Originally Posted by
trillix 
Hello. I purchased the WNDR from Buy.com and it arrived today, six days later.
The specs previously indicated the router would work with Mac OS 10.4.11 and now the Netgear website states "Mac OS" instead.
The install process has not gone smoothly, and the "beta NetGenie software" for Mac does not even stay open after launching -- thus only the web browser version of the admin software works. No cool network maps or diagnostics for me apparently.
Instead of auto-logging in upon the router configuring itself, I got a username/password prompt instead -- then dumbly input the SSID and Password because there was no other information about what to do in such a situation. Did this compromise my security from the start, and is it necessary to generate a new SSID and password because it was sent to an unencrypted page at routerlogin.net?
The process so far seems half-baked in terms of a Mac install, perhaps intentionally made this way?
Further, trying to set-up only the 2.4 wifi for the near-term then requires turning off the radio signal for the 5GHz band, which is done by clicking an 'apply' button for making the changes. Strangely, this does not permanently configure the wifi and the 5GHz band continues to show up after moving around other menus. It seems to have its own idea of how it wants to work and I have not yet figured out what is required to keep the 5GHz band turned off.
I read that people here were updating to the new firmware version and had not saved/stored their Router config settings, which the admin software allows. Thus, I saved my router settings, and then sought to restore them after the firmware update and it said "FAILURE" as a result -- the settings were not restored, they were invalid. Is a firmware update beyond the scope of saved router settings - what are they used for then?
My reason for writing was to find out if anyone knows how to 'name' devices that show up in the web version of the admin interface (routerlogin.net) -- i.e. specifically in the Attached Devices category where devices connected to the network are listed. I have several that I would rather have names for, and there seems to be no way to edit these, though I am to guess the NetGenie software for Mac perhaps could do this.
I tried to name a device using the "Wireless Card Access List" (under Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings ) and yet the device name does not show up in Attached Devices, though its MAC Address does and the name is linked to the MAC Address. I have another wired device that is and there is seemingly no way of naming it. No graphical network maps or speed dials for internet speed or anything, either. Not what I was expecting given the screenshots in reviews or the high praise of others experiences.
There are a significant amount of problems that were surprising to encounter and it seems almost as if my computer is unofficially unsupported, unless of course the NetGenie software for Mac will start to work on 10.4.11 very quickly here. If it stays this way, the router becomes more of a hassle to manage a network with than a time-saving management tool - and at the very least if it is not going to be supported for 10.4.11 customers should be told this in advance so as not to invest in a router that will only be a letdown in terms of using it as described.
If rating it just on an install experience and simply keeping its settings straight and an out-of-the-box 'this should work with my computer' via specs, I would give it 2 out of 5 stars. It has been quite horrible actually, in that the great experience did not materialize here on some older equipment and yet there was no mention of this being an issue. Netgear? Any ideas?
That said, the router does work and it does have a clean and well organized interface. The main reason the Netgear routers (3700 & 3800 now) were of interest is their ability to turn the WiFi signal on and off via push button. This and other functionality will make it a useful and valuable tool for a home network. Though lacking a more refined software solution is disappointing, and it will be difficult to look beyond this because the limits will be the main interface to the device, likely requiring a new PC to regain lost software functionality.
