就个人而言，我是贝尔金(Belkin)路由器的粉丝，过去我拥有过一些不错的型号。一次偶然的机会，我得到了Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router，至少在理论上，它包含了一些有趣的技术和功能。我真的很想知道它是否是一个好的路由器，以及它是否值得运行我的家庭网络(home network)。让我们看看我发现了什么。
硬件规格
我用单元部件代码(unit part code)# F9K1102 v1测试了一个路由器，这似乎是审查时市场上最新的可用。完整的硬件规格可在此处找到：N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router。我发现值得强调的事情如下：
- 它提供在 2.4 GHz和 5 GHz 下(GHz)运行的双频段、双并发无线电(concurrent radio)。因此，您可以同时运行两个无线网络：2.4 GHz使用 802.11n 和 802.11g 或 802.11b 标准运行，而 5 GHz使用 802.11n 或 802.11a。这意味着 5 GHz无线连接只能由支持这些标准及其实现的更高速度的现代设备使用。
- 该路由器可用于通过网络电缆连接多达四个设备。它还有一个USB 端口(USB port)，您可以在其中连接打印机或外部磁盘驱动器(disk drive)。
- 它支持以下与您的ISP（互联网服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)）连接的协议：动态(Dynamic)、静态(Static)、PPOE 和 Telstra BigPond(PPOE and Telstra BigPond)。
- 路由器最多允许 16 个无线连接。
Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router拆箱
拆箱此路由器并没有什么特别之处。在包装盒内，您会得到您所期望的东西：路由器本身、电源(power supply)、带有用户手册的(User Manual)安装 CD(Setup CD)和一根短网线(networking cable)。此外，还有一张卡片，其中包含有关路由器的预配置网络名称和密码的详细信息。它们必须在初始配置期间使用，如果您不想更改默认配置(default configuration)，以后也可以使用它们。
我发现网络电缆(networking cable)有点太短了。它仅对连接靠近路由器的设备有用。如果您在桌面下方(desktop beneath)有桌面，而在桌面上方有路由器(desk and router)，则无法使用电缆连接两者。路由器看起来不错。我喜欢它的形状和整体设计。然而，贝尔金(Belkin)使用的塑料感觉便宜且易碎。此外，没有可见的通风系统(ventilation system)，在温暖的日子里，路由器确实会发热很多。
路由器设置
设置有点冗长，但不难理解。CD 上的设置软件指导用户完成路由器、您的(setup software)Internet 提供商(Internet provider)和网络上的计算机之间需要建立的物理连接。
然后，它会检测您的ISP使用的协议。我喜欢它在第一次尝试时正确识别它。然后，它会询问您所需的身份验证详细信息（如果有）。由于我的ISP使用PPOE 协议(PPOE protocol)，我必须插入我的帐户详细信息。接下来(Next)，您需要指定包装中包含的卡上的连接详细信息。如果没有，请查看路由器底部。他们也在那里被发现。输入这些内容并且安装程序已安装所有Belkin 软件(Belkin software)它需要，你应该很高兴。虽然有些人会欣赏路由器为无线连接预定义的名称和密码，但我真的很想更改它们并创建自己的设置。我相信许多其他极客也会有同样的感觉。这就是麻烦开始的地方。
浏览所有配置菜单(configuration menus)并完成设置是一种缓慢而痛苦的体验。任何更改都需要很长时间才能应用：大多数更改需要 30 到 40 秒。您无法进行更大的更改并一次性应用它们。在任何一个配置菜单中更改任何内容后，您必须点击应用，并等到(configuration menu and wait)它被应用后再进入下一个菜单。如果您考虑到还需要进行固件更新(firmware update)，那么您将等待很长时间，直到您根据需要设置了所有内容。
表现
虽然我没有机会进行非常精确的测量，但我必须说我对Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router的性能印象不深。以前，几年来我一直使用Belkin N+ Wireless Router。我曾经并且仍然对它的传输速度感到非常满意，看到贝尔金(Belkin)的新路由器表现不佳，我感到非常失望。Belkin N600 DB在2.4 GHz和 5 GHz上的无线连接(wireless connection)平均传输速度约为 7 MB/s。后者总是稍快但不超过几百KB/s。与我的旧Belkin N+的无线传输速度在大多数情况下接近 9 MB/s。另一个令人失望的方面是新模型的范围。我在一个相当大的公寓里使用它——大约 90(approx 90)平方米。它能够覆盖所有房间，但信号强度比旧型号弱。在公寓更偏远的角落，它只有 25-30% 的信号强度，而旧型号的信号强度为 30-35%。看到这一点，我真的很惊讶，考虑到贝尔金(Belkin)如何吹捧他们的新无线MultiBeam 技术(MultiBeam technology)比旧技术好得多。有线连接也是如此。使用我以前的路由器和其他路由器(router and others)我已经测试过，即使从Internet下载，我也能够以 10 MB/s秒的速度传输文件。贝尔金N600 DB(Belkin N600 DB)并非如此。我达到的最大值在 8 到 9 MB/s之间，但从来没有达到 10。我也看到其他路由器的速度更快，我不禁觉得Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router提供了平均覆盖范围和传输速度(coverage and transfer speeds).
酷感
撇开平均性能不谈，Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router确实具有一些很酷的功能。首先(First)，我非常喜欢服务质量(Quality of Service)( QoS )，它允许您管理网络流量(network traffic)并优先处理Internet 视频(Internet video)、游戏或语音和视频聊天(voice & video chat)。
我也喜欢它的ECO 模式(ECO Mode)，它允许您在特定的日期和时间间隔关闭无线电。(wireless radio)如果您知道您不会使用无线连接(wireless connection)，您可以将其设置为关闭，以免浪费太多能量。此外，您不会有任何不受欢迎的客人使用无线网络(wireless network)。
另一个很酷的功能是您可以安排定期维护以自动完成。至少在理论上，这应该有助于在使用路由器时获得更好的体验。
问题
在我为期三周的测试中，我遇到了三个让我非常恼火的问题：
- 您不能根据 MAC 保留 IP 地址-(MAC)许多其他路由器（包括旧款Belkin型号）都具有此非常有用的功能。贝尔金 N600 DB(Belkin N600 DB)没有！因此，如果您在笔记本电脑上重新安装 Windows 或重置无线连接(wireless connection)设置，它将收到不同的 IP。对于在某些情况下需要使用 IP 地址而不是计算机名称的极客来说，这尤其令人讨厌。我真的希望在未来的固件更新(future firmware update)中启用此功能。
- 计算机每天失去连接一到两次 - 这尤其发生在我的桌面上，通过LAN 电缆连接(LAN cable)。网线没问题，路由器不行。总是，我的台式机每天失去一次或两次互联网连接。(internet connection)时间不长——通常是一分钟左右——但总是很烦人。不，互联网(Internet)并没有关闭。通过无线连接的其他设备和计算机能够浏览网络。这似乎发生在更多的计算机和设备连接到网络时，例如在晚上：同时连接了 3 台计算机、2 部智能手机和一台无线打印机。
- 路由器每隔几天就会失去一次连接 - 这种情况不像以前的问题那样经常发生，但确实发生了。有时没有设备可以访问互联网(Internet access)，我只是无法访问路由器的配置页面(configuration page)。它根本不会加载。唯一的解决方案是手动重置路由器。重置后，一切又恢复正常了。
- Windows中的家庭组功能(Homegroup feature)在通过不同方式连接到网络的计算机之间不起作用 - 例如，您可以在通过网络电缆连接的计算机之间使用家庭组功能。(Homegroup feature)那里没有问题！当您尝试仅在连接到同一无线网络(wireless network)的计算机之间使用它时也是如此。但是当您混合连接方法时，您将无法让所有计算机加入同一个Homegroup。如果您有一台通过电缆连接的台式机和一台通过无线连接的笔记本电脑，您将无法让它们加入同一个Homegroup。其他人也遇到过这个问题。在Google上搜索(Google)透露其他人有类似的麻烦。这对我来说是一个主要的阻碍(show stopper)，因为它不允许我通过我的家庭网络(home network)轻松共享数据。
判决
Reviewing the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router
Personally, I am a fan of Belkin roυters and I have owned a few good models in the past. By chance, I managed to get my hands on a Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router which, аt least in theory, packs some interesting technologies and features. I was reallу curious to learn if it is a good router and if it is worthy of running my home network. Lеt's see what I have found out.
Hardware Specifications
I tested a router with the unit part code # F9K1102 v1 which seems to be the latest available on the market at the time of the review. The complete hardware specifications can be found here: N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router. The things I found worth highlighting are the following:
- It offers a dual band, dual concurrent radio running at 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Therefore you can have two wireless networks running simultaneously: the 2.4GHz runs using 802.11n & 802.11g or 802.11b standards while the 5 GHz using 802.11n or 802.11a. This means the 5GHz wireless connection can be used only by modern devices which support these standards and the improved speeds they enable.
- The router can be used to connect up to four devices via network cables. It also has a USB port where you can connect a printer or an external disk drive.
- It supports the following protocols for the connection with your ISP (Internet Service Provider): Dynamic, Static, PPOE and Telstra BigPond.
- The router allows for a maximum of 16 wireless connections.
Unboxing the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router
There is nothing spectacular about unboxing this router. Inside the box you get the things you would expect: the router itself, the power supply, a Setup CD with the User Manual and a short networking cable. Also, there is a card with details about preconfigured network names and passwords for the router. They must be used during the initial configuration and can be used later on as well, if you don't care to change the default configuration.
I found the networking cable a bit too short. It is useful only for connecting devices that are placed close to the router. If you have a desktop beneath the desk and router on top of it, the cable cannot be used to connect the two. The router does look good. I like its shape and overall design. However, the plastic used by Belkin feels cheap and easily breakable. Also, there is no visible ventilation system and, during warmer days, the router does heat quite a lot.
Router Setup
The setup is a bit lengthy but it is not hard to follow. The setup software on the CD guides the user through the physical connections that need to be made between the router, your Internet provider and the computers on the network.
Then, it detects the protocol used by your ISP. I liked that it identified it correctly on the first try. Then, it asks you for the required authentication details (if any). Since my ISP uses the PPOE protocol, I had to insert my account details. Next, you need to specify the connection details found on the card included in the package. If you don't have it, look on the bottom of the router. They are found there as well. Once those are entered and the setup has installed all the Belkin software it needs, you should be good to go. While some people will appreciate that the router has predefined names and passwords for the wireless connections, I really wanted to change them and create my own setup. I'm sure many other geeks will feel the same. And here is where the trouble starts.
Going through all the configuration menus and getting the set up done is a slow and painful experience. Any change takes quite a lot of time to get applied: 30 to 40 seconds for most changes. You cannot make a bigger set of changes and apply them all in one go. You must hit apply after changing anything in any one configuration menu and wait until it gets applied before you go to the next menu. If you take into consideration that you need to also make a firmware update, you are in for a long wait, until you have setup everything as needed.
Performance
While I did not get the chance to make very exact measurements, I must say that I wasn't impressed with the performance of the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router. Previously, for several years I used a Belkin N+ Wireless Router. I was and still am very happy with its transfer speeds and I was very disappointed to see that the new router from Belkin does not perform as well. The Belkin N600 DB had average transfer speeds around 7 MB/s on the wireless connection, both on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The latter was always slightly faster but not by more than a few hundred KB/s. With my old Belkin N+, the transfer speeds on wireless were, most times, close to 9 MB/s. Another disappointing aspect is the range of the new model. I used it in a reasonably big apartment - approx 90 square meters in size. It was able to cover all the rooms but the signal strength was weaker than with the old model. In the more remote corners of the apartment it had only 25-30% signal strength while the older model had 30-35%. I was really surprised to see this, considering how Belkin touts their new wireless MultiBeam technology to be so much better than older technologies. The same story goes for the wired connection. With my previous router and others that I have tested, I was able to transfer files with 10MB/s second, even when downloading from the Internet. With Belkin N600 DB that is not the case. The maximum I achieved was between 8 and 9 MB/s but never 10. I've seen better speeds with other routers too and I can't help feel that the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router delivers average coverage and transfer speeds.
Cool Touches
Leaving the average performance aside, the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router does have some cool features. First, I very much enjoyed the Quality of Service (QoS) that allows you to manage the network traffic and gives priority to Internet video, games or voice & video chat.
I also liked its ECO Mode which allows you to turn off the wireless radio at specific days and time intervals. If you know you won't be using the wireless connection, you can set it to shut down and not waste so much energy. Plus, you won't have any unwanted guests using the wireless network.
Another cool feature is that you can schedule regular maintenance to be done automatically. At least in theory, this should help with having a better experience when using the router.
Problems
In my three weeks testing, I encountered three problems that really annoyed me:
- You cannot reserve IP addresses based on the MAC - many other routers including older Belkin models have this very useful feature. Belkin N600 DB doesn't! Therefore, if you reinstall Windows on a laptop or reset the wireless connection settings, it will receive a different IP. That is especially annoying for geeks who need to use IP addresses in certain scenarios, instead of computer names. I really hope this feature will be enabled in a future firmware update.
- Computers lose connectivity once or twice per day - this happened especially to my desktop, connected via a LAN cable. The cable was fine, the router wasn't. Invariably, my desktop lost the internet connection once or twice each day. It wasn't for long - generally a minute or so - but it was always annoying. And no, the Internet wasn't down. The other devices and computers connected via wireless were able to browse the web. This seemed to occur especially when more computers and devices were connected to the network, as during the evening: 3 computers plus 2 smartphones and a wireless printer were connected at the same time.
- The router loses connectivity once every few days - this did not happen as often as the previous problem, but it did take place. There were times when no device had Internet access and I just couldn't access the router's configuration page. It simply wouldn't load. The only solution was to manually reset the router. After the reset, everything was normal again.
- The Homegroup feature in Windows won't work between computers connected to the network via different means - for example, you can use the Homegroup feature between computers connected via network cables. No issues there! The same when you try to use it only between computers connected to the same wireless network. But when you mix the connection methods, you won't be able to have all computers join the same Homegroup. If you have a desktop connected via cable and a laptop via wireless, you won't be able to have them join the same Homegroup. This problem was encountered by others too. A search on Google revealed other people having similar troubles. This was a major show stopper for me as it did not allow me to share data with ease through my home network.
Verdict
