Sitecom WL-308 300N XR Gaming Router
Manufacturer:Sitecom
UK Price (as reviewed):£92.81 (inc. VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): N/A
We have to admit, we’re always a bit sceptical when reviewing anything with the world “gaming” in its product name, mostly because it invariably ends up being overpriced, under featured, LED covered pro-gamer endorsed tat. So imagine our surprise when we unboxed the Sitecom WL-308 Wireless 300N XR Gigabit Gaming Router and found that not only was it free from pro-gamer endorsement, but was also an extremely capable router in its own right.
Removing the Sitecom Gaming Router from its nifty packaging, it’s certainly a very unassuming looking bit of kit, with a shiny top surface sporting the Sitecom logo and the three multi-directional wireless antennae the only noteworthy features on what is otherwise a very plain design, which to be honest is just you want from a router.
However, don’t let looks be deceiving because this is actually a remarkably capable bit of network gear and beneath the demure exterior sports a full duplex four port gigabit switch as well as support for the 802.11n wireless standard, offering wireless network speeds of up to 108Mbps (as long as you have a compatible wireless adapter, which don’t come cheap.)
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Taking a quick look round the router’s exterior, the tough plastic shell is well fitted together with plenty of ventilation holes cut into the base and rubber feet to stop the unit moving about. The rear panel is also well fashioned, and the wireless antenna are all firmly attached, although can be unscrewed if you ever need to replace or upgrade them. There’s even two wall mounts on the underside of the router too, should you prefer your network gear to be installed out of the way.
The activity lights on the top side of the unit shine through the shiny smoked plastic above them, with orange indicating power and blue LEDs used to indicate the uplink, wireless and individual network socket status. Sadly, none of these are marked with what they indicate; meaning taking a quick look at the router to see network status can be frustrating and unclear. 
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There’s also a small “WPS” button on the top side of the router which can be used to securely link the router and a compatible Sitecom WPS wireless dongle in just the touch of a button – a very nice feature for those who aren’t too confident of setting up a secure wireless network manually. The button also doubles as the router reset and factory default reset button too, keeping the design smooth and uncluttered.
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