D-link Wireless G Router WBR-1310 (WBR1310)

The wireless D-link Wireless G Router WBR-1310 (WBR1310) is a problem solver in our home. My daughter came home for the summer from college. That would usually mean more competition for use of our family PC. When she came down she also brought down her laptop. Pops thought he would have to have another "hard" line brought into the house and into her room so she could use our Cable Service ethernet connection. My daughter told ol' pops it can be as easy as $59.99 and a few quick steps to get her on-line.

I listened she spoke and then she made the purchase.

UPDATE Jan 2009

Unfortunately this router died on me after two and a half years. It worked flawlessly in those other years.

I dropped my rating from Four to Three

End update.


What It Looks Like

My daughter purchased the unit that is quite stream lined looking to be about 5" wide X 4" deep and 1" high. An antenna piece with a swinging base is on one corner. The unit has a number of very small LED indicator lights on the front panel area indicating power, internet, and network connections. On the back are ports. One is for Broadband Modem. Another is for the power receptor. Next to them is a very tiny reset button. The small unit is quite light and can be placed on a counter top or any flat surface. It also has cut out if you would like to hang it on a surface.

What It Does

The idea behind this small piece of electronics is to be able to share the internet via a network that can be set up with the given items. This unit gives most of the basic internet options without having to be "plugged" in.

Within a certain distance one would be able to surf the web, send and receive Email, and also join chats.

Once a home network is established all the computers can share document, music and photos. That's convenient.

There are minimum requirements. It works with Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 SP4 or Mac OS X.

Also needed is an internet interface card. She didn't have one built into her laptop so she had to spend another $50 to make that purchase. I'll discuss it in detail in another review soon. Many laptops have these adapters built in. Dang those guys last year. They knew we didn't have the adapter and never tried to sell us up. I would have made a more expensive purchase at the time , if I knew.

In the PackageThe contents of the box included the Wireless G Router
Detachable antenna
CAT5 Ethernet cable
Power adapter
Mounting kit and Vertical Stand
and a CDROM with Installation, product documentation and special offers.

Some Features

This has one WAN Port, four 10/100 LAN Ports and is set with "Advanced" Firewall protection.
The D-Link came with 24/7 tech support, that I didn't need for set up and a 1 year Warranty.

The box told me that installation was going to be easy.

Set-Up

Getting the D-link Wireless G Router WBR-1310 (WBR1310) set up was pretty easy. The CD ROM was key in getting this D-Link set up and it was quite easy.

I just had to insert the CD into our existing PC. Everything started automatically including the set-up. I was prompted to push a button or two. The process went quickly. It didn't take long at all and it was good to know I didn't have to take advantage of the 24/7 support line that is given by phone, website, or email. I prefer to talk live.

After the CD does its work, it is time to hook up the Wireless Router. I have a Windows XP and the set up took minutes or less plugging the proper wires into the ports they are assigned. That direction was easy and well diagramed. The whole deal only took minutes.

The port allow for additional wireless computers, printers and other devices. There are four ports all together.

The D-Link is set up so it can wire out to one wired PC and then send signals for other PC products like another PC and laptops.

It about then that it was discovered she would have to spend another 50 bucks because she didn't have a built in wireless G notebook adaptor in the laptop we purchased last year at this time. Fortunately the only hard part of that installation was parting with the $50. That card sticks out of her laptop and then she was ready to go.

Using the D-Link Wireless Router

The beauty of this set up is that all is ready to use in just minutes. Now that it is set up my daughter uses it all the time. The wireless Router is downstairs. She can use here laptop in her upstairs bedroom, no problem.

She has also taken it outside and did leisurely work on the laptop there. Neither the box nor book had anything noting distance it works from the transmitting Router. It works just fine in fairly our large home with six upstairs bedrooms.


D-link WNA-1330 (WNA1330) 802.11g/b Wireless Adapter
What we needed to make this a complete package