Tech on the Go Meets the Asus WL-330gE pocket Wireless Router

Performance:
For performance testing I used an Asus G2S-X1 and headed off to the local Starbucks to use their wireless AP. After connecting to the Hot Spot with the WL-330gE I ran a speed test from speedtest.net to see if there were any slowdowns in internet connectivity. I was surprised that having the WL-330gE in place did not affect my internet speed or performance at all.  There was no lag and with the hidden SSID on I was in stealth mode inside the open and unprotected hot spot. All I needed was Tor and a Tin Foil hat and I would have felt completely safe.

Starbucks AP


   
WL-330gE Ethernet and Wireless

Price /Warranty:
The WL-330gE will run you about $60.00 now this may sound like a lot but when you consider the compact size, the portability and the functionality that Asus has packed into this it is not really too bad of a deal.  Nothing like having your own firewall you can carry with you and throw into place when you need it. I know I have had to use open hot spots and wireless provided by hotels and have felt very unprotected. Having something like this would have been more than worth the money.
Asus offers a one year warranty on the WL-330gE, which is your basic warranty. RMA , if needed can be setup online or over their support line. Asus support has taken a beating as far as their competence and speed, but lately they have been trying to improve. I can fault them for having poor support but I have to give them credit for recognizing the issues and attempting to resolve them.

Conclusion:
The Asus WL-330gE is a pretty cool little device. Asus put some thought into it and came up with a device that is very flexible and functional. Often with products like this you get products that in the end are of little use except in a single area. By adding in four operating modes Asus has ensured that this device can be put to use almost anywhere. The one complaint I have is that I could not get it to work with PDA-Net or share the PDA-Net connection with it. Maybe Asus can work an Ad-Hoc mode into it at some point so you could share PDA-Net over this. Adding 802.11n would also add value to the WL-330gE. When you think about what you get and the security it offers you on the go it becomes a must have piece of equipment. 

Would you buy it?  Based on the evaluation above, would you buy this product at this price? Let us know your thought and what ideas you have for improving the Asus WL-330gE