Billion BiPAC 7402GXL review

As we showed last month, it's now relatively cheap and simple to get access to the Internet at broadband speeds via the mobile phone networks.

Using the latest 3G technology, it's a great way to get online anywhere. Even at home, it could be an alternative to landline ADSL with comparable price and speed. The BiPAC connects both via 3G and ADSL (it won't work with Virgin cable) thanks to a USB port on the rear that lets you plug in a current 3G modem from any of the UK's five mobile operators. This can either be the default connection or a 'failover' for when ADSL stops working. Your PCs connect to the router via WiFi.

Like other routers, the Billion is configured via your web browser. A quick start wizard takes you through the steps to configure it, after leaving it a few minutes to recognise your 3G USB modem.

As we've come to expect from Billion, the 7402GXL is highly configurable, though only if you know what you're doing. The QoS (quality of service) controls are incredibly versatile, but there are no presets; you have to manually define the applications and services that you want to give priority to, normally real time tasks such as Internet telephony. At least the firewall - which is off by default, and should be turned on - has three predefined levels of security, which should be enough for most users. If you want more control, packet filtering rules let you define what can go in and out.

When it comes to connecting your PCs, the BiPAC 7402GXL is a standard 802.11g wireless router, not the newer and faster 802.11n type. Testing with our Centrino laptop, the speeds at one and ten metres from the router were about average, but we couldn't get a stable connection at 25m, even after changing the wireless channel. You might have better luck replacing the Billion's antenna with a high gain model.

This is a neat way of sharing a 3G connection, but we were disappointed with its WiFi results.

Author: David Ludlow