Manage updates with the Download AppNetgear WNR834B RangeMax Next Router
Manufacturer: NetGear Part number: WNR834B
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though its maximum throughput is solid and its speed at long range is respectable, the Netgear WNR834B's mixed-mode speed is not. Save your cash until more Draft N routers make it through CNET Labs.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Get free shipping on orders over $25! | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/24/2013 |
| Memory4Less.com | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 05/24/2013 |
CNET editors' review
Netgear WNR834B RangeMax Next Router price range: $88.95 - $129.99
- Reviewed by: Stephanie Bruzzese
- Edited by: Felisa Yang
- Reviewed on: 05/03/2006
- Released on: 04/13/2006
The good: Among the Netgear WNR834B's benefits are satisfying maximum throughput, a slick design, simple setup, comprehensive documentation, and tight security capabilities.
The bad: The Netgear WNR834B is one of the more expensive new Draft N routers around, and it takes a big speed hit in mixed-mode environments. Also, you can't adjust its antennas, since they're located inside the case.
The bottom line: Though its maximum throughput is solid and its speed at long range is respectable, the Netgear WNR834B's mixed-mode speed is not. Save your cash until more Draft N routers make it through CNET Labs.
User reviews
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Major software problem with other than Netgear Pre-N Cards
Pros: Easy detection of cable modem, and great security.
Cons: Released before bugs were properly worked out, & level 1 tech support is unaware of the problems.
Summary: This could have been the best of the best in the router picks for me (Could still be if they fix the problems quickly).
The problem is that this router ...Summary: This could have been the best of the best in the router picks for me (Could still be if they fix the problems quickly).
The problem is that this router will not let other 802.11B/G devices connect to the internet.
It allows them to connect to the router and the internal network to share files and such, but no internet connection can be made by the device.
I tried two different laptops (Armada 7800 6366/T/10/0/M/1 Win-2K, IBM R31 Win-XP Pro) with 2 different G & B only cards (4 cards total, all different manufacturers, IBM 12P3863 802.11B mini PCI, Microsoft MN-720 802.11G, Buffalo WLI-CB-G54A 802.11G, Orinoco Gold 802.11B), with the same problem. I also tried a total of 2 routers to confirm the problem (both had identical problems). Most people would have just taken it back and purchased something else. I spent about 50 hours of my personal time, over a 3 week period, trying to figure out the problem, and an extra $20 in shipping charges for a second router.
The unit will not detect new firmware with Version 1.0.1.2, and I cannot yet confirm if Version 1.0.1.4 will detect it until the new release comes out.
While I like the automatic internet detection, it is very slow, and could make someone believe their router is defective.
The software that came with the router on the resource CD V1.0 has some problems of its own; it locks up at a certain point. I recommend manually setting up the router rather than using the software.
The size of the router is not really a problem, but they could have made the clip on base an inch wider (and still could). A wall mount using the same Clip-on base holes would be a good idea too.
The level-2 tech support says they will have a fix in 2 more weeks with their next software release (sometime in July 2006).
The rush to the Pre-N deliveries is going to cost companies that have not properly tested their equipment with cards and devices other than their own.
Recommendation for consumers on 802.11N: WAIT! Wait until 3 to 6 months after it is ratified if you want no problems. There are plenty of other great 802.11G MIMO routers that work very well at 100MHz+ if you need something now.
Recommendation to the manufacturers: Re-call your 802.11N product if it is not widely compatible with B&G until you fix it. You're just going to give yourselves a black eye, and cause mistrust with the consumer.
Just one guys opinion...
Updated
The latest software update for the Netgear WNR834B RangeMax router has been released...
I can now honestly say this is a best in class router, my rating is now a 10... Just next time, Netgear, don't be in a rush to be first, just best...
If you are having any issues download the latest update dated 7-14-2006. Version V1.0.2.4.
If you haven't been able to connect before this will fix the problem...
I am happy to now give this router a 10 even if I can only give the Netgear pre-testing group a 2. I think there is probably a job opening (or soon to be) in that group now...Updated
The latest software update for the Netgear WNR834B RangeMax router has been released...
I can now honestly say this is a best in class router, my rating is now a 10... Just next time, Netgear, don't be in a rush to be first, just best...
If you are having any issues download the latest update dated 7-14-2006. Version V1.0.2.4.
If you haven't been able to connect before this will fix the problem...
I am happy to now give this router a 10 even if I can only give the Netgear pre-testing group a 2. I think there is probably a job opening (or soon to be) in that group now...Updated
The latest software update for the Netgear WNR834B RangeMax router has been released...
I can now honestly say this is a best in class router, my rating is now a 10... Just next time, Netgear, don't be in a rush to be first, just best...
If you are having any issues download the latest update dated 7-14-2006. Version V1.0.2.4. http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WNR834B.asp
If you haven't been able to connect before this will fix the problem...
I am happy to now give this router a 10 even if I can only give the Netgear pre-testing group a 2. I think there is probably a job opening (or soon to be) in that group now...3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Crashes constantly, then after 6 months completely broke
by 1457riata on March 28, 2007
Pros: looks nice, easy to install
Cons: range wasn't that great, maybe 50% better than g, router was constantly crashing, at least once a week, always required restart, now after 6 months it has quit working completely, won't even power on.
Summary:
Updated...
Talked to Netgear tech support. Power on problem was due to the power adapter. This isn't good news. Unit now powers on, but is now crashing about everySummary:
Updated
Talked to Netgear tech support. Power on problem was due to the power adapter. This isn't good news. Unit now powers on, but is now crashing about every five or 10 minutes. So it's completely useless and I now longer can use the excuse that it's just a bad unit that was about to fail.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works but . . . . the firmware is crap.
by dfmcse on October 19, 2006
Pros: looks nice, it does work . . . . if you can make it work.
Cons: Firmware is crap, interface is slow, firewall is not stealth (firmware V1.0.3.5), Netgear support.
Summary: If I had bought this product I'd return it. I have the device because my rangemax 240's Internet port failed and I made a hardware warranty claim. Netgear ...
Summary: If I had bought this product I'd return it. I have the device because my rangemax 240's Internet port failed and I made a hardware warranty claim. Netgear did not have any 240s to send me so I said go ahead and send me the WNR834B. So, I get the device and plug it in. I browse to the interface and the first thing that greets me is the screen that offers to check for a firmware upgrade, I say sure. It comes back telling me that it's 3 to 4 versions behind so I go ahead and update. Big mistake, basically fries the device (as far as I could tell at that time). So, I call Netgear support back, they make me suffer for 30 minutes or so before escalating to L2. L2 calls me back the next day and they decide they sent a bad device so they are going to overnight another to me. They're so nice . . . I'm sure this will be different. I can't take anymore of they're help, it's killing me. That evening I go to Netgear's website to check out their white papers on the device and I find the exact problem I’m having. I walk through the instructions and fix the device. It seems to be working fine but the performance is not what I had hoped for, my 240 covered my house better than this thing. So, I get the new new one and I'm a glutton for punishment so the first thing I do with it is update the firmware, this time however I do it locally and it still fries it. . . . Man that's quality. I don't know who's writing the code for the firmware but they should take a class or something. I fix this one too. So after tweaking the settings and changing the placement in my home/office I get the coverage I need. So, I'm using it but I was a loyal Netgear customer, now I’m a very displeased Netgear customer. Netgear support was possibly the most painful experience I've had in dealing with tech issues and I'm a Network Administrator. . . so that's saying something. On another note the firewall on this thing is not in stealth mode, I did a port scan and several ports came back as closed. I'm like what the . . . so I have to go through and reconfigure my Network so any scans go off in to nothing so I don't have half the hackers on the internet making my life more fun. . . I mean what the heck are they doing. So now I can call Netgear back to discuss there super duper firmware or just put myself out of my misery.
At least they replaced the devices, I wasn't sure that was going to happen the first call I made to Netgear on my 240 the gal tried to tell me the port failure was a "software" failure and would not be covered. So it might have been over if I didn't know anything, but you know I probably would have been happier because I just would of gone out and bought a Belkin.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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good router set up just 15mins
by vietanh05 on July 29, 2006
Pros: good looking ,running cool and upgreade latest firmware no problem
Cons: software set up liitle funky but no problem
Summary: Bought fromm Circuit city $100 ,good range second floor set ,good signal from Basement ,work with all comp Adapter g/b
Summary: Bought fromm Circuit city $100 ,good range second floor set ,good signal from Basement ,work with all comp Adapter g/b
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Working fine for 4 yrs now
by daveyadams on May 9, 2011
Pros: Good range and speed through walls
Cons: Not wall-mountable,flimsy connection to base.
Summary: Good product overall,I don;t know why so many people claim to have problems with this item.
My guess would be not having being as tech-savvy as they think ...Summary: Good product overall,I don;t know why so many people claim to have problems with this item.
My guess would be not having being as tech-savvy as they think they are,or plain old user malfunction. -
Low Quality Product
by lukey911 on March 28, 2011
Pros: Runs great for about the length of the warranty plus 3 weeks...
Cons: Occasional drops signal
Bad interface with apple products
Low quality product overallSummary: Do not buy this product. I bought it in Jan 2009. Warranty was for 1 year. 13 months after purchase it turned off and never came back on again. I ...
Summary: Do not buy this product. I bought it in Jan 2009. Warranty was for 1 year. 13 months after purchase it turned off and never came back on again. I understand the concept of planned obsoletion but give me a break. Make sure if you buy from this company that you get a product with a lifetime warrant because you are going to need it! Also had a lot of trouble getting a connection on MacBooks.
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Cusotmer service so poor it is worthless.
by f12ron on June 8, 2010
Pros: Easy set up when originally purchased.
Cons: Poor quality, drops wireless connection frequently, no product support.
Summary: I recently had the power supply fail on this product. I confirmed it was the power supply by using another identically rated power supply. I then called Netgear to buy ...
Summary: I recently had the power supply fail on this product. I confirmed it was the power supply by using another identically rated power supply. I then called Netgear to buy a new power supply. Phone support referred me to online support. Online support after one week and 8 messages back and forth told me I would have to call phone support. Another call and I was placed on hold to speak to a supervisor and after waiting on hold for 25 minutes my call was dropped (I have to assume from that they use phone equipment they manufacture). Another call and I am told I can purchase another product costing $119 or an auto charger for $19. It would take 100 ft. of Cat5 each way to go from my modem to the router in my car and back to the CPU. It would also be awkward to disconnect every time I drove somewhere. The solution now will be simple: NEVER BUY NETGEAR.
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constantly cant find or drops computer, slower than G!!
by RonB72 on November 5, 2009
Pros: there is no pros I've been dealing with this piece for 9 months
Cons: computers cant even find this network half the time even in the same room with 5 bars very slow when it works
Summary: I finaly broke down and bought a new router, Belkin N+ last week and had to right a review it was so worth the money don't waste your time ...
Summary: I finaly broke down and bought a new router, Belkin N+ last week and had to right a review it was so worth the money don't waste your time with Netgear, I called their help line for weeks and they would make up a different excuse for why it wasn't working right, turn off sleep mode, turn off screen saver, redownload software.
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After 6 months, no problems, no dropped signals.
by HWHAP on September 7, 2009
Pros: Trouble free for past six months in use 24/7 always in service. Easy initial setup, plus one button SSID broadcast. Easilly sets up guest computers with a push of a button once initial settings are made. Always a strong signal.
Cons: REQURES NETGEAR "N" ADAPTERS on remote equipment for best performance. MAY work with other leading brands but at reduced speed.
Summary: I really don't know the technical background of the reviewers, however mine is NOT network oriented. I found this unit works very well for my needs when I used ...
Summary: I really don't know the technical background of the reviewers, however mine is NOT network oriented. I found this unit works very well for my needs when I used the recommended Netgear Wireless N adapters on remote equipment. Surfers and gamers alike had no problems when I loaned them an adapter matched to the router. I use this router on a cable broadband connection realizing the full speed of my connection at every point. This technology is older now but the price remains rather high for the router and adapters in my opinion. On the other hand, for the past six months, I have had great performance from my wireless network.
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Better than DLink, Linksys, or Belkin routers
by jmcalli2 on July 22, 2009
Pros: Faster and it NEVER drops a connection.Software is a snap to install and runs unnoticed. I've had 6 PCs and a wireless printer connected at once with no problems.
Cons: Does not provide winning lottery numbers, fountain of youth address, or the meaning of life.
Summary: Quick restart after power outages too. a good piece of hardware that works.
Summary: Quick restart after power outages too. a good piece of hardware that works.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: NetGear
- Part number: WNR834B
- Description: RangeMax NEXT extends the possibilities of your wireless home network by providing a Steady-Stream of up to 270 Mbps, and is compliant with draft 802.11n. This next generation wireless standard utilizes advanced MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out) technology, which delivers incredible speed and range, and for the first time provides wireless interoperability at the highest speeds with other products with InteNsi-fi. A RangeMax NEXT wireless network creates and maintains stable connections and enough bandwidth to surf the Internet, download MP3s, make Internet phone calls, share files, play network games, and stream high-definition videos, simultaneously at any distance or location in the home or office. Because RangeMax NEXT is compatible with all legacy b and g wireless products, you are sure to be connected. Preset internal antennas and draft 11n-True-Test high-performance testing and tuning, provides maximum performance and high-quality streaming every time. Touchless WiFi Security makes creating the highest level of network security easy and includes WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Device Type Wireless router - 4-port switch (integrated)
- Enclosure Type Desktop
- Compatible Slots None
- Connectivity Technology Wireless ,
Wired - Data Link Protocol Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11n (draft),
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
Fast Ethernet - Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
- Data Transfer Rate 270 Mbps
- Encryption Algorithm WPA2,
WPA-PSK,
128-bit WEP,
64-bit WEP - Features MIMO technology ,
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) ,
DoS attack prevention ,
Firewall protection ,
URL filtering ,
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) ,
NAT support - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g ,
IEEE 802.11b ,
IEEE 802.11n (draft) - Built-in Devices Antenna
Communications
- Type None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces LAN : 4 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45,
WAN : 1 x RJ-45 Networking
- Wireless Capability This product uses the draft version of the upcoming 802.11n standard. Its compatibility with other and future products is not guaranteed, and it may interfere with current 802.11b and g products.
- Networking type Wireless router
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Miscellaneous
- Width 6.8 in
- Depth 1.5 in
- Height 8.8 in
- Weight 1.3 lbs
- Included Accessories Vertical stand
- Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities
- OS Required Novell NetWare,
UNIX,
Apple MacOS,
Linux,
Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- CNET Labs long-range tests (in Mbps) 32
- CNET Labs maximum throughput tests (at 10 feet, in Mbps) 72.7
- CNET Labs maximum throughput tests with mixed 802.11b/g and draft N, MIMO clients (at 10 feet, in Mbps) 46
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse NetGear products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:NetGear
- Address:
350 East Plumeria Drive, San Jose, CA 95134-1911 - Phone: 1-408-907-8000
- Email: support@netgear.com
- Fax: 1-408-907-8097
