Netgear DGN2000 wireless modem router

The Netgear DGN2000 may not be quite as stylish as the home-friendly Linksys WAG160, but it is really very small

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The Netgear DGN2000's compact size and low-key black and grey finish, make it pleasantly unobtrusive for home use, while its large status indicators make it easy to see exactly what's going on.

  • Expert Rating

    3.00 / 5
  • User Rating

    0.50 / 5 (of 1 Review)

Pros

  • WPS, good parental control

Cons

  • Basic feature set

Bottom Line

The Netgear DGN2000 is an unobtrusive router that offers a basic feature-set.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 219.00 (AUD)

To the side of the Netgear DGN2000 you'll find a handy button for turning the wireless network on or off. You can use this to turn off Wi-Fi when you go out, providing maximum security for your network. Next to it, a Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) button enabled simple wireless setup without the need to remember passwords.

The back of the Netgear DGN2000 houses a standard 100Mbps four-port switch, along with two external antennas; however, these aren't detachable and interchangeable like those on the Billion BiPac 7402NX or DrayTek Vigor 2820Vn.

On the base of the Netgear DGN2000 is a label containing useful information including the default network configuration. It also tells you what all the indicator lights mean and how to reset the device should you lose the instruction manual.

The Netgear DGN2000 has quite a basic feature set: not only does it lack features such as VoIP, 3G and support for USB devices, but it also lacks the network prioritisation features needed to ensure that your most important internet applications aren't slowed down by others, for example by large downloads. It does however offer good parental control setup including the ability to block undesirable URLs and record logs of surfing activities.

In our performance test, the Netgear DGN2000 delivered reasonably good short-range performance, delivering 68Mbps, however this tailed off dramatically over a longer distance, dropping right down to 7Mbps - three to four times slower than the best.

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netgear customer

0.5

1

Pros
The router. Literally.
Cons
it's rubbish
• • •

Avoid these things - google for the netgear forums and look at the hundreds of posts about failed Netgear stuff, especially this router and the WN111 adaptor it sometimes comes with.

The router runs very hot indeed. After a few weeks or months the ethernet LAN ports often stop working (overheating damages the hardware?) - mine only ever worked at 10Mbps so I sent it back under warranty. The second one worked at 100Mbps for about three months then dropped to 10Mbps then all but one LAN port stoped working.

Wireless connection is dodgy.

The interface is badly documented and nothing quite works how Netgear says it does.

Support from Netgear is hopeless. They refuse to accept there's a big problem with the design of this router even though their own forums are full of people with problems. Problems that never get solved.

The only thing worse is the WN111 adaptor the router is often bundled with. Also runs very hot. Drops the connection often, and neither Vista nor Win7 can make it wake up after the PC goes to sleep - it has to be unplugged. It often fails to detect the router even when placed on top of it.

Non-Netgear adaptors also often have trouble getting and staying connected.

Don't take my word for it, google DGN2000 and WN11 + forum and see for yourself.

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