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With this article we continue our reviews of the relatively new class of network devices called ADSL routers. Today, it is the WL-600g model from ASUS. We have already tested routers from ASUS on our site and we’ll take the earlier tested WL-500g Premium as a point of reference for today’s performance analysis. Why? The fact is many users are asking the question if they should buy a WL-600g or pay some more and buy a WL-500g Premium plus an inexpensive ADSL modem. This is a well-grounded question.
The two routers are indeed very similar, except that the WL-600g offers an ADSL modem as a WAN interface. Both are devices of the All-in-one Home Gateway type. It means that besides being a router with an integrated Ethernet switch each of them offers a Wi-Fi access point (802.11.b/g) and extra features (namely, two USB 2.0 ports) on board. The WL-500g Premium has already earned a reputation of a router with extensive hardware resources, flexible settings (especially with alternative firmware), and high performance.
We’ll check out the WL-600g in this review and try to answer the question above.
So, let's get started.
Specification and Accessories
Parameter | Characteristics |
Wireless standard | IEEE 802.11b/g |
Encoding standard | WEP, WPA, WPA2 |
Antenna | External dipole antenna |
Signal modulation | DFDM with BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, DBPSK |
Operating frequency | 2.4 - 2.5 GHz |
Nominal data transfer rate | -802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps |
Transmit power | -802.11g: 14~16dBm (at normal temp. range) |
Sensitivity | -74 ~ -75dBm@54Mbps |
Operating channels | 11 for North America, 14 for Japan, |
WAN | 1 RJ-11 ADSL 2/2+ port |
Supported types of | G.994 |
LAN | 4 RJ-45 (10/100 BaseT) Fast Ethernet |
Other interfaces | 2 USB 2.0 ports |
Power | External 12V power supply |
Dimensions | 215 x 160 x 42 mm |
Additional features | EZ Setup |
The box with WL600g contains:
- WL600g router with an antenna
- Quick Start Guide
- CD with utilities and user manual
- Category 5 Ethernet cable
- Phone cable
- Splitter (even two splitters were included with our sample of the router)
- External 12V/1.25A power adapter
A problem occurred with that power adapter during our tests. It burned out, actually. After a couple of days of operation, we found the router showing no signs of life. It turned out that its power adapter had failed. One chip in the adapter’s regulation circuit was completely burned out. We suppose it is a factory defect because there were an ADSL modem and another router plugged into the same power-line filter and they hadn’t even hung up. So, there was no voltage surge or something.
