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Wireless networks in hotels and other locations are becoming commonplace, but that doesn't mean that they are cheap to use, reliable or secure. Tenda's W300M portable access point/router aims to solve those problems by converting the more secure port-based internet connection to a personalised wireless network.
If you haven't experienced the irritation of booking into a hotel room or arriving at a new destination only to find out that your internet tablet, mobile phone and laptop are all rendered ineffective by the location's solitary wired internet connection or awful wireless signal, then you are a lucky person. Tenda has recognised this problem and designed an irritation-removing device which has the ability to convert a single Ethernet port into a 300Mbps Wireless-N network.
While wired port conversion is the W300M's headline function, it isn't the only task that it is capable of carrying out. The repeater/extender mode allows a weak network signal to be boosted, providing an easy-to-access connection for wireless devices with less powerful adapters, or even wired computers.
With five convenient operating modes and a hassle-free form factor, can Tenda's W300M prove that it is a must have, headache-curing device for frequent travellers or users with network problems?
Specifications:
- Standards: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n; IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u
- Interface: 1*10/100M LAN/WAN (interchangeable) port
- Antenna: Internal high performance, omni-directional antenna
- Wireless speed: 300Mbps
- Wireless frequency: 2.4GHz
- Wireless modes: 11 b/g/n mixed, 11 b/g mixed, 11g, 11b
- Security: Content control, 64-/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
Tenda supplies the W300M in a very informative box which features information regarding the wireless access point's speed rating, wireless technology and key features.
The W300M's five key operational modes are outlined on the product's rear side.
Tenda claims that the W300M wireless access point/router offers five different modes of use, but there are only three clear functions; wireless router/access point via the Ethernet port, wireless repeater which boosts a router's signal, and a ‘teaming' mode which allows a pair of W300M devices to be bridged together to share an internet signal with multiple devices.
The other two modes offer very similar functions with the slight differences being their preference between a wired or wireless connection.
The W300M is powered by a mini USB connection which, with the USB converter cable, can be connected to the supplied mains adapter. A dual USB to mini USB adapter allows the W300M to be powered by a computer. Tenda also supplies an Ethernet cable.
A quick installation guide provides some basic configuration assistance which allows the router to be set for use. It also outlines and explains the possible modes of use.
A more in-depth guide is provided in digital form on the CD.
Measuring in at around 10 x 6.5 cm with a thickness of just over 1.5 cm and weight of 50g, Tenda's W300M truly is a portable device – it barely manages to cover the 4.7″ screen on this editor's Nexus 4 phone.
The W300M's bright white top cover gives it a smart appearance which will look good when sat on a desk.
Tenda prints the model's name and product number towards the upper edge of the W300M's plastic front side.
Seven blue indicator LEDs are positioned towards the W300M's bottom edge.
Five of the LEDs are used to indicate the access point's operational mode; the name above the single active light shows the router's current mode. The remaining two LEDs indicate the operational status of the LAN/WAN connection and WPS option.
Located on the W300M's right side are the WPS/Reset and Mode ports. Pressing the Mode button allows users to toggle between the access point's five operating functions.
To allow the heat of the internal components to radiate away, Tenda incorporates cooling vents in the side of the W300M's plastic casing.
A full-sized RJ45 LAN port is located on the rear side of the W300M. The 100Mbps port is capable of both input and output functionality allowing it to send or receive data, dependent upon the configured mode.
You may question the use of a 300Mbps Wireless-N network which receives its connection from a 100Mbps LAN port. The increased connection speed can be used for streaming files to users on the W300M's same, internal network. The 300Mbps transfer rate is also useful for the wireless extending modes.
Adjacent to the LAN port is the mini USB power connector. Tenda supplies the appropriate mini USB to standard USB cable which can be powered by the mains adapter or a computer.
A pair of stickers located on the base features information regarding the W300M's WPS pin, default IP address, user name, password, and other important data.
To configure the W300M's settings, Tenda instructs users to connect the access point to their computer via an Ethernet cable, tweak some internet settings, and then type “http://192.168.2.1” into their browser page.
The quick installation guide does a good job at explaining how to enter the settings page, provided you have the ability to convert the instructions from the XP mode stated in the guide to the Windows 7 mode that is likely to be applicable for most users. We can see how some novices may find the procedure a little daunting, though.
Tenda really should update its guide to make it easier to follow for Windows 7 users who aren't familiar with XP. An extra few Windows 7 screenshots aren't going to increase printing costs by a significant margin.
AP (Access Point) Mode:
Upon typing the access point's IP address into a browser, we are met by the AP mode's setup wizard.
The simple-to-follow steps should allow you to have your W300M up-and-running in very little time and with an appropriate degree of security; most of the settings can be left on their pre-defined mode. Once the setup wizard is complete, the W300M takes around 30 seconds to reboot and apply its new settings.
System status provides the status of the system. No surprises there!
The LAN settings page allows users to view and tweak the connection parameters of the RJ45 port.
Entering the WLAN settings section reveals access to a further six parameters. The ‘basic settings' subsection is where the router's key parameters can be tweaked to suit one's preferences.
Tenda has built the W300M to provide a good degree of flexibility to increase the possibility of a stable connection being maintained.
The W300M features the main security modes such as WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK, both of which are supported by the majority of modern devices. The security options ensure that users won't have to worry about their internet connection being stolen and potential charges being incurred.
Tenda gives users access to some advanced settings.
The WPS configuration settings are displayed on their own page. This helps to simplify the troubleshooting procedure if a WPS-enabled device is refusing to connect.
Users can block and allow specific MAC Addresses via the ‘access control' subsection.
The W300M's wireless connection status is displayed on a specific page.
Tenda makes the W300M access point's main settings accessible via the ‘system tools' section. This section allows users to navigate to further subsections where they can carry out tasks such as changing the date and time, updating the firmware, changing the device's password and viewing the system log.
Wireless router mode:
Most of the settings are identical when the W300M access point is operating in its ‘Wireless Router' mode; there are some extra parameters which are made accessible, however.
Access to the WDS mode is now provided.
Virtual server settings are also unlocked, including access to the DMZ settings.
A routing table is used to display some additional information.
WISP (Wireless repeater/extender) mode:
Configuring the W300M for use in WISP mode is fairly straightforward, provided the earlier setup methods weren't found to be too much of a chore.
The setup wizard allows the W300M to scan for wireless signals which it can connect to and then extend. We had no problems configuring the W300M for use as a wireless extender with our Tenda N60 router – simply enter the passkey when your desired signal has been traced.
Make sure the displayed settings are correct for the wireless-emitting router, not the W300M. We managed to get caught out by selecting the security mode that our W300M was using which happened to be different to the N60's mode. This terminated the connection's internet access which quickly alerted us of the mistake.
Testing methodology:
We used the W300M's AP mode for performance testing. This is the device's headline mode and is likely to be the most important function for many customers.
For short range testing, our laptop and adapter were positioned 1 foot from the router, in the same room. This represents a typical usage scenario where the W300M is required to provide a wireless signal for many devices located in a single room.
For long range testing, our laptop and adapter were positioned around 40 feet from the router, on the building's floor below. The signal has to travel through four plasterboard walls and a solid brick floor in our converted church building. Due to the building's age and very solid wall material, having the power to push a signal through the 40 foot distance is a demanding task for any router.
This test procedure represents another typical usage scenario where the W300M is required to provide a wireless signal for devices located in a different room, such as the dining area of a hotel.
The wireless adapter we used was an Edimax EW-7733UnD. It is a strong adapter which supports 802.11 a/b/g/n modes on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency ranges, features a rotatable antenna and supports up to 450Mbps data rates.
Short range performance:
The Tenda W300M exhibited strong short range performance. Our Edimax wireless adapter was able to connect at the W300M's top speed of 300Mbps, and signal strength was at its maximum, according to Windows 7.
Usability with multiple devices was another strong point for the W300M access point/router. We had our laptop (with Edimax Wireless-N adapter), Nexus 4 phone (Wireless-N), Archos 70 tablet (Wireless-G) and main desktop computer (Wireless-N) all connected simultaneously.
Each device was provided with a signal which was perfectly sufficient for its intended task. This proved that the W300M is capable of simultaneously powering multiple devices with different wireless connection modes.
We had no problems streaming HD videos from YouTube, even when multiple devices were simultaneously connected and sapping the wireless network's transfer rates.
Long range performance:
Sending a wireless signal over a long, interference-ridden distance proved a tougher task for the W300M. Nevertheless, it was still up to the task of allowing multiple devices to connect from a 40 foot distance.
With the increased distance and interference structures, Windows 7 reported that our Edimax adapter's connection signal had dropped to 3 bars and the transfer speed had declined to 216.0 Mbps. The strength of signal that our Nexus 4 was receiving had also been dropped.
The drops in signal strength and transfer rate didn't have an entirely negative impact on each device's performance, but a slightly detrimental performance effect was observed. High-Definition YouTube videos seemed to require an increased buffer time and our Nexus 4 showed some minor signs that it was struggling to transfer ‘high quality' YouTube videos quickly enough.
Other less demanding tasks such as web browsing, checking emails and loading pictures from an on-line article were completed without any noticeable performance losses.
WISP (Wireless repeater/extender) Mode performance:
We tested the W300M's performance when its wireless repeater/extender mode was activated. We have no complaints here; the W300M was able to pick up the 2.4GHz, 300Mbps signal from Tenda's N60 router and then pass it on to our waiting devices.
The Tenda W300M wireless N300 portable access point/router is a very convenient device which has the ability to solve many network-related problems that are encountered when travelling, or even in one's own residence.
We liked the fact that Tenda gives the W300M a number of operating modes. The Access Point mode which converts a 100Mbps wired connection to a 300Mbps Wireless-N signal is, in our opinion, the most convenient. If your hotel, meeting or student accommodation room is limited to a single wired port, the Tenda W300M can easily solve the problem associated with connecting wireless devices.
Another useful pair of features for the W300M is its wireless repeater/extender and bridge modes. The extender mode is useful for boosting the signal through a home, allowing devices with not-so-powerful wireless adapters to obtain a stable connection.
Wired devices such as internet-capable TVs can also be connected to the main network in a method which is far cheaper than forking out for a proprietary adapter. Although we didn't have the equipment required to test it, we would assume that the W300M can provide an internet signal to older Xbox 360 consoles which don't feature a wireless adapter. This is a more flexible and cheaper method than purchasing Microsoft's proprietary hardware.
The W300M's ease-of-use is good. Tenda provides instructions which should be easy to follow for many users, but novices may get a little confused. All modes other than the default AP setting require the supplied disk to be used for instructions. This could cause problems for some users. We hope that Tenda takes our advice and includes Windows 7 configuration steps in the guides of future products.
Performance of the W300M was good. The portable access point had the ability to penetrate a tough set of obstacles and provide a perfectly usable, albeit slightly slower, signal over a large distance.
Amazon is selling the Tenda W300M for the very competitive price of £18.89. In spite of the stiff competition from TP-Link's slower TL-WR702N, Tenda's W300M portable access point/router is priced very reasonably.
Pros:
- Good signal coverage.
- Variety of applications.
- Very portable.
- Plenty of security settings.
- Good value.
Cons:
- Installation guide should have Windows 7 configuration steps.
- Configuring the non-AP modes can be confusing at times, especially without access to the disk.
KitGuru says: An extremely convenient portable device which has the ability to solve many network-related problems.
