Cisco Valet Plus

Bottom Line

For those who want to upgrade, the Cisco Valet Plus (*Est. $40) delivers on the promise of "a router that anyone can set up" and more. The Cisco Valet Plus is an upgraded version of the Cisco Valet (*Est. $45), and it builds on that model's success as a wireless router for the nontech-savvy and those new to home networking.

Ease of Use

Extremely simple setup. Like the Valet, the Valet Plus comes with an Easy Setup key -- a 1 GB USB stick containing the Cisco Connect software shipped with most Cisco routers. CNET's reviewer explains that you plug the stick into a computer, click the mouse three times and you're connected to the router. MaximumPC.com's and Laptop Magazine's reviewers, however, have different installation experiences on both Mac and Windows machines. After speaking to Cisco tech support, they determined that the problem came from trying to replace an existing modem rather than setting up a network from scratch.

Performance

Average speed for single-band router. While Dong Ngo of CNET says the throughput of the Valet Plus is faster than most other single-band routers he tested, Dana Wollman of Laptop Magazine finds its range lacking. Ngo is happy with both the speed and range of the Cisco Valet Plus: In his tests, it came in third out of 10 single-band routers. Wollman finds its range to be less than that of comparable routers, but he agrees with the throughput speed rating.

Features

Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports but no USB port. The Cisco Valet Plus has four GbE ports, compared to the Valet's four 10/100 ports, an extra antenna for better wireless coverage and a Wi-Fi protected setup. However, it still lacks a USB port, so you can't hook up a printer or external hard drive to share on your network. Dong Ngo of CNET says the Cisco Valet Plus will change how you think of home networking "in a big way," and he recommends the unit for its sleek design and low price tag.