Draytek Vigor 2710Vn

Product: Vigor 2710Vn
Website: www.draytek.co.uk
Specifications: ADSL2/2+ modem, four-port 10/100 Ethernet, draft 11n WiFi at 2.4GHZ only, two VoIP ports and one USB port.
Price: £129

DRAYTEK'S Vigor 2710Vn is one of a revamped range of the firm's routers offering extensive content-filtering and web telephony features to tempt buyers away from models bundled with broadband deals. It packs an ADSL2/ADSL2+ modem, 11n WiFi, four 10/100Mbit LAN ports, two VoIP ports, and a USB port supporting either a printer or storage.

The 2710Vn's WiFi operates only at 2.4GHz, which cuts the cost but negates some of the major advantages of 802.11n. It means you have no access to the wider, less crowded 5GHz bands. Also, you cannot segregate legacy devices into the 2.4GHz band, and to use them, you have to operate in slower mixed mode. Also 802.11n reverts from 40MHz to 20MHz channels at 2.4GHz in the presence of other WiFi traffic - that is, virtually anywhere in cities - thus halving the data rate.

Throughput should be adequate for most homes and small businesses, but if performance is a priority you should look for a dual-radio model with gigabit LAN support.

A quick-start wizard makes the initial web setup simple. Full configuration is done through a browser interface, which is marred by some fractured English. So, unfortunately, is the manual, which is also short on explanations. It is silent, for instance, on how to map attached USB storage as a network drive. Draytek pointed us to online instructions for a sister product, the Vigor 2820, which said that you first have to enable Samba support via the router's browser interface. But even after doing this we could not get Windows 7 to map a drive, though it would happily access it using FTP.

Many people will choose the 2710Vn for its blocking and filtering features, which have applications in both the office and the home. Parents and employers can police access to specific sites and instant messaging, VoIP and P2P services for each machine on the network, though children dodging homework may discover that a scheduled block does not cut off a session that is already in progress. Content can be blocked by keyword or type such as executables, zip files or P2P traffic.

Draytek offers extra protection in the form of a service blocking sites featuring content in 64 categories such as porn or illegal drugs. This comes free for 30 days, after which there is a £25 annual subscription.

The two VoIP ports, plus a jack for connecting to the dial-up network, are on the underside of the 2710Vn, which is ducted to house the cables and plugs. The jack will pass through conventional calls on one of the sockets even in the event of a power cut, enabling you to make a 999 call when your house or office is burning down. You can attach a DECT base station to this socket, making it available to all your hands-free phones. A sister product, the 2710VDn, packs its own DECT base station. Registration with up to six web telephony providers is supported, facilitating communication with people who don't use your usual SIP service.

In Short
The Vigor 2710Vn offers a number of interesting features, particularly for those who fear the perils and distractions of the web. µ

The Good
Comprehensive content filtering and good VoIP.

The Bad
Documentation sketchy in places.

The Ugly
Vendors should encourage users to move away from the overcrowded 2.4GHz band, not lock them into it.

Bartender's Score
6/10