Tenda N301 router review
The Tenda N301 (N301) router released in 2013. It is powered by Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz chipset, 16 MB of RAM and 2 MB of flash. The N300 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with N301 is 300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Tenda N301, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
If you need more features, you may want to consider better Tenda routers. Or, you can look at other routers on the market. Tenda is another well-known manufacturer in the networking industry.
Tenda N301 specifications
| Brand | Tenda |
|---|---|
| Name | N301 |
| Type | N301 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2013 |
Body
| Dimensions | 127.4 x 90.5 x 26 mm |
|---|
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 16 MB |
| Flash | 2 MB |
| OS | Tenda |
| Power supply | 9 V / 0.6 A |
The Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the N301 router. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 2 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Tenda packages the N301 router with 9 V / 0.6 A PSU.
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 N301 supports many network standards too. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The N301 features a Fast Ethernet WAN port that has a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 5 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N300 |
| Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | no |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The 2.4 GHz band is widely supported by many devices. This includes older ones that may not work with the 5 GHz band. This is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance. Real-world N301 router speeds are lower than its theoretical maximum speed.
WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | no |
|---|---|
| Print server | no |
| File server | no |
The N301 router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.0.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
If you can't log in to your Tenda router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your N301 router. Do this after the initial setup.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Tenda one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- WPS friendly
Cons
- insufficient memory
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- no USB connectivity
Tenda N301 photos
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