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Gigabyte AirCruiser G Desktop Router Review :: Setup and Performance

Author: Tulatin · 07-25-2005 · Category: Hardware -

Setting up the Gigabyte AirCruiser G Desktop Router physically is as simple as simple gets - first, place the card into an open slot and see if the power led comes on - if it doesn't, then the card won't work with the PC off. In the case of this, just flip the jumper on the bottom of the card (we would have liked to have seen this done automatically by the card, but alas, we don't), then plug the appropriate connector into the motherboard (either 20 or 24 pin), finally plugging it's power line into the small socket on the card's rump. After this, just screw in the antenna, plug the small, white patch cable into the LAN jack, and your normal Ethernet line into the internet jack.

Next, we have to fire up a web browser (any web browser, pick one), and punch in 192.168.1.254 to access the router's configuration menu. When the router's password field pops up, type in the supplied username and password to access the router's configuration menus. From here on, all that's left to do is establish connection options - that is, to enter any relevant dial and login data for DSL, or a static IP if you're on a cable provider. Following this, you have the option to secure your wireless network, via 64 or 128 bit WPA only. It should be noted that this wireless card does come with an inbuilt firewall - an integral feature most users look for when shopping for routers.

Our main interest in the testing of Gigabyte's AirCruiser G Desktop router was range - after all, having incredible throughput is absolutely worthless when it disappears entirely after five or so feet. Now, with the large antenna, and the ability to place it anywhere necessary, we already knew that the card had an advantage over it's competitor - a linksys WRT54G. We chose a slightly less scientific method of measure however. Taking a laptop with a PCMCIA wireless card installed, we moved from outlet to outlet away from the wireless card, finding where the signal from each unit died out. Essentially, we're happy to report that connectivity wise, the Gigabyte router is easily capable of matching the range of a wired router.

Moving onward to the features of this router, perhaps we'd do best to look at it's configuration to get just an idea of how jam packed this little card is with top notch features. The setup here is done via a web driven interface, much like many other routers, and some firewalls we've seen to date. To its end, it is very well laid out, and quite simple to navigate, as a router's configuration should be. Thankfully, gigabyte has chosen to forsake the ideas of buried menus, placing everything out in plain view. Along with this, access to firewall configuration, security setup and status reports are all within fingers reach, resulting in a beautifully simple to configure, full featured router which can handle any form of internet connection that is thrown at it. With options such as this readily available at hand, this card will more than likely be a perfect solution for someone seeking to create a home network, to share their files among their machines, and provide a cost effective and feature rich access point.