Asus RT-N11 EZ Wireless Router

Packaging has always been a strong point of ASUS, and while a router is hardly the type of product a scantily clad woman would advertise, Asus have provided an attractive blue and white outer sleeve. The emphasis here is on ‘EZ’, with EZ Config, EZ Management and EZ Speed up features displayed in brief detail. To the rear of the package, ASUS have seen fit to go into greater detail of the features along with a brief explanation of the VIP zones which we will cover in the features page.
 

 

The side of the box gives details on the specifications of the RT-N11 router which we covered earlier. Taking the main box out of the outer sleeve and opening that up, we are greeted with the router itself and a bunch of accessories. The packaging is recycled egg box style cardboard which is soft enough to absorb anything but a major shock, but sturdy enough to hold the router in place, so the components should reach the end user in perfect condition. I would have liked to have seen more substantial packing here, though, as it ‘cheapened’ the presentation somewhat.
 

  
 

The included accessories are 2x antennas; Ethernet cable; base plate; power adapter, VIP warranty booklet and setup/installation CD. Surprisingly, there is no hard copy of the installation instructions. While this is most likely not required by someone who has used a router before, I do have some concerns over someone new to setting up a router or indeed new to I.T purchasing such a complex piece of kit with no instruction leaflet/quick start guide, as this is hardly ‘EZ’ as Asus would say.
 

  
 

The front of the unit itself is very similar to the latest Netgear designed routers. The router is encased in a glossy white plastic frame with a silver backlit (green) information display covered by a clear piece of perspex, wrapping around the sides and front. While not as rounded as the Netgear DG834GT, it is strikingly similar in looks. This is not a negative point as it’s a very modern and stylish look.
 

 

Judging by the amount of ventilation this router has, I suspect that this router will run hot. One of the design flaws of the DG834GT is that there is very little ventilation. It appears Asus have certainly given a lot of thought about this and have certainly created plenty of scope for cooling, short of adding a heatsink and fan! The unit can also be wall mounted with a set of screws/brackets (not provided).
 

The rear of the unit has 4 LAN ports and a WLAN port as well as two antenna connections, reset switch, WPS switch and DC IN port. The reset switch will require a Biro pen or similar to reach, and thus cannot be accidently operated, while the WPS switch (WiFi Protected Setup) is raised so it can be operated easily. Or should that be ‘E-Z-ly?
 

 

Below we can see how the router looks with the antennas attached. The unit can be stationed either horizontally on the attached rubber feet or vertically using the provided base plate, depending on your preference. I removed one of the antennas when mounted vertically as it interfered with the top antenna, but this was for aesthetic purposes only as the antennas can be swiveled in all directions.
 

  
 

I must say that ASUS have made a very good looking and solidly built router with the RT-N11. The whole product oozes class and even the antennas, which are usually the weak point in most routers, feel quality.
 

That about covers the packing and presentation, so let’s move on and see what makes this router stand out from the hundreds of other routers on the market shall we?