您是否注意到最近几个月市场上推出了许多AC 路由器？(AC router)AC代表什么？事实证明，它是最新的无线网络标准。它应该是 802.11n 标准的继承者，并提供高达 500 Mbit/s理论传输速度。这对于无线来说相当快，但是这些AC 路由器(AC router)有什么好处吗？为了开始回答这个问题，我们测试了我们可以拿到的第一台AC 路由器： (AC router)Belkin AC 1000 DB。让我们(Let)看看它提供什么、它是如何工作的以及它是否物有所值。
硬件规格
使这款Belkin 路由器(Belkin router)脱颖而出的原因在于它支持IEEE 802.11ac，这是一种仍在开发中的无线计算机网络标准。(wireless computer)目前，该标准的最新版本是Draft 4.0。预计在 2013 年底获得批准。除此之外，它是一个标准路由器，具有四个LAN端口和两个USB端口。它支持用于连接到Internet的(Internet)动态(Dynamic)、静态(Static)、PPOE协议，它可以在 2.4 和 5 GHz频率下工作，并提供WEP、WPA 和 WPA2(WPA and WPA2)无线安全性。
至少在理论上，该路由器同时提供高达 965 Mbps(Mbps)的双频速度（ 2.4 GHz 频率(GHz frequency)为300 Mbps + 5 GHz频率为665 Mbps）。您可以在官方产品页面(product page)上找到它的完整规格：AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router。
Belkin AC 1000 DB 拆箱
包装是非常标准的东西：它看起来不错，很容易拆箱，并且包含您期望在里面找到的东西。
你会发现路由器本身、一根短网线(network cable)、电源(power supply)、一个没有详细说明的快速安装指南、一张(installation guide)安装光盘(setup disc)和一张带有一些预设设置的快速卡。
尽管我的拍照技术令人失望，但我想您可以自己弄清楚这是一个很大的路由器。它比我测试过的其他产品更重，而且看起来不错。此外，精加工质量比以前的贝尔金(Belkin)路由器系列更好。
此外，它上面没有很多LED(LEDs)亮起。你们中的一些人肯定会欣赏这一点。我知道我知道。现在的设备只是有太多的灯一直亮着。🙂
路由器设置
初始路由器设置(router setup)需要很短的时间来执行，并且涉及的步骤很少。您被要求选择您所在的国家/地区，提供您的ISP（互联网服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)）帐户详细信息，仅此而已。
但是，这并不意味着您的工作就到此为止。您应该手动执行很多额外的步骤。首先(First)，您应该更改用于登录路由器的密码。默认情况下，密码为空，这表示存在安全问题(security problem)。然后，您的无线网络(wireless network)设置会使用一组默认值进行预配置，这些默认值印在包装中的快速卡上。正如一些安全研究人员所分享的，这可能代表另一个安全问题(security issue)。可以在此处找到更多详细信息：Belkin 路由器上的默认 WPA2 密码很容易计算出来(Default WPA2 password on Belkin routers is easily worked out)。您应该更改网络名称(network name)（SSID) 到您很容易识别为您的网络并使用不同密码（安全密钥(security key)）的东西。
管理界面(administration interface)看起来与前几代贝尔金(Belkin)路由器相同。它不包含太多高级功能，但即使您是新手也很容易使用。
在这一点上，我注意到与(difference versus)以前的贝尔金(Belkin)模型有一个重要的区别。无论多小，应用所有更改都不需要很长时间。某些设置需要完全重启路由器，这大约需要 80-90 秒。这是很多并且与以前的模型一致。但是，现在有很多很小的更改，只需 8 到 10 秒即可应用。一个受欢迎的改进。我不再觉得定制我需要的一切需要永远。我希望贝尔金(Belkin)将继续在这方面做出改进。
表现
我很想看看这款新路由器型号(router model)的性能如何。我在自己的公寓中测试路由器，公寓的面积约为 90 平方米（980 平方英尺）。首先(First)，我注意到 5GHz 频率上的信号波动小于其他路由器，包括我们在7 教程中查看的(7 Tutorials)华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)。差别不大，但很明显。如果华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)无法在公寓的偏远角落提供任何信号，则Belkin AC 1000 DB 能够提供一些信号。2.4GHz频率上的信号没有那么强。相比之下，它比我测试过的其他路由器波动更大，包括华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U). 由于 802.11ac 标准仅适用于 5GHz，因此贝尔金(Belkin)工程师专注于提高该频率的信号强度和稳定性(strength and stability)的原因显而易见。然后，我使用通过电缆连接的计算机通过网络复制了一些文件。我注意到传输速度(transfer speed)非常稳定，大约为 88 MB/s（感谢SSD 驱动器(SSD drive)）。尽管这很好，但达到的最大速度仍低于其他路由器，后者允许以 100 MB/s速度传输。我进行了其他测试，发现有线连接总是比使用其他路由器时慢。例如，通过BitTorrent传输文件(BitTorrent)最高只能达到 3.8 MB/s ，而不是我用其他路由器轻松实现的 10 MB/s此外，Speedtest.net透露我的上传和下载速度(upload and download speeds)是我使用其他路由器时的一半：下载速度为 38 Mbps，而不是 70 Mbps，上传速度为 21.51 Mpbs，而不是 62 Mbps。无论如何，我并不快乐。接下来(Next)，我在连接到以 2.4GHz 运行的无线网络(wireless network)时传输了一些大文件。达到的最高速度为 11.8 MB/s靠近路由器时。在公寓的偏远角落，速度下降到 2.5 MB/s。一个好结果！最后，当连接到5GHz的无线网络时，我传输了相同的文件。(wireless network)当靠近路由器时，达到的最大速度为 16 MB/s在公寓最偏远的角落，速度降至 1.8 MB/s。这是一个非常好的结果！在浏览网页时，Speedtest.net并没有发现这两个频率之间有任何有意义的差异，至少在靠近路由器的情况下没有。看看贝尔金 AC 1000 的方式(way Belkin AC 1000)DB执行，结果好坏参半。在 5GHz 频段提供快速无线连接的重点非常明显，并带来了许多改进。但是，使用网线时的性能还有很多不足之处，至少值得更新固件以改善体验。
很酷的功能
Belkin AC 1000 DB 包含许多您会喜欢的功能：
Intellistream - 是作为新功能销售的。但是，它似乎只是命名标准服务质量 ( Qos (Service))(Quality)功能的(Qos)另一种方式。不幸的是，自动设置根本不起作用。您必须手动设置它才能正常工作。这应该在未来的固件更新(future firmware update)中得到修复。
IPv6 support - is marketed as something new, but many routers have had this support for quite some time.
Self Healing - is a feature that allows you to set a regular router re-initialization, which can help eliminate issues with your network.
ECO MODE - allows you to disable the wireless radio at specific intervals when you know the wireless network won't be needed, to save power.
判决
Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit router提供良好的无线性能(wireless performance)，尤其是在 5GHz 频率下运行时。它对IEEE 802.11ac(IEEE 802.11ac)和IEEE 802.11n等现代无线标准的关注非常明显。如果您是那种只拥有与新无线标准兼容的新设备的极客，那么Belkin AC 1000 DB 及其更昂贵的兄弟（属于Belkin AC 系列(Belkin AC family)）应该是值得考虑的替代品。但是，请注意其与有线网络连接相关的缺点。如果你打算用网线连接很多设备，你可能会对它的性能不满意。
Reviewing the Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router
Have you noticеd that many AC routers have been launсhed on the market in the last few months? What dоes AC stand for? It turns out it is the latest wireless networking standard. It is supposed to be the sucсessor of the 802.11n standard and рrovide theoretical transfer speеds up to 500 Mbit/s. That's quite fast for wireless but are theѕe AC routers any good? To start answering the question, we tested the first AC router we could get our hands on: the Belkin AC 1000 DB. Let's fіnd out what it offers, how it works and if it is worth your mоney.
Hardware Specifications
What makes this Belkin router stand out is its support for the IEEE 802.11ac, a wireless computer networking standard, which is still in development. Currently, the latest version of the standard is Draft 4.0. Its approval is expected in late 2013. Other than that, it is a standard router with four LAN ports and two USB ports. It supports the Dynamic, Static, PPOE protocols for connecting to the Internet, it works both at 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies and offers WEP, WPA and WPA2 wireless security.
At least in theory, the router provides simultaneous dual-band speeds up to 965 Mbps (300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz frequency + 665 Mbps on 5 GHz). You can find its complete specifications on the official product page: AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router.
Unboxing the Belkin AC 1000 DB
The packaging is pretty standard stuff: it looks good, it is easy to unbox and it contains what you would expect to find inside.
You will find the router itself, a short network cable, the power supply, a quick installation guide that doesn't go into much detail, a setup disc and a quick card with some preset settings.
Even though my picture taking skills are a letdown, I guess you can figure out by yourself that this is a pretty big router. It is heavier than others I have tested and it looks good. Also, the finishing is of better quality than with the previous family of Belkin routers.
Also, there are not many LEDs lighting up on it. Some of you will definitely appreciate that. I know I do. Devices nowadays simply have too many lights lit up all the time. 🙂
Router Setup
The initial router setup takes a short time to perform and few steps are involved. You are asked to select the country you're in, provide your ISP (Internet Service Provider) account details and that's it.
However, it doesn't mean your work ends there. There are quite a few additional steps you should do manually. First, you should change the password used to log into your router. By default the password is blank and this represents a security problem. Then, your wireless network settings are preconfigured with a set of default values, printed on the quick card found in the packaging. As shared by a few security researchers, this can represent another security issue. More details can be found here: Default WPA2 password on Belkin routers is easily worked out. You should change the network name (SSID) to something you easily recognize as your network and use a different password (security key).
The administration interface looks the same as in previous generations of Belkin routers. It is doesn't include too many advanced features but it easy to use, even if you are a novice.
At this point, I noticed an important difference versus previous Belkin models. It doesn't take as long to apply all your changes, no matter how small. Some settings require a complete restart of the router which takes about 80-90 seconds. That's a lot and in line with previous models. However, now there are quite a few changes that are minor and require only 8 to 10 seconds to get applied. A welcome improvement. I no longer had the feeling that customizing everything I need takes forever. I hope Belkin will continue to deliver improvements in this area.
Performance
I was keen to see how well this new router model performs. I test routers in my own apartment which is about 90 square meters (980 square feet) in size. First, I noticed that the signal on the 5GHz frequency fluctuates less than with other routers, including, the ASUS RT-N56U we reviewed here at 7 Tutorials. The difference isn't big but it is noticeable. If the ASUS RT-N56U was not able to deliver any signal in the very remote corners of the apartment, the Belkin AC 1000 DB was able to deliver some signal. The signal on the 2.4GHz frequency is not as strong. In contrast, it fluctuates more than with other routers I tested, including the ASUS RT-N56U. Since the 802.11ac standard works only at 5GHz, it is obvious why the Belkin engineers focused on improving the signal strength and stability for this frequency. Then, I copied some files over the network, using computers that were connected via cable. I noticed that the transfer speed was very stable, at approximately 88 MB/s (thanks to an SSD drive). Even though this was good, the maximum speed achieved was less than with other routers, which allowed transfers at 100 MB/s. I ran other tests and noticed that the wired connection was always slower than when using other routers. For example, transferring files over BitTorrent was possible only at a maximum of 3.8 MB/s instead of the 10 MB/s I achieved easily with other routers. Also, Speedtest.net revealed that my upload and download speeds were half than what I used to have with other routers: 38Mbps download speed instead of 70 Mbps and 21.51 Mpbs upload speed instead of 62Mbps. I wasn't happy by all means. Next, I transferred some large files when connected to the wireless network operating at 2.4GHz. The maximum speed achieved was 11.8MB/s when close to the router. In the remote corners of the apartment, the speed went down to 2.5 MB/s. A good result! Lastly, I transferred the same files when connected to the wireless network operating at 5GHz. The maximum speed achieved was 16 MB/s when near the router. In the most remote corners of the apartment, the speed went down to 1.8 MB/s. This is a very good result! When browsing the web, Speedtest.net did not reveal any meaningful difference between the two frequencies, at lest not when in close range to the router. Looking at the way Belkin AC 1000 DB performed, the results are mixed. The focus on providing fast wireless connectivity in the 5GHz band is very obvious and it has brought many improvements. However, the performance when using network cables leaves a lot to be desired and it is worth at least a firmware update to improve the experience.
Cool Features
The Belkin AC 1000 DB packs quite a few features you will enjoy:
Intellistream - is a marketed as a new feature. However, it only seems to be a different way to name the standard Quality of Service (Qos) feature. What's unfortunate about it is that the automated setup doesn't work at all. You have to set it manually in order for it to work. This should be fixed in a future firmware update.
IPv6 support - is marketed as something new, but many routers have had this support for quite some time.
Self Healing - is a feature that allows you to set a regular router re-initialization, which can help eliminate issues with your network.
ECO MODE - allows you to disable the wireless radio at specific intervals when you know the wireless network won't be needed, to save power.
Verdict
The Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit router delivers good wireless performance, especially when operating at the 5GHz frequency. Its focus on modern wireless standards such as IEEE 802.11ac and IEEE 802.11n is very evident. If you are the kind of geek who has only new devices that work well with the new wireless standards, then Belkin AC 1000 DB and its more expensive brothers that are part of the Belkin AC family, should be considered worthy alternatives. However, be mindful of its downsides related to wired network connections. If you plan to connect quite a few devices with network cables, you might not be pleased with its performance.
