SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 2.4 GHz router review, is it worth it?
The SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 (SMCWBR14S-N5) router released in 2013. It is powered by Atheros AR9331 @ 400 MHz chipset, 32 MB of RAM and 4 MB of flash. The N150 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with SMCWBR14S-N5 is 150 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
Operating on the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the SMCWBR14S-N5 router offers decent wireless coverage and compatibility with a wide range of devices. SMC has established a solid reputation as a reliable and reputable networking brand.
Table of contents:
SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 (SMCWBR14S-N5) specifications
| Brand | SMC |
|---|---|
| Name | SMCWBR14S-N5 |
| Type | SMCWBR14S-N5 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2013 |
Body
| Dimensions | 186.2 x 109.41 x 30.2 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 218 g |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms, such as larger fans or heat sinks, which can help dissipate heat more effectively. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can influence the mounting process and the type of mounting hardware required. Heavier routers might require more robust mounting solutions to ensure stability and prevent damage or accidents.
System
| Chipset | Atheros AR9331 @ 400 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Flash | 4 MB |
| OS | SMC |
| Power supply | 9 V / 0.6 A |
The SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 router is equipped with Atheros AR9331 @ 400 MHz processor. The 32 MB of RAM enables the router to handle multiple tasks and processes concurrently. It allows for the efficient switching and allocation of resources among different processes running on the router, facilitating multitasking and ensuring smooth operation. The flash memory in a SMC router is different from the volatile memory (RAM) that is used for temporary storage of data while the router is powered on. Flash memory of the SMCWBR14S-N5 retains its data even when the router is powered off, allowing the router to maintain its firmware and configuration settings across reboots.
To upgrade the firmware of the SMCWBR14S-N5 router, you typically need to visit the manufacturer's website, locate the specific model of your router, and download the latest firmware version provided. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model, but it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface and uploading the downloaded firmware file. The SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 router comes with 9 V / 0.6 A PSU. This unit is responsible for providing electrical power to the router, and if it becomes faulty, it can be replaced with a new, compatible one.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
Like many modern routers, the SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 supports a variety of features and technologies to enhance your network connectivity and security. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 has 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN and 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN ports. LAN or Ethernet ports (RJ-45) are used to connect devices to the local area network (LAN).
WAN ports are used to connect the router to your internet service provider (ISP). They typically use Ethernet cables or fiber optic connections to establish a high-speed link between your local network and the wider internet. The WAN port on the SMCWBR14S-N5 router is a Fast Ethernet port, not a Gigabit Ethernet. The Fast Ethernet ports are capable of supporting speeds up to 100 Mbps, which is still suitable for most internet connections.
Wireless
| Antennas | 1 x 5 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N150 |
| Speed | 150 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 18 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | no |
This router has 1 x 5 dBi, fixed antennas. Antennas play a significant role in Wi-Fi performance and coverage. They are essential components of wireless routers that transmit and receive radio signals to establish wireless connections with devices. The SMCWBR14S-N5 is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Many IoT (Internet of Things) devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi-enabled devices primarily operate on the 2.4 GHz band.
The SMCWBR14S-N5 is a Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) router. Wi-Fi 4 improved the range and coverage compared to previous Wi-Fi standards. The use of MIMO technology and other enhancements help to mitigate signal degradation and provide better coverage in larger homes or office environments. This allows devices to maintain a stable connection even when located farther away from the Wi-Fi router. The N150 is a performance indicator that represents the router's theoretical maximum speed.
The theoretical maximum speed (150 Mbps) represents the highest data transfer rate that the router is capable of achieving under ideal conditions. The TX power (18 dBm) of a router refers to the transmission power or signal strength at which the router broadcasts its Wi-Fi signal. It determines the range and coverage area of the wireless network. The SMCWBR14S-N5 router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2.
The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure.
Connectivity
| USB ports | no |
|---|---|
| Print server | no |
| File server | no |
The SMCWBR14S-N5 router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.2.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | smcadmin |
The default IP addresses of the SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 device is 192.168.2.1. These address allows you to access the router's console login page. Regularly changing the password is a good security practice to protect your network and devices from unauthorized access. It is also recommended to use strong, unique passwords for other devices and online accounts connected to your network for enhanced security. By changing the default password, you improve the security of your router and reduce the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining control over your network. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings, network configurations, and sensitive information.
The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the SMC SMCWBR14S-N5, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.
SMC SMCWBR14S-N5 (SMCWBR14S-N5) pictures
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