Customer Reviews
Set-up is a challenge 
2008-02-02
Having set up wireless routers in the past, I was able to get this one up and running pretty quickly. However, if you have never done it before, look somewhere else. The set-up "Wizard" is not too smart. Finally, I abandoned the Wizard and did the set-up manually and it worked fine. I also had to update the wireless LAN card driver in one of my older computers to work correctly with this router. The USB wirless adapter I bought to go with this router did instal with no trouble. I'm not a network technician, but I think the knowledge necessary to get this router working is probably beyond the average home user who simply wants to get wirless going in the house. The router does give me very high speed with the wireless N adapter, which is why I bought it. So, if you can get it to work, its probably a fine peiece of equipment.
Good for PC, Bad for MacBook Pro 
2008-01-22
I bought this router without research (last time I do that). I tried to use the setup software on the cd provided with the router, but could not get it to work through the PC or MAC. So I went through the router's IP interface to setup the security. My PCs had no trouble connecting to the wireless G. My PS3 connected with no issues through the ethernet. However, my MacBook Pro (Airport Extreme N) would connect and disconnect through the wireless N connection.
I am not sure who to blame. I suppose this is the risk you take for buying something called 802.11N draft. I tried a variety of settings on the router and could not resolve the connect/disconnect on the MacBook Pro. This is speculation, but I think it is a matter of each company has an interpretation of the N draft and they do not match.
I am returning this router and getting the Airport Extreme N router from Apple. It is more expensive, but if I can maintain N speed connection without issue, then great. Plus there are features in the Apple router I will use that do not come with the Netgear or other routers in the price range. Such as printing wirelessly...
Died on me twice: 2 months, then 14 months 2007-12-16
This product died twice on me in less than 14 months. The first time it was replaced under warranty and the second time it died shortly after the warranty expired. Aside from that there were no issues with multiple PCs (up to 6) plus several wireless devices. Naturally I'm unhappy with the longevity so replaced it with a non-Netgear product.
Great security, difficult set-up, especially for MACs 2007-12-14
The physical setup of the router - connecting the cables, plugging it in, and configuring it with a wired connection - is a breeze. I accomplished it in under 10 minutes. Then I spent the next 4 hours getting our wireless computers to connect.
One tip: Get everyone - wired and wireless - connected before you configure the security. In this way, all the networked computers will recognize the new router without any hindrances. Then go back into the setup program and configure the security.
We have several Windows PCs and one MAC. The MAC was the most difficult to connect. The box says MAC OS compatible, so I was quite put out when Netgear customer service told me to call Apple to resolve the problem.
Fortunately, I insisted on speaking with a supervisor. This individual stuck with me for the next hour and half until we got the MAC connected.
This is what worked for me, but YMMV. At lower level security - WEP and WPA1 - the MAC needs a dollar sign ($) entered preceding the password, like this: $password, when you connect it to the network. At the higher level WPA2 security, it does not take the dollar sign.
While I succeeded in connecting the MAC, the user reports that he is experiencing interruption of the wireless connection to a greater degree than previously experienced. The Windows PCs have not experienced any loss of performance.
I purchased Netgear mostly because, with the exception of the MAC, the PCs all have Netgear wireless ethernet cards. This is because we've had Netgear routers for years. However, on average the routers last about a year. Next year, should the occasion call for it, I'll risk another brand.
A fire hazard... certainly burns your money from the start 
2007-11-27
Not only do the performance issues seem to be of real concern, but the bloody thing is a fire hazard too. Mine smalls like it's about to blow up. Reviews I have read since buying it reveal many have had the same issue, replacing it three or four times only to have it overheat and die. I have replaced mine, it's a fire hazard.
Easy to set up though and quite good performance, but not worth the strong smoke in my house and need to keep a fire extinguisher near by.
Very poor range - serious PO 2008-05-26
I replaced my "old" wireless G router with this one because the sales rep at staples promised it would boost my effective range (I needed another 30ft without adding another router.
Well, I set it up and it does work......but it has half the range of my old netgear wireless G router.
I then went on a business trip and when I got back tried to return it......30 days was up. Now I'm stuck with it.
P.O.S.
Pretty Happy so far 
2008-05-25
It was time for a router upgrade and I went with this model. It was recently marked down to only 80 bucks at Circuit City, so I went for it. First, the negatives... it was not easy to set up and I am very saavy when it comes to networks. The wizard was terrible and I actually had to call tech support. I was only on hold for 30 seconds! Wow, what a nice surprise. On the flip side, I could barely understand him due to his heavy accent, but he had me up and running in a few short minutes.
That aside, the product works fantastic. I have it hooked up to a laptop and two Xbox 360's and it runs like a champ so far. Screaming fast speeds and no signal problems yet, although I do have a pretty small home. The automatic firmware upgrade feature is VERY nice and updated in just a few minutes.
POS, 2 dead in less than a year 2008-05-21
Setup wasn't great, but not terrible. I have had two die on me in less than a year. Indian tech support guys are the politest people on earth, but not very helpful. The last Netgear router I had before those two died on me after a year too. A waste of a lot of time and money.
I'd like to meet the novice 2008-03-28
I doubt I have ever had as much indecision in arriving at what I consider to be the most appropriate star rating for any item I've reviewed. I do not claim to be a networking savant however I do have enough of a background that I felt confident that I could create a security-enabled network with only a moderate degree of frustration. And, if I thought through the process, I could have, but that blurb on the box about easy setup lured me in. Step one to achieving that objective would have been to dispense with any attempt to find documentation and then setting aside the resource CD. Even if you are acquainted with networking, just call technical support from the outset, endure the requisite hold time and allow the support personnel to walk you through the installation. Yes, telephone support is outsourced to India however my impression is in this instance they are quite helpful, probably from plenty of practice.
The 834B employs 802.11n draft standards and is backwards compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g as well as Ethernet connectivity. My installation utilizes "g" and Ethernet. Marketing documents claims include transmission speeds of up to 270Mbps and accommodation of security protocols WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK. For some devices, security may be constrained to the base standard of WEP due to connectivity and wish I had known that before I started. In any event, with the protocol I finally ended up with, a passphrase of between 8-63 characters is required and clear definition of with security key to be used must be designated at Netgear's router configuration site. Obviously, one also has to select a network name, define a channel and hope for the best. And then do it all over again when that channel fails to be recognized and you are locked into local connectivity only. It's likely that you will have to go through search and seek scenario three times before success in realized, assuming the chosen security option is valid, the passphrase is correctly constructed and all of your devices are supported. The "Smart Wizard" interface from the CD will get you the site but from there you're pretty much on your own and the site itself is not very intuitive. So, as mentioned above, unless you are familiar with all of the nuances, sublimate the ego and just make the call. For me, the time I would have saved outweighs the satisfaction of completing the installation without assistance.
My ambiguity on the rating is predicated my experience in getting the network up and running. Thus far (3 months), I couldn't be more pleased with the hardware. I rate it 5 stars. I do not encounter any significant episodes of signal loss, line drops or disconnects. I have two PCs communicating via 3rd party wireless adapters and another linked by Ethernet to a Netgear access point/Bridge. For the same reason, I can't accurately estimate the broadcast range of the router exclusively, but for those who might be interested, the NETGEAR HD/Gaming 5 GHz Wireless-N Networking Kit (WNHDEB111) is impressive AND, easy to install on an existing network. The documentation and support material resident on the CD is near to worthless, I rate it "1" star because "0" is not an option. Customer Technical support rates "3" stars as the technicians seem to know their stuff but you will spend more than a few minutes on hold. So, I end up with an overall rating of "4" since in my view, the reliability of the hardware is the primary concern.
Works great, easy to set up 
2008-02-08
I recently purchased a NETGEAR WNR834B Router as it was referred to me by a friend. I read some mixed reviews but he assured me the product worked great. After doing some research I found out that the lastest version now automatically downloads the most current firmware and NETGEAR added QOS which prioritizes gaming and other critical traffic like VOIP which I set up as I use Skype and play games :)
Their website mentioned a new installation wizard which worked great and I get a signal across by 2900 sq ft. house. I stream video from my office upstairs to my TV downstairs and play photo albums wirelessly for the parents. Seems like the newest version has all the kinks worked out.
