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Billion’s BiPAC 6200NXL is an Ethernet router with support for USB mobile broadband dongles. This is handy if you require a backup internet connection. 3G support is also handy for those whose workplace has to travel with them. The router has two USB ports, but only three 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet ports.
The setup wizard is built into the router’s web interface, where you’re first prompted to choose 3G or Ethernet as your primary connection mode. Initial wireless configuration allows you to select your channel, name your network and enable wireless security. It doesn’t prompt you to change the router from its default North American wireless channel settings, which are slightly different to those used in Europe – you’ll have to do this from the WLAN menu.
The router defaults to channel-bonding mode, with the option to disable this buried in the Advanced settings, along with the options of creating up to four active SSIDs, each of which can be configured with different security settings.
The USB ports can be used to connect hard disks, printers and webcams as well as a 3G modem. Hard disks can be turned into Windows shares using the router’s integrated Samba server or shared online via FTP, while the Webcam server allows you to turn a cheap USB webcam into a simple streaming IP camera. An integrated FTP client allows you to download content to an attached disk.
Scheduled URL filtering and feature restrictions let you block domains by keyword or address and restrict Java or ActiveX content from. Numerous DDNS services are supported, as is wake on LAN. There are plenty of remote administration features, including SNMP access control to allow it to be easily monitored by an automated network management system.
Wireless performance is excellent, clocking up transfer speeds of 46.6Mbit/s at 1m, 45Mbit/s at 10m and 27.7Mbit/s at 20m with our Centrino 2 laptop. Speeds were similar or inferior to this using Billion’s BiPAC 3010N adaptor (£25 inc VAT).
If you want a router with any kind of USB device support, this is definitely the one to go for. Its massive range of features is suitable for advanced home users, but it’s in the home or small office that the BiPAC 6200NXL is most likely to excel. The only major omission is Gigabit Ethernet.
