Tenda N60 Wireless N600 Concurrent Dual Band Gigabit Router Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Tenda N60 Router4. Tenda N60 User Interface & Settings5. Testing Methodology6. Wireless Throughput Performance7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

The Tenda N60 dual band wireless router delivers strong performance over short range and good performance over long distances on the 2.4GHz frequency band.

Short range performance of the N60 was strong. The router managed to surpass the 100Mbps barrier on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. Signal strength was faultless, with Windows 7 reporting a full five bars connection strength on both frequency bands.

The N60's long range performance was good on the 2.4GHz frequency band, but the 5GHz signal attenuated rapidly – a fact which may have been related to our building's thick internal structure.

Long range recorded speeds on the 2.4GHz band were high enough to make playback of high bit-rate Bluray rips a realistic possibility. Signal strength was also strong, with Windows 7 reporting a 3-4 bar connection.

Web browsing and simple tasks were able to be carried out using the 5GHz signal over an extended range, but the low transfer rates affected the speed and quality of file transfers and HD streaming, respectively. Signal strength fluctuated between 2 and 3 bars, according to Windows 7, and there were some instances where we struggled to connect to the 5GHz frequency.

Configuring the N60 router for first use is a simple procedure. Tenda provides good directions in the basic and in-depth user guides, although the XP-orientated screenshots will make the procedures slightly more difficult for some users.

Tenda's user interface is in-depth and provides access to plenty of the N60 router's features and settings. The navigation menus are well laid out and make the specific setting or parameter easy to find. We would, however, prefer a more attractive interface which offers a ‘friendlier' usage experience.

Performance of the Gigabit Ethernet and USB ports is, as we would expect, without issues. We had no problems streaming a high-definition movie from our portable HDD which was connected to the N60's USB port. Using our printer over the network was equally hassle free, once we had completed Windows' less-than-straightforward configuration procedure.

One issue we did notice with the Tenda N60 router was its operating temperature. Sat on our desk in an open environment, the device was hot to touch and we recorded a temperature of 39°C on the upper surface. This could cause problems for users who want to put the N60 in a confined space. We would recommend caution.

Available for £34.98 from Ebuyer, Tenda's N60 is priced very competitively. It is one of the cheapest dual band Wireless-N routers available.

Pros:

• Strong short range wireless performance.
• Good 2.4GHz performance over long distances.
• Simple configuration procedure, provided you can understand the Windows XP screenshots.
• Plenty of customisable settings.
• Multi-function USB port.
• Sleek, modern appearance.

Cons:

• Weak 5GHz performance over long distances (we have had better results with other routers)
• User guide features directions for Windows XP, not Windows 7.
• Unit gets hot.

KitGuru says: An affordable dual band router that offers good performance, reliability and a simple configuration procedure.

 

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