Buffalo's Wireless G Broadband Router Is A Cut Above
Buffalo Technologies, like many other vendors in the broadband and wireless markets, has struggled to differentiate its products from those of its competitors. However, CRN Test Center engineers found Buffalo Technologies' latest router, the AirStation WHR3-G54 with integrated 802.11g networking capability, succeeds in setting itself apart from the competition in three major ways. First, the unit is protected by a two-year warranty and 24x7 tech support. This far exceeds the protection offered by competitors such as D-Link.
Second, the WHR3-G54 offers a proprietary high-speed mode, which boosts wireless data-transfer speeds from the 802.11g standard of 54 Mbps to as much as 125 Mbps. To achieve that speed increase, solution providers must use Buffalo's wireless network cards with any WHR3-G54 deployment. This offers a great opportunity for integrators to upsell additional products to increase their revenue. Real-world testing by the manufacturer showed that using high-speed mode effectively increased wireless speeds by approximately 70 percent, but results will vary based on distance and interference.
Third, the unit incorporates Buffalo's AirStation One-Touch secure system (AOSS) technology that automates security and encryption of wireless transmissions. AOSS offers one-touch security so solution providers need only push the AOSS button on the AirStation and then run an association process on a designated client PC. The client PC must have a wireless NIC compatible with Buffalo's hardware to run Buffalo's client manager. Solution providers will find the AOSS feature quite easy to use and can promote the use of wireless security for their customers by removing the complexity behind the process.
The AirStation WHR3-G54 includes the standard bells and whistles found on broadband routers, such as an integrated firewall, network address translation, VPN pass-through, four 10/100 Ethernet ports, status lights and external antenna support. The unit is managed through an intuitive browser-based interface and setup wizards to speed installation tasks. The router includes advanced features such as port redirection and port forwarding, but the setup interface for these features leaves a lot to be desired. Although the menu structure is workable, the language referencing these elements is confusing, which could be due to a translation problem.
That glitch aside, the Buffalo WHR3-G54 offers all the elements necessary to bring broadband and secure wireless to any small to midsize business. What's more, Buffalo is a channel-centric vendor, which helps solution providers compete against big-box stores selling competing products through direct-sales channels. The program consists of Registered Reseller and Premier Partner levels. The company offers discounts to VARs selling into the government, education and medical fields, as well as seed and demonstration units, a quarterly rebate program and pre- and post-sales support. Technical support and post-sales support are available to VARs 24x7.
CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>Buffalo AirStation WHR3-G54 Wireless Broadband Router
COMPANY: Buffalo Technologies
Austin, Texas
(800) 456-9799
www.buffalotech.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None
TECH RATING:
CHANNEL RATING:
Note: Recommended status is earned with a score of eight stars out of 10