NetGear WGR614 Wireless-G Router

The NetGear SmartWizard web interface for configuring this router is quite simple and not as elegant as say the one found with the D-Link DGL-4300 Gigabit Router, but it's sufficient and is very easy to work with even for a novice computer user. All of the standard options can be found within this web interface along with support for content filtering (logs, block sites, services, scheduling), router maintenance options, and support for advanced functionality (port forwarding/triggering, LAN IP, static routes, remote management, UPnP, etc).

We have been testing out the NetGear WGR614 Wireless-G Router for a while and it's been working out well in our tests. We had used a variety of Linux systems -- both desktops and notebooks -- and hadn't run into any issues. The 802.11g wireless range isn't as large as what can be found with the D-Link DGL-4300 or ASUS WL-500g Premium, but still should provide enough coverage for an average home. We hadn't run into any difficulties with the router needing to be reset after extended usage, dropped connections, or other common problems with the cheaper routers.

The NetGear WGR614 Wireless-G Router is currently retailing for around $40 USD, which isn't a bad deal at all and has worked very well in testing. However, if you have more than a few computers to connect or heavily use your local network, you would be better off with a router that can supply Gigabit Ethernet capabilities. Likewise, for expanded wireless coverage, there are better routers with dual external antennas and the newer ones with support for the 802.11n standard.