Zyxel X-550N

Zyxel X-550N wireless router

With its great range, fast throughput, VPN support, Gigabit Ethernet, and $100 price tag, the Zyxel X-550N wireless router seems like a good deal for most situations. Unfortunately, the device's mediocre wireless signal stability makes it hard for us to recommend it without some reservations, especially for those who play online games. The router's bulky package and lack of support for dual band, guest networking, and USB devices doesn't help. That said, if you are looking for a fast router with VPN support to create a network of mostly wired connections and you use wireless networking only casually, the Zyxel X-550N makes a good investment. For environments where wireless signal stability is important, we'd recommend the high-end Netgear WNDR3700 or the similarly priced Linksys WRT320N. Design and ease of use The Zyxel X-550N Wireless Router's design is that of a typical wireless router with three antennas on the back, together with the network ports, and an array of LED indicator lights on the front. It's about 15 percent larger than most routers, such as the Trendnet TEW-639GR or the D-Link DIR-655. The larger size suggests that the router works best when put on a surface but it's also wall-mountable.