Home > Consumer Reviews > Linksys by Cisco WRT160NL Wireless-N Broadband Router with Storage Link (Compatible with Linux)

I've had several routers over the years, and this one is the best so far. Range is great, speed is great, but best of all is the setup. Has a CD that makes it very easy, and when you are done it gives you a diagram of your entire network, including the names of each computer. I've set up several routers over the years, so I know what I'm doing, but who wants to spend time messing with it? I believe just about anyone could do this one. I've had it about a month, and I love it.

Update: I found out that my download speed was cut by 85% to my HARDWIRED computer when the ethernet cable was routed through the router (which it has to be) and then to my desktop computer. I found this out accidentally when checking speeds, and then got on the Linksys website and ask for help. I got a response and they had me change some obscure (MTU) settings (which I still don't understand), and it fixed the problem. My issue is, NOWHERE in the instructions does it even hint that you might need to do this.

Otherwise, the router works fine. But if you get it, check the download/upload speeds before and after the installation.

We went through three other brands, each time returning them for an exchange of another in their cheaper price range; finally we tried this Linksys and ta da!! it worked fantastically.

If you are like me and totally don't know how to install things on your computer, never fear, it comes with a CD that walks you through the process. If you know what you're doing you can skip the CD and browse the "Quick Installation Guide."

Yep, it costs more, but after returning three other cheaper ones, I am here to say this works great. We have not had a problem since.

I purchased this router for 2 specific reasons. First and foremost, I wanted the Storage Link function in order to add a quick and easy substitute for a separate home server or NAS box. Second, I wanted to upgrade from my current wireless G router to N.
This router worked fine as a router. The network was easy to configure and both of the laptops we use in my home connected without issue. Both machines run Vista Home Premium.
The router did, for some reason, cause our laptops to have problems accessing our D-Link wireless print server. Both laptops had accessed the server flawlessly for months prior to swapping out my old router, but now Vista on both machines had recognition problems with the print server, sometimes seeing it on the network, sometimes not.
The Storage Link function was hot mess from the start. I attached a 500G external drive with NTFS formatting (supported, according to the Linksys info), but it wouldn't show up on the network from either laptop or when I logged into the router config portal. On occasion, the hard drive would show, but I was unable to access it. I spent hours researching the Web, trying to find any answers as to what the problem was and how to fix it. I found lots of posts about the problem, but just about every one had a different suggested fix and none of them worked. I called Linksys support, spent 2.5 hours on the phone with Tier II technical support and was finally told that they couldn't help me unless I got an XP machine to diagnose the problem. I was given a ticket number and told to call back if I needed more help. Of course, I didn't call back. I returned the router to Amazon that day.
I have always used D-Link and NetGear products in the past. This was my first, and most likely my last, experience with Linksys.
I would have given 1 star, but as a router this worked fine. The Storage Link, which is a secondary function(but the more important one to me) is what drove the rating down so low.

very cool. the usb drive is EASY to map as a network drive with a letter and it works fast enough. right now i'm backing up from the drive wirelessly to my computer and it is transferring data at a rate of 1GB in about 20 minutes. to some that will sound slow, but to me thats VERY fast. especially when you consider the price at which you're getting this utility. you can turn a USB drive into a network drive. (mine is 250 GB external). i still have not read the instructions for the device yet. tomorrow i will look into customizing the security options.

i am terribly excited about now having a network drive from which all 3 of my computers can access files. no more storing pictures or music or files on 1 of the 3, now everything is stored on the "network drive" and backed up to my main computer. my wife and i love it. just $85.

also interesting is that the compression rate is currently about 20%, so i think that means by the time my current backup is complete, my 44GB network drive might be compressed to under 9GB. i'll see, but it should give you some idea.

as for the networking features, the signal is very strong and reaches in my basement, so my buddy down there is happy too.

i find the description of the network controls you get to be really understated. you can block and allow websites and computers and you get a lot of other useful controls. its very user friendly and the only thing you'll really need to refer to the manual for is to see how to access the usb drive from your computer - its EASY.

the tricky thing is restricting admin access to just yourself - trying to figure that out. will do it tomorrow. i hope this review helps. i would recommend to anyone to get this router -

i'm not a techie, so my expectations are "normal" and this has exceeded my expectations by far.

its very similar to using the network drive at my job. the best part of it all to me is that i now have all my files stored in one place and finally made good use of my external usb hard drive, which will now always be connected. can't beat that. good luck and vote me up if this review was helpful.

I'm sitting in my living room writing this review on my laptop. The wireless router I'm connected to (the one I'm reviewing now) is another room... in another building!

My office, where I keep the router, is in a converted garage apartment behind our home, at least 200 feet away. Although my laptop's wireless signal indicator says my signal is low, it still says the speed is 65 Mbps, which is the same I'd get with my old router if the signal was excellent.

I'm very happy with the Linksys WRT160NL. I have not had to restart it yet, the speed and range are totally great (I can sit in bed and stream movies on my netbook while my wife works next to me on her laptop with no lag whatsoever), and install was quick and painless.