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Speed 'n' distance

GCN Lab review: Netgear Rangemax NEXT Wireless-N WN802T

NETGEAR’S RANGEMAX Next Wireless-N WN802T is the only AP in the review designed with internal antennae. This does take away the user’s option of adjusting the antennae, but having them inside the case protects them from damage.

The WN802T needs to be positioned vertically for signal and venting purposes, but it includes a bracket for wall-mounting and a stand for setting it on a surface. With the internal antennae, the Rangemax has a small footprint and only sticks out 11⁄2 inches if wall-mounted.

The Rangemax has only a single Gigabit Ethernet connection, necessary for connecting it to a computer or network switch. Its display consists of LEDs for power, network and wireless activity, which we found to be a bit minimal and with abstract symbols. Fortunately, the administrator interface is easy to use, and because an administrator would most likely want to check on the AP remotely, it’s more important that the Webbased interface be easy to understand.

Although the WN802T performed about as well as expected in the short distances, it slowed down considerably once we got outside. It is possible that it had a problem with the particular makeup of the glass window. It achieved slower speeds close to the window — at 50 and 60 feet — than it did farther away, which would make the window seem to be the culprit. It did do reasonably well at the midway point, with speeds around 8 megabits/sec from 70 to 110 feet. It then dropped to less than 4 megabits/sec at 120 feet and stayed at that speed to 170 feet, although the signal was still strong there.

We found the retail price of $200 higher than we would like, even though it had dropped from last year. This AP would do well in a network room that doesn’t have a lot of space and where all of the clients are indoors.

Netgear, (408) 907-8000, www.netgear.com