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

Today we are going to take a look at the Buffalo AirStation N600 wireless router which is positioned as an affordable dual-band wireless router.  This means it operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequencies … ideal for those who want to connect multiple devices which consume a lot of bandwidth without running into issues.

Buffalo are well known for producing a wide range of networking equipment and they offer more affordable alternatives to competitors such as Synology.  We have reviewed a number of Buffalo products in the past and have been pretty impressed with what they have to offer.

The AirStation N600 operates on the ‘N' wireless band and is able to funnel 300 Mbps through both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequencies respectively.  This should make it well suited to those who are heavy online gamers or those who stream a lot of bandwidth-heavy content over the wireless network as the traffic can be split between the bands, providing you have compatible devices.

Features

• Dual Band 11n – combined speeds up to 600 Mbps
• Ideal for high speed media streaming
• Mobile friendly setup and device connection for smartphone and tablet users
• Configure as an access point or wireless bridge
• Step-by-step setup wizard for easy configuration

The Buffalo AirStation N600 is supplied in a medium sized box which is decorated in an attractive red and white livery. The front of the box features a large image of the router alongside some basic information about the key features.

Turning the box over reveals some more information about the router, more specifically some feature and speed comparisons with other products in Buffalo's AirStation range.  The box feels fairly durable and should do a good job of protecting the router during transit.

Inside the box, we find a fairly limited accessory bundle included.  This consists of a setup leaflet, a single Ethernet cable and a power adapter.  The Ethernet cable was a little short, too, which may be an issue for those users who are relying on the one that is included.

The Buffalo Airstation N600 is quite compact compared to other routers on the market, measuring around 16 cm tall.  It has a subtle design which features rounded edges and an expanse of matte-grey plastic.  The build quality of the unit is perfectly acceptable considering the price point of the model.

Unlike many other routers, the  N600 features an integrated stand which means that you cannot mount it to a wall. Its compact dimensions and vertical orientation mean it doesn't take up much space, though.

There are a series of status LEDs running down the front of the unit, alongside the ‘AOSS' button which is essentially a WPS button for connecting your devices without having to input a wireless key.

Moving round to the rear of the router, we can see that there are five RJ-45 jacks.  One of these is reserved for the inward internet connection with the other four available to connect devices to the network. Below the RJ-45 jacks, we find the DC-in connector.

Above the ports there is a small button to switch the router between Auto, Bridge and Router modes.  Unlike many cheaper routers, the N600 supports gigabit ethernet, improving speeds across the wired network, provided that that correct cabling is used.  Wireless connectivity is also comprehensive, supporting IEEE 802.11n, g, a and b wireless protocols.  The key feature of the N600 is its ability to broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands simultaneously with speeds up to 300 Mbps on each.

Accessing the web configuration interface is simple, with the default username and password set as ‘admin' and ‘password' respectively.

After entering the login credentials, we are greeted by a main ‘Setup' page which features links to various setup wizards.

These let us set up the internet connection, configure basic wireless and security settings, set up port forwarding, configure UPnP and update the firmware of the router.  There is a separate pane on the right hand side of this page which contains basic setup instructions for the router.

We connected the N600 to our Virgin Media modem during our testing and it didn't require any configuration to get things up and running, it was simply plug and play.

Buffalo have included pretty much every possible configuration option you could ask for under the ‘WAN/LAN' tab, though, in case you would like to reconfigure the network.

A plethora of advanced wireless settings can be found under the ‘Wireless' tab.

The ‘Games/Apps' tab let us access advanced port forwarding, UPnP, DMZ and QoS options.

Under the ‘Admin' tab, we find all of the router configuration options such as setting the time and date, resetting the password and updating the firmware of the router.

The final tab lets us see a whole host of diagnostic information about the router.

We would say that the user interface is more suited to more advanced users.  Even the simplified setup wizards are fairly complicated and could easily confuse more basic users.  Buffalo have made a clear effort to try and explain what each setting is for, though.

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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