Actiontec Wireless G Router and Network Cards

Reviews: Networking

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Richard Poelling
Brian
Actiontec
Oct. 3, 2005

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Network Setup

Network cards are generally useless until the router is setup, so that will be our first order of business. To begin, the router is plugged into the power outlet, the WAN (internet) and computer. It is always a good idea to administer a router through a wired connection when first starting; besides, you can't configure a wireless card without first turning on the radio signal anyway. You may not notice it at first, but out of the box, the wireless light does not illuminate when first powered up. This is not a broken light or a router error. The wireless radio ships disabled. I would like to commend Actiontec for this simple act, because it forces the user to look at the setup and think about what they are doing. It is a step in the right direction for security, and you know how much I love secure wireless!

Now you can choose to set up the router through the supplied software or through the administrative user interface. I prefer the admin interface method because it is usually easier and will provide you with ALL the options that are normally not seen with a standalone installation assistant. Both ways will work, but the admin interface is my preferred method. This was accessed by typing the router IP: 192.168.0.1. No administrator password was required and is followed by a basic setup screen. Running the basic install only initializes the internet functionality. This essentially entails the service type and some basic network stuff such as host name and domain name (if required). This router is configured for a DSL connection out of the box, so all you cable modem users will definitely need to reconfigure it. The advanced setup option will allow access to the wireless setup options, which I will cover next.

Wireless Setup

This router, although it looks very simple from the initial setup page, boasts many good features, including port forwarding, website blocking, services blocking, DMZ hosting, multiple routing options, and various firewall levels to name a few. Most important to start with is, of course, the wireless setup. To begin, you must first turn on the wireless radio. Selecting a SSID and channel are next. I chose to leave these as the default of SSID of ACTIONTEC on channel 9.

This router includes settings for either 802.11b or 802.11g, plus a mixed mode setup. Your choice will depend on whether you have any legacy 802.11b products which still need to connect - in which case, placing the router in 802.11g only mode will block their access to this router. Once the initial protocol selection is made, you are left with a single, most important choice!security. I hesitate in saying choice as there's really only one security option, WPA. You could go with the 802.1x, but this is only if you have a backend RADIUS server to support that sort of thing. If you have to ask what a RADIUS server is, you don't have one. Once you've adjusted all your wireless settings, a device reboot will be required. This will take about a minute and is completed when the power light stops flashing.

The router also includes settings for MAC address authentication. MAC addressing can be used to increase the level of security on your wireless network by creating lists to accept or deny access. I don't usually find this feature to be of great use to secure your network since there are ways to forge MAC addresses. This would, however, be a good feature if you wanted to keep a specific computer off the network, for example, one used by your kids.

Adapter Setup

The USB adapter setup is as easy to install as any other USB device. I started by inserting the accompanying CD into the CD drive. The instructions do state to install the drivers BEFORE plugging in the device. Following these instructions, I had the adapter setup and running in no time. For the actual connection to the access point, I used the windows XP zero wireless configuration. After entering in the required WPA-PSK key, I was on the net and surfing away.

PCMCIA card Setup

Like the USB adapter, the PCMCIA card installation was straightforward and easy. Again, you are required to install the drivers BEFORE the card is inserted. Following the directions is always a good idea, or so I hear.

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Page 3 of 6

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Looks
Page 3: Setup
Page 4: Router Features
Page 5: Router Features Continued
Page 6: Testing & Conclusion

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7 User Comments

1 - Posted by blackjet on October 4, 2005 - 10:34 am

what does the 802.11 and the letter following it ie b or g stand for?

2 - Posted by handrail on October 4, 2005 - 12:37 pm

in short....

b = 11Mbps transfer rate

g = 54 Mbps transfer rate

3 - Posted by Rich on October 4, 2005 - 12:41 pm

Check out this article for more info.

http://www.thetechlounge.com/article.php?directory...

4 - Posted by blackjet on October 5, 2005 - 4:21 am

good article, u just cant beat a GB wired connection for gaming with mates tho! when u think wireless will ever get that fast? if ever?

5 - Posted by Rich on October 5, 2005 - 8:18 am

Some of the new "pre-N" routers are much faster, but it is still a wireless link. I personally would rather run the wires, but then again, I have so many wires now whats a few more. The thing I hate the most is that there is so much overhead and other stuff that is involved with the transmission of wireless signals that it may say 54 Mbps but it is really 25 Mbps. The "speed boosted" options that are advertised as 108 Mbps are actually sitting at the 50-60 Mbps range of the previous standard.

6 - Posted by blackjet on October 5, 2005 - 8:59 am

yea i perfer the wires too...

7 - Posted by Rich on October 5, 2005 - 6:13 pm

Wireless is good if you can't run wires, but a Gigabit connection can reach speeds of 300-500Mbps. Show me a wireless that runs that well and then I will think about it.

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