OVERALL
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
ALTERNATIVES

Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA Review | 77 Data compared

double-arrow
  • Avg. price in UK: ~£25
  • Avg. price in US: ~$30
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 200 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 100 Mbps
  • Wireless coverage: N/A m²

Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among routers and if it is worth buying.

4.7

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%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.7

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%

3.2

Wireless

20.0%

5.2

Ports

18.0%

3.2

Networking

14.0%

8.0

Security

12.0%

7.3

Hardware

10.0%

2.8

Management

Poor
?

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

  • 6.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    1.1

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    9.0

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    9.0

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    10

    Maximum connected devices

  • 5.2
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    10

    Weight

    30.0%

    1.1

    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~ £25

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The TRENDnet TEW-100S4W1CA is a legacy 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) wireless broadband router designed for home and small office use, featuring a built-in 4-port 10/100Mbps switch and supporting wireless speeds up to 200 Mbps. It integrates essential security features including a NAT/SPI firewall, MAC and URL filtering, and VPN pass-through for IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP protocols. Its primary advantages include easy setup via Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), a lightweight 113g compact form factor, and a notable 5-year manufacturer warranty. However, it lacks modern essentials like Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB expansion, and QoS (Quality of Service) management, and its internal antenna design may limit range compared to routers with external antennas.

Technical Specifications of router Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA

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

4.7
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has a technical score of 4.72 points, which is lower than that of 98.8% 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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%

4.7

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.3
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.3 points, which is lower than 98.5% 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

Trendnet
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)
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

N/A
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

200 Mbps
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA delivers 200 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 91% of routers and equal to 0.3% 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

N/A
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, WPA, WEP
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports WPA2, WPA, WEP Wi-Fi security protocols, which are more advanced than 41% of routers and equal to 17.7% 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

?
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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

no
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support IPv6. 89.3% 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

no
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support dynamic routing. 53.4% 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

no
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not include QoS controls. 97.5% 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports Web UI firmware update methods, which are less convenient than 69.5% of routers and equal to 29.7% 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

?
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

?
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

?
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

?
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

0
Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 59.7% of routers and the same as 40.3% of routers.
Show more

Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA vs the average router

  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS.
    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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS.WPA2, WPA, WEP vs WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
  • 189 more connected devices
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports more connected devices than the average router (253 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    What it is: The vendor’s stated upper limit for how many client devices the router can support at once.
    When it matters: When the network must handle many phones, TVs, smart-home devices, and PCs together.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=128 devices

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports more connected devices than the average router (253 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.253 vs 64
  • 3.6x cheaper
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA is cheaper than the average router (£25 vs £90).
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA is cheaper than the average router (£25 vs £90).£25 vs £90
  • 189 more connected devices
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports more connected devices than the average router (253 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS.

Total
Overall
Wireless
Security
  • 86.2% slower Wi-Fi speed
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (200 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
  • No VPN server support
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 67% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • No VLAN tagging
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 89.1% of routers support IPv6.
  • No QoS
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support QoS, while the average router does. 97.3% of routers support QoS.
  • No dynamic routing
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Slower LAN ports
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has fewer USB ports than the average router (0 vs 1). The average router has 1 USB ports.
  • Limited firmware updates
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
  • Less capable NAS services
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA includes none NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
  • No traffic monitoring
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 82.6% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • Weaker management tools
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support DLNA, while the average router does. 54.5% of routers support DLNA.
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
  • 9 years older release date
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA is an older model than the average router (2,006 vs 2,015). The average router release year is 2,015.
    October 2006
  • Limited firmware updates
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the firmware update methods Web UI, 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • No VPN server support
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 67% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Slower LAN ports
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 89.1% of routers support IPv6.
    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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 89.1% of routers support IPv6.
  • 86.2% slower Wi-Fi speed
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (200 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (200 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.200 Mbps vs 1450 Mbps
  • No QoS
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support QoS, while the average router does. 97.3% of routers support 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support QoS, while the average router does. 97.3% of routers support QoS.
  • No dynamic routing
    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support 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

    Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
Total
Overall
Wireless
Security
Networking
Ports
Management
Hardware

Graphic comparison of Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA and other routers

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA?

  • Comprehensive security features including a built-in SPI firewall and NAT protection
  • Supports multiple VPN pass-through sessions (IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP)
  • Includes useful management tools like URL filtering and MAC address control
  • Lightweight and compact design compared to similar models
  • Cost-effective for basic home networking with 4-port switch functionality
  • Features DNS relay for slightly faster repeated query responses

What customers dislike about Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA?

  • Dated Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) technology with lower maximum speeds compared to modern standards
  • Lacks support for newer IPv6 networking protocols
  • Does not include Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization
  • Missing modern features like MU-MIMO, beamforming, or mesh Wi-Fi support
  • No external antennas, which may limit range compared to newer models
  • No USB ports for network-attached storage or printer sharing

Best alternatives

d-link-dir-842
D-Link DIR 842

Routers

7.0
xiaomi-redmi-router-ac2100
Xiaomi Redmi Router AC2100

Routers

6.7
xiaomi-router-ax1500
Xiaomi Router AX1500

Routers

6.6
tp-link-archer-c50
TP-Link Archer C50

Routers

6.4
xiaomi-mesh-system-ac1200
Xiaomi Mesh System AC1200

Routers

6.4
asus-rt-n12-d1
ASUS RT N12 D1

Routers

6.3
mercusys-ac12
Mercusys AC12

Routers

6.2
xiaomi-mi-router-4a
Xiaomi Mi Router 4A

Routers

6.2
tenda-ac8
Tenda AC8

Routers

6.1
tenda-ac6-ac1200
Tenda AC6 AC1200

Routers

6.1
asus-rt-n10p
ASUS RT N10P

Routers

6.1
asus-rt-n10-c1
ASUS RT N10 C1

Routers

5.9

Compare Trendnet TEW 100S4W1CA with other routers

VS
VS

Compare