N1 Vision router is sleek and functional

October 13, 2007 at 2:00a.m.

If you have high-speed Internet access in your home, chances are you have a router. A router is a kind of residential gateway that lets you connect to a broadband service, such as IP over cable or DSL. Trust that this is an oversimplification of a complex device and process. But for now, it’s really all you need to know.

There are all kinds of routers made for home and small office use. Most let you plug in at least four devices. Spend a little more and that number increases. Most of the good ones let you configure them using an ordinary Web browser.

Different abilities you might find within a router are built-in hardware firewall protection and encryption security. Some let you regulate connection speeds, even turn off its brain power so that it acts as a dumb switch or a hub. Depending on the make and model, some offer a combination of corded and 802.11 wireless access with varying access speeds.

But until recently, the only indication of what was actually going on with your router was typically a series of flickering status lights on its face, sometimes referred to as “idiot lights.” When whatever activity a light is supposed to be monitoring, it will flicker to indicate something is happening. A more advanced idiot light might be able to change its color.

For example, a light might glow amber if the attached device or computer is capable of megabit speeds while a gigabit device will cause that same light to glow green. But that’s pretty much all you’re going to get out of an idiot light. So Belkin came up with something a bit different.

Belkin’s N1 Vision wireless router offers many of the desired features found in an affordable, wireless router including wired gigabit ports for faster communication speeds to connected devices. Its wireless also supports the latest 802.11n draft standard and its installation offers a plug-and-play “no CD needed” setup. But that’s about where the N1 Vision’s similarities to other routers end.

For starters, you only have to look at the N1 Vision to see how it differs from other routers. With the N1 Vision, it’s all about looks. Routers are typically sequestered somewhere underneath a desk or in a closet collecting dust.

The N1 Vision is a router you’re going to want sitting on your desk because it just looks cool. Looking much like a designer-styled panel you’d see on an executive’s desk, the slim, silver and black N1 Vision stands on its edge leaning back at a slight angle. Displayed on the front is a square, four-way rocker panel switch with arrows. You use it to select what’s being shown on the N1 Vision’s white-on-black interactive network display.

There’s no idiot lights here. The N1 Vision’s display clearly shows you exactly how fast your network’s speed is uploading and downloading by displaying both numerical and curved graphic indicators.

Other user-selectable views display what’s connected, who’s accessing your network and their individual connection speeds. Another display you can select indicates how much data has been used by an attached device within a 24-hour period.

Yet another shows how many wireless devices are on your network at that moment. There’s even a display to show the time and complete date. The N1 Vision’s display will also literally spell out a problem if one is detected such as a loss of an Internet connection, and offer up possible solution instructions.

The N1 Vision is configured with 4 gigabit LAN ports and a gigabit WAN port. Security offers the usual encryption standards and multiple SSID.

For most home and even small business applications, the N1 Vision offers ease of use and its novel display certainly makes things a lot easier to follow, especially if something goes wrong.

And if you’re into how your computer setup looks, then the N1 Vision has your name on it, literally.

XCraig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. For more information, visit his Web site at www.computeramerica.com.