ZyXEL X-550 Xtrememimo 802.11G MIMO Wireless Broadband Router by ZYXEL
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Digital camera reviews of ZyXEL X-550 Xtrememimo 802.11G MIMO Wireless Broadband Router
Digital camera Review: Finally One That Works!
Summary: 5 Stars
After installing two different brands where they were either defective, or extremely dificult to install, I installed this (to me) unknown brand. It was an easy install and works flawlessly. The range is great, speed improved. Very pleased!Digital camera Review: Finally a product that delivers!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Once I decided to enter the world of 802.11g and leave the old 'b' behind, I was loyal to my old D-Link system and bought a MIMO router assuming that my speed and coverage would improve. Wrong! The speed probably improved, but not at a point where my brain could even notice it. But all of a sudden I started having service interruptions (several times a day), coverage was about the same or even worse. Then I read all the beauties about the Zyxel X-550 and decided to give it a try.
It was actually even better!!! Very easy setup, worked with every computer in the house, both XP and Vista systems, they all see each other and we share folders and printer. If you're looking for a reliable router, definitely consider this product. And the user's reviews, are really, really a great service.
Digital camera Review: Finially a router that works well. Highly recomended
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this router because of the review on Amazon and my disappointment with the previous routers. I had previous used and installed several wireless routers made by several different companies including netgear, linksys, and dlink, respectfully. This wireless router is by far the best I have used or installed.
This wireless router has the strongest signal out of the entire router that I have used and this router has not need to be unplugged since I bought it over 2-3 weeks ago. Unlike the linksys and netgear that loose the ip address so they have be unplugged.
People on here write about the setup which was not difficult although the instructions from the company could be improved. The only thing I don't like about this router is that it does not have "a" wireless which means is very minor problem. I am a computer consultant and have installed several routers. I consider this to be the best router that I have installed or used. I highly recommended.
Digital camera Review: Fixed my VoIP problems...But not good for networks.
Summary: 5 Stars
Update: 11/19/2008
X550 DEAD
No Lights when plugged in.
Will not buy this brand again.
[I tried to edit my review to give this product three stars instead of five, but Amazon doesn't allow you to change that...]
I bought this router on Amazon a few months ago, when I thought my Netgear RangeMax 240 (WPNT834) was going bad. I turned out the Netgear router was fine, so I didn't put myself through the hassle of switching routers at the time.
I was a bit skeptical about the ZyXel, since I've worked online (ZDNet and CNET) since 1995 and I'd never heard of the company. But the positive feedback from Amazon users convinced me, so I gave it a try.
Yesterday, I installed Skype (Voice over IP software) and was frustrated that I was seeing 50% packet loss on my incoming audio (making it un-listenable). I tried everything I could think of with my current system...But nothing helped.
The idea came to me this morning to try installing the ZyXel X-550, since I remember reading that its feature set included smart routing for VoIP.
I had some installation trouble, simply because I was so anxious to get the routers switched that I didn't let the cable modem power down before swapping routers. But Rob, at ZyXel, walked me through a number of steps, and finally got me to power-cycle my modem and router, and that did it. Mia culpa.
Now, granted, the router has only been running for 15 minutes, and I haven't gone through all of the features yet to see if it will allow me to set a fixed internal IP for my Apache server machine, but the VoIP software is working like a charm now, over both LAN and WAN.
If you are planning on using VoIP, I can attest to the fact that this router will serve you well.
HOWEVER...
If you have a network of machines running, and you set rules for port forwarding (e.g. you have one machine running an Apache server or one machine that you Remote Desktop into), note that you cannot lock assign specific internal IPs to specific MAC addresses, so every time the router gives out new IPs (whenever it hiccups -- it's happened once to me in three days) you are going to have to reset your rules in the router admin. Plus, Vista users with Norton Internet Security get the added bonus of losing access to their networked machines again, and the fun of setting new IPs into the Norton Personal Firewall config.
But if none of that makes sense to you, the chances are you don't need to worry about this sort of thing, and this router will be all you need.
Digital camera Review: Flawed, then Dead
Summary: 1 Stars
This router did most of what it was supposed to. In basic areas (range, speed) it was fine.
However I had at least three major problems with it:
First, the admin interface is very poorly designed, with little help or documentation. There are whole sections that use only technical acronyms with no explanation or help text. You'll be completely lost if you don't already know what "SPI" is, and how WPA2 relates to AES. I majored in IT in college - not that long ago - and I ran into parts that completely baffled me. I have no idea how an average consumer is supposed to figure it out.
Second, its firewall was incompatible with basic, common FTP software on my Windows XP computer. It wouldn't block it completely, just every other file (literally). Unchecking the "SPI" checkbox for the X-550 fixed the problem, but that disables the firewall completely.
Third, it completely died on me after less than a year. The power lights don't even come on anymore.
I also had a problem where my Mac Mini didn't want to stay connected to it sometimes. It could have been a problem with the Mac, although it hasn't happened so far with the Netgear router that replaced the X-550 after it died.
In short, I wouldn't recommend the X-550. I am much happier now with my Netgear WPN824.