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ASUS WL 520GC Review | 77 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£60
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 125 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 100 Mbps
  • Wireless coverage: ?

ASUS WL 520GC review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among routers and if it is worth buying.

5.0

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the router's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best routers on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

5.0

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
5.0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

3.7

Wireless

20.0%

5.2

Ports

18.0%

7.1

Networking

14.0%

7.6

Security

12.0%

3.1

Hardware

10.0%

3.0

Management

Good
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 3.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    1.0

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    4.1

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    1.0

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    9.0

    Maximum connected devices

  • 5.1
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    9.8

    Weight

    30.0%

    1.0

    Wi-Fi speed

    20.0%

    4.0

    Cellular modem type

    10.0%

    1.0

    SIM slot

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £60

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS WL-520gC is a legacy 2.4GHz wireless desktop router supporting 802.11b/g standards with a maximum data transfer rate of 125 Mbps through its High Speed Mode (HSM). It features four 10/100 BaseT LAN ports, one WAN port, and a single external reverse-SMA antenna for broad-range coverage. Key characteristics include EZSetup for simplified configuration, BroadRange technology for extended reach, and a built-in NAT/SPI firewall with support for WPA2-Personal security and VPN pass-through (IPSec, L2TP, PPTP). Main pros include its robust coverage capabilities for larger spaces via Wireless Distribution System (WDS) bridging and its lightweight, compact design. However, significant cons include its outdated Wi-Fi 4 (802.11g) speed which is insufficient for modern high-bandwidth activities, lack of 5GHz band support, and the absence of USB ports for printer or storage sharing.

Technical Specifications of router ASUS WL 520GC

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

?

Wireless

20.0%

?

Ports

18.0%

?

Networking

14.0%

?

Security

12.0%

?

Hardware

10.0%

?

Management

5.0
ASUS WL 520GC has a technical score of 5.01 points, which is lower than that of 96.3% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the router.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a router reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
1.0
ASUS WL 520GC has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 71.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.0

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.5
ASUS WL 520GC has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.5 points, which is lower than 96.8% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
Wi-Fi version
What it is: Identifies the Wi-Fi generation the router supports, such as Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E, or 7.
When it matters: When newer phones, laptops, and consoles need the latest Wi-Fi efficiency and speed features.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
ASUS WL 520GC uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), which is less advanced than 60.8% of routers and equal to 37.2% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
What it is: Lists which wireless frequency bands the router can use, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
When it matters: When you need to balance range, speed, and congestion across different types of client devices.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz

2.4 GHz
ASUS WL 520GC supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are less versatile than 75.3% of routers and equal to 22.3% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >2700 Mbps

125 Mbps
ASUS WL 520GC delivers 125 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 98.8% of routers and equal to 0.5% of routers.
Channel widths supported
What it is: Lists the Wi-Fi channel widths the router can use, such as 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz.
When it matters: When you want the option to trade peak speed against stability in crowded wireless environments.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz

20 MHz
ASUS WL 520GC supports 20 MHz channel width options, which is fewer than 95.5% of routers and the same as 1.3% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
What it is: Lists the wireless security standards the router supports, such as WPA2 or WPA3.
When it matters: When you want stronger wireless protection without locking out older devices that still need compatibility.

Importance: HIGH

WPA2
ASUS WL 520GC supports WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 93.1% of routers and equal to 4.2% of routers.
DoS protection
What it is: Provides defenses intended to reduce the impact of denial-of-service traffic against the router or network.
When it matters: When exposed services or remote access make resilience against traffic floods more important.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS WL 520GC includes DoS protection. 11% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
What it is: Uses stateful packet inspection to track sessions and block suspicious unsolicited traffic more accurately.
When it matters: When the router needs a stronger first line of filtering on an internet-facing connection.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS WL 520GC includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 3.6% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
What it is: Lets the router allow or block devices based on their MAC addresses.
When it matters: When you want an extra device-level access rule beyond passwords and network names.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS WL 520GC supports MAC address filtering. 1% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
What it is: Allows the router to block or allow access based on website addresses or domain rules.
When it matters: When you need to restrict specific sites for children, guests, or work-policy reasons.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS WL 520GC supports URL filtering. 1.8% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
IPv6 support
What it is: Support for the newer IPv6 internet addressing standard alongside the older IPv4 system.
When it matters: When your internet provider or network already uses IPv6, or you want the router to stay compatible as IPv6 use becomes more common.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS WL 520GC supports IPv6. 10.9% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS WL 520GC supports dynamic routing. 46.8% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
What it is: Allows the router to pass traffic between separate VLANs under controlled rules.
When it matters: When you need segmented networks to communicate selectively instead of staying fully isolated.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not support inter-VLAN routing. 22.2% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not support VLAN tagging. 63% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
What it is: Provides quality-of-service controls that prioritize some traffic over less important traffic.
When it matters: When calls, gaming, and downloads compete and you want latency-sensitive traffic protected.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS WL 520GC includes QoS controls. 2.7% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
What it is: Measures how many LAN ports the router includes. A higher count expands direct connectivity for matching devices.
When it matters: When you run a home office with NAS, TV boxes, and desktops, having more LAN ports avoids extra switches and keeps latency lower on wired links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 4 ports

4
ASUS WL 520GC has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 23.4% of routers and the same as 69.5% of routers.
LAN port speeds
What it is: Lists the Ethernet speeds available on the router’s LAN ports, such as Gigabit or multi-gig.
When it matters: When wired transfers to NAS, desktops, or access points need more than basic Ethernet speeds.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 Gbps

100 Mbps
ASUS WL 520GC offers 100 Mbps on its LAN ports, which is slower than 73.1% of routers and on par with 26.4% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
What it is: Shows how many separate WAN uplink ports the router provides for internet connections.
When it matters: When you use dual internet lines, backup WAN, or load balancing between multiple external links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 WAN port

1
ASUS WL 520GC has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 1% of routers and the same as 90.1% of routers.
N. of USB ports
What it is: Shows how many USB ports the router includes for storage, printers, or modem accessories.
When it matters: When you plan to share storage, attach a printer, or use USB-based network extras.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 1 USB port

0
ASUS WL 520GC has 0 USB ports, which is fewer than 61.1% of routers and the same as 38.9% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
What it is: Power over Ethernet support, meaning the router can receive power, deliver it, or be part of a PoE-based installation.
When it matters: When you want cleaner installation with fewer separate power cables, especially in ceilings, walls, racks, or remote locations.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
Management interface
What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI
ASUS WL 520GC uses Web UI for management, which is less advanced than 72.2% of routers and equal to 27.3% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI, Utility
ASUS WL 520GC supports Web UI, Utility firmware update methods, which are less convenient than 67.3% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
What it is: Lets the router track bandwidth usage by device, app category, or time period.
When it matters: When you need to find which devices or activities are causing slowdowns or high data use.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not include traffic monitoring. 82.8% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
What it is: Lets the router create a separate wireless network for visitors or less-trusted devices.
When it matters: When guests need internet access without reaching private devices on the main network.

Importance: HIGH

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not offer a guest Wi‑Fi network. 91.6% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not offer captive portal features. 23.9% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
CPU clock speed
What it is: Shows the operating frequency of the router processor, often listed per core.
When it matters: When routing, encryption, QoS, and many active clients can put heavier load on the CPU.

Importance: HIGH

0.24 GHz
ASUS WL 520GC runs at 0.24 GHz, which is slower than 99.4% of routers.
RAM capacity
What it is: The amount of working memory available for sessions, routing tables, and running router services.
When it matters: When many devices, VPN tunnels, or advanced features need the router to stay responsive under load.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=512 MB

16 MB
ASUS WL 520GC has 16 MB of RAM, which is less than 94.8% of routers and the same as 3.3% of routers.
Internal storage
What it is: The built-in storage available for logs, apps, shared files, or other local router functions.
When it matters: When the router runs extra services and needs space for logs, packages, or shared content.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8 GB

0.001953 GB
ASUS WL 520GC has 0.001953 GB of internal storage, which is less than 93.6% of routers and the same as 6.4% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
What it is: Uses dedicated hardware paths to offload routing, NAT, encryption, or switching tasks from the main CPU.
When it matters: When heavy routing or security features would otherwise reduce throughput on the processor alone.

Importance: HIGH

no
ASUS WL 520GC does not offer hardware acceleration. 81% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
What it is: Shows how many antennas are mounted externally on the router.
When it matters: When you want stronger adjustable coverage or plan to aim antennas for difficult room layouts.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 3 antennas

1
ASUS WL 520GC has 1 external antennas, which is fewer than 55.3% of routers and the same as 4.2% of routers.
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ASUS WL 520GC vs the average router

Total
  • Fewer Wi-Fi bands
    ASUS WL 520GC supports fewer Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
  • 91.4% slower Wi-Fi speed
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (125 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
  • Narrower channel widths
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
  • No band steering
    ASUS WL 520GC does not support band steering, while the average router does. 52.6% of routers support band steering.
  • No beamforming
    ASUS WL 520GC does not support beamforming, while the average router does. 59.6% of routers support beamforming.
  • 1 fewer spatial streams
    ASUS WL 520GC has fewer spatial streams than the average router (1 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.
  • No VPN server support
    ASUS WL 520GC cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 67% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    ASUS WL 520GC supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS.
  • No VLAN tagging
    ASUS WL 520GC does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • Slower LAN ports
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower LAN port speed than the average router (100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
  • 1 fewer USB ports
    ASUS WL 520GC has fewer USB ports than the average router (0 vs 1). The average router has 1 USB ports.
  • Limited firmware updates
    ASUS WL 520GC supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Utility, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
  • Less capable NAS services
    ASUS WL 520GC includes none NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
  • No traffic monitoring
    ASUS WL 520GC does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 82.6% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • Weaker management tools
    ASUS WL 520GC uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    ASUS WL 520GC does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 91.4% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • No DLNA support
    ASUS WL 520GC does not support DLNA, while the average router does. 54.5% of routers support DLNA.
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.24 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x0.5 GHz.
  • No hardware acceleration
    ASUS WL 520GC does not offer hardware acceleration, while the average router does. 80.7% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
  • 87.5% GB less RAM
    ASUS WL 520GC has less RAM than the average router (16 MB vs 128 MB). The average router has 128 MB of RAM.
  • 8 years older release date
    ASUS WL 520GC is an older model than the average router (2,007 vs 2,015). The average router release year is 2,015.
    March 2007
  • No VPN server support
    ASUS WL 520GC cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 67% of routers can act as a VPN server.
    What it is: The ability to host the router’s own VPN server so you can connect back into your network securely from outside.
    When it matters: When you want secure remote access to your home or office network while you are away.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS WL 520GC cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 67% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Fewer Wi-Fi bands
    ASUS WL 520GC supports fewer Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
    What it is: Lists which wireless frequency bands the router can use, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
    When it matters: When you need to balance range, speed, and congestion across different types of client devices.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz

    ASUS WL 520GC supports fewer Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
  • 91.4% slower Wi-Fi speed
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (125 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
    What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
    When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2700 Mbps

    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (125 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.125 Mbps vs 1450 Mbps
  • Slower LAN ports
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower LAN port speed than the average router (100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
    What it is: Lists the Ethernet speeds available on the router’s LAN ports, such as Gigabit or multi-gig.
    When it matters: When wired transfers to NAS, desktops, or access points need more than basic Ethernet speeds.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 1 Gbps

    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower LAN port speed than the average router (100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps
  • No VLAN tagging
    ASUS WL 520GC does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
    What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
    When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS WL 520GC does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • Limited firmware updates
    ASUS WL 520GC supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Utility, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
    When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS WL 520GC supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Utility, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.Web UI, Utility vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Narrower channel widths
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    What it is: Lists the Wi-Fi channel widths the router can use, such as 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz.
    When it matters: When you want the option to trade peak speed against stability in crowded wireless environments.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz

    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.24 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x0.5 GHz.
    What it is: Shows the operating frequency of the router processor, often listed per core.
    When it matters: When routing, encryption, QoS, and many active clients can put heavier load on the CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS WL 520GC has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.24 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x0.5 GHz.0.24 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz
Total
Overall
Wireless
Security
Networking
Ports
Management
Hardware

Graphic comparison of ASUS WL 520GC and other routers

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about ASUS WL 520GC?

  • Affordable price point
  • Solid reliability and uptime
  • Strong signal range and distance for a Wireless G router
  • Removable antenna allows for easy upgrades
  • Fast and easy to flash with DD-WRT micro firmware (under 5 minutes)
  • Includes built-in network firewall and WPA2 AES support
  • Compact and lightweight design

What customers dislike about ASUS WL 520GC?

  • Limited to 2MB of flash space, which is insufficient for more advanced custom firmware like Gargoyle
  • Only supports 'micro' versions of DD-WRT due to memory constraints
  • Lacks a USB port for printer sharing (unlike the WL-520gU model)
  • Outdated Wireless-G (802.11b/g) speeds compared to modern standards
  • Documentation and browser-based configuration can be confusing for beginners
  • Lacks advanced modern features like MU-MIMO or tri-band support

Video reviews

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