Belkin N1 Vision

Full Review

The N1 Vision router takes great strides in usability. The unique LCD display shows lots of information about the current status of the network, without the need to dig through arcane menus and web-based configuration pages. The flip side is the high price and slow network speeds as compared to the others in our Top 5, but if you’re looking for ease-of-use, this could be the router for you. Unlike the other routers in our Top 5, which are mostly boxy designs (of course, the sleek LInksys WRT310N is in a league of its own), the N1Vision stands upright. It has three stubby antennae sticking out of the top, that you can move around to get the best signal. The LAN and WAN ports are at the back of the router, and these are clearly labelled. The show-stopping LCD display is right in front of the device. A four-way rocker lets you quickly navigate through the various screens. The router can show you a representation of your network, network speeds and throughput, total uploads and downloads, and usage over the last 24 hours. It even shows you whether security is enabled or not, with a little padlock denoting this. Of course, more prosaic uses like displaying the date and time are possible. This router also has a feature that’s typically reserved for business routers—the ability to set up a separate, guest network. This is distinct from the normal network, and can be used to give guests the ability to browse the network, without worrying about them accessing your network shares or other network resources.

Bottom Line

This router is completely unlike any we’ve ever seen. The LCD display makes it easy to see what’s going on. You pay a high price for style, though.