华硕(Asus)最近推出了一款非常有趣的单频路由器：RT-N18U - 一款仅使用 2.4 GHz 频率(GHz frequency)工作的路由器，它具有更昂贵路由器的硬件能力(hardware power)，而且价格合理。它的特性使我们相信这可能是2.4 GHz 频率上最快的(GHz frequency)无线路由器(wireless router)，我们非常好奇地对其进行了测试。今天，我们很高兴成为第一个评论这款路由器的英语网站。经过一周的测试，我们了解到以下内容：
华硕 RT-N18U 路由器拆箱
这款路由器的包装与其他华硕(ASUS)路由器非常相似。在包装盒内您会找到路由器、必须连接到路由器背面的三个外部天线、电源适配器(power adapter)、一根网线(network cable)、保修和快速设置指南(setup guide)。
我们测试过的型号的一个不错之处在于，电源适配器(power adapter)具有可用于多种电源插座的可拆卸插头，并且可以与来自许多国家的电源线配合使用。
要了解有关拆箱体验的更多信息，请不要犹豫，观看下面的视频：
硬件规格
硬件规格方面，华硕 RT-N18U(ASUS RT-N18U)非常有趣：它拥有强大的Cortex A9 800MHz处理器，就像它更昂贵的兄弟一样，128MB 闪存和 256MB内存(RAM)。因为它是单频路由器而不是双频路由器，这意味着这个硬件工作得更好，因为它只需要管理一个无线频率(wireless frequency)。至少在理论上。🙂
该路由器具有三个外部天线和一个USB 3.0端口，该端口也与USB 2.0设备兼容。
因为它只在 2.4 GHz 频率下(GHz frequency)工作，所以它不支持最新的 802.11ac 标准，该标准只能在 5 GHz 频率下(GHz frequency)工作。但是，对于大多数家庭网络中的大多数人来说，802.11n 已经足够快了。
在有线连接方面，这款路由器有 4 个以太网(Ethernet)端口。
您可以在此处找到完整的规格列表：ASUS RT-N18U 规格(ASUS RT-N18U specifications)。
设置和使用ASUS RT-N18U 路由器(ASUS RT-N18U Router)
使用随附的网线(network cable)将ASUS RT-N18U 路由器(ASUS RT-N18U router)连接到您的计算机。插入其电源适配器(power adapter)，然后从您的Internet 提供商处插入(Internet provider)Internet 连接(Internet connection)线，然后启动您喜欢的浏览器。转到192.168.1.1或http://router.asus.com并按照设置向导进行操作。
设置向导(setup wizard)就像所有华硕(ASUS)路由器上使用的一样。它涉及通过一些简单的配置步骤，以便进行设置并启动网络。
我们赞赏路由器已正确检测到我们的Internet 连接(Internet connection)类型并为其进行了适当的设置。
整个设置过程(setup process)的另一个好处是您可以更改用于登录和管理路由器的默认用户名和密码。(default username and password)使用不同于默认“admin”的用户名可以增强网络的安全性。
该路由器的固件与华硕(ASUS)高端型号的固件相同，并提供同样丰富的配置选项。您会发现很多东西需要配置，从无线网络的运行方式到防火墙、VPN 访问(VPN access)、家长控制、端口转发(port forwarding)等等。
此外，多语言支持一如既往的出色：用户界面(user interface)提供 22 种语言，从英语(English)到罗马尼亚语或马来语(Malay)。
在配置可用于无线网络(wireless network)的“专业”设置时，我们发现了一些有趣的功能，当您遇到问题时可能会有用：
- 减少 USB 3.0 干扰(Reducing USB 3.0 interference)- 如果您使用连接到路由器的USB 3.0设备并且您的无线连接性能下降，您可能需要将此设置设置为Enable。
- 显式波束成形(Explicit Beamforming)- 此功能使路由器能够将无线信号引导到无线设备的方向，从而提高无线信号的稳定性并提供更快的下载和上传。
- 通用波束成形(Universal Beamforming)- 如果您有不支持波束成形的旧无线设备，您可能需要启用此设置，以便无线网络(wireless network)在它们上更好地工作。如果您没有旧设备，可以禁用此功能。
关于此路由器的华硕固件(ASUS firmware)，没有什么可添加的，除了它提供了您在功能和配置选项方面所需的一切。不要犹豫，花一些宝贵的时间(quality time)来配置所有东西，您会对这款路由器的工作方式感到非常满意。
正如您稍后将在本次评测中看到的那样，华硕 RT-N18U(ASUS RT-N18U)提供了非常出色的性能，我们对它的工作方式感到满意。
Reviewing the ASUS RT-N18U Router - High-End Hardware for a Mid-Range Price
Asus has reсently launched a very interesting single-band router: RT-N18U - a router that works using only the 2.4 GHz frequency, it has the hardware power of more expensive routers аnd it is reasonably priced. Its characteristics led us to believe that this might be the fastest wireless router on thе 2.4 GHz frеquency and we were very curios to test it. Today, we are happy to be the first English-speaking website to review this router. After a week of testing, here is what we have learned:
Unboxing the ASUS RT-N18U Router
The packaging of this router is very similar to that of other ASUS routers. Inside the box you will find the router, the three external antennas that must be connected to the back of the router, the power adapter, a network cable, the warranty and a quick setup guide.
A nice touch about the model we have tested is that the power adapter had detachable plugs for several types of power outlets and it works with power lines from many countries.
To learn more about the unboxing experience, don't hesitate to view the video below:
Hardware Specifications
In terms of hardware specifications, ASUS RT-N18U is very interesting: it has a powerful Cortex A9 800MHz processor just like its more expensive brothers, 128MB of flash memory and 256MB of RAM. Because it is a single-band router and not a dual-band router, it means that this hardware works even better because it has to manage only one wireless frequency. At least in theory. 🙂
The router has three external antennas and one USB 3.0 port that's also compatible with USB 2.0 devices.
Because it works using only the 2.4 GHz frequency, it doesn't provide support for the latest 802.11ac standard, which works only in the 5 GHz frequency. However, 802.11n is fast enough for most people in most home networks.
In terms of wired connectivity, this router has 4 Ethernet ports.
You can find the complete list of specifications here: ASUS RT-N18U specifications.
Setting Up & Using the ASUS RT-N18U Router
Connect the ASUS RT-N18U router to your computer using the bundled network cable. Plug in its power adapter, then the Internet connection cable from your Internet provider and start your favorite browser. Go to 192.168.1.1 or http://router.asus.com and follow the setup wizard.
The setup wizard is just like the one used on all ASUS routers. It involves going through a few easy configuration steps, in order to set things up and get the network started.
We appreciated the fact that the router has correctly detected our Internet connection type and it has made the appropriate settings for it.
Another great thing about the whole setup process is the fact that you can change both the default username and password used to log in and administer the router. Using a username that's different from the default "admin" enhances the security of your network.
The firmware of this router is the same as that from higher-end models from ASUS and it offers the same wealth of configuration options. You will find plenty of things to configure, from the way your wireless networks function, to the firewall, VPN access, parental controls, port forwarding and much more.
Also, the multilingual support is as outstanding as ever: the user interface is available in 22 languages, from English to Romanian or Malay.
When configuring the "professional" settings that are available for the wireless network, we have discovered some interesting features that may be useful when you encounter problems:
- Reducing USB 3.0 interference - if you are using a USB 3.0 device that's connected to the router and the performance of your wireless connection decreases, you might want to set this setting to Enable.
- Explicit Beamforming - this feature enables the router to steer the wireless signal to the direction of your wireless devices, thus improving the stability of the wireless signal and providing faster downloads and uploads.
- Universal Beamforming - if you have older wireless devices that do not support beamforming, you might want to enable this setting, so that the wireless network works better on them. If you do not have older devices, it is OK to disable this feature.
There's nothing else to add about the ASUS firmware for this router, except that it provides everything you need in terms of features and configuration options. Don't hesitate to spend some quality time configuring everything and you will be very pleased by the way this router works.
As you will see later on this review, ASUS RT-N18U delivered very good performance and we were happy with the way it works.
