ASUS WL-566gM
Author:
Date: 21.07.2006
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Recently, we tested a wireless router with support for the MIMO technology by LevelOne. This time, we got a model by ASUS and, running ahead I must sat it showed attractive results indeed. Developers have long been working hard trying to achieve a real data transmission rate comparable to that of the wireline network. All remember various technologies with the high-flown figures – 108, 125 Mbit/s, but so far it's been impossible to talk about such a high user data transmission rate. Finally, a solution has come up which is able providing the users with a rate comparable to that for wireline networks.
Here, we are reviewing the wireless router WL-566gM and the WL-106gM adapter. Curiously, the manufacturer decided not to violate the traditions of marking its wireless equipment, and the model name has the number 240 which of course doesn't denote the transmission rate available to the user but simply tells the rate of the wireless channel. However, large red letters on the box denote that the real operation speed achieves 100 Mbit/s. Let's try to sort that out how true it is.
MIMO technology
We already told about the MIMO technology in our previous reviews, so we'd better not dwell on that and instead briefly remind its key distinctions from the previous methods of transmitting a radio signal. This technology implies that every receiver and transmitter uses a number of independent antennas and, respectively, receivers and transmitters. Therefore, it does not suffice to simply install three instead of one antenna at the access point. To give birth to this technology, the transmitted data stream has to be specially divided so that each route transmitted its own part. That is, at an instant of time different antennas will transmit different signals, which in theory allows raising the transmission rate while there are vacant parts of the spectrum. As every new channel is added, the rate rises at the amount of the rate of this very channel, but that is only in theory. I practice, we have to consider a number of parameters, including the rate of dividing the overall stream.
WL-566gM Package Bundle
The router is shipped in a stylish cardboard box of a smart design. By the way, the setting of the adapter package is very similar to that of the router, except the image of the device. The router came bundled with the following items: a power supply unit, a network cable, CD with software and documentation, as well as a printed copy of the installation and setup guide. The adapter is bundled with: a CD with drivers, utilities and documentation, as well as printed version of the installation and setup guide. In any case, that's enough for a quick start working with the equipment.
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Clock speed
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2.4 – 2.5 GHz
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Firewall type
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NAT and SPI
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Transmission capacity (mode 802.11b):
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19 dBm - 20 dBm
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Transmission capacity (mode 802.11g)
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14 dBm - 16 dBm
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Transmission rate
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within 1 (802.11b) to 240 Mbit/s (MIMO)
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Control
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Web interface
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WAN
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10/100 Mbit/s
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LAN
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4 ports 10/100 Mbit/s
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DHCP
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DHCP-server, WAN DHCP client
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Access restriction
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by IP address, port, URL, MAC address.
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Wireless network security
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WEP with keys of 64 bit or 128-bit length, WPA2, TKIP, AES WPA-PSK.
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Antenna
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3 external dipoles
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Power supply unit
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External, 5V, 2A; included in the delivery set
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Dimensions (width x height x depth)
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214 x 175 x 36 mm
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Weight
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500 g - without PSU
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Gross weight
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1.4 kg
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Exterior and design
The exterior of the router is attractive enough and combines a simplicity and processability, which are seen even upon the first look at it. The housing is white, with silvery edging, has three mid-sized antennas. The upper panel has a number of vent holes which improve the cooling of the device's components. Traditionally, the front panel has all the required indicators and the marking of the device. Note that the indicators themselves are interesting enough: there are no customary square windows for LEDs, the labels are made transparent. That is not only attractive, but also allows controlling operation of the device under a dim illumination. There are the following indicators: power, active status of the wireless network, activity of the LAN ports and the WAN port. As you see, there is nothing redundant and at the same time al is sufficient.
 On the rear panel of the router, there are all the ports (one WAN and four LAN ports, all 10/100Base-TX), a power connector, buttons to tune and reset the parameters, as well as three antennas which, unfortunately, can't be either removed or replaced. Note that there is no on-off switch. The button for fast tuning juts out, so there is no problem to press it; as to the button to reset parameters, it is recessed into the housing to avoid accidental presses.
The bottom part of the router also has a number of vent holes, four legs with rubber foot, a pair of hinges for wall mounting, and of course a sticker with the information about the device.
Interior
The upper and bottom part are fastened with four self-tapping screws under the rubber feet. The exterior of the board is shown on the below photo.
The router board is shielded from both sides with a metal housing, which allows reducing the induction at the router and at the source. The wireless part is made as a separate module. To implement the wireless part, there is used the Airgo solution on the base of the AGN300 chipset which includes a MAC-level processor AGN303BB, controllers PHY AGN301RF and AGN302R. The chipset allows handling a data stream up to 240 Mbit/s using channels of 40 MHz width (two adjoining 20 MHz channels), or up to 126 Mbit/s – with 20 MHz channels. It offers hardware implementation of the WEP encryption (64 and 128 bit), TKIP and AES, which means a high network operation speed even if robust encryption is used. Three antennas are connected to this board. Note that their connected are filled up with a special mastic to avoid spontaneous disconnection.
 As a wireless client we used the adapter ASUS WL-106gM which supports the same technology as the router. We did not use any other adapters in our network, so we can talk about the rate of the tested equipment achieved without outside influence.
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