If you have any knowledge whatsoever that Unsecured Wireless Network and WPA Encrypted Wireless network are not synonyms, then you will be very disspointed at the functionality of this product for the price. However, if you are tired of fielding tech support phone calls from your retired in-laws - then this might be the product for them.
If you are intimidated by your computer settings or if you have never owned a wireless router, and if filtering is not an issue, then you will probably like this product very much.7 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wait before buying this!
by adrianpark on August 17, 2010
Pros: Nice aesthetics
Cons: Sporadic connection
Very slow speeds
Terrible customer serviceSummary: I chose the Cisco Valet Plus router because it received the highest reviews on CNET. When I purchased the product, I found it easy to set up and install on ...
Summary: I chose the Cisco Valet Plus router because it received the highest reviews on CNET. When I purchased the product, I found it easy to set up and install on multiple machines utilizing the supplied the thumb drive. The thumb drive is a cute marketing tool although all it is really being used for is to save your password on an XML file and spare you the trouble of writing it down. Shortly after installing the Cisco software, I lost conenction to the internet. I discovered that my internet connection would come and go, and when it did connect the speeds would be very slow. I logged several hours of calls to Cisco support which were semi-knowledgeable as long as you had some basic knowledge to help them out. Cisco product support sometimes lacked key pieces of information such as the correct IP address for the router, however, being in IT I was able to help them out with this. Product support had me upgrade the firmware and restart my modem and router until I was reconnected. About 15 minutes I lost connection again and called them back. Product support insisted that either something was wrong with the modem or the computer. I explained to them that I had no problems when I connected directly to the modem which would rule out a problem with that device. I also explained to them that I experienced connectivity problems simultaneously with 4 different computers, 2 iphones, and a wireless printer which would rule out a problem with the computer. They had no additional answers on how to fix my router. I reinstalled my old router which was also a Linksys (Cisco) router and instantly had consistent, high speed internet connection. Clearly there is something defective with the Cisco Valet Plus judging by my experience and the many similar experiences recorded by others. The Valet has potential but I would definitely wait until it is out of the Beta stage before purchasing it.
2 weeks after my review I receive a call from Cisco rep and she explained that they reviewed my case notes and the customer service rep provided me with wrong information. I explained to them that I had already returned my router at a loss (restocking fee). The Cisco rep did not offer an apology but asked me if I would consider buying Cisco again. Are they serious?
Updated on Aug 30, 20104 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Better than expected!
by EMJAWJ on April 29, 2010
Pros: Very fast and easy to set-up. I set-up 4 computers, and a HP printer, in less than 30 minutes. Had a slight problem after upgrading to SP3 on a laptop. Called Cisco customer service, they got me up and running in under 10 minutes, they are great!
Cons: None to date.
Summary: I purchased a Netgear RangeMax WPN824, and could not get my computer on the second floor to work. I had zero to 1 bar max. I hooked up the Cisco ...
Summary: I purchased a Netgear RangeMax WPN824, and could not get my computer on the second floor to work. I had zero to 1 bar max. I hooked up the Cisco Valet Plus, and everything worked perfect, and the computer on the second floor has 3-4 bars, with good to excellent readings. I highly recommend the Cisco Valet Plus to anyone that needs a wireless home network, and wants a very easy set-up. As they say, it's a no brainer.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wireless Zen
by muffasamini on June 25, 2010
Pros: The easiest set up imaginable. All the computers and printers set up and connected in less than 30 minutes. Fast speeds, no outages, no stress.
Cons: The inner techie in you will have to relinquish the desire to mess with settings and set up those advanced features you never use anyway. You will need to find your inner tech zen, and simply let the router work beautifully without your meddling.
Summary: This router has made me re-think routers. I am a tech-savvy person, and I know how to use and manage all the various settings and modes of an advanced router. ...
Summary: This router has made me re-think routers. I am a tech-savvy person, and I know how to use and manage all the various settings and modes of an advanced router. I used to always want dual-band, NAT, network storage and all that stuff. However, despite all the messing around with other complicated routers and advanced features, in the end, all I really want to do is get on the internet, reliably, quickly, and stress free; this router does it with aplomb. I'm pretty sure my grandmother to could set this up if she wanted too. Does the inner techie in me rebel at giving up control for the sake of blissful carefree ease? Yes, oh but my, isn't ignorance bliss.
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sisco Valet Plus fails to connect
by Ernest_CT on April 6, 2010
Pros: Easy to connect via wired PC.
Cons: Complete failure to connect wirelessly.
Summary: Despite hours (yes, literally hours) of time on the phone with customer support, we still cannot connect wirelessly.
Summary: Despite hours (yes, literally hours) of time on the phone with customer support, we still cannot connect wirelessly.
7 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy Set Up and Good Performance
by raymond_granaada on November 25, 2010
Pros: Simplicity of set up
Intuitive software makes configuring the router as easy as clicking on some icons
Interface ensures that your network is secure because you don't have to step through the normal confusing configuration steps
Fast download speedsCons: Did not have the extended range in our large home I had hoped for. The bonus room above our garage did not get a signal from our G Linksys router and it still doesn't get one with the Valet Plus
Summary: I have set up routers in the past and despite being reasonably tech savvy for a non technie, I was always somewhat intimidated by all the steps. As a result, ...
Summary: I have set up routers in the past and despite being reasonably tech savvy for a non technie, I was always somewhat intimidated by all the steps. As a result, the network never had all the security protocols in place. With the Valet Plus, I set up three laptops, two desktops, two DVRs and two game consoles, all in about 15 minutes. The set up is really, really easy and Cisco has taken all the mystery and confusion out of the process. You insert the thumb drive, click through the steps and presto, your network is setup. Highly recommended for those not technies who want to set up a home wireless network easily.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Quick, easy setup, decent range and speed
by Elliott Minor on November 16, 2010
Pros: Using Cisco's Easy Setup USB flash drive got me connected in about 10 minutes. No complaints about the speed and range. The Valet Plus seems to be a giant leap in terms of convenience, especially for those with no experience.
Cons: The assigned WPA key has an exclamation point. My wireless multifunction machine has no option for inputting an explanation point. A silly situation. Afraid I'll lose the convenience of Easy Setup if I change the encryption key manually.
Summary: I'm happy with the purchase. It replaces a 10-year-old Belkin Pre-N router, which had great range and speed. The Valet Plus seems to match or surpass the performance of ...
Summary: I'm happy with the purchase. It replaces a 10-year-old Belkin Pre-N router, which had great range and speed. The Valet Plus seems to match or surpass the performance of the old router. Now if it would just make coffee, serve breakfast in bed and shine shoes.
More than decent range and speed as I said initially. Now I'd say excellent range and speed! I solved my wireless multifunction machine problem by connecting to it through the guest network, which has only a simple password, not an encryption string for WPA. So now I've regained wireless printing. I can understand networking experts grousing about this equipment limiting their choices, but for me, at least, it seem to make all the right choices - automatically.
Updated on Nov 17, 20102 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part number: M20
- Description: Cisco Valet Plus provides a simple way to create your own wireless hotspot. Create a wireless hotspot in your home and connect your laptops, desktops, game consoles, and mobile devices to the Internet. Connect your wired devices to your Valet Plus for faster file transfers and streaming entertainment and get expanded wireless coverage for larger homes.
General
- Device Type Wireless router - 4-port switch (integrated)
- Enclosure Type Desktop
- Connectivity Technology Wireless ,
Wired - Data Link Protocol Ethernet,
Gigabit Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11g,
Fast Ethernet - Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
- Data Transfer Rate 300 Mbps
- Features Anti-malware protection ,
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) ,
URL filtering ,
Domain blocking ,
Parental control - Status Indicators Port status,
Power Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces LAN : 4 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45,
WAN : 1 x RJ-45 Networking
- Networking type Wireless router
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
- Antenna Qty 3
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Cisco products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Cisco
- Address:
170 W. Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA 95134 - Phone: 800-553-6387
- Email: tac@cisco.com
