By Olin Coles
Manufacturer: Diamond Multimedia, USA
Product Name: 300Mbps 802.11n Wireless Repeater Range Extender
Model Number: Diamond WR300NSI
UPC: 757448022445
Price As Tested: $49.99 (Amazon | NewEgg)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Diamond Multimedia.
Wireless networking has leaped from niche application to mainstream installations in a short matter of years, allowing homes and businesses to implement features like Wi-Fi Internet access and wireless multimedia file storage. The latest 300 Mb/s 802.11n (wireless-N) networks have been a big part of this transition, enabling transfer speeds similar to the cabled Gigabit Ethernet connections. This has made life more convenient, but for many installations range is still a problem.
In this article Benchmark Reviews investigates the Diamond Multimedia WR300NSI Wireless Wi-Fi Range Extender. The purpose of this portable device is self-explanatory, and networking can be complicated, which is why we’ll test how well Diamond has kept it simple for the novice consumer in this article.
The Diamond Multimedia WR300NSI Portable Wireless-N Repeater supports wireless 802.11b/g/n standards with one 10/100Base-T Ethernet port.
The WR300NSI is designed with MIMO technology to extend the reach of any existing wireless router/AP to maximize the coverage in your home or office. It basically receives the signal from your wireless router/AP and repeats it to extend the range to farther locations that are previously unreachable.
Equipped with 64/128-bit WEP, WIFI Protected Access (WPA), and the latest WPA2 encryption with TKIP and AES algorithm to protect your wireless network from unauthorized access.
MAC Address Filtering for wireless links provides an additional layer of security for your wireless network.
The device comes with 1 x 10/100M Auto MDI/MDIx Ethernet port that can be used to connect to an existing wired network to serve as a wireless AP or wireless bridge. It can also be used to configure the device via its web-based GUI, or upgrade the firmware when connected to the Network Interface Card of your PC.
- Protocol/Standards/Support: Wireless IEEE802.11n, IEEE802.11b/g Ethernet IEEE 802.3 10/100, IEEE802.3u, IEEE802.3ab
- Network Support: OFDM 1024/256/64/16/8 QAM, QPSK, BPSK and ROBO Modulation Scheme Wireless
- Security Support: Wireless: 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2
- Operating System: OS Independent with TCP/IP protocol installed
- Max Current: 0.12 A
- Voltage Rating: 100 – 240V AC (50-60 Hz)
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| Package Content: Diamond WR300NSI LAN Cable Utility Disk Quick Start Guide |
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The Diamond Multimedia WR300NSI 300Mbps 802.11n Wireless Repeater Range Extender is presently available online for $49.99 (Amazon | NewEgg). The kit comes with everything you’ll need to setup and configure the device: Diamond WR300NSI, CAT-5 Ethernet cable (1m), Utility disc, and Quick-Start setup guide.
The Diamond WR300NSI measures only 4.1″ tall x 2.3″ wide x 1.6″ deep (images depict oversize product for detail). This wireless range extender plugs into any standard (North American) 110V power receptacle, and leaves the other port open and unobstructed (disregard illustration on product packaging – not to scale).
At the top of the Diamond WR300NSI Wireless 802.11n Wi-Fi Range Extender is a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button for automatically programming this device. Once configured, the repeater will illuminate up to three bars on the face of the device that correspond to the source’s signal power.
The underside of the Diamond WR300NSI features a 10/100 Ethernet port, with green LAN activity LED that glows when a data connection is made. Beside the RJ45 port is pinhole access to the device’s hardware reset button, which will clear all firmware programming and restores the factory default settings.
With only a 1.6″ thick profile, the Diamond WR300NSI is slim enough to mount in hallways/walkways and not become an obstacle. Plugged in, this device uses no more than 0.12A of power draw.
In the next section we’ll cover software configuration and device setup…
The Diamond WR300NSI is a very simple device that effortlessly completes many complex networking tasks while requiring only some very basic setup. The first step is to use the bundled CAT-5 Ethernet cable to connect the repeater to a computer, then plug the repeater into a nearby power socket. Once the Diamond WR300NSI has powered up, simply connect to 10.0.10.254 using that computer’s web browser.
There are two ways to configure wireless networks on the Diamond WR300NSI: manual setup or WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). WPS is the easiest way to create and enable a secure wireless network, but some older devices may require manual configuration.
The other alternatives are Quick Connect or manual Setup, both available from the main menu. Once you select Quick Connect, the Diamond WR300NSI immediately searches all nearby wireless networks and issues a resport of the results.
Depending on where you position the range extender, there may be few or many wireless networks available. I discuss placement in the results section. For this article I created a wireless WEP network, which is much less secure but easy to configure.
Alternatively, if you understand networking terms it may interest you to configure the device using custom manual settings. Shown below are the Wireless Basic Settings available on the Diamond WR300NSI:
The repeater comes with a default IP address of 10.0.10.254, however the Diamond WR300NSI can be configured with any class a/b/c network and subnet mask desired. This makes it easy for system administrators to remotely manage multiple repeaters located on their network, which is very possible in large industrial installations.
If additional information is required for connecting outside devices, the range extender offers everything from firware version and build date, physical serial number, Ethernet/Bridge/Wireless MAC addresses, and connection status.
Simple system status updates are available through the Device Status option, which can be used to check repeater connection to host, network SSID, and list the clients connected through the repeater.
Like most routers, the Diamond WR300NSI enables fireware updates through a browser interface. The model I received for testing came with a firmware version over one year old and there may be a newer revision, but there were no downloads available through the Diamond Multimedia website at the time of this writing.
In the next section, I discuss my test procedure and findings for the Diamond WR300NSI wireless 802.11n Wi-Fi range extender…
Testing wireless network appliances can be complex, using many benchmark tools to measure statistics, or simplified to represent real-world application. It’s difficult to benchmark a device and discuss performance when results depend on a controlled environment using hardware, and the test methods tend to match lab usage more than anywhere else. If it requires impossable scenarios to produce a number, then it’s not worth publishing.
For the Diamond WR300NSI, practical application and real-world usage was utilized to measure performance and make a determination on the results. The primary purpose of this device is to repeat (and thereby extend range for) wireless networks. Using a wireless N900 (450+450 MB/s) 802.11n router (see Amazon), it was easy to supply the router with 300 MB/s connectivity from within ‘recommended’ range inside my home. I detail my results below:
There was once a time when wireless range was an issue for home users and businesses, but with the latest generation of 5 GHz routers capable of transmitting at up to 450 MB/s with ranges beyond 100 yards (300 feet), it’s more likely that large warehouses or business structures will require a network repeater. In my home, it required more than 140 feet of separation and plenty of walls before signal would degrade enough for a repeater to be feasible. Most homes won’t have that much space between a centrally located router, and the peripheral devices that connect to it. So the first test was actually a lesson: a home that uses a modern wireless-N900 802.11n router won’t need extending, as it’s too powerful for the environment.
Unfortunately, my schedule did not permit the time to secure an extremely large environment to test with, representative of industrial installations. This could be considered a moot point, since as a system administrator myself, I would upgrade the network with modern wireless appliances before extending a weak signal with repeaters. This forced me to realize that the Diamond WR300NSI isn’t meant for cutting-edge Wi-Fi enthusiasts, it’s meant for users with older hardware, such as the wireless-b/g routers that are still in use everywhere, or the draft-n devices that replaced them in many homes.
So I decided to work backwards, and downgrade my network to use the D-Link DIR-655 N300 Router ($64 at Amazon), which was the one of the first items we ever tested for this website. This router transfer data at up to 300 MB/s over the 2.4 GHz frequency, so it matches the Diamond WR300NSI perfectly. Additionally, its range suffers after approximately 80 feet, allowing me to position the repeater near the other edge of the home with ‘Recommended’ reception signal level.
Diamond Multimedia’s WR300NSI is small enough to occupy one of the plugs in a wall outlet without blocking the other port (as illustrated in the image above). Configuring the Diamond WR300NSI was absurdly easy, and while I might be a trained professional the setup could be as simple as pressing the WPS button on top of the device and calling it done. If you’re planning to manually configure the repeater, the menu is ergonomic and easy to navigate. The bottom line is that you don’t have to know anything about networking to configure the repeater, and novices can be up and running in under a few minutes.
Data transfer speeds will be dependent on the router you choose as the source, but I found that speed was most heavily impacted by distance more than range was. This is something you’ll need to test for yourself, but in my experience with the Diamond WR300NSI it was more important to maintain transfer speeds to my devices than it was to extend signal range. The signal would already reach beyond my walls, but it slowed to 11 MB/s around the perimeter of the home. My recommendation is the find the where the device changes from “Excellent” to “Recommended” signal range, and place it there. If you’re looking to extend the overall range of your wireless network, position the device just before it begins to lose “Recommended” signal strength and drops to “Weak”.
One of the few issues I discovered was that when moving a connected device, such as smartphone or tablet, from an area supported by the router to an area supported by the WR300NSI repeater, you would have to reconnect to the strongest network instead of remaining connected with a seamless transition. Most devices that connect to the repeater won’t move, such as HDTVs, game consoles, and wireless thermostats, so this may not be an inconvenience for everyone.
My testing demonstrated that the Diamond WR300NSI would be most ideal as a wireless range extender for very large buildings and expansive environments. I can see this device being helpful in the outdoors, as well, where it can relay the signal to outlying locations (such as a RV or trailer) and their connected devices. The home environment tends to have plenty of Internet-connected devices, and these items require fast data speeds more so than simply ‘being connected’, so you’ll be giving up some range in order to keep the speed at its highest throughout the network.
IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, be advised that every author perceives these factors differently. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer revisions that occur after publication which could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on this conclusion, as it represents our rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.
Diamond Multimedia has been in the business of making (co-branding) a lot of different products over the past few years. Once upon a time they were a key player in the discrete graphics card market, prior to the economic collapse and subsequent decline of the desktop PC industry. Now they’re making common-sense products that address everyday needs for mainstream users. So far, it seems that they’re doing more for consumers now than every before.
In terms of performance, the Diamond WR300NSI portable wireless-N repeater works to relay signal and stretch the network’s reach, or it can maintain peak transfer speeds with less emphasis on extending range. It performs either function well, at up to 300 MB/s when the router supports it and signal is sufficiently strong. Some devices will need to manually choose their connection, while others will transition from the router to repeater automatically (causing momentary loss of connection).
With regard to appearance, Diamond Multimedia’s WR300NSI wireless bridge device looks inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed. Aside from the illuminated signal strength indicator that glows a somber green, there isn’t much to draw your attention to the device. Its rounded corners make it appealing to the i-gadget crowd, while the dull edges will prevent the device from catching on clothing or anything else that may come in contact.
Construction is solid for the WR300NSI repeater, and since it lacks moving parts the only potential weakness would be electronic failure. During normal operation the device does get warm to the touch, but not anything I would consider hot, and cools itself passively. Since there are no vents in the device it’s not likely that it will benefit by any special orientation. Diamond Multimedia warranties the WR300NSI for one year, and may be reached toll-free at (888) 238-2272.
In terms of functionality, the Diamond WR300NSI works three-fold: wireless access point for 10/100 LAN device or network appliance, wireless network bridge, and wireless range extender/repeater. I found that for home users the wireless repeater function helps maintain optimal transfer speeds for streaming multimedia (such as Netflix, HBO GO, Amazon Prime, etc). For larger environments, the network bridge and range extender features will be most desirable.
As of July 2013, the Diamond Multimedia 300Mbps 802.11n Wireless Repeater Range Extender was available online for $49.99 (Amazon | NewEgg). Alternatively, Diamond also offers all these same wireless functions in another device that does away with the signal indicator and costs only $39.99 (WR300N at Amazon|NewEgg). Both offers solid value, and could update an older Wi-Fi network.
Summary: overall I really like the Diamond WR300NSI. It performs exceptionally well for a device that costs under $50, and helps extend older wireless network appliances. While home users with the latest wireless 900N routers may not benefit from a Wi-Fi repeater, those with the more-common 300 MB/s wireless-N routers can certainly benefit from them by maintaining maximum data transfer speeds to their Internet-connect devices. I highly recommend the WR300NSI (and WR300N) for those users.
+ Supports wireless 802.11b/g/n standards
+ Wireless 10/100 Ethernet access point
+ 300 MB/s wireless network bridge
+ Extends Wi-Fi signal range
+ Extremely easy configuration
+ Very low power consumption
+ Helps eliminate wireless dead spots
– Network transfers are not seamless
– Only 2.4 GHz frequency supported
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Performance: 9.25
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Appearance: 9.25
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Construction: 9.00
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Functionality: 8.75
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Value: 7.75
Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.
COMMENT QUESTION: Would you spend the money on a wireless repeater, or buy a new router?
