Customer Reviews

ASUS RT-N13U Wireless-N Router, Access Point, and Repeater

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

For those looking for a cheap wireless N router + Print & FTP Server, this is an excellent buy!

I bought this router specifically with hope that it 'might' be able to do more than what it claims on the box, and it does, to some extent. Read on and you'll find answers to your questions that any other reviews on the web aren't able to tell you.

1. Can a USB hub be used to connect multiple peripherals to the router?

A. Yes, but with certain limitations. I have successfully connected a printer and a hard drive to the router via a usb hub, and both work flawlessly! Here's what you do: plug in the usb hub to the router, then connect the hdd to the usb hub, set up your ftp server on the hdd, then connect the printer to the usb hub, and set up your printer. You will only see the printer show up in the router's main page, but the ftp serve works fine. However, hooking up 2 printers will not work because the print command is directed ip-to-ip (your pc to the router) and pass on to the usb port. When you have a usb hub with multiple printers connected the print command will be pass on to every port on the hub. Sometimes printing will come out from the right printer that you want it to, but sometimes the command will get send to the other printer which may cause your printer to malfunction. I have two printers: a HP inkjet and a Samsung laser. It happened to me when I want to print from the Samsung but the command got sent to the HP, and HP will keep feeding paper and print out an error message on the corner until I force power-down the printer; same for the Samsung when a HP print command was sent to the Samsung it just kept printing errors until the machine overhead and power-off itself.

2. When connected to a HDD, it can only be set up as a FTP server, not a network drive.

What the differences you ask? On a network drive you can stream files directly from it, while an FTP you can only upload/download files but no running directly on the server. But simutenous access from multiple users are possible. That's an advantage over the so called "netowrk shared usb" where only a single user are allowed to use the peripheral at a time.

3. This router has a hardware repeater mode switch, which I consider a big plus. It's the transparent repeater mode, meaning it will receive and broadcast the same SSID of the network you're repeating; as oppose to 'stealth' repeater mode where you can set your own SSID and security for broadcast. Note that the network printer won't work in the repeater mode 'cause the print command will be pass on to the someone else's router (one that you're repeating). The Asus router still maintain its own ip and subset which the network printer belongs to, but it's hidden in the repeater mode. You can manually configure your pc to connect to it and you'll be able to print, but you lose internet. Not sure about FTP serve in repeater mode. Haven't try yet. The router has good range. I can receive Safeway's wifi which is like 300m from my place.

4. The router itself looks good IMO. I like the hidden antenna design.

What else? Msg me if you still have a question regarding the router.

I had no issues adding it to my home WLAN. Once configured, it has worked flawlessly. The instructions were easy to follow. I have 4 computers (all different brands, three XP and one Vista) on the network sharing this printer. Range has been excellant - the access point is located on the second floor and this print server is stored in the basement. Compatiblity has been excellant with the other manufacturers equipment (D-link and Netgear) in my network - no problems. True Asus is not as well known for WIFI equipment but does have an excellant track record in motherboards and netbooks. The product allows me to add a future remote NAS - in the basement.

A good value for money router. I have been shopping around for an wireless router for some time. Best Buy, Walmart, Office Depot. I wanted the latest (Any N Wireless) at an affordable price. Most of the N -routers from Linksys, Belkin, Netgear were priced at $60 (not including tax).

I live in an 1200 sq.ft apartment and the wireless router gives excellent connectivity in every nook and corner of the apartment. Its been an week and as yet, it has not given me any problems. There is continous connectivity (no droppping of connectivity in between). The videos from youtube are as clear over wireless connection as when I used to connect through ethernet cable. There are no pixelation. The RT-N13U is rated as 300 mbps and I guess it is as good as its rating.

Asus is not as well known as Linksys, Netgear and Belkin, but I was prepared to take an $50 risk (thats the price of this router) which is about $10 less than other wireless N router and in addition get an Print Server. I havent used the Print server and repeater features of this router though.

That was the good part. Now for the bad part. Asus literature says that configuring the wireless connectivity is as easy as connecting to the router and clicking on "EZ UI" setup feature. I dont know about others but the feature didnt work for me. I was able to connect to the router easily enough, but the router was not able to connect to the internet. I used to get an message that the configured LAN IP is not correct. After 2 hours of going through all the features of the router and crawling through the information in internet I was finally able to make the wireless router connect to the internet.

In case any of you come across this issue, here is what I had to do.

1. If you are like me with an regular broadband connection, then you probably dont have an static IP. You would need to get hold of two pieces of information before starting the configuration

a. Your PC's MAC id (This is an unique hardware identifier). You can get this on an windows PC by using the command "ipconfig /all" look for the word "Physical Address" the series of number given against it is the MAC address

b. Yous Internet Service Providers DNS server. The easiest way to get this if you already connect through ethernet cable to the net is to use the command "ipconfig /all" while been connected through ethernet cable. Look for the word "DNS Servers". The IP address given against it will be the DNS server that your system connects through.

2. Connect to the Router through the wireless or through ethernet cable via your default browser. Click on the "Network Map" button on the left hand navigation pane. Go to the EZ-UI and feature. If it is able to make the connection to the internet you are good to go, if not, then the EZ UI prompts user to manually do the connection where it will ask you for the information which you should have got from step 1 above. There is an MAC clone feature , which uses your PCs MAC address to connect to the net instead of using the router's MAC address. Use this feature. Some ISP's lock your account to an single physical address.

3. The last step of manual connection will prompt user to apply the setting. Apply the settings. After the router has completed this step. it will restart.

4. When the router restarts, your PC will probably lose connection to the router. Connect to the router again. Check if the router has connected to the internet.

5. If the router still hasnt connected to the internet, here is the last step that you can possibly do.

a. Switch off the power to the wireless router.

b. Switch off the power to Internet service provider's box/router.

Keep it switched off for 5 minutes. Now restart the ISP's box, your wireless router and try the connection again. Hope that will work. It worked for me! :)

All in all, configuring this router was an painful process, otherwise the RTN13U is an excellent value for money

I bought this router based on the review on smallnetbuilder.com to replace my Linksys WRT54GL router and I'm very pleased with its performance so far. I'm using the ASUS USB-N13 wireless card with it and so far it works great.Some reviewers have had some issues with this router but after you update to firmware 7266 from Asus website a lot of the previous problems are resolved, in my case to use my Kingston 16GB Flash drive.

Things to note however:

1. The USB storage will only work in Router mode and by extension the Download manager that ASUS bundles.

2. You need to put the wireless radio to function at N only to get the higher speeds.

3. In my case I needed to bridge my modem (ADSL2+) to this router for BT to work properly. Other downloads worked well but its abit tricky to get going as you need to pass the exact url location for the downloader to work properly. It doesn't intergrate with IE like other downloaders.

4. Configuration interface does not work properly with IE9 beta. Use Chrome or IE8

5. In AP mode internet features are disabled.

6. DDWRT firmare is supported for the non B1 versions. The unit I received is version 1.

For the price I think this router might be the new WRT54GL killer!

Well, right now mine have more than 8 days running without reboot and everything work great.

It's very easy to configure the regular stuffs, network name, wireless security, internet connection and so. If you want to use the extra features, it will need some time for setting up, even more the printer server. If you have time read the whole review, if don't, buy it with confidence, you'll don't regret.

Let's start for the begining, when I received I had more thant 10 days without router, taht means, notebook and PS3 without internet, so when the ASUS RT-N13u arrive, I was eager to see this working, and it did, like 3 minutes after taking it out of the box, all my devices have internet, I spend 5 more minutes configuring the SSD name, the security, changing admin password and so, that was really easy.

The second step was to figure out how to make the extra feature works, and that part wasn't so easy, first I try the FTP server feaure using a USB Flash memory, it work at first try, even the feature of the DDNS which ASUS give you with this router, that sound a little nerd, the DDNS allow you to access from anywhere by internet to the files stored in the USB flash memory/hard drive, not only when you're connected to the local network.

OK, so far, so good, then I want to make the Download Master feature work downloading torrents files, then the problems starts. First, I downloaded the updated Dowmload Master Program from the ASUS website, I installed but when the program tried to connect with the usb at the router, it failed, I try many times, the next day by reading and reading forums at ASUS and others websites I saw the solution. At the router administration you have to turn off the Download Master option and then, after a reboot, turn it on again, then it work. The download master is not the best bit torrent client, it take so long to download something that in the PC can take 3 times less, but the thing is you're saving energy and your computer wear by leaving the router do the download job, about this, I think maybe the router save bandwidth when the computers are connected but right now I can't assure that because I still don't have a massive drive connected to the router downloading things.

After overcome the first problem, I want to setup the print-server, it take me longer than the real necessary time because I didn't read the manual. I was looking for add the printer to the computer as a Network Printer, it sounded logical to me, but the onlu thing you have to do, if you already have the printer installed in the computer, is go to the printer properties, then to the "PORTS" section and add a new port, this new fort have to be a TCP/IP port, then you put there the address of the router and configure that port to work as LPR protocol, I don't have any idea what that mean but, and in LPR settings put the name of Queque as "LPRServer" , that was quite tricky to me, I expend almost half day searching in forums but the answer was right in the manual. Right now I use a Samsung ML-2010 from a Windows Vista desktop and from a Win XP netbook, all working fine.

Then I said, ok, everything that's in the description is working, but I want more, I want the Print server AND the FTP server at the same time, it's not my idea, I read here in another review of this product, so, I follow the instructions: Connect a USB Hub, then connect the USB drive to the hub, set the FTP server, then connect the printer and set the printers as it was alone. Well, it works for a while, but as I don't have yet the USB HDD for use at the FTP, everytime that I take the USB Flash memory out, everything stop working, the computers didn't find the printer, the download master, stop connecting and so. So for now I put only the printer and when I got more time, and the USB HDD, I will fight with all those settings and tricks, I know it's possible but you need time and patience for setup it right.

I give it five starts because the product do all that description say, but the extra features need time and good vibes for make it works. I will buy again, very satisfied.

I had been looking over and over again for wireless repeaters because my gaming consoles are too far away from my modem and wireless router. I looked at about six different repeaters and then came across this one by random mistake. After I bookmarked it I investigated every review possible that I had patience for and found that it had some pretty good reviews. So I purchased it and it was at my house within no time at all. I hooked it up and was done within minutes. The software is easy to use and understand.

The ASUS RT-N13U can operate as a wireless router, a wireless repeater or an access point. I have it set up as a repeater. It suits my purposes and I am able to connect with all my devices that connect to my network and the internet.

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone.

Set up and security set was fast and easy. Good price for an "N" band wireless router. Built in USB for printer a feature you normally would find in more expensive routers, if at all.

This router was quick and easy to set up and has a good amount of available settings and options. Great features too.

However, the throughput is pretty sad. Oddly enough I researched before I bought it and found a bunch of great reviews. Now that Ive had it for a month, Im seeing nothing but poor reviews from tech websites!

Overall, good router/print server combo. Range is decent, just slow.

I bought this product after purchasing a Linksys E3000 that gave me a 6Mbps connection in my office 20 ft away while using the Linksys AE1000 adapter. To lazy to uninstall my network phone, 4 computers, 2 mobile phones, and printer I spent the money for this repeater. I did not get great results as a repeater, but hey there has to be a signal to repeat right. Not one to give up, I set up the WAP.

I have a switch in the office for the network storage. I attached the RT-N13U to the switch to establish an internet connection. Using the network map I utilized the GUI and configured the router as a WAP. I configured a new SSID and used the same settings as my Linksys router. I now get 144Mbps on my laptop and 300 Mbps on the pc using the AE1000. The WAP increased my connection speed from 6Mbps to 300Mbps! I love the little machine. I wish I had purchased this router from the beginning.

I have not been successful installing printer server but I have Windows 7 running. I am sure it a user error and would like some help to get the printer server and WAP running together. I have no need for ftp. While using this device as a WAP, I can reach more Linksys ftp site and my Linksys shared storage.

I have spent $600 this month buying 1 new router (that is easy to install but only works if you stand next to it) , 2 new wireless adapters, network storage drives, backup software for network storage, and WAP. These upgrades where long time needed for security and speed. But as of today the RT-N13U is the top value I have recieved for my money on hardware. Top value for software was ViceAVersa for backup of network attached storage.

Bottom line a great value. Finally something that delivers for the money.

The documentation for the repeater mode is lacking.

-Switch the switch to repeater (middle setting on ASUS on the bottom)

-plug the ASUS N13U directly into the computer. Keep the current router hooked to the internet, but unplug from computer.

-Go to ASUS IP address in IE 192.168.1.1

-the ASUS will scan all internet connections and find the router

-add WPA key

-done. the asus is now working as a repeater and is connected to the router