NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router

by Netgear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 13.2 x 16 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0017TFVUW
• Item model number: WNDR3300
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,847 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (WNDR3300) effectively creates two separate but simultaneous wireless networks in your home or office--one that supports older Wireless-G products, and one for the newer, more robust Wireless N standards. The router's "dual" nature lets you continue to use your existing Wireless-G devices while giving you the advantage of the vastly improved throughput speed, range and performance of a Wireless-N network.

RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router features: Blazing speeds and extended range thanks to Wireless-N technology. Backwards compatibility with Wireless-G devices. Double firewall security and parental controls. Quality of Service for automatic prioritization of tasks.

With its dual band nature, you can create two separate but simultaneous wireless networks. View larger.

And when used with computers and devices with Wireless-N capability, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router will let you surf, email, stream HD video, play on-line games, and even make Internet phone calls simultaneously, avoiding annoying interference from neighboring Wi-Fi networks and other wireless devices like Bluetooth or cordless phones.

Dual Band Wireless-N: Less Interference, Increased Range and Superior Performance
Featuring the latest dual band Wireless-N technology, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router delivers exceptional range and speed for new Wireless-N devices while still offering backwards compatibility to older Wireless-G devices.

NETGEAR's unique multiple internal antenna technology packs eight metamaterial antennas into this wireless router. This enables wireless signals to travel farther for a stronger, more reliable wireless connection. This new technology also minimizes "dead spots" that can frustrate wireless network users.

While performance will vary according to your particular conditions, when used with other Wireless-N computers and devices, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router can deliver up to 10 times the range of older Wireless-G routers and offer a throughput speed of up to 15 times faster.

(For optimal performance, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router should be used with NETGEAR's RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter or laptops with integrated Wireless-N)

Push 'N' Connect makes set up a cinch.

Easy Set-Up with Push 'N' Connect
Setting up and connecting to the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router couldn't be easier. The router comes with a Smart Wizard installation CD that vastly simplifies the initial set-up process by automatically detecting and configuring your router for virtually all ISP connections.

And once your network is set up, the router's "Push 'N' Connect" feature takes over. To connect a new device on your network, you simply push a button on the router, and your device is automatically and securely configured and connected to your wireless network.

This means that the days of having to remember complicated security keys and passwords are over. The router also features an integrated switch that lets you attach up to four devices directly to the router.

Another notable advantage of dual band Wireless-N is that it works with up to 23 channels that operate on the 5GHz band. Wireless-G networks, on the other hand, operate on the 2.4-GHz band with only 3 channels, which is also home to some cordless phones, microwaves, and other devices that can cause interference. 5GHz Wireless-N avoids the interference that can interrupt Wireless-G networks, giving you greater reliability and performance.

And the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router "dual" nature means the router creates both Wireless-G and Wireless-N networks at the same time. So on your Wireless-N enabled computer, you'll see two networks to choose from, depending on your usage.

For instance, if you're using your network for streaming HD movies or VoIP, you can connect over the Wireless-N network and use the Wireless-G for less demanding applications, such as connecting to your printer or sending email.

And thanks to its QoS, or Quality of Service, the router will automatically prioritize its tasks according to your network's existing bandwidth and your needs. So if you're playing an online game, or streaming an HD video while someone else on your network starts downloading a large file, the router helps ensure that your games and video won't be interrupted.

Four ports let you connect via ethernet cable.

Parental Controls and Security at Home
The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router offers double firewall protection that includes network address translation, or NAT, to keep you network hidden from outside users, and stateful packet inspection, or SPI, firewall to deny outside requests for personal information.

Other security measures include denial-of-service (DoS) attack prevention, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS), and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK). The router offers both 64-bit and 128-bit encryption as well as a wireless access control that identifies authorized wireless network devices connected to your network.

For parental peace of mind, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router offers several options designed to keep your kids safe, including URL content filtering, time-based usage controls, and "trusted user" controls. The router's remote management controls make it easy to keep your kids online and protected.

The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router measures 8.8 x 6.0 x 1.2 inches (HxWxD) and comes with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty.

What's in the Box
RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (WNDR3300), stand, Ethernet cable, setup CD, 12V 1.5A power adapter, and warranty/support information card.

		Wireless-N Routers Comparison
	Speed	Secure Connection	Wi-Fi and Power On/Off Buttons	Parental Controls	Coverage	Multiplayer Gaming	ReadySHARE	Streaming Multimedia	Dual Band	Gigabit	NETGEAR Green
WNDR3700	300 + 300				Best
WNDR3300	300 + 54				Best
WNR3500L	300				Better
WNR2000	300				Better
WNR1000	150				Good

Product Description

What is NETGEAR¿s WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router? ¿ Surf, email, stream HD video, on-line game, make Internet phone calls¿simultaneously¿ ¿ More wireless channels, less interference and better connections using dual band Wireless-N ¿ Wirelessly connect new devices easily and securely with Push `N¿ Connect ¿ Automatically adjusts to the needs of Internet, voice, video and gaming applications (QoS) ¿ Use with a RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter and boost your performance and range Features ¿ New Wireless-N technology delivers exceptional range and speed ¿ ¿Dual Band¿ has more channels, less interference and better connections ¿ Works with older Wireless-G and newest Wireless-N devices at the same time ¿ ¿Push `N¿ Connect¿ wirelessly connects new devices easily and securely ¿ No need to remember your security password ¿ For use with other Push `N¿ Connect supported devices ¿ Easy setup with Smart Wizard® installation CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ask Yourself If You Need Dual Band, December 13, 2009

By 

Jeffery A. Lewis (Milford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (Personal Computers)

This seemed like one of the best home use Netgear wireless routers when looking at the Netgear model line up. When I bought this router, I didn't fully understand how "dual band" worked, but it sounded good for reducing interference. I wanted the best, so I got this one.

Now I realize I cannot benifit from the dual band. The WNDR3300 can only be wirelessly configured in the following ways:

N at 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps (uses +- 4 channels for extra bandwidth, a/b/g clients also work)
N at 5 GHz with max 270 Mbps and Legacy G at 2.4 GHz with max 54 Mbps
N at 2.4 GHz with max 130 Mbps (considered neighbor friendly version, reduces number of channels utilized)
N at 5 GHz with max 130 Mbps and Legacy G at 2.4 GHz with max 54 Mbps

So if you don't have any N clients that can utilize 5 GHz, you cannot benifit from dual band. I also ended up having a client (LG BD390 Blu-ray player) that just would not work using N at 2.4 GHz (even though LG documentation says it is compatible with 802.11n draft standard). For this one client, I had to step down to Legacy G at 2.4 GHz. I would have been fine with just an old fashion G router.

Doing some tests, I realized with Legacy G, I was getting the same performance with N at 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps, so I wasn't too disappointed about having to step down to Legacy G. Hopefully LG and/or Netgear will provide a firmware update that will allow the two devices to communicate using N.

Signal stength is better than what I had before. I can now stream Vudu HDX wirelessly (extreamly demanding). With my previous router, I could only stream Vudu HD (less demanding). So I hesitate in taking this back, thinking I paid more than I needed to. There are multiple antennas in this device and the lights on the big blue button tells you which antenna is being employed. This antenna technology also seems to benifit Legacy G. By the way, you can shut off the flashing blue lights just by pressing the big blue button (hold less than 2 seconds).

-- Begin Update 12/15/2009 --
I did some further tests comparing N with Legacy G. It seems the N on 2.4 GHz with max 270 Mbps has worse range than the Legacy G. I'm comparing signal bar strength of various apps in various locations in my home. So it seems stepping down to the older G works better. All in all, I've decided to keep this router dispite my uninformed decision to purchase it. I'm convinced the 8 internal antennas is helping matters compared to my previous router. Performance is markedly better than before, so I don't want to risk taking the time and money to experiment.
-- End Update 12/15/2009 --

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can run DD-WRT and use as wireless bridge, February 27, 2010

By 

jray (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (Personal Computers)

I bought this originally to switch over to Wireless N from G but since everything I have uses wireless G I just recently decided to use this as a wireless bridge for my blu-ray player with my wireless old wireless G router.

You can flash this router and run DD-WRT and then use it as a wireless bridge. The actual process to do this takes about 15 to 20 mins but having never done this it took me over an hour but did work on the first try after following directions on here [...] and [...]. Its working great as a bridge and I haven't had any issues with dropping the connection.

If your not computer savy this probably will take you some time to do but in retrospect it was not too difficult. The instructions are pretty long but if you follow them you will get it working.

You need to download two files from the DD-WRT website. The first is a .chk file and dd-wrt.v24_mini_generic.bin (there are a few versions but the mini is the one that is recomended). Both of these files can be found here: [...]. Install the .chk file first following the directions on the above links.

I got this router refurbished for under thirty dollars so its was way cheaper than buying the wireless dongle for the blue ray player and also allows multiple connections where the dongle would just support the bluray player.

The fact that you can set this up as a wireless bridge is a big plus. Without that it would probably still be in the box it came in.

Update: I have had this running with DD-WRT firmware for over 3 weeks now and it still has not once lost connectivity. Completely trouble free operation. Maybe running it with the netgear firmware causes others to have connectivity issues. Its been rock solid so far for me so if you get this and flash it with DD-WRT you should have good results. I paid under thirty for this as a refurb unit and it saved me $50 from not having to buy a wireless dongle for my blu-ray player. In addition it give me a second access point to hook up another wired PC and if the blu-ray player craps out I can use this with any other netflix ready player out there.

Looks like the links have been wiped out by amazon but the site is dd-wrt DOT com which gives full instruction.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with performance and non-ease of use., October 14, 2008

By 

S. Trembley (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router (Personal Computers)

After years of faithful service from my old Netgear router, I upgraded to this Netgear router. It does not allow any of the wireless computers in the house to connect to it with their internal cards. The push button feature does not work and Netgear tech support confirmed that. I set up a password on the router, and one laptop connected for ten minutes to it with its internal card and then could not reestablish a connection to it. I purchased two of Netgear's USB N adapters and those connect to the router - not the push button though, only with a password.

The N band network has a smaller range than the G band. If I go more than twenty feet from the router, the N band connection drops, and the dual band adapter finds the G band network. If I search for available networks, I need to move closer to the router to find the N band as available. My house isn't so big, but this is a disappointment because the N band is about five times faster than G.

Any computer that is hard-wired into the router does get a fast, steady connection.