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Netgear WGT624NA Wireless G Firewall Router
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| Price: | Too low to display & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
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Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
36 new or used available from $14.99
Average customer review:
Product Description
Netgear Wireless G Firewall Router
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #5812 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Netgear
- Model: WGT624
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: 7.00" h x 5.00" w x 2.00" l, .66 pounds
Features
- Super-G Wireless router improves your wireless speed and range
- 4-port switch delivers twice the speed and four times the coverage of the standard Wireless-G protocol
- Configurable for private networks or public hotspots
- Double Firewall protection to defend your computer from external hacker attacks
- Device measures 6.9 x 1.1 x 4.7 inches (WxHxD)
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
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 With Super-G networking, the WGT624 can deliver speeds up to 108 Mbps. View larger. |
If security is a concern, you can rest easy knowing that your network is being powered by this router. Designed to be configurable for private networks or public hotspots, the WGT624 features double Firewall protection to defend your computer from external hacker attacks. And with Touchless Wi-Fi Security, this device makes securing your network a breeze.
The routing protocols for the WGT624 are both static and dynamic routing. This device works with most Internet gaming and instant messaging applications, and other applications that support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic Internet access. Other functions include:
- Automatic ISP detection
- Exposed Host (DMZ)
- MAC address authentication
- Time-based usage controls
- "Trusted User" controls
- URL content filtering
- Logs and e-mail alerts of Internet
- Wireless Access Control
- Wi-Fi Protected access (WPA)
- Pre-shared Key remote management
What's in the Box
NETGEAR WGT624 Super-G Wireless Router, setup CD, power adapter, Ethernet cable, vertical stand, setup guide, and warranty/support information card.
From the Manufacturer
Early Adopters Pick: October 2003. The first Super G Router with double the speed of 802.11g and up to 10 times faster than 802.11b.
Up to 10x Faster Than 802.11b with Greater Range
Super Fast! Netgear's WGT624 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router is 10 times faster than 802.11b routers. When used with Netgear's WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card, it delivers speeds up to 108 Mbps using Super GTM Technology. It has the power to distribute byte-hungry photos and smooth, long-range MP3 and digital movie streams at superior range. Super Secure! The WGT624 protects your network with over 10 security and privacy features including a double firewall (NAT + SPI), Multi-VPN** (pass-through) support, and next generation wireless encryption WPA (pre-shared key). Super Easy! Netgear's Smart Wizard gets you connected in 5 clicks or less!
**Requires firmware upgrade from the NETGEAR Support web site. Use the easy "Assisted Upgrade" feature.
Super Fast
The WGT624 uses Super G technology to deliver up to 108 Mbps when used with the WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card. It’s the next generation of home networking with the power that finally allows you to stream MP3s and videos seamlessly, share printers, chat and distribute large photo files. Your whole family can surf the net, e-mail and even voice chat at the same time -- the WGT624 and WGT511T can handle the traffic!
Super Range
The performance of the WGT624 is so powerful that you can enjoy high speed applications at greater range. Don’t be constrained by low wireless bandwidth anymore. With the WGT624, you don’t need to sit in your office to enjoy your MP3s and video streams.
Super Easy
Smart Wizard gets you up and running in five clicks or less by automatically detecting the ISP connection type and reducing setup errors. The Smart Wizard Install Assistant is an interactive on-line tutorial that walks you through the entire set up for easy installation. Use the Smart Wizard assisted firmware upgrade feature to automatically check for new features and upgrade your network in just 1 click! The WGT624 is 802.11g standard compliant which ensures it is interoperable with existing 802.11b and 802.11g devices, and since it works with your existing 802.11b devices it protects your investment. And it is wireless so it allows you to connect network devices anywhere in your home without additional wiring. The WGT624 supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP technology for smooth interoperability among your PCs and Macintosh computers, gaming consoles, and other Ethernet-enabled devices.
Super Secure
The WGT624 protects your network with over 10 security and privacy features including a double firewall (NAT + SPI), multi-VPN (pass-through) support, MAC Address Control, and, it’s upgradable to the next generation of wireless encryption, WPA (pre-shared key).
"Trusted User" controls, allow you to manage access to the Internet by web address, PC name or by the time of day. You can also control access to any PC on your network. Event logs and e-mail alerts will help you maintain control of your network and notify you of hack attempts, attacks and unauthorized access to your network or Internet sites.
Customer Reviews
Easy setup, poor quality
A month ago I bought the Netgear WGT624 Version 2 wireless "Super G" router, on the basis that it was affordable and that Netgear had always given me good service. Having professionally installed networks in the past, I have always been happy with Netgear's commercial products and was expecting this one to be the same quality. The router was super easy to install and set up, their setup wizard was great, and when it worked, the router was blazing fast. I only got to use the cable connections, never got time to setup a wireless connection. As other reviewers have said, it was setup and running within five minutes of plugging it in.
***CAVEAT*** - It worked GREAT for two days, then began to randomly drop the LAN connections, resulting in the dreaded "Network Cable Unplugged" message (search for "netgear wgt624 network cable unplugged" or search Netgear's forums for pages of similar complaints with no resolutions). This got worse, beginning at a few times per day, finally getting down to every few minutes - it now only worked a few times per day! After a week of swapping NIC's, cables, and confirming settings, I finally broke down and e-mailed Netgear tech support - who was kind enough to reply after two days with the same things I had already tried (confirm settings, hardware reset, update firmware, etc.), and a request for more detailed system info if the problem persisted. Even with the most current firmware release, it would not work reliably - so I sent them back every detail they had requested but got no response after a week.
When I finally called them, I got their tech support department in India who confirmed that I was eligible for free tech support (they only offer it for 90 days from purchase, then you have to pay) and then began to go over the e-mails we'd swapped. After 10 minutes with no luck, he suggested that I try the Beta version of the firmware release, AND that this beta version would void my Netgear warranty. After making this suggestion, he said goodbye and hung up in the middle of the conversation. When I immediately called back to India, I got a different tech and was told that I was already out of the 90 day free tech support period (I bought the router a month ago mind you) and that I would have to pay for any support or to get the router replaced under the warranty. After some argument, he finally agreed to help me, but found that the router was indeed defective - and pointed out that there is a known problem with these particular models and he could not guarantee that a replacement would work any better.
In order to get the router replaced under the warranty, I would have had to fax or mail my receipt to India (not a toll free #), and wait a week for them to confirm that my Router was within the warranty. After this was done, I would have to call them back and PAY for the "Extended Tech Support," since their computer showed that my router was out of the 90 day free support period (again, it was only a month old). If this return call to tech support proved that my router was defective, I would then get an RMA and have to either ship the defective router to India at my expense and wait three weeks for them to ship a refurbished replacement unit back, or pay them $30 to have a replacement shipped to me first, then ship the defective unit back to them at my expense.
***SOLUTION*** - I returned the router and bought another brand. In searching the Internet, I found that the equivalent D-Link model (the DI-624) has strikingly similar problems so I bought a Linksys and have been happy thus far. I agree with the reviews that the Linksys is not quite as foolproof to set up, but it's worked great for two days now. We'll see.
No Issues - Great router
I bought this router to replace a Netgear MR814 v1 that I outgrew.
Right out of the box, this router worked without changing any settings at all! I turned off all pc's and my cable modem, connected the router, turned on my cable modem, then the router, then the pc's. Everything worked like a champ.
Next I went into the web interface (which you can get to by opening Internet Explorer and typing 192.168.0.1 into the address bar, then type in the user and password) to setup the security settings. I was very impressed to see all of the latest security features included. Probably the one feature that I like the best was the auto firmware upgrade feature. The firmware of the router is what tells the router how to work. New versions of firmware can fix problems as well as give you new features. On many other routers the process of upgrading the firmware can be quite difficult for "normal" people that aren't techies. With this router, you just click "Firmware Upgrade" and it will go out to netgear, find new firmware if available, and install it all automatically for you. Great feature.
Range was also a big deal for me as the house it was being installed in was a split 3 level house with the router being in the 2nd floor. I never used to be able to go outside at all with my old router and the signal in the bottom floor was always very weak. This router lets me have full coverage throughout the house and venture off into my backyard to the edge of my property! Amazing improvement. I am using the Netgear WGT511 card in one laptop, the 802.11b pci card in a desktop downstairs, and a wired card in a desktop upstairs, all with no problems at all.
Performance problems with SPI?
That's my observation. Ever since I installed this as a replacement for my D-Link DI-764, I noticed a drop in performance - downloading web pages and such. I thought it might just be some slowness to my cable provider but the problem persisted - Upon tinkering, I noticed that performance went from 1300-1700 to 2600-2900 Kbps when I disabled the router's Stateful Packet Inspection. That's a pretty big performance hit for SPI (in my book). Other than that, it's delightful and the wireless works great, can't use 108 much since it only works on channel 6 and my neighbor laid claim to channel 6 a long time ago.
