Trek N300 Travel Router, Range Extender, and Wireless Bridge (PR2000-100NAS)

I was looking for a network device to use when I access a public wifi at my local coffee house or when I travel. I wanted to keep my laptop/personal devices protected while accessing the Internet. This Netgear Trek device works as a router connecting to a wifi hotspot and providing firewall protection. It also works to extend the range of an existing wifi network (e.g. home) as well as a bridge for ethernet-enabled devices (e.g. TVs, Blu-ray players, etc). The device: - Power: can be plugged directly into a physical power outlet or can be plugged into a USB port (laptop or computer) - Top switch: for Wired, Power Off, or Wireless - Bottom connections: Reset, Internet/LAN, LAN, USB - Front: swing the front flat panel (antenna) clockwise to show the display panel status lights (Power, Internet, WiFi, USB). The flat panel antenna can move/swing to the left with stops at 90, 180, and 270 degrees. - Back: Fold away power connector (nice!), micro USB connection, device login information (user name/password), S/N, MAC, SSID, and Network Key (password) for the device - Size: the device is about 3-1/2"x3-1/2"x1-1/4" This router is easy to setup. I did my initial test setup at home using my Mac laptop: - I connected the NetGear device via the included USB cable to my laptop (for power) - I clicked on my Wifi icon and waited for the NetGear's SSID device to appear on my list and selected it - My web browser opened and I clicked on an existing wifi connection for the NetGear to connect to - A "Join NetGear"/NetGear Genie screen appeared and gave a countdown status while checking setup and making a connection to the existing wifi - Once the connection is made, the first three lights (Power, Internet, WiFi) displayed constant green - My web browser changed a "Congratulation's screen" to notify that a connection was made - From there, you will see the NetGear Trek Features where you can access the NetGear Genie, access/configure for the USB device connected to the Trek, and one other configuration area I can not remember at this time - I did go through the NetGear Genie and made the change to set the SSID not to broadcast and also to change the device Admin password I was able to connect my iPad, iPhone and Kindle Fire HD to my new network. There's an app that can be downloaded called NetGear Genie that can be used on these devices. The application can access Wireless settings, Network map, Traffic meter, Guest access, Parental controls, and My Media (for devices connected via USB to the NetGear Trek). This app is great if you need to check who is connected to your network and if you need to make quick/simple wireless changes. The settings are not as extensive as what you would see while access the NetGear Trek through a web browser on a laptop. The next test was at my local coffee shop. Again setup was easy, similar to what I went through at home. You can create Profiles (e.g. Coffee Shop, Home, Hotel, Work) for different connections you might have. After you setup two profiles, the NetGear Genie will show a screen where you can select from which profile to connect to. This Trek works great out of the box. Easy to setup. Enjoy the small size and portability of this device. I recommend this product.

I've used a lot of travel routers and Ethernet gear in general, and I was surprised that I simply couldn't get this device to work with more than one WiFi laptop. I bought it as a "deal of the day", but didn't have any immediate travel needs, so I didn't get around to testing it until the return period was almost over. It looked quite good at first... I tested it with a laptop running Win7 using both wired Ethernet and WiFi to connect to the Trek, and connecting the Trek to the Internet using both a wired connection and a WiFi connection ("both" meaning in separate tests). No problems. Trivial setup. It's nice that someone finally dropped all the network-speak and just let you select how you're connecting to the Internet: wired or WiFi. I've been suggesting this for years. The rest of the setup could similarly be simplified into plain English if anyone would bother. But... then I brought in a second laptop running Win7, and found I could never get both connected to the Internet at the same time through the Trek, unless one was connected to the Trek wired and the other connected to the Trek by WiFi. (The source I connected the Trek to for an Internet connection was assigning the usual 192.168.1.x IP addresses, subnet mask 255.255.255.0. The Trek assigned 192.168.168.3 to the wired laptop and 192.168.168.2 to the WiFi laptop.) After running many tests I noticed that every time either laptop connected via WiFi the Trek assigned it (by DHCP) the IP address 192.168.168.2. Connect the first laptop, it gets 192.168.168.2, connect the second laptop, it also gets 192.168.168.2 and the first laptop stops working. This is completely incorrect... no two devices should be assigned the same IP address. Worse yet, careful testing revealed the following. First I set the Trek up to connect to the Internet via a local WiFi hotspot (using a laptop's browser to select the hotspot and enter its password). Then I can connect the first laptop to the Trek via WiFi, using the SSID and password printed on the Trek. The first laptop can then access the Internet with no problems. Then if I just tell the second laptop to connect to the Trek via Wifi, which causes a popup window to appear on the second laptop asking for the password, the WiFi connection on the FIRST laptop immediately stops working completely. And that's WITHOUT typing in any password on the second laptop. I tried this several times (trying things like rebooting or power-cycling the Trek and/or the laptops between tests) and always got exactly that same result. So not only could I not get the Trek to work with two WiFi connected laptops, anybody within range could break the one WiFi connection I could establish... and they wouldn't have to know the password for the Trek to do it! Note that early in my testing, the Trek said (on the laptop's browser window) that new software was available, so I let it download and install that. Version V1.0.0.09_1.0.1 was updated to V1.0.0.13_1.0.1. Normally at this point I'd contact the manufacture's customer support, but since the period for returning the product to Amazon was almost over I decided just to return it. Partly because this is a TRAVEL router, and when I'm traveling I'm not going to have time to contact the manufacturer... it has to just work, out of the box.

The NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router, Range Extender, and Wireless Bridge (PR2000) is an essential companion for travelers and anyone seeking a versatile and reliable networking solution. With its compact design and multiple functionalities, this travel router has far surpassed my expectations, providing unmatched convenience and connectivity while on the move. The standout feature of the NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router is its multifunctionality. It functions as a travel router, range extender, and wireless bridge, offering flexibility to meet various networking needs. The compact and portable design makes it easy to carry in your bag or pocket, ensuring you can set up a reliable network connection wherever you go. As a travel router, it creates a secure and private WiFi network from a wired connection, allowing you to share the internet connection with multiple devices. As a range extender, it boosts the existing WiFi signal, extending the network coverage to reach areas with weak signal strength. As a wireless bridge, it connects wired devices, such as gaming consoles or smart TVs, to a WiFi network. The intuitive setup process and user-friendly interface make it easy for anyone to configure and use the travel router. NETGEAR is a well-known brand in the networking industry, and the Trek N300 Travel Router reflects the brand's commitment to providing reliable and high-performance networking solutions. In conclusion, the NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router, Range Extender, and Wireless Bridge (PR2000) is a must-have for travelers and users seeking a portable and versatile networking device. Its multifunctionality, compact design, and ease of use make it the ultimate choice for on-the-go connectivity. If you're looking for a top-notch travel router that ensures seamless networking wherever you are, the NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router is the perfect option. I highly recommend this travel router for its outstanding performance and the convenience it brings to my travels and networking needs!

Overall I like this unit. My first one arrived defective, it would boot up just fine through the usb port but wouldn't work through the wall plug. I was a little annoyed at Netgear when I contacted them about it...they said return it to where you purchased it...considering it has a 1 year warranty they should have offered to replace it...anyways I returned it to amazon and got a new one that works fine. So about the actual unit. I've had travel routers from D-Link, TP-Link, and ASUS. I'm very happy with this model. I primarily use this for traveling in China set to wired mode(which gives me a private wireless network). I think the labels of wired, off, wireless are a little confusing. Off is obvious but to me the wired and wireless is backwards. Maybe that's because I came from a D-Link model DIR-505L. Anyways the reason(s) I purchased this are it is capable of 300mbps...my DIR-505L was limited to 150mbps. I like the fact I can use this as a charger in addition to a router, and I like that I can connect a storage device through the USB port. The web based router log in works fine for me. I've never had a problem and can't complain. Note I tried to change the language on the web based management and it seems the only language that works is English. This is fine for me but that could be a problem for someone else. The firmware update works fine for me. This is one of the big reasons I upgraded from my D-Link DIR-505L...I felt the firmware was extremely out of date and not as secure as I would have liked. Granted after I purchased this D-Link released an update but it was something like 2 years in between updates. To me that is not acceptable. This unit is much better then any TP-Link I've used. The TP-Link models I used were in Chinese and took me quite a bit of time to set up(I do speak/read/write Chinese). It's just much easier to have this in my native language to set up then work through any TP-Link Chinese version. I know TP-Link also sells English firmware versions in the USA but I prefer netgear to tp-link. Make sure the unit is off when you plug it in and then you move the switch to your desired selection. I've forgotten to do that a couple of times and when I plug it back in the unit does not work properly. I haven't had issues where the connection is dropped...On my asus router I constantly had issues and that was one of the reasons I gave it away to a friend. Also just to make sure you know this isn't a whole house router...the range/speed will not be up to par. This is for travel and in my experiences in hotels the signal quality/strength/speed has been fine. I've had more issues with the internet at the hotel being slow but my connection from my computer/ipad/iPhone/windows phone to this device has never been an issue. As far as I can tell this is one of the fastest travel routers on the market (up to 300 mbps) from a trusted manufacturer. If you search amazon you can find lots of travel routers but most are from brands I've never heard of.

I bought one of these for a studio where I need to extend wifi and get audio streams to my music system. Worked GREAT. Saw all kinds of wifi in the area and easily latched on to the one I wanted. Good signal, easy set up. I ordered another for my home where my office is in a separate building from my home and wifi router. I've been using a usb antenna mounted outdoors. Works great but a big hassle in finding software etc. So I set up the N300 and it picked up a strong signal and was easy to configure. But video was always buffering. Browsers were noticeably slower. I finally did a speed test and realized N300 isn't just the model number - it's the band and speed of the extender - 300mbps. So in side by side tests my hassle antenna is getting better than 10 M speed and this things is maxed out at less than 2M. Not a deal breaker - just something I didn't understand from the sales material.

tl;dr: Buy this. Don't compare it to anything. Buy it and just *trust* me. And note: This review is the same review I did for TP-LINK TL-WR710N 150Mbps Wireless N Mini Pocket Router, Repeater, Client, 2 LAN Ports, USB Port for Charging and Storage but with the review order swapped. The TP-Link is a 1 star piece of junk and I wanted to help people doing comparison shopping between them. --- The bad: - I don't care for the breakable- and get-in-the-way-looking antenna, nor the hideous Netgear Genie interface. - I stupidly bought the TP-Link (link above) first because I found it so hard to compare the routers on anything but looks and mbps. Here's why you want it: - The design is bold and nice enough. - Simple - Cheap and a great value - Great build quality - Overtly thoughtful design choices all over (even the default generated router password is composed of two English words and a few numbers (no 'oO0xX45gcK39R' garbage) - *All* the connection information, names, passwords, etc., are written on the back clearly - When you first connect it displays a captive portal (like at a café) showing you a list of networks and asking you to configure it -- no reading instructions and going to unmemorable URLs. It even checked and offered to install a firmware update without prompting. - Extremely fast for 2.4gHz with a very strong signal even at distance (I got 70mbps throughput up/down with a <10ms ping; my connection at home is 480mbps symmetric) - Configure it over wireless - Lastly, I didn't realize how useful the micro USB powering feature would be -- it means you can power it from a battery, your laptop, or move it to a better antenna position away from the outlet and power it from a hub you're already using. It draws around 0.5A over USB. Easily powered. - It's great and you'll love it. --- For contrast, I gave the TP-LINK TL-WR710N 150Mbps Wireless N Mini Pocket Router, Repeater, Client, 2 LAN Ports, USB Port for Charging and Storage 1 star. I normally filter out all 1 star reviews, but this thing deserves no more than that. It's so bad I felt compelled to review it even after returning it, and guide people to what they should buy instead. I'm an expert with networks, and I really tried to make it work. The good: - Somewhat attractive Apple Airport Express styling. - Simple. - Cheap. - The web interface is clean and simple old-school web forms. - It comes with a really nice flat and short ethernet cable. See below why. The bad: - It barely works when it works, which is to say only if you very carefully hold it into the electrical socket, making sure the ports face down, not up (the plug collapses from its own weight). - It's excruciatingly slow to connect and has terrible throughput. - It restarts frequently and under load. - The signal is extremely weak, even when next to it. - You must configure it with ethernet (yes, you need to carry an ethernet cable with you to make changes). Now that free cable makes sense. Where's my free USB ethernet adapter? - Awful build quality with weak electrical connections and weak springs. - They don't put the login information on the device that you need to configure it, nor the network names it broadcasts. - Single blinking LED tells me nothing other than it's on and sometimes in a state of blinking. - Firmware updates are both difficult to discover and as it turns out, non-existent. What's worse is that the NETGEAR is only $2 more and I still, stupidly, bought this one first because I found it more attractive and figured the 150mbps bandwidth would be sufficient. If this helped you decide, click Yes below so it helps others ^_^

The first few times I used the PR2000/N300/Trek router it joined the host network just fine and had limited bandwidth loss, compared to the HooToo travel routers which were terrible. The interface is a bit kludgey but has plenty of features and shows the relevant information. On my most recent trip though I'm sitting in my hotel room spending 30 minutes trying to figure out why the router decides to drop the wifi signal every 30 seconds. The Wifi light is on, you connect to it, it starts looking for host networks, the wifi light goes out, and then you restart the process all over again. Seriously this is the most maddening thing. A router working inconsistently is worse than a router working slowly. Power cycling the router didn't help. I reset it a few times but after reconfiguring SSID and other settings it started becoming unstable again. These are the same settings I had used at other locations. Finally I reset it and left everything stock and chose to save the host network as a profile (you have an option of not saving it). So far it seems to be working for the time being. This is the same stability issue that other people have been bringing up. What's going on here Netgear? This has to be a software issue for you guys. This would be a 5 star product if it consistently worked. 2 stars because it sometimes works. If this becomes a regular headache it'll truly earn a 1 star.

I bought this because I am on the road traveling for work every Monday - Friday, and was tired of every hotel I was staying at having absolutely no security on their Wi-Fi. I also bought 4 other devices that essentially did the exact same thing (gave me a secured wireless network bridged off of the Hotel's Wi-Fi), and I ended up returning all of the other 4 devices, because they were either too complicated, or I couldn't get a connection through it at all. This thing is incredibly simple. You plug it into the wall (at hotels, plug it in closest to your door, since hotels routers are either in their lobby, or they have bridges/extenders on every floor for better connection for it's patrons), and switch the power from Off to Wireless. It will light up, then find and connect itself to the hotels connection. After that, you go to www.routerlogin.net, click on your hotel's Wi-Fi, type in any password if it's necessary, and that's it. Your connected to the internet, across multiple devices. Just log in to your Netgear SSID on whatever device you want to use (It will be called NETGEAR50), and it will connect wirelessly. Occasionally, the hotel's Wi-Fi connection page will pop up right after, but just click connect, and you will still be on your secured (with WPA, WPA2) Netgear Wi-Fi network. It also extends the signal throughout your room, so even if the hotel's Wi-Fi is weak, as long as your able to plug your Netgear Travel Router in by the door, or anywhere closest to the hotel's router, you can connect multiple devices on a strong signal (strong enough for Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon Cloud, etc. to sync on multiple devices). It does several other things, but I haven't found the need to use them. It has a USB port (that DOES NOT charge, BTW) to sync and share media wirelessly over all of your connected devices. You just plug in whatever it is (your ipod, external hard drive, etc) and you can watch or listen to whatever is on your Ipod/hard drive on any of your devices that are on your Netgear SSID. It's very simple to use, has worked flawlessly in dozens of different hotels, and 300mbps is plenty fast, my Dropbox/Clouds sync within a matter of minutes. It comes with a very thorough user manual, so any questions you do have will most likely be answered in the manual. I would recommend this over any of the other travel routers within the same price range ($20 - $40), even those from reputable companies. After testing 5 different ones, this one came out on top in multiple areas and gives me a secure connection every time. I am able to run two laptops, my phone, and my Kindle Fire on the secure SSID it creates, and have had no performance issues so far. Just read the manual, and you will have it up and running in 5 minutes.