JiWire Lab Test Results

The NetGear MR814v2's throughput and range are typical for an 802.11b router, about 5Mbps in the same room as the router, and 1Mbps at a maximum distance of 50 ft. While not comparable to the much higher speeds achieved by 802.11g routers or wired Ethernet, the MR814's performance is all most users will need to connect to broadband modems, which typically operate in the range of 350-750Kbps. If you frequently transfer large files between machines on your network, however, consider a G router instead.

Throughput vs. Distance

Chart Key: Click on a product to see its results...
D-Link AirPlus XtremeG Wireless Router DI-624
NetGear 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624
Microsoft Wireless-G Base Station MN-700
Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT-54G
Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (with modem)
Buffalo AirStation G54 (WBR-G54)
NetGear Cable/DSL Wireless Router MR814v2

How We Tested

Our real-world performance tests measure actual throughput in a typical wood-frame house, through walls and floors, at five distances from the base station: 3 feet (same room), 15 feet (same floor), 25 feet (same floor), 35 feet (upstairs), and 50 feet (upstairs). All tests were conducted with 128-bit WEP encryption on, and in 802.11g-only mode, if available.