Buffalo AirStation N300 Review | 77 Data compared

The SmallNetBuilder review of the Buffalo WZR-300HP reveals a single-band N300, Atheros-based router featuring pre-installed DD-WRT firmware, which offers extensive, complex functionality including QoS and VPN support. The device delivers solid 180 Mbps routing throughput, Gigabit ports, and competitive range performance despite "HighPower" marketing limitations. While praised for its features, cons include the complex interface and instability when attempting 40 MHz mode, leading to a downgrade to Buffalo's simplified firmware during testing.

The Buffalo WCR-GN is a compact, budget-friendly N150 router and access point, roughly the size of a Blu-ray case, suitable for tight spaces or travel. It offers notable versatility by functioning as a standard router, wireless bridge, or access point. While it provides decent speeds at close to medium range, throughput drops significantly at distances over 10 meters, and it lacks Gigabit Ethernet ports. The device features a "quirky," cluttered web interface and a "finicky" setup wizard that can be difficult for novices. Despite these drawbacks, it serves as a functional, low-cost entry-level device.

The PCMag review of the Buffalo WZR2-G300N identifies it as an affordable, user-friendly wireless router featuring AOSS technology for simple, one-button security configuration. It offers versatile, adjustable antennas and a physical switch for easy conversion between router and access point modes. While providing decent speed improvements over older 802.11g, the device is bottlenecked by 100 Mbps Ethernet ports. Key drawbacks include "near bottom" performance in its class, lack of 5-GHz support, and poor Mac documentation.

The Geekanoids review highlights the Buffalo AirStation WHR-G300N as a cost-effective, compact, entry-level 802.11n router priced around £31-£35, designed to bring 300 Mbps speeds to homes and small offices. Key features include the user-friendly AOSS (AirStation One-Touch Secure System) for easy security setup and a physical switch for toggling between router and access point modes, supporting WPA2/WPA/WEP encryption. While praised for its budget-friendly, sleek design and DD-WRT compatibility, the device is limited by 100 Mbps LAN ports rather than Gigabit Ethernet, lacks external antennas, and provides minimal Mac-specific documentation.

The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-HP-AG300H is a feature-rich, "High Power" gigabit router offering simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band performance for better network traffic balancing. A major strength is the inclusion of professional-grade DD-WRT firmware, providing advanced users with extensive customization, alongside four gigabit LAN ports, a "Movie Engine" for QoS, and USB functionality for basic NAS storage. However, the device requires an external modem, suffers from slight packet loss across both bands, and features a complex, often confusing user interface for initial setup.

The Buffalo Nfiniti HighPower WZR-HP-G300NH is recognized as a feature-rich "Best Buy" router, offering high-speed performance at long ranges (25m) and specialized features including Gigabit ports, a USB 2.0 NAS server, and a built-in BitTorrent client. Key advantages include "Movie Engine" QoS for media prioritization and strong, reliable connectivity, though it lacks 5GHz band support. However, the review notes significant drawbacks in user experience, specifically a "less straightforward" setup process that often requires bypassing the included disc for a browser-based wizard. Additionally, the configuration interface is criticized as being cluttered and confusing, with excessive password prompts during setup. Expert ReviewsUltimately recommended for users comfortable with complex configuration, the router delivers impressive performance despite its challenging interface and "ungainly" physical design. The Expert Reviews evaluation highlights that the combination of speed and advanced functionality justifies the effort to set it up.

The Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti WZR-G300N, an early 802.11n "draft-n" router, features a practical, sleek design with a vertical or horizontal stand and concealed, easily accessible setup information. While it was an early market entrant, the device uses the Broadcom Intensi-fi chipset, which contributed to underperforming range and throughput compared to established,,, pre-n" products. Key pros highlighted in the review include its reliable, immediate "out-of-the-box" functionality and the inclusion of Buffalo's AOSS button for simplified secure connection setups. It also demonstrated competitive speed at shorter ranges and includes helpful diagnostic status LEDs. Significant cons focus on its lackluster overall performance, failing to achieve expected range markers, and the lack of Gigabit Ethernet support, which caps wired speeds at 100 Mbps. Due to these performance gaps, the review noted that faster Wireless-G alternatives were preferable at the time.