Linksys WRT110 RangePlus Wireless Router
Manufacturer: Cisco Part number: WRT110
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Linksys WRT110 RangePlus is an unconventional and stylish wireless router that supplies near draft 802.11n throughput without being an official Draft N router. We like this affordable, antenna-free router for networks where Wireless-G and Wireless-N clients coexist.
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CNET editors' review
Linksys WRT110 RangePlus Wireless Router price range: $45.00 - $168.88
- Reviewed by: Dong Ngo
- Edited by: Matthew Elliott
- Reviewed on: 05/19/2008
The good: Compact and sleek design; affordable; RangePlus technology works with N adapters and offers noticeable enhancement in both performance and range.
The bad: No USB port; no Gigabit Ethernet; short one-year warranty.
The bottom line: The Linksys WRT110 RangePlus is an unconventional and stylish wireless router that supplies near draft 802.11n throughput without being an official Draft N router. We like this affordable, antenna-free router for networks where Wireless-G and Wireless-N clients coexist.
The Linksys RangePlus Wireless WRT110 is not a Draft N router, but Linksys doesn't call it a Wireless-G router, either. The reason? It works with both specifications. It supports the 802.11g standard, but the company's RangePlus technology takes advantage of the throughput threshold of the draft 802.11n specification and offers improved speed when used with Draft N wireless clients. In testing, the WRT110 delivered near N throughput on our mixed-mode benchmark. We know of no other router that offers near N speed without being a Draft N router. It also provides more range than other 802.11g contenders do. Despite its lack of Gigabit Ethernet support and no USB ports, the RangePlus Wireless WRT110 is a smart choice for networks where you have mix of 802.11g and Draft N wireless clients. We also like it for its sleek, antenna-free design and low, sub-$80 price. Though prices of some Draft N routers are not much more than $80, we still want to recommend this router for its ease of use, good range, and interesting design.
Device type: Wireless router
Network standard: Linksys proprietary RangePlus (works with wireless-G and wireless-N)
Bandwidth: 2.4GHz
OSes supported: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X, Linux
Security options: WEP 64/128-bit,WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK WPA-TKIP, WPA-AES, Wireless Protected Setup
Features: Four 10/100 LAN ports; one 10/100Mbps WAN port; DHCP support
Notable design features: Internal antenna design
Support: One-year warranty
Design and ease of use
The RangePlus WRT110 looks a bit like a UFO (and no, it can't fly). Its flat case features a sloped top with rounded corners and an attractive dark blue color. What we like best about the router's design is the absence of external antennas. This is the first time we've seen internal antenna design in a compact router, making it truly compact. Other antenna-free routers, such as the Netgear RangeMax WNR854T , tend to be bulky. The flat plate-like design also makes it stay more grounded to the surface, which is necessary for a device with such light weight.
The router's layout is simple and effective. On the back, there are four 10/100 LAN ports, a WAN port, the reset button, and the power plug. On top, toward the front, you'll find the LED indicators that show the status of the ports, the wireless connection, and the connection to the Internet as well as the power. In the middle of those LEDs is the button to initiate Wi-Fi Protected Setup. WPS is a feature that allows for quickly adding a WPS-enabled client to the wireless network without having to manually type in the encryption key.
On the downside, the WT110 doesn't have a USB port. This means it doesn't support any USB-related features such as print serving, network storage, or Windows Connect Now, which lets you transfer the wireless encryption key using a thumbdrive. It also doesn't support Gigabit Ethernet, which is disappointing but not surprising considering its low price. Also, the sleek casing, while very nice looking, tends to retain dust and fingerprints.
The router is easy to set up, whether you use the well-organized Web interface or the bundled Linksys EasyLink Advisor software.
Features
The WRT110 comes with Linksys' new wireless enhancing technology called RangePlus, which is the successor of the company's SpeedBooster. (Other vendors have similar technology--Netgear with RangeMax and D-Link with SpeedBooster.) The main difference is that RangeMax and SpeedBooster work only with proprietary adapters to offer potential gain in throughput and range, while RangePlus works with any 802.11n-compatible wireless adapter. This means that any PC or laptop with an 802.11n wireless adapter will enjoy near 802.11n throughput speed with the WRT110--you won't need to purchase a separate adapter from Linksys.
The WRT110 uses similar Web interface to previous models, but we noticed improved responsiveness and a few new features including an Application and Gaming tab that allows for setting up ports to support special applications and network services. The WRT110 also supports all available wireless encryption from WEP to WPA and WPA2, as well as Remote Authentication Dial In User Service. As with most other routers from Linksys, the WRT110 supports VPN pass-through and access restriction. It is also the first budget router from Linksys that offers Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
Performance
We stopped testing 802.11b and .11g routers (basically, any non-Draft N router) at the beginning of the year, but we made an exception for this WRT110 because of its promise to deliver near Draft N throughput. We tested the Linksys RangePlus WRT110 the same way we test Wireless-N routers. Considering this is a predetermined unfair comparison, the WRT110 did very well.
On our max throughput test, at 46.2Mbps, the WRT110 trailed behind recent Draft N routers we've tested by 40 percent to 46 percent. It was even a little slower than the pokey LevelOne WBR-6000 N-One. In mixed mode testing, however, where the router is forced to work with multiple wireless standards, the WRT110 saw only a slight dip in throughput to 41.3Mbps, which far exceeded the LevelOne N-One's score of 23.9Mbps and trailed only slightly behind Draft N routers from SMC and D-Link. At 68Mbps, the Edimax BR-6504N is still the mixed mode speed king, and came very close to the rest of the Draft N routers. It did even better in range test registering 14.5Mbps, which is impressively faster than the Edimax BR-6504N nMax.
It's worth noting that the WRT110's performance--when compared with that of older 802.11g routers we've tested--is excellent and roughly twice as fast as the fastest ones, such as the Netgear WGR614 . On average, 802.11g routers scored roughly 20Mbps and 8Mbps on our max throughput and mixed-mode tests, respectively.
The WRT110 offers excellent range--on par with Draft N adapters. We were able to get its signal from more than 250 feet away. The range reduced with Wireless-G adapters, we never got a signal at more than 190 feet. Our testing environment is not range-optimized, so in real life the WRT110 may offer better range.
Service and support
Linksys backs the WRT110 with a one-year warranty, which is disappointing, since it backs some others, such as the slow WRT300N, with a generous three-year warranty. Toll-free phone support is available 24-7, as is online chat with a support representative. Linksys' Web site includes software, drivers, and firmware downloads as well as a FAQ section.
802.11b/g and draft N clients
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Mixed mode test score |
User reviews
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Save your money
by kc2epd on February 23, 2009
Pros: Nothing, it is nowhere as good as the one that this unit was to replace. Had another Linksy WRT54GS that crapped out after only a year. Guess its goodbye to the linksys brand!!!
Cons: Everything. As far as RANGE PLUS thats a joke. Go past 15 feet and goodbye signal where as the old one worked at over 200 feet.
Summary: Main reason is the range is the WORST of the WORST. Im in the wireless field as well as an amature radio operator and testing the field strenth of the ...
Summary: Main reason is the range is the WORST of the WORST. Im in the wireless field as well as an amature radio operator and testing the field strenth of the output signal on this unit is Poor at best. Save your money dont buy this unit.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Horrible wireless router
by jamesawilliams on September 28, 2010
Pros: Looks Nice and ease of use.
Cons: Does not maintain DHCP Reservations, NAT redirection and Wireless.
Summary: Buy something else!
Summary: Buy something else!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nothing but trouble from day 1
by rowdy2226 on August 5, 2009
Pros: Looks Nice. Has easy installation. Seems to work well when it wants to work.
Cons: Customer service. Have to continually reinstall because without any reason at all, it will not sign on to the internet.
Summary: After "trying" to speak with customer service for over an hour because they either cannot speak English very well, or has such a heavy accent that you constantly have to ...
Summary: After "trying" to speak with customer service for over an hour because they either cannot speak English very well, or has such a heavy accent that you constantly have to have them repeat themselves. We finally came up with the conclusion that the first item was bad and had to return it for a new one. Got that one installed just fine and now after a year it seems to just stop working. Will not sign on to the internet. I have to go through the whole installation process just to get it to start working again. Now it cannot find an internet connection no matter how I try to reinstall it. Linksys Products suck! Oh yeah by the way. Since you cannot understand their customer service, for a small minimum charge of I think it was $50 bucks they will just gain control of your comp in order to try everything themselves.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Completely Awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by MG2230 on January 30, 2009
Pros: Nice design. 4 ports and hidden antenna
Cons: the frequency of dropped signal. you can see that the signal is there but cant retrieve it. Again CONSTANTLY DROPPING MY SIGNAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking for another ASAP! Kind of gun shy buying another due to the luck I have had with this one.
Summary: Will never buy this one again! I am tired of dropping my signal. Oh yeah it dropped the signal even when hard wired! How does that happen?
Summary: Will never buy this one again! I am tired of dropping my signal. Oh yeah it dropped the signal even when hard wired! How does that happen?
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No problems; great distance
by wwwwwsdf on February 8, 2009
Pros: Extremely easy to setup; I can easily go out of my home, down a sidewalk, up a few spaces in the parking lot, get in my car, and STILL have easy internet surfing capabilities. I've only had it for a couple of days, but so far am very pleased!
Cons: Little control over security settings-must trust linksys. Inconvenient admin on control panel log; it doesn't give computer addresses accessing the router or URL of sites (ex. http://www...)-only gives IP address for websites (ex. 101.52.325...).
Summary: Overall I'm very pleased with this product thus far--only two days of operation, though. We'll see how it fares over the coming months. Great speed on surfing and ...
Summary: Overall I'm very pleased with this product thus far--only two days of operation, though. We'll see how it fares over the coming months. Great speed on surfing and range is just fine. Haven't tested the n routing capabilities. No dropped connections. Some changes in the setup panel do not enable the router to work properly. I don't see how blocking sites by URL or keyword is able to successfully be carried out by the router; no effect. Other changes seemed to stop my internet access. However, these are minor details. I needed a router to quickly connect me to the internet via another additional COMCAST router without dropping signals, and this one handles it marvelously. Would recommend!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worst router ever
by sacgarz on January 29, 2009
Pros: Nice graphics on the box. Great for kitty litter.
Cons: Terrible construction, terrible software interface as in not even needed. Terrible support. If they provided a decent interface they wouldnt even need support.
Summary: I finally found something worse than Vista and thats Vista with a Lynksys router on it. Preserve your sanity or take your meds if you get this piece of dough. ...
Summary: I finally found something worse than Vista and thats Vista with a Lynksys router on it. Preserve your sanity or take your meds if you get this piece of dough. It worked for 10 minutes and them promptly shut itself down. I could access the internet but could no longer access the router itself. I think the tech guy from India couldnt even understand himself. Big waste of time. Did i mention I have to networking certs?
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't waste your time or money
by Smokey_DeVille on January 22, 2009
Pros: Well, as a wired router it works just fine. I like the sleek design, and I like the fact that, in theory, it works with both G and N networks.
Cons: I cannot get on my wireless network with my laptop. My network appears when I scan available networks, but I cannot log onto it. After three hours with tech support and $10 for remote assistance later, I still cannot access my network.
Summary: This is the second time Linksys has let me down. Not only are their products useless, but their tech support is equally useless. As far as this product goes, it ...
Summary: This is the second time Linksys has let me down. Not only are their products useless, but their tech support is equally useless. As far as this product goes, it is no exception. Maybe if your wireless adapter or card is made by Linksys as well things will be different, but otherwise I wouldn't waste your time with this router, at least not if you plan on going wireless. As for me, I will never, ever buy another Linksys product.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Ridiculously simple set up! Good range, no antennas!
by BigAl35540 on October 5, 2008
Pros: No antennas! Very sharp styling, (looks futuristic!). Good network security.
Cons: Range is about the same on Wireless G as other G routers. I did not notice a significant difference.
Summary: This router was purchased to replace a flaky Belkin router that cut out when two or more computers were attempting to pull high density data from the Internet. In this ...
Summary: This router was purchased to replace a flaky Belkin router that cut out when two or more computers were attempting to pull high density data from the Internet. In this area, the WRT110 does this seamlessly. Even though speed out to the Internet was not much faster than the previous, especially with the highest level of security, it seems that web pages load twice as fast on the wireless network side. On Cox High Speed Internet, the download/upload speeds are beautifully balanced at 4.5 Mbps. The second computer on the network wired into the router shows and incredible 16.5 Mbps downloading speed. Why both routers are slower on the wireless side escapes me! My laptop is running a wireless A,B & G card. Both routers were set up for the highest level of security WPA2, and the encryption algorithm is quite complex so that might account a lot for it. This router offers performance about what other wireless G routers do and I haven't noticed really that much better range, just better coverage, (less holes), than my previous wireless unit. It really is amazing considering this wireless router has NO outside antennas! It is my impression that the wireless unit compensates for a bad placement environment getting a better signal out from poor locations.
Update: Watch out for the first generation units, the wireless transmitter burned out in 3-weeks! After replacing it with a second generation unit though, I noted considerably better performance but still had a problem with "Limited or no Connectivity" on first log on requiring that a repair be run. I found that Linksys offered a firmware update, version 1.0.0.4 Build 10. THAT DID THE TRICK!!! The wireless connects every time and stays connected even when using complicated encryption schemes like AES. I still haven't noticed a range increase in wireless g but get better throughput on weak signal conditions then on my previous wireless router. Being on the second floor also it has range well over 300 feet! I am running it matched with the Linksys CM100 cable modem and the two are a perfect match! I've noticed another nice trait, if the wireless computer connected is far away the wireless indicator on the unit will flash dimmer than a close by computer does...neat! I.
The area of performance I find that is dramatically improved is when dealing with streaming audio or video. Webcam is noticeably sharper with less noise when videoconferencing on instant messenger with a lot less video resolution switch down on Skype in particular. Internet Radio is amazing, whether fed to the wired computer on my network or the wireless laptop. the stream is steady ad very highly detail;ed, (very low packet loss).
The unit was deceptively simple to set up. Almost too simple in fact! I can't tell whether or not the router is using AES or TKIP encryption on WPA2. The interface is built so that you aren't supposed to worry about that and trust Linksys on this one, but I would like to know! The browser based utility didn't tell me anything on that either but it impressed me in that the interface has a lot of features you would find on Cisco commercial routers. The firewall appears to be fantastic and it clearly provides another layer of security over whatever software firewall you run. Even an unprotected machine gets pretty decent protection from this firewall! What is amazing is how such a stiff firewall lets networked machines communicate with each other on the network. After set up, the computers on the network communicated and traded files effortlessly whether they were on the wired or wireless side of the network.
This is one of the most "stylish" wireless routers I have ever seen! The usual Linksys/Cisco unit is a bulky cumbersome looking thing with a pretty good array of antennas sticking out of it! Here there is a slick sleek futuristic looking thing with beautiful blue LED's, which aren't so small you can't instantly identify which light is which. It's truly a nice piece of equipment to look at! there are no antennas to break off. I do agree with the author of the review that it does show fingerprints remarkably well, so if you want to keep it nice, best bet is not to touch it! The router, while keeping it stupid and simple has enough features that probably 5-years down the line I'll still be running it. I don't have wireless n yet but will probably find it performs quite adequately when I do.
I like it so far! Mine sits up high in my apartment and that is on the second floor and it appears to cover the entire complex and the surrounding area and is secure so only me and my friends can log on. I can't ask for better than that!
Updated on Nov 25, 20082 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This product is terrible or at I had a bad one
by brian52941 on February 11, 2009
Pros: It sure looks nice
Cons: I spent 3 hours on 7 different occasions with tech support from India for this router. It crashed 70 times a day. I went out and bought a DLINK N router set it up bang no problems.
Summary: Don't waste your money. As I was going back into the store to return it I saved someone else from making the same mistake and said don't get ...
Summary: Don't waste your money. As I was going back into the store to return it I saved someone else from making the same mistake and said don't get that one. Go for something else.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works about 40 percent of the time.
by ctron42 on May 22, 2012
Pros: Looks very aerodynamic.
Cons: Constantly have to pull power and retrain the router. Range and connectivity are laughable.
Summary: Keep searching. I am probably going to avoid linksys all together now. I joined cnet just to spread the word about this poor paper weight.
Summary: Keep searching. I am probably going to avoid linksys all together now. I joined cnet just to spread the word about this poor paper weight.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part number: WRT110
- Description: The RangePlus Wireless Router is really three devices in one box. First, there's the wireless access point, which lets you connect to the network without wires. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Finally, the router function ties it all together and lets your whole network shares a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. The access point built into the Router uses smart antenna technology to achieve extended range. Unlike ordinary wireless networking technologies that are confused by signal reflections, the "Multiple In, Multiple Out" (MIMO) technology actually uses these reflections to increase the range and reduce "dead spots" in the wireless coverage area. The robust signal travels farther, maintaining wireless connections much farther than standard Wireless-G. With MIMO, the farther away you are, the more speed advantage you get. It works great with standard Wireless-G and -B equipment, but when both ends of the wireless link are MIMO enabled, the router can increase the throughput even more by using twice as much radio band. But unlike other speed-enhanced technologies, the RangePlus Wireless Router can dynamically enable this double-speed mode for compatible devices, while still connecting to other wireless devices at their respective fastest speeds. To help protect your data and privacy, the Router can encode all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength 256-bit encryption. It can serve as your network's DHCP Server, has a powerful SPI firewall to protect your PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks, and supports VPN pass-through. Configuration is a snap with the web browser-based configuration utility. With the Linksys RangePlus Wireless Router at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, and multi-player games, and run media-intensive applications at incredible speeds, without the hassle of stringing wires!
General
- Device Type Wireless router - 4-port switch (integrated)
- Enclosure Type Desktop
- Compatible Slots None
- Connectivity Technology Wireless ,
Wired - Data Link Protocol Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
Fast Ethernet - Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
- Network / Transport Protocol L2TP ,
UDP/IP ,
PPTP ,
TCP/IP ,
DHCP ,
DNS ,
IPSec ,
PPPoE - Routing Protocol Static IP routing,
RIP - Remote Management Protocol HTTPS,
HTTP - Encryption Algorithm WPA2,
WPA2-Enterprise,
WPA-Enterprise,
AES,
WPA,
128-bit WEP,
256-bit WEP,
TKIP - Authentication Method RADIUS,
Radio Service Set ID (SSID) - Features DHCP server ,
Firewall protection ,
Smart MIMO technology ,
Quality of Service (QoS) ,
VPN passthrough ,
MAC address filtering ,
Firmware upgradable ,
Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) support ,
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) ,
Dynamic DNS server ,
IPSec passthrough ,
NAT support - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g ,
IEEE 802.11b ,
UPnP ,
IEEE 802.3u ,
IEEE 802.3 - Status Indicators Link activity,
Port status,
Power Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces WAN : 1 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45,
LAN : 4 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 - Expansion Slot(s) None
Networking
- Networking type Wireless router
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
- Antenna Qty 2
- Gain Level 1.8 dBi
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Communications
- Type None
Miscellaneous
- Width 6.7 in
- Depth 5.8 in
- Height 1.4 in
- Weight 11.8 oz
- Compliant Standards ICES-003,
FCC Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 10 - 85%
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- CNET Labs long-range tests (in Mbps) 5.67
- CNET Labs maximum throughput tests (at 15 feet, in Mbps) 44.13
- CNET Labs maximum throughput tests with mixed 802.11b/g and draft N, MIMO clients (at 15 feet, in Mbps) 29.51
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Cisco products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Cisco
- Address:
170 W. Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA 95134 - Phone: 800-553-6387
- Email: tac@cisco.com
