Linksys WRT150N review

Linksys's WRT150N router is the cheapest Draft-N router we've seen so far.

Installation was simple, with the CD-based setup wizard holding our hand throughout the step-by-step process. There's also a handy booklet with installation details in case you get stuck, which is unlikely, as Linksys has made the process as simple as it could possibly be.

We first tested the WRT150N with our Centrino notebook. Initially we couldn't get a connection, but after realising that our notebook wouldn't work with TKIP encryption, we switched the router to AES. We got some fairly good results at close and long ranges but nothing really to impress us. The WRT150N was slower with Centrino than any router in our recent Labs (Shopper June 2007), and we couldn't get a stable connection at 25m.

Switching to Linksys's Wireless-N CardBus adaptor (£48), we found that it wasn't supplied with Windows Vista drivers. However, Linksys's website provided them for download, and the card installed without problems.

We were initially disappointed by slow transfer rates, and again we couldn't get a stable connection at 25m. Trying a couple of different channels, we found that using channel six made a huge difference to performance and produced some excellent results. The speed at close range was particularly good, while we were very impressed with the 11.8Mbit/s at 25m. Using the CardBus adaptor you'd easily be able to browse the internet anywhere in your house, and share files at close range.

There are Draft-N routers that perform better, but none that is as keenly priced as the WRT150N. With excellent performance using Linksys's CardBus adaptor, it's a great choice for those who want Draft-N performance on a budget. We only wish the Centrino performance was a bit better.

Author: Matt Smith