Router Review: Edimax BR-6258n

A nano router for the road


Router Review: Edimax BR-6258n

by Trevor Tan
04:46 AM Apr 06, 2011

WITH several Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets - such as the iPad and PSP - in our backpacks these days, we can only hope for a tiny wireless router to create a personal Wi-Fi heaven in the office or hotel. Edimax's BR-6258n nano router answers that prayer.

It is the world's smallest wireless broadband nano router, according to Edimax. At only 51x42x71mm, it is nearly half the size of your credit card (albeit much thicker). In fact, the power plug is bigger than the router.

The BR-6258n is compatible with 802.11n standard with data rates up to 150Mbps (megabits per second). It also supports a multitude of wireless protocols and configurations such as WMM, WEP, WPA, WPA2, DDNS, QoS, IP/MAC filter, DMZ, and virtual server.

The looks are supposed to be inspired by sport cars. But other than its fierce red colour, I really can't see the sports car inspiration.

Setting it up is easy and fast. As it uses a micro-USB port for power, you can plug it into a computer or the bundled power plug via a USB cable.

The router has two ports: A WAN and a LAN port. Connect an ethernet cable from a cable modem to the BR-6258n's WAN port and you are ready to set up your wireless network. You can also plug another ethernet cable from the LAN port to a PC.

To change its settings, you can access the BR-6258n's Web-based configuration interface via any connected computer with any Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Safari. The configuration is pretty comprehensive from setting up DMZ to remote management access.

The range of the wireless connection is really good for a router of its size. I placed my iPad two rooms (about 15m) away from the router with a few concrete walls in the way and I only lost a bar in signal strength.

I couldn't reach the fastest 150Mbps speed as advertised but that could be due to various reasons such as my cable modem or broadband package. On average, the download and upload speeds are around 16Mbps and 1Mbps, respectively, which is great as these are the fastest speeds allowed on my broadband package. Trevor Tan

Source: www.todayonline.com