NETGEAR RangeMax Premium Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500)

by Netgear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 2.6 x 11.6 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00126T6HO
• Item model number: WNR3500
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,708 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 6, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500 offers: 4-port Gigabit switch for blazing fast wired network performance. Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) ensures reliable Internet, voice, video, and gaming applications. 8 internal antennas for maximum coverage and range.

The NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500 lets you easily set up a blazing fast network with both wired and wireless connections. Everyone in your home or office can share a single Internet connection, and connect to their network, at speeds up to 1000 Mbps wired, and 300 Mbps wireless, letting you stream music, video, make Internet phone calls, video conference, and surf the web -- all at the same time.

The WNR3500 has a Gigabit Ethernet backbone for maximum speeds. View larger.

Easy Setup
The WNR3500 makes it easy for even a novice to set up a wireless network: just plug the included Ethernet cable from your LAN into the device and insert the included CD into any computer on the network. The Smart Wizard will lead you through easy step-by-step instructions, and will automatically detect and configure your router for virtually all ISP connections. A stand is included for vertical placement options.

The WNR3500 employs a web-based interface for configuration for compatibility with any computer with a web browser. Setup is secure using Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), and the "Push 'N' Connect" eliminates the need to remember or input security password keys.

New Technology Means Blazing Speeds and Backwards Compatibility
The WNR3500 complies with the latest Wireless-N draft specification, which allows for wireless speeds up to 300 Mbps. By utilizing patented metamaterial antenna technology, the WNR3500 offers a speed and range far surpassing the older Wireless-G standard. Eight internal antennas ensure maximum coverage and range throughout your office or home.

If you still have computers that use Wireless-G or Wireless-B, don't fret--this router is backwards compatible with the older wireless standards and can be set so all your computers can connect to the network.

By using Gigabit Ethernet for the backend, you'll be certain that the router is receiving data at the highest possible speeds, preventing the input from become a bottleneck. Four Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet ports in the back allow you to have wired connections to the network that blaze along at 1000 Mbps.

For users who already have a wireless network set up, the WNR3500 can be configured as a repeater for extending the range of the existing network.

Security Made Easy
The WNR3500 offers many security options to ensure your data is always protected and remains private. Double firewall protection keeps your network shielded from outside attacks and also prevents Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. The WNR3500 supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK), and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for Wireless-B/G networks. Additionally, you can set security through MAC address authentication, allowing only authorized users onto the network.

The NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500 is backed by a 1-year warranty.

What's in the Box
WNR3500 RangeMax Router, power adapter, Ethernet cable, stand, setup CD, and warranty/support information card.

Product Description

Netgear Wireless N Giga Router

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It works with minor flaws, March 18, 2008

By 

A. Holdings (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR RangeMax Premium Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500) (Personal Computers)

I purchased this router for 2 reasons: Wireless-N and Gigabit router.

PRO/CON:
- Wireless signal is quite strong and is able to go far distances. I was an early adopter of Wireless-N, and to had to purchase a new one to replace my D-Link DIR-635 because it became unstable after the draft was approved.
- Gigabit router works well and transfers well between my computer and home fileserver. You'll see a green light if you're connected through Gigabit speeds and an orange light if your speed is 10/100 Mbps.
- For some reason, when I use a nameserver (OpenDNS) outside of my ISP's, the router becomes unstable and disconnects from the Internet every now and then. Using OpenDNS as primary and ISP's NS as secondary appears to fix the problem.
- Wireless security (WPA/WPA2) is very easy to setup.
- The blue flashing lights at the top of router is pretty cool, but useless at the same time. Fortunately, there is an off button on the back of the router.
- For those wanting to save the planet, this device is rated Energy Star compliant.

UPDATE: I'm giving this router 4 of 5 stars because it is a good router. I have not had any problems since I updated the firmware. Also, all 4 ports are Gigabit speeds (I originally reported 2 of 4).

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars WNR3500 Not Ready for Prime Time, May 10, 2009

By 

T. MCKINNEY (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR RangeMax Premium Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500) (Personal Computers)

The WNR3500 looks good and has decent wireless range. That is all that I can say good about it. I have used Netgear switches for years with excellent results so I was expecting that the WNR3500 would also be a high quality product. I installed the unit and configured it without much trouble. It was a pretty basic installation with one computer on a wired gigabit connection, a second computer on a 100Mb wired connection, an 8-port gigabit switch with a media extender and a TV connected to it, and two wireless connections. The wireless connections were for a Wii game console and an Ipod Touch. The wireless connections would drop every 3 to 4 minutes and the wired connections would drop several times per day. At times the DNS would stop working and I would have to reboot the router and my cable modem to correct the problem. I contacted Netgear support and the first solution was to reset the unit to factory defaults and set it up again with no wireless security. The second solution was to perform a different kind of reset to factory defaults and go through setup again. By this time I had read many entries in the user forum where others had been have these same problems for almost a year with no solution. At this point I decided to return the WNR3500 for a refund. I replaced it with a Linksys WRT610N which has performed flawlessly so far. Browsing the internet through the WRT610n is noticeably faster than with the Netgear router.

At this time I would not recommend the Netgear WNR3500 unless you want to be a beta tester for the unit.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, June 4, 2008

By 

Black Lemon (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR RangeMax Premium Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500) (Personal Computers)

I consider myself an expert computer user, having built 15 PCs and having performed countless upgrades to others. I recently moved into a large apartment, with dense walls that prevented connection to my "G" router in some rooms. I bought this "N" router figuring that I wouldn't get much improved "G" signal strength, and that I would end up buying "N" adapters for my devices. I was more than pleasantly surprised then to discover that signal strength was DRAMATICALLY improved while still using my "G" adapters. I can't speak to ease of setup as I didn't use the installation wizard, opting instead to adjust all the settings the old-fashioned way. But it works beautifully. It has all sorts of prioritization settings for video, voice chat, and online gaming. It has all the current security standards and allows for some advanced tweaking for that. Also, as others have noted, Netgear mercifully provided a switch to shut off their silly top-edge light show (it looks cool, but could be a distraction depending on where you put this thing).

Update: I've now been using this thing for a month and have had no problems. None of the dropped signals, etc. that some other reviewers claim. I'm using this wirelessly with two desktop PCs, a laptop PC, a Tivo HD, a Tivo gen 2, and an xbox 360. No problems.

Update 2: Now its been a year and a half -- still works great.