Edimax nLite 3G-6200n 3G Broadband Router

Design

Edimax's previous router, the Edimax nMax AR-7265Wn Wireless 802.11n ADSL2/2+ modem router has the unfortunate distinction of being the slowest wireless-N router we've tested at CNET so far. The company's latest offering is a little cheaper and surprisingly packs in a few more features, most notably the inclusion of 3G broadband capability via a USB modem.

At least from the front, the 3G-6200n looks much like any other router. Similar to the recently reviewed and rather spectacular Asus RT-N16, it's an all-white model with blinking display lights at the front, and a single fixed antenna. Out the back the 3G-6200n sports four 10/100 Ethernet ports, inbound WAN and single USB socket that has a rare distinction amongst 3G capable routers to date.

Unfortunately for any buyer of the 3G-6200n, it's a distinction of rank stupidity. The USB port is placed right next to the AC adapter plug, and in such close proximity that it's completely impossible to actually plug in a 3G USB modem without the use of an extension cable. Other 3G routers, such as the NetComm 3G18Wn or Axim MR-108N, get past this problem by putting the USB socket on the side or front of the router, where it's also easy to remove if you need to take it with you. We can only presume that Edimax's designers were asleep at the drawing table when the 3G-6200n was being planned.

Features

The 3G-6200n is a 2.4GHz-only wireless-N router with support for either 3G or ADSL connections. You'll need to have pretty much all of your connection details handy, however. Like the AR-7265Wn, the 3G-6200n's interface is pretty clumsy and has no details for Australian 3G providers. We've tested a number of 3G capable routers that knew the basic APN settings for each of the major Australian providers, and while they're not impossible to find out, it's a somewhat fiddly process. Even getting ADSL working on our test connection took more work than we'd really like. If you're already comfortable with networking terminology you'd survive the 3G-6200n set-up process, but there's no way we'd recommend this to a novice networker.

Performance

Once we'd configured the 3G-6200n, it ran well with an incoming iiNet ADSL2+ service and a Vodafone 3G USB modem on the supplied extension cable, at least from a connection standpoint. Signal strength and throughput were another story, though.

Signal strength: 2.4GHz

The 3G-6200n's signal strength figures weren't a huge surprise, coming as they did from a single 2.4GHz antenna.

Throughput: 2.4GHz

The 3G-6200n did manage to erase our memories of the AR-7265Wn, but not by much. Its throughput scores were still well towards the bottom of the pack, and if you're in an area with lots of wireless interference sources, that's not likely to be good enough.

There is one big catch with the 3G-6200n that could make it a worthwhile investment. It is very inexpensive. With an asking price of AU$149, it's around a hundred dollars cheaper than its faster competitors. We'd suggest spending extra on a unit with much better throughput such as the NetComm 3G18Wn would be a better investment, but at the end of the day the 3G-6200n does work. Not quickly, and it's a rather obtusely designed router, but it does work. If you can put up with slow and stubborn, there's certainly no cheaper way to get a 3G-capable router.