Vizio XWR100 dual-band wireless router
Manufacturer: Vizio Part number: XWR100
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Vizio XWR100 Dual Band HD Wireless Internet Router is arguably one of the best sub-$100 wireless routers on the market, and it's a must-have for those with network-ready home entertainment devices from Vizio.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Vizio XWR100 dual-band wireless router price range: $84.72
- Reviewed by: Dong Ngo
- Reviewed on: 12/02/2010
The good: The Vizio XWR100 Dual Band HD Wireless Internet Router offers solid performance and a user-friendly Web interface. The router supports true dual-band, USB external hard drives, is easy to use, and comes in an aesthetically pleasing design.
The bad: The Vizio XWR100 doesn't support Gigabit Ethernet. Its network storage function can't write to external hard drives formatted in NTFS file system. The Web interface offers limited customization of its settings and features.
The bottom line: The Vizio XWR100 Dual Band HD Wireless Internet Router is arguably one of the best sub-$100 wireless routers on the market, and it's a must-have for those with network-ready home entertainment devices from Vizio.
Though categorized as an accessory specifically for home entertainment devices from Vizio, the XWR100 wireless router will more than satisfy users with any wireless networking needs. In fact, if it supported Gigabit Ethernet, it'd be one of the best budget routers we've tested.
Unfortunately, it doesn't; it also comes with a Web interface that, though responsive and easy to use, lacks depth in regard to managing the router's settings. The device's network storage function is also subpar in both performance and features.
For the street price of just around $80, however, the XWR100 is worth every penny. The router has great range and signal tactility. It also performed very decently in our wireless throughput tests. If you want something that supports Gigabit Ethernet at a similar price, however, we'd also recommend the Cisco Linksys E2000.
Design and ease of use
The Vizio XWR100's design is similar to that of the Linksys E2000, with the flat, UFO-like shape and the sleek casing that, unfortunately, attracts fingerprints easily. The router's antennas are all hidden within the chassis, making the whole package much more compact than other same-size routers that have eternal antennas. The Vizio has four rubber feet that keep it grounded on any surface, but you'll also find slots on the bottom for mounting it on a wall.
On top toward the front, the router has an array of white LED status indicator lights that are only visible when lit up. These lights show the status of the router's ports and connections.
On the back it has a WAN port (to connect an Internet source, such as a broadband modem) and four LAN ports (to connect to other Ethernet-ready devices). These ports are all traditional 10/100 LAN ports. This lack of support for Gigabit Ethernet is a little disappointing because the router is supposedly designed to connect between multimedia devices, meaning there'd be lots of digital content streaming. While Gigabit Ethernet is not necessary for smooth content-streaming performance, it would help a lot if you want to stream from a single source, such as a home server, to many different players at the same time. And, of course, when it comes to networking, faster is always better.
Also on the back the router has a USB port to host a USB external hard drive. In our trials this port can also power drives that use bus power--those that don't have a separate power adapters. Next to the USB port is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup button that starts the 2-minute time window in which other WPS-enabled products can enter the router's wireless network.
The Vizio doesn't come with any software or any manual. All it has in the box for a user guide is a small Quick Start guide poster, and surprisingly that's all you need to get started. The poster includes well-illustrated photos and setup steps that guide you through the short setup process. Basically all you need to do is plug the router into the computer, the Internet source, and the power.
By default, the router operates with two separate wireless networks called Vizio HD and Vizio. The former is in the 5GHz frequency band and the latter is in the 2.4GHz band. These two networks' default encryption keys are printed on the Quick Start guide.
If you're not happy with the networks' default settings, you can further customize them, as well as other features of the router, by using its Web interface. To do this from a connected computer, point an Internet browser (such as Firefox) to http://vizio.home. Alternatively, you can also point the browser to the router's default IP address, which is 192.168.1.1.
Features
The XWR100's Web interface is divided into three parts: Internet, Router, and Wireless. As the names suggest, each of these parts allows you to customize the settings of that function of the router. The Internet part, for example, lets you change the way the router accesses the Internet, optimize its connection for video streaming, and turn on or off the Internet access for particular computers within the network. It also includes a handy Internet speed test that quickly shows you the speed of your broadband connection.
Similarly, the Router part allows access to the router's settings, such as its default IP address, firewall, and so on. And the Wireless part is where you can customize the above-mentioned wireless networks. Here you can also turn on the third network to use for guests or to host legacy slow clients.
In all, we found the interface intuitive and responsive. It also includes most of the basic features. However, it doesn't allow for in-depth configuration. Apart from enabling or disabling the optimization for video streaming, basically the Quality of Service features, you can't do anything else such as optimizing the Internet connection for VoIP or gaming applications and so on. You can't change any of the router's network storage features, either.
The router can host any USB external hard drive formatted in FAT 32 and NTFS. It can, however, only read NTFS drives, meaning network computers can only read data from the connected drives without making any changes. This is a huge drawback; most external hard drives are formatted in NTFS file system, which has much better support for large storage capacity and file sizes.
Once connected, the entire external drive's content will be shared via a public share folder called "default." All computers in the network will have the same access to it. There's no way to restrict the access of any computers to the drive. The router can also stream digital media stored on the external hard drive to DLNA-compliant players; again, though, we couldn't figure out how to customize the way this feature works.
For what it's worth, we like the amount of features and the nice Web interface the Vizio XWR100 offers. While networking enthusiasts might see it as a little lacking, general consumers will find it much less intimidating to deal with than other routers.
Performance
The XWR100's performance met our expectations. We tested the router in both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, and the scores were as follows.
In the 5GHz band, the router scored 56.8Mbps in the close-range test, which was slowest on our charts, but the router is also by far the most affordable of those compared on the charts. This is still fast and transmitted 500MB of data in less than 70 seconds. In the long-range test, it did comparatively better at 41.8Mbps, beating the Netgear WNDR 3700 and the D-Link DIR-825.
In tests with the 2.4GHz band, the router did significantly better with 38.2Mbps, 32.8Mbps, and 22.4Mbps for close-range, long-range, and mixed-mode tests, respectively. The mixed-mode test is when the router is set to work with devices of different wireless standards, including N, G, and B at a time.
The XWR100 was absolutely excellent when it came to range and signal stability. The router held a steady connection up to 300 feet away in our testing facility, which is among the longest distances we've seen. It passed our 48-hour stress test, during which time it was set to transfer a large amount of data between wireless clients, with ease and didn't disconnect once.
On the other hand, like all other routers with a built-in network storage function, the XWR100 won't impress anybody with its storage throughput. We tested this function via network cable, with a few different external hard drives, and the scores were consistently around 36Mbps for writing and 60Mbps for reading, which is comparatively acceptable. At these rates, the router can handle light file sharing (such as office documents) and media streaming (such as music and photos). If you're serious about network storage, we'd recommend getting a dedicated NAS server.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Mixed Mode | |
Range | |
Throughput |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Read | |
Write |
Service and support
Vizio backs the XWR100 with one-year warranty, which is short but standard for most routers on the market. The company's toll-free support is available 24-7, as is online chat with a support representative. The company's Web site includes a detailed FAQ section, mostly in regard to how to set up the router with Vizio's entertainment devices.
User reviews
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Constantly have to restart router, buggy firmware.
by TheDoctor42 on October 26, 2011
Pros: Inexpensive, good signal
Cons: Have to restart router at least once a week.
Firmware won't display full list of DHCP clients.Summary: This router came recommended by a friend at work. Said it was the best router he ever used. That's some grade A BS right there. While this router is ...
Summary: This router came recommended by a friend at work. Said it was the best router he ever used. That's some grade A BS right there. While this router is easy to set up on your standard plugging-it-in-to-a-modem setup, it's very difficult to find the right settings for anything advanced. Want to change the internet connection to PPPoE? Good luck. Want to reserve IP addresses, it won't display the whole list of DHCP clients, so good luck there too.
Also, it drops all wireless clients at least once a week. At least! I have to restart it to get everything to connect again and the webcams never get a truly stable connection. Just not good.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not reliable
by dalokster34 on August 15, 2011
Pros: Good price
Cons: keeps dropping signal
Summary: woul dnot recommend
Summary: woul dnot recommend
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I am very dissappointed in this product.
by ibelieve8 on August 5, 2011
Pros: It's small and compact.
Cons: I cannot stay connect for over 1 hour without coing offline.
Summary: Now I'm in search of another wireless router that will serve the purpose this one was supposed to do.
Summary: Now I'm in search of another wireless router that will serve the purpose this one was supposed to do.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worst Router On The Market - XWR100
by marlorcomp on August 3, 2011
Pros: Dual Band Feature
Cons: Vizio does not honor their warranty. 2 routers failed over the last 7 months.
Summary: This is the last Vizio product I will ever buy. They say they give you a warranty but it is not worth the paper it is printed on. These routers ...
Summary: This is the last Vizio product I will ever buy. They say they give you a warranty but it is not worth the paper it is printed on. These routers just do not last. If i did not buy the extended warranty I would have been out my money. From now on I will buy Cisco/Linksys.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Under consideration
by ron ostrowski on March 5, 2012
Pros: When it works, it is great.
Cons: I have had it for about 6 months. In the lat 4-6 weeks, the wireless signal drops off. I REBOOT by removing the power and then restarting. It has happened 3 times in the last month. Works great with my wireless Sony Blu-Ray.
Summary: A month ago I would have given this 5 stars. Perhaps it will be OK in the future.
Summary: A month ago I would have given this 5 stars. Perhaps it will be OK in the future.
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This product is terrible. Do not waste your money
by Wireless785 on December 3, 2011
Pros: Works well with the Vizio Blue Ray player
Cons: Constantly drops internet. Students, don't waste your money. You are better off going to Starbucks to do your homework.
Summary: It works for very short periods of time. The Vizio customer service is useless. I have owned this router for 4 months. During that time I have been on the ...
Summary: It works for very short periods of time. The Vizio customer service is useless. I have owned this router for 4 months. During that time I have been on the phone with customer service for 30 plus hours. They have sent me two routers and will not refund my money. Linksys is so much better. I have given up on this router and will be purchasing a new Linksys or Belkin router today. A friend of mine bought a Belkin within days of my Vizio purchase and has had zero trouble with it.
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Not Reliable and USB Function doesn't work.
by harpo95993 on November 13, 2011
Pros: Dual Band Router
Cons: USB Storage Device
Summary: The router drops the connections several times a week. Plus the usb function doesn't work. I contacted support about the usb not working and they sent me a replacement. ...
Summary: The router drops the connections several times a week. Plus the usb function doesn't work. I contacted support about the usb not working and they sent me a replacement. Guess what the replacement doesn't work and support told me it was my computers. Three separate computers made by three different manufactures. I don't think so. The only thing common to these computers and several different usb devices I tried is the router and Vizio is saying it's not their problem. By the way this was with several operating systems as well.
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Keeps dropping my network
by smittyssp on July 15, 2011
Pros: Can't think of any
Cons: signal, connection, range, networking all poor
Summary: From day one, I've had a problem with it. My network continuously loses the signal from the router. I have no cordless phones or anything else that would interfere. ...
Summary: From day one, I've had a problem with it. My network continuously loses the signal from the router. I have no cordless phones or anything else that would interfere. I originally called VIZIO and they where going to send me a new one. Then realized that I hadn't registered it and that was the reason for dropping signal. Well it was fine for a few weeks and it's doing it again.
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Decent range, but wireless networks frequently drop.
by michael98--2008 on July 3, 2011
Pros: Decent range, easy setup, low profile
Cons: Wireless networks drop once or twice a week
Summary: I was really excited to get this router (even though I hate that I had to buy it from Walmart) because of the good points it got for range. I ...
Summary: I was really excited to get this router (even though I hate that I had to buy it from Walmart) because of the good points it got for range. I previously had an Airport Extreme and my Sony Bluray player could not get enough of a signal (on the opposite side of the house) to do any streaming at all. So I was pretty stoked when I set everything up and my Bluray player got a consistently excellent signal. But, the one drawback is that for some reason, once or twice a week, the wireless networks will just disappear and my only recourse is to reboot the router. I've never bothered calling tech support about it because I know their support is pretty much useless. So I've just lived with the annoyance of having to get up and go reboot it once a week or so. This may just be a dud unit, though, because nobody else mentions this issue out of all the reviews I've read online.
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excellant simplet o use router
by plexer2498 on July 1, 2011
Pros: easy set up, straight forward web interface, good signal through walls in -home though to about 150 ft. Detection of 80% singal strength outside home in backyard to 80 feet - to the point controls on the web interface, easy to set security protocals. Dev
Cons: Signal strength still could be a bit stronger I think - this compared to EnGenius b/g router. Although you canlmiit user numbe rthrogh web interface, form what I've read from oter users that are more hardcore, there may not be enough funciotnality for tra
Summary: Given the discounted price I received through amazon and that this is a new router for me (new as of June 2011), this is a great router, and well worth ...
Summary: Given the discounted price I received through amazon and that this is a new router for me (new as of June 2011), this is a great router, and well worth the money. Although I have not tried full HD streaming yet, I have put this router under transmission stress of 2 computers, a PS3 and a Wii at the same time, with all streaming video signal from youtube - handled it beautifully with no signal loss or hiccups. Even when the PS3 was chaged to online gaming, still no problems or slowdowns. Only time will tell, but if this unit holds up over time, it is well worth the money.
have had the router for just over a year. has performed without issues, except with my HP laptop. Signal occassionally drops, but I've tracked the problem to the laptop. Simple hit on the router button, and problem is fixed. I have no problems with function between my netbook, PS3, desktop and laptop otherwise. Router has been able to handle all four units running different wireless operations at the same time without a problem. This included streaming video and game network links.
Updated on Apr 18, 2012
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vizio
- Part number: XWR100
- Description: The next generation of routers is here! VIZIO brings you the dual-band HD wireless Internet router. This state of the art router prioritizes the sending of media files over regular data files delivering a superior streaming experience with fewer delays. Use it to wirelessly stream movies, TV shows, music and more in HD quality directly to your Internet ready HDTV. The XRW100 works with simultaneous dual-band wireless (802.11a/b/g/n) and wired Internet devices to connect gadgets such as Blu-ray players, DVRs, smart phones, laptops, game consoles and more. With the built-in setup app easily create a secure wireless hotspot supporting WPS, WEP and WPA security. The integrated 4-port 10/100 switch lets you connect up to four wired Internet devices and the USB 2.0 port enables you to connect a USB hard drive to your network for shared access to photos, videos and so much more!
General
- Device Type Wireless router - 4-port switch (integrated)
- Enclosure Type Desktop
- Connectivity Technology Wireless ,
Wired - Data Link Protocol Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11a,
IEEE 802.11g,
Fast Ethernet - Frequency Band 2.4 GHz,
5 GHz - Network / Transport Protocol TCP/IP
- Remote Management Protocol HTTP
- Encryption Algorithm WPA2,
AES,
WPA,
128-bit WEP,
TKIP,
64-bit WEP - Authentication Method RADIUS
- Features Wall mountable ,
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) ,
Firmware upgradable - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g ,
IEEE 802.11a ,
IEEE 802.11n ,
IEEE 802.11b ,
IEEE 802.3u ,
IEEE 802.3 Line Properties
- Line Coding Format 64 QAM,
DBPSK,
DQPSK,
CCK,
QPSK,
BPSK,
16 QAM Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces LAN : 4 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45,
WAN : 1 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45,
Hi-Speed USB : 1 x 4 pin USB Type A - Expansion Slot(s) None
Networking
- Networking type Wireless router
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
- Antenna Qty 4
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
Communications
- Type None
Miscellaneous
- Width 8 in
- Depth 5.9 in
- Height 1.3 in
- Weight 10.6 oz
- Cables (Details) 1 x Network cable
- Compliant Standards FCC,
cUL,
UL Software / System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows,
Apple MacOS,
Linux Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 10 - 80% (non-condensing)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Vizio products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Vizio
- Address:
39 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618 - Phone: 1-888-849-4623
