Although Gateway is a newcomer in the wireless router market, the Gateway WGR-250 router more than holds its own against many of the models from the more established manufacturers. We were impressed with the breadth of its feature set as well as its interface design, ease of setup, and performance.

Initial Configuration and Documentation

Though it lacks a wizard, the Gateway setup application covers all Internet connection settings, security preferences, and local PC network configurations. The router installation guide included on the CD is excellent, but the printed client installation documentation doesn't include details on the overall wireless network setup: It simply refers you to the CD.

Management and Features

The WGR-250 is arguably the most feature-packed device in this roundup. Extensive logging capabilities (even to external servers), Web filtering for malicious ActiveX or Java content, virtual DMZ, UPnP support, and wireless MAC filtering are a smattering of what's available. The interface is also well organized and easy to configure.

Security

The WGR-250 supports all common security protocols, such as WEP and WPA with shared keys or RADIUS authentication. In addition, you can use the WGR-250 to create extensive incoming and outgoing filters that block questionable URLs, either to control your children's browsing activities or to secure your network against intruders.

Performance