Buffalo AirStation N600 Dual Band Wireless Router (WHR-600D) Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Buffalo AirStation N600 Router4. Interface and Configuration5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Overall we are fairly impressed with what the Buffalo AirStation N600 has to offer. The simple aesthetics are not particularly appealing but will certainly suit those who prefer an understated design or for an audience looking to use the router within the confines of a business environment. The build quality of the N600 is also respectable and is reflective of what we have experienced before from Buffalo.

Our only minor issue with the router from a design point of view is the lack of provision for wall-mounting.  This won't be an issue for many users, however the select few who do want to wall mount the Buffalo AirStation N600 will be disappointed.

When looking at the functionality of the router we are disappointed that it does not include any USB ports which can be useful for attaching storage or printers to the network. Buffalo should be aware that these are available on many competitor products.

The web interface features every conceivable configuration option that you could possibly want, making this router particularly well suited to more technical users.  While there are ‘easy' configuration wizards provided for less technical users they are still quite complicated, especially when compared to other brands we have reviewed in the past.

The dual-band functionality of the N600 is the headline feature and it works well in practice.  Living in a house of six, three of whom are avid online gamers is very demanding on a wireless router.  The Virgin Media supplied dual-band Super Hub has proved unable to cope with this kind of heavy usage, frequently experiencing bandwidth issues and wireless drop outs.  The Buffalo AirStation N600 fared much better and has shown to be 100% reliable over a week of intensive testing.

The Buffalo AirStation N600 is not yet available to purchase from any of the major online UK etailers, however it is listed on Amazon's US site for around $64.  We imagine that this would translate into a price of around £50 inc VAT when it becomes available in the UK.  We think this is a little expensive as similarly priced models offer integrated USB ports and faster bandwidth on the 5.0 GHz band.

Pros:

• Understated appearance.
• Extensive configuration options.
• Dual-band operation.

Cons:

• No integrated USB ports.
• Competing models offer better value.

KitGuru says: The N600 would be a much more enticing proposition if it hits the UK market around £35.

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