joshwex90

Does anyone have any recommendations of a decent wireless router (Netgear, D-Link, etc.) that automatically converts to 220 volts?
I just got this Netgear N600 from Best Buy only to find out it does NOT convert.
Because my router will always be plugged in and on, I do NOT want it plugged into a voltage transformer 24/7.

cordelli

See this thread

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...countries.html

You will probably need to buy a 220 power supply for whatever router you want to use

dakuda

How long are you going to be there? Most of the travel routers I looked at have a universal power supply (you still need a plug adapter). The Zyxel and Edimax routers support 100-240. You won't get a great range, but it's enough to cover a decent sized hotel room.

If it is an extended time, it might just be worth it to buy a router in which ever country you will be in. No issues at all that way.

joshwex90

I saw that thread but it's really old, so was looking for more updated information

brp1264

I got a Cradlepoint CTR-35 and bought a USB-Proprietary plug adapter. I plug it into my Monster Adapter or laptop to power it and that works any country I go to (110 or 220).

Zarf4

I'm currently stateside but planning to move to a 220V/50Hz country and take all my computer gear. Many peripherals come with dual voltage switching supplies but there are a few stragglers. More than likely your Netgear router wants a 12VDC, 1 to 2A, center positive supply. I'd look around the house (work, friends, etc.) for other electronics which are going to be left in the U.S. using a dual voltage supply matching the same output parameters with the same connector and just swap the wall warts leaving the 110V only version in the states.

Just be very very certain that on the new wall wart:

1. The input voltage is 110-240VAC, 50/60Hz
2. The output voltage matches.
3. The type of output voltage matches (AC vs. DC).
4. If DC that positive is on the same pin (usually center, but not guaranteed, usually there's a diagram on the wart).
5. The output current is close.
6. The connectors are truly interchangeable, you must try both ways.

Otherwise bad things could happen.

I'd also label each wall wart with the name of the corresponding device because you might have a Linksys branded supply which is meant to connect to your Netgear which can be confusing.

Zarf4

Oops, forgot to mention -- when using a wireless router in another country make sure that the frequencies are legal for use there. Not much of an issue for 2.4GHz, but the Netgear N600 is dual-band & if you light up a 5GHz carrier it wouldn't be in good form if you were to interfere with some other service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

BobbySteel

I've bought roughly one router a year the past 5 years and in each case the wall wart worked on 220v without any issues. i just needed a uk plug adapter. All the new ASUS routers work a treat for example

Zarf4

Please be careful with that blanket statement. ASUS sells different configurations to the various global markets and it also sometimes has problems with its suppliers and has been known to substitute power supplies in the past.

My RT-N66u & RT-N16 both came with dual-voltage supplies.
My RT-N12 & RT-N13u both came with 110V only supplies.

The ASUS website along with newegg.com where I purchased the N12 both said dual-voltage. It took me a month to get ASUS support to swap the supply for the published universal one.

joshwex90

Are the ASUS routers good?

star_world

Don't make a decision on what router to buy based on what type of DC adapter it has - that's just a bad idea.

Find the router you want, and just buy a new DC adapter that fits it - something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CostMad-Univ...5022743&sr=8-1

gfunkdave

I think they're among the best out there. Asus in general makes well-designed and well-made hardware at very reasonable prices. I have an RT-N66U and it's great. I put RT-N16's in clients' offices and never have issues.

I don't know anything about Asus firmware; I always re-flash them with the free and excellent Tomato firmware.

Zarf4

I think they make an excellent line of routers because most are capable of being flashed with dd-wrt or Tomato. This free aftermarket firmware adds a lot of functionality and stability to the platform. I particularly like having the router perform a double duty of being an OpenVPN server allowing me to connect securely from the road to my home network to bank, shop, etc. securely while at a hotel.

Please google the specific model with 'dd-wrt' or 'tomato' just to make sure that particular router is compatible.

joshwex90

This may be a stupid question, but when a router doesn't automatically convert, is it the router or the adapter? Meaning, could I buy whatever router I want and just buy a new A/C adapter that works with 220 volts?

cordelli

It's usually the adapter. If the adapter is a brick, the adapter is doing the converting. It's putting out 12 volts or whatever the router needs.

I don't think I've ever seen a router for home use that did the converting, it's always been the power adapter doing the work.