Netgear RangeMax ADSL Wireless Router review

The headline specification of the Netgear RangeMax is its MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) technology.

There are six aerials inside the device, which are designed to improve its performance over long distances and in noisy (wireless-wise) environments.

It certainly works well in practice and the RangeMax is both amazingly fast and incredibly good at getting a signal to places other wireless routers just can't reach. We copied 100MB of image files from one PC to another separated by a narrow corridor and two thick walls - a total distance of around 20 feet - in 62 seconds, for a total transfer rate of 1.6MB/sec, which is the same as we saw from the RangeMax when our laptop was sitting right next to it.

The router also has a built-in ADSL2+ modem. This means it's ready for the next wave of high-speed ADSL broadband services, which will be capable of download speeds of up to 24Mbit/s. When such a service will become available in your area is uncertain and only a few ISPs offer it at the moment. You can still use the router with your existing ADSL service though, and setting it up is very simple.

Before you rush out to buy the RangeMax, however, there are a couple of things to consider. First, like all MIMO routers, it's based on a relatively new wireless technology that has yet to be officially defined and approved. When it does appear, it will go by the name of 802.11n, but until then, many MIMO router manufacturers are referring to their devices as 'pre-n'. In the absence of a standard, the RangeMax uses Netgear's own proprietary MIMO technology and while this works well with 802.11b and g wireless devices (our tests used a Centrino laptop with built-in 802.11g), you'll need a corresponding NetGear wireless adapter to get the maximum performance. For example, Netgear's RangeMaxWireless PC Card for laptops, which costs around £25.

So, if you need Wi-Fi coverage in a tricky area, are prepared to risk compatibility problems with the upcoming 802.11n standard and don't mind buying an additional wireless PC Card to get the very best results from your laptop, the RangeMax is a fine choice. Otherwise, an 802.11g router is a safer option and there are high-power models available that address signal problems.