First of all, I must say about the box, it is quite impressive in size, at least in width, but not high. This is due to the fact that the router is equipped with four non-removable antennas, so the box had to be lengthened. The kit includes:

Zyxel Keenetic Extra II router;

Power Supply;

LAN cable;

Instruction.

Appearance of Zyxel Keenetic Extra II.

Zyxel decided to improvise with the appearance of the updated routers and instead of monochrome classic white or black routers made black and white. The top cover is made of white glossy plastic with a small dot relief. The rest of the plastic is matte black. On the top cover there is an indication (switching on, Internet, Wi-Fi and USB port) and a button with the Wi-Fi logo (short press - start WPS at 2.4 GHz, double short press - start WPS at 5 GHz, long press - switch on / disable Wi-Fi). On the left side is a USB 2.0 connector and a programmable "Fn" button. On the back are four LAN ports, one WAN port, all ports are 100 GB, on the right is a reset button and a power connector. At the bottom of the router are wall mountings and a sticker with basic settings (name wireless network, password, etc.) in addition, there is a QR code on the sticker to make it easier to configure the router.

Technical characteristics of the router.

Connecting to a router.

Zyxel Keenetic Extra II can be configured in two ways: classically via the web interface or using mobile device(smartphone / tablet). We discussed how to configure Zyxel routers using mobile devices in a separate article - Configure a Zyxel Keenetic router from a smartphone or tablet + video... Let us dwell in more detail on setting up via the web interface, besides, the web interface will provide great opportunities. First of all, make sure that you have automatic retrieval of network settings... Next, open any browser (IE, Chrome, Yandex, Firefox, Opera) and enter the IP address in the address bar 192.168.1.1 or my.keenetic.net

If you are connecting the router for the first time, you will be prompted for a quick setup, click the "Web Configurator" button. Then set a password for the web interface.

If you have already connected to the router before, enter the password from the web interface.

The first page you will see is "System Monitor". Basic information is displayed here.

Configuring the Internet manually.

Now you can start configuring the Internet, to do this, open the "Internet" menu, then select the tab with the connection protocol used, most often "PPPoE / VPN". Click the Add Connection button.

After that, you need to select the appropriate protocol and fill in the fields, for example, for Beeline :

Description- enter an arbitrary name,
Type (protocol)- L2TP
Username- specify the data from the contract with the provider
Password- enter the password specified in the agreement.
Server address- tp.internet.beeline.ru

For Rostelecom:

Description- arbitrary name
Type (protocol)- PPPoE
Username- use from the contract with the provider
Password- information in the contract with the provider

Zyxel Keenetic Extra II firmware update.

Video review of the Zyxel firmware update.

1) by loading through the "System Monitor";

2) by downloading the update from the zyxel website.

Step by step how to update the firmware on Zyxel Keenetic Extra II is described in the article - Zyxel firmware update.

First of all, it must be said that the Wi-Fi network on the router is initially configured, all settings are on the sticker of the router (at the bottom). In addition to the network name, a rather complex password has already been set for connecting to the wireless network.

But if you still decide to change the settings, then go to the "Wi-Fi Network" menu. And in the tabs "2.4 GHz Access Point" and "5 GHz Access Point" change the network settings.

Most often changed:

Network name- the name of the wireless Wi-Fi network, the name that will be displayed on all devices.

Work schedule- you can specify at what time the wireless network will work.

Network key- the password that must be entered to connect to the wireless network.

Channel- the channel on which the Wi-Fi network will work, in more detail about the channels and their choice in the article How to select / change the wireless channel on the router / router

Choice optimal channel - the ability to select the time when the router will scan the wireless network and select a more free channel.

The rest of the tabs are needed for:

Guest network- serves for Wi-Fi settings network without access to local area network, only for the Internet. Those. having connected to this network, the device will not be able to access network media (network drives, folders), network printers, video surveillance, etc. Typically, the Guest Network is used in the office, so that the guests of the enterprise can connect to the Internet without access to the local network.

Access list- allows you to create two lists "Black" and "White". In the "White List" mode, access to the network will be limited only to devices on this list, and blocked for all others; in the "Black List" mode, access to the network will be blocked for all devices from the specified list.

Features of the USB connector.

The Zyxel Keenetic Extra II router has one USB port USB2.0, which has quite large capabilities, in particular:

1) you can connect a 3G / 4G modem;

2) connect USB stick, for example USB stick or USB external drive, with the ability to download torrents to it from a router and the ability to connect this media as a network drive;

3) connect the printer;

4) connect the xDSL module.

3G / 4G modem and Zyxel Keenetic Extra II.

We used a modem purchased from an online store NET-WELL.RU - Huawei E3372... After connecting the modem to the router, after a few seconds, an Internet connection was made. No effort was required to set up the modem.

Moreover, the web interface of the modem is available at 192.168.8.1, through which, in particular, you can configure 3G / 4G antenna.

Connecting USB media to the router.

Now consider the settings related to connecting a USB drive (USB flash drive or USB external hard disk). But first, it should be noted that the router supports media with all the most popular file systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT, EXT2, EXT3, HFS +.

We will connect a 32 GB USB flash drive with the FAT32 file system.

A few seconds after USB connection media, it is already available at //192.168.1.1 Press the key combination Wir + R, enter //192.168.1.1 the contents of your media will open to you.

If you wish, you can connect the USB drive as network folder.

In addition to network folder, you can also download torrents to the media, thanks to the Transmission torrent client built into it. To do this, go to the "Application" - "Torrent client" settings, check the "Enable" box and select the directory for storing the downloaded files.

After that, open the 192.168.1.1:8090 page in your browser. The Transmission interface will open, in which you can download torrents (to add a download, click the "Add torrent" button)

This is how the download process looks like.

To make your media available DLNA go to the "Applications" - "DLNA" settings and check the "enable" checkbox.

Bottom line.

The Zyxel Keenetic Extra II router can be considered a quite successful model, despite the fact that it does not have gigabit LAN ports (many do not need them because they use tariffs up to 100 Mbit / s), it does not have two USB connectors, but the one that is USB 2.0, not 3.0 and Wi-Fi AC could support high speeds, BUT if you add all this, then the cost of the router will increase and it will no longer be Zyxel Keenetic Extra II, but Zyxel Keenetic ULTRA. When you buy you get a fully functional device with a modern high-speed Wi-Fi AC network with a speed of up to 867 Mbps, a multitasking USB port, powerful external antennas 5dB and quite pleasant appearance network device.

Zyxel Keenetic Extra II video review.

The time has come for Zyxel to change. In the fall, the company changed its logo (for the first time in 27 years!) And updated its website, and at the very end of 2016 introduced new models of routers with a completely different design: Zyxel Keenetic Air and Extra II. That's just about them and will be discussed. Air and Extra II are very similar both in appearance and in filling. In fact, we will be testing the Extra II model, and the differences in the younger version will be discussed separately, since there are not so many of them. Air and Extra II are already on sale in Russian stores for about 2,900 and 3,500 rubles, respectively.

Router	Zyxel Keenetic Air	Zyxel Keenetic Extra II
Standards	IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Chipset / Controller	MediaTek MT7628 (1 × MIPS24KEc 580 MHz) + MT7612
Memory	RAM 64 MB / ROM 16 MB	RAM 128 MB / ROM 32 MB + swap
Antennas	4 × external 5 dBi; length 73 mm
Wi-Fi encryption	WPA / WPA2, WEP; WPS (separately for each band); 2 × guest network
Maximum speed	802.11ac: up to 867 Mbps; 802.11n: up to 300 Mbps; 802.11g: up to 54 Mbps
Interfaces	2 × 10/100 Mbps Ethernet	5 × 10 / 100Mbps Ethernet, 1 × USB 2.0
Indicators	4 × on the top cover, each Ethernet port
Hardware buttons	Disable Wi-Fi / Start WPS, Factory Reset, Mode Switch	Disable Wi-Fi / Start WPS, Factory Reset, Configurable Fn
Dimensions (W × D × H)	167 × 100 × 33 mm
Weight	210 g	230 g
Nutrition	DC 9 V, 0.85 A	DC 12V, 1A
Price	2 900 rubles	3,500 rubles
Possibilities
Access to the Internet	Static IP, DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, 802.1x, WISP; KABiNET; DHCP Relay; Multi-WAN; Ping checker; NetFriend configuration wizard; 3G / 4G modem, Keenetic Plus DSL (only for Extra II)
Services	DLNA, FTP, SMB, AFP server; print server; IPv6 (6in4); parental control / filtering / protection against telemetry "Yandex.DNS" / SkyDNS; BitTorrent client Transmission; VLAN; VPN server (IPSec, PPTP); Entware, Keenetic Plus modules (only for Extra II)
Port forwarding	interface / VLAN + port + protocol + IP; UPnP, DMZ; IPTV / VoIP LAN-Port, VLAN, IGMP / PPPoE Proxy, udpxy
QoS / Shaping	WMM; indication of the priority of the interface / VLAN; shaper
Dynamic DNS Services	DNS-master (RU-Center), DynDns, NO-IP; KeenDNS
Working hours	Router, WISP; media adapter, access point, repeater
VPN Forwarding, ALG	PPTP, L2TP, IPSec; (T) FTP, H.323, RTSP, SIP
Firewall	Filtering by port / protocol / IP; Packet Capture; SPI; DoS protection; brute force protection

Possibilities

All tests were performed using NDMS 2.07 stable firmware. More details about NDMS and its capabilities were discussed in the materials about Keenetic, as well as about. Note that the number of devices with NDMS has already exceeded 4 million public beta... Since it will soon become available to all users, it makes sense to say a few words about some interesting innovations. First, there is support for scheduling. In the web interface, you can use them to control the operating time of network interfaces and Internet access, but in general, the schedules will later be available for other settings. In particular, the front and rear indicators can be scheduled to turn on / off through the console interface. However, for convenience, the function of disabling them can be assigned to one of the hardware buttons on the router case.

NDMS 2.08

Secondly, in the settings of the access points, a function of automatic channel reassignment every 6/12/24 hours has appeared, which can be useful in the case of especially "dirty" air. Thirdly, the free DDNS service KeenDNS has acquired the option of forwarding web resources (HTTP and HTTPS) from the local network out through the Zyxel cloud. For example, in this way you can get remote access to the NAS web interface even if there is no "white" IP address. And in general, it is much more convenient for an unprepared user than manual port forwarding or creating tunnels. As a matter of fact, it was conceived not as another DDNS, but as a simple way to give the user the ability to remotely access devices. home network... The list of new functions does not end there, but some of them - like support for EoIP / GRE / IPIP tunnels, SNMP server, protection against brute force attacks on shared network resources (FTP, for example) or new possibilities for the operation of third-party Entware packages - will be of interest only to specialists.

Testing

The Wi-Fi settings are standard: auto-select the channel and its width, WPA2 encryption, access points are not isolated, and WPS and guest networks are disabled, other parameters are left by default. You cannot force the width to be only 40 MHz (2.4 GHz) or 80 MHz (5 GHz) in the web interface. The stands were in line of sight at a distance of four meters from each other. The configuration of the first stand: Intel Core i7-2600K, 16 GB RAM, ASUS PCE-AC68 (designated as A in the table), Windows 7 SP1 x64. Second: Intel Core i7-4700HQ, 12 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 Update 1 x64, Realtek RTL8168 (in table R), ASUS USB-AC56 (in table U). The communication between the wireless and wired network segment is obviously limited by the speed of the network ports.

Router ZyXel Extra II / Air
Streams	1	2	4	8	16	32	64
Average speed of Wi-Fi 802.11ac 5 GHz, Mbps
A -> R	94	95	94	94	93	91	87
R -> A	94	95	94	94	92	91	89
A<->R	158	155	149	149	144	137	128
A -> U	141	126	128	137	148	153	152
A<>U	164	174	177	178	169	159	146
A (5)<->U (2,4)	167	172	174	173	172	160	144
Average speed Wi-Fi 802.11n 2.4 GHz, Mbps
A -> R	93	94	94	94	92	90	87
R -> A	90	90	94	94	91	90	90
A<->R	134	130	131	152	157	148	137
A -> U	60	58	61	61	56	55	50
A<>U	57	62	63	60	58	53	45

Data exchange within the 5 GHz band and between the two bands is very, very good, but working exclusively in 2.4 GHz in some places could be better. On the other hand, the new items are just created for those who want to expand their home network with the transition to 5 GHz. As for WAN connections, regardless of the type, the connection speed will be in the region of 90-95 Mbit / s, and in duplex 135-165 Mbit / s: VPN connections are still slower than direct. To check the network operation with the drives, we used the LanShuo INIC-3609 box and SSD Kingston SSDNow V + 200 with one NTFS volume. The access speed for FTP and SMB for reading and writing fluctuated in the region of 9.5-11.5 MB / s. In general, everything is fine, but there is one caveat - in each of the tests, the CPU load reached its maximum.

They are equipped with two access points: 802.11n in the 2.4 GHz band with a maximum connection speed of 300 Mbps and 802.11ac in the 5 GHz range with a maximum connection speed of 867 Mbps. At the same time, the ports for connecting wired devices are designed to operate at a speed of 100 Mbps. Keenetic Air has only two such ports, and Keenetic Extra II has five ports, and is also equipped with a USB 2.0 port, which significantly expands the capabilities of the device. Both routers run NDMS 2.0 proprietary firmware developed by domestic programmers. She has user-friendly interface, flexible settings for the provider and many additional services in demand in our market.

Contents of delivery

Routers are supplied in sturdy cardboard boxes. At first glance, they are too large for the budget segment, but they have a small thickness. Compared to the previous version, they clearly became more convenient due to the lack of a dust jacket.

The design has also changed - using corporate colors and a new logo. Traditionally, for this manufacturer, the packaging contains many useful information about devices, use cases, key features... So the place is not wasted.

Inside the box there is a special-shaped insert that houses a router, an external power supply (9 V for Keenetic Air and 12 V for Keenetic Extra II), a yellow network patch cord, detailed printed instructions. Quite a standard option for the budget segment. However, in routers, oddly enough, given the cost of top models, the user is rarely offered an extended delivery option.

Appearance

For new devices, the company used completely new colors and body shapes. Overall dimensions excluding antennas are 16 × 11 × 3.5 centimeters. The antennas are located on the sides and back, so in any case the actual space required will be at least two centimeters greater on these sides. The maximum dimensions in the "widest" version are 51x29 centimeters.

All antennas are non-removable and have two-degree-of-freedom hinges. The length of the movable part is about 17 centimeters. The band allocation is correct: one antenna on the side and one on the back. In addition, the manufacturer is not disingenuous when using such large enclosures for antennas - there are boards inside the entire length.

The cases consist of two parts: a white glossy lid with an unusual texture in the form of a grid of small dots and a matte black base. For placement on the table, four rubber feet are provided, and for wall mounting, two special hinges are used.

In this case, the models can be hung with the orientation of the connectors in any direction. In addition, there is an information sticker on the bottom, the QR code on which can be used to set up a wireless connection on a smartphone. Additionally, we note that the weight of routers is very small.

There is one button on the top cover, the function of which can be configured via the web interface (and for three options for pressing - short, long and double, and by default it allows you to start WPS and turn off Wi-Fi), as well as four green indicators - power, Internet connection, two for two Wi-Fi bands for Keenetic Air or Wi-Fi and USB for Keenetic Extra II. During operation, the LEDs are not annoying with excessive blinking and are almost invisible in bright ambient light. Beta firmware versions provide software shutdown indicators.

On the right side there is only a ventilation grill and one antenna. On the left side of Keenetic Air, everything is exactly the same, while Keenetic Extra II has one USB 2.0 port and a second button (the action for it can also be configured in the firmware, for example, to safely disconnect the drive).

Keenetic Air has a hardware mode switch on the back, two antennas, one WAN and one LAN port with activity indicators (blinking during data transfer), a power supply input and a hidden reset button. In addition to antennas, a power input and a reset button, Keenetic Extra II has one WAN port and four LANs, but there is no mode switch.

The original designed front panel of routers with a chrome logo of the manufacturer gives some "zest" to the design.

Hardware configuration

The routers are based on the Mediatek MT7628N SoC, which has one computing core operating at 580 MHz. The volumes of RAM / flash memory for Keenetic Air and Keenetic Extra II are 64/16 MB and 128/32 MB, respectively. notice, that current versions firmwares even in the maximum configuration occupy less than half of the formal volume of the installed flash memory, since the company plans to implement a scheme with storing two images at once for safer flashing.

This SoC implements an access point for the 2.4 GHz band with support for 802.11b / g / n protocols, capable of providing connection speeds up to 300 Mbps. In addition, the boards have an external radio module based on the MT7612E chip, which provides 802.11a / n / ac in the 5 GHz band with a maximum connection speed of 867 Mbps. At the same time, the devices support 16 channels in this range, which allows organizing up to four non-overlapping networks in it. So if suddenly you have neighbors with similar equipment, you do not have to share the air with them.

The circuit boards of the devices are identical. Keenetic Air lacks circuits associated with the implementation of USB and three LAN ports, but there is a hardware mode switch. The soldering is neat, the manufacturer clearly did not save the textolite, so all the elements are located freely.

The main processor has a small heatsink. The same radiator, but already on top of the metal screen, is also on the radio chip for the 5 GHz band. During operation under a high load, the cases of routers heat up, but this does not cause any negative consequences. The cables from the antennas for 5 GHz are connected via connectors, and for 2.4 GHz they are soldered. There is space on the board for installing the console port.

Customization and capabilities

Like other current models wireless routers Zyxel Keenetic, new items are running proprietary firmware NDMS 2.0. We have written about it more than once, so there is no point in repeating in detail in this material. The review devices were running v2.07 C2, which we did most of the tests with.

The NDMS firmware was developed by domestic programmers, taking into account the requirements of the local market and the specifics of the work of our providers. In particular, there are flexible settings for Internet connection modes, IPTV services that work out of the box in most cases, SkyDNS and Yandex.DNS Internet filters, Ping Check service for the convenience of working with channel reservation, organization of secure remote access over PPTP and IPSec protocols, guest wireless networks, rate limiting for clients, blocking access to the Internet, and much more.

Relatively recently, the company has implemented its own dynamic DNS service - KeenDNS, which supports work, including through the cloud, when only a "gray" IP address is available. In conjunction with it or separately, you can use the program for configuration and management from mobile devices My.Keenetic.

We also recall that the devices are capable of operating not only in router mode, but also as an access point, adapter or amplifier. For Keenetic Extra II, switching is carried out via the web interface, while Keenetic Air has a hardware switch and independent configurations for each mode.

For Keenetic Extra II, services related to the USB port are fully presented: support for drives with access via SMB, FTP and AFP, as well as access control, work with USB printers, Internet connection via 3G / 4G cellular modems and the Keenetic Plus module DSL, built-in offline file download system based on the Transmission program, support for the Time Machine program in OS X, DLNA media server, support for the Opkg open package management system, telephone exchange based on the Keenetic Plus DECT module. Note that if you need to work with several external devices at once, you can use a USB hub.

At the time of writing, version v2.08 A12 was also available, where new features were implemented that will be included in official updates after the devices appear on sale. At the same time, discussion of the new firmware, which is already available for other models, as well as its functions, is conducted on the public portal forum.keenetic.net. In particular, there you can familiarize yourself with the change log and make your suggestions for the development of the project.

For example, in new version there is scheduling support that many users have been expecting. For each schedule, you can specify any number of intervals with an accuracy of the minute and taking into account the days of the week. Schedule management is provided for the Internet channel, wireless access points (including the guest one), in the rules between firewall and rules for port translation, client access to the Internet.

Testing

Testing of routers was carried out according to our standard method on a special stand. Considering that the routers are almost identical in terms of the hardware platform, we checked Keenetic Air only in the first test - for routing speed. The differences from Keenetic Extra II were insignificant, so to save space, we will fully test only the older model.

Despite the fact that SoC Mediatek MT7628N does not have hardware NAT, it copes well with routing at speeds up to 100 Mbps inclusive in all modes of Internet connection. A slight decrease in performance is observed only in the most difficult scenario, which is unlikely to be encountered in practice.

There are no comments on the implementation of the scenario of simultaneous access to the provider's network resources and the Internet in modes using VPN technologies.

The main testing of wireless access points was carried out using Asus PCE-AC68 adapters. Of course, in this case they do not correspond to the class of routers at all, but they are what we use in all materials for ease of comparison. In addition, we will remind once again that the considered routers are equipped with wired ports supporting 100 Mbps, which is quite normal for the budget class. At first glance, it may seem that the installation of wireless access points at 300 and 867 Mbit / s in this case looks like a strange decision, but there are reasons for such a choice. First, it is different technologies, and it is impossible to make a perfect match: in any combination, something will be better - wire or Wi-Fi. Secondly, in the used SoC and external radio unit, configurations for two antennas are already used, and savings on external elements may be negligible. Thirdly, if there was one antenna for 2.4 GHz, then on most clients the maximum real speed of work would be limited to about 30 Mbps due to the work with only one channel. Fourthly, the installation of two antennas allows for a wider area of ​​stable operation. Fifthly, in the conditions of unpredictable air, it is always useful to have a margin. And, of course, marketing plays a role: consumers love big numbers, although not everyone knows exact characteristics their client devices.

It is quite easy to predict the maximum test results between WLAN and LAN segments - they will be limited by the speed of the wired port.

In near ideal conditions, when the client is located in the same room at a distance of four meters from the router, we get about 90 Mbps when working in one direction and 130-180 Mbps in full duplex mode. Overall, everything was as expected.

Let's try to find the benefit of dual antenna configurations in a communication scenario between two wireless clients.

The greatest effect was deservedly observed in two devices operating in the 5 GHz range: the speed between them was up to 200 Mbps or more. Also, the used hardware platform turned out to be useful when exchanging data between clients connected to different ranges. And for 2.4 GHz clients, the availability of a 300 Mbit / s access point made it possible to show speeds of 60 Mbit / s and higher. If there was only one antenna here, the results would be significantly lower. In addition, recall that in the scenario of data exchange between two devices via Wi-Fi on the same access point, they, in a certain sense, are fighting for the air and with each other, so the results shown in this test can be considered well consistent technical specifications access points.

The following graph shows the results of using Keenetic Air as a wireless client to Keenetic Extra II. The conditions for this measurement are the same as in the first Wi-Fi test. Since the computers between which data are exchanged are connected to wired ports, the maximum speeds here are also limited to 100 Mbps.

In general, Keenetic Air here proved to be no worse than individual adapters, taking into account its configuration. So if you need to wirelessly connect a TV to your home LAN, game console or a media attachment that lacks (or does not suit you in some way) a Wi-Fi controller, Keenetic Air can easily perform the function of a media bridge. By the way, in this mode, both wired ports are available on it for connecting clients, which may be useful.

The last two router tests for coverage quality were carried out with the Zopo ZP920 + smartphone. Its built-in wireless module has one antenna, supports dual-band and 802.11n and 802.11ac protocols. The formal maximum connection speeds in them are 150 and 433 Mbps, respectively. The smartphone was located at three points of the apartment - at four meters of line of sight, at four meters through one wall, and at eight meters through two walls. Several dozen networks in the 2.4 GHz band were on the air, so the quality of the connection at the third point in this mode did not allow us to get stable results, so they are not shown on the graph.

In the 2.4 GHz band, despite difficult conditions, you can count on speeds of about 50-60 Mbps, which is quite good. At the third point, it turned out to be about 20 Mbps. This is enough for viewing sites and online videos.

But in the 5 GHz range, the picture is completely different: the maximum data reception and transmission speed is about 90 Mbit / s. At the same time, it does not depend on the point of measurement, which confirms the correctness of the configuration chosen for the routers and the quality of the installed antennas.

Now let's look at the capabilities of devices for organizing remote access to a home local network. On both models, you can install a PPTP server, a built-in client for which is available in most modern operating systems, including mobile. Recall that this scenario assumes that the router has a "white" IP address. The check was carried out for four configurations of Internet access for the main router. The measurements were carried out for scenarios of reception, transmission and simultaneous reception and transmission of data between a remote client and a computer in the local network. For convenience, the graph shows the result averaged over these scenarios.

In the absence of encryption, the speed of operation is from 60 to 90 Mbps, depending on the type of router connection to the Internet. Enabling encryption lowers the performance to about 30 Mbps. Overall, the results are excellent for the segment in question. Working with the IPSec protocol differs little from PPTP in terms of performance - we managed to get 20-35 Mbps with it, depending on the protocol settings.

You can connect to Keenetic Extra II external storage to the USB port and provide network access to data on it using the SMB and FTP protocols. Of course, the limitation due to wired ports will again affect here, but for some tasks this will be enough - in particular, for working with a media library. Let's see what speeds you can count on here. The test was run with a 1 GB file.

Most of the results show maximum value about 11 MB / s. The only option where there is a dependence on the file system on the disk is writing via the SMB protocol. It shows a slight decrease in speed for file systems of the EXT family, and NTFS and FAT32 win, which is a great merit of Zyxel programmers.

It is also interesting to see what the results will be when accessing the NAS via Wi-Fi. In this test, we checked the work with NTFS only. The client was a computer with wireless adapter Asus PCE-AC68, as in the tests above.

Overall, the results are good. Note only that in this scenario, when operating in the 5 GHz band, the speed is lower than for 2.4 GHz, which is probably caused by the use of an external radio chip and significant consumption of processor resources in this task.

Since FTP can also be used over the Internet, as a load test, we decided to test the script for accessing this server for different options for connecting to the network. The disk in this case worked with NTFS.

For IPoE and PPPoE, the external access speed practically does not differ from the work inside the local network. But work through PPTP and L2TP is slower, although in most cases it is not critical.

In the firmware currently used for tests, the built-in Transmission file download client has a set download and upload speed limit of 3 MB / s. Testing has confirmed that it is quite capable of showing such a result on popular tasks. At the same time, the interface of the router remains responsive, and when traffic from other applications appears, priority is automatically given to them, so that the operation of the file download system does not significantly affect access to the Internet.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the Keenetic line of Internet centers today has more than ten current models, Zyxel decided to add a couple more to them. In our opinion, there are several reasons for this decision. First, the company needs to maintain the image of a first-tier manufacturer by announcing new models. Secondly, of the previously presented devices in the 5 GHz range, only a few models could work, among which only one belonged to the mass segment with some stretch. Third, with a strong development team and great software, it's relatively easy to port it to new hardware platforms.

Getting to know the new routers left an extremely positive impression. Everything worked exactly as expected, which is unfortunately not very common today.

Zyxel Keenetic Air and Keenetic Extra II are positioned in the mainstream segment of dual-band AC1200 class devices. As we have said many times, today work in the 5 GHz range, and especially with 802.11ac, is perhaps the most popular and useful step forward from the simplest representatives of home routers in practice. Of course, this also requires the user to have clients capable of working in this mode. But this is the familiar chicken-and-egg problem, and you yourself can decide where to start moving. The main thing is that there are offers on the market. By the way, we note that in terms of the formal characteristics of wireless modules, the considered devices do not differ from the top models of the line.

Testing has shown that from the point of view of wireless modules, the new products are doing well. Yes, they do not break records for gigabit AC devices, but they are quite capable of providing you with a comfortable work with the Internet from smartphones, tablets and laptops. Moreover, thanks to high-quality antennas and a clear margin in these blocks of the platform - not only when placed in ideal conditions in the same room with a router, but also at a considerable distance. As for the main task of routing, it is enough to note here that the devices operate on the popular Mediatek platform. Its performance is sufficient not only for the efficient use of speeds up to 100 Mbit / s inclusive, but also for the implementation of additional services, including remote access servers and associated with the port USB applications in Keenetic Extra II. Helps to cope with the task and optimizations in the built-in software, so even under high load, there are no comments on the responsiveness of the devices.

Keenetic Air is the most simplified model for those users who predominantly need a wireless Internet connection. In this case, the existing LAN port can be used for a set-top box or even connecting a backup channel. In addition, this device can act as an access point, wireless bridge or repeater, which compensates for the fact that the manufacturer does not have separate models on the local market for solving these problems. The Keenetic Extra II model, in comparison with its predecessor, "lost" gigabit ports, but received more fast wifi in the 5 GHz band and support for all USB port usage scenarios. Here one could argue because of the chosen name, but it does not affect the actual use of the router.

In conclusion, a few words about the new buildings. The company probably decided to do a little restyling to draw additional attention to its products. From a practical point of view, there is nothing to complain about here - the ports are accessible, the indicators are not annoying, the wall mount is provided, there is no overheating, the colors and design are universal. In any case - for of this class devices are quite a decent and convenient option.

The routers are expected to go on sale at the beginning of the year, and the estimated retail price will be 2,900 and 3,500 rubles for Keenetic Air and Keenetic Extra II, respectively. New items not only fit well into the existing Keenetic line, but also look good against the background of competitors.

We also offer you to watch our video review of Zyxel Keenetic Air and Keenetic Extra II wireless routers:

Hello Dear friends... Artem is with you as always.

What are the basic requirements of the user for the construction of wireless networks when Wi-Fi assistance router?

It is stable operation without frequent reboots, wide wireless signal coverage, support for 5GHz 802.11ac band and clear interface management.

Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2 has all this and even more.

The device comes in a small box, which lists all the main features of the Internet center from Zyxel.

The device is based on the MT7628N 580 MHz chip with 128 MB random access memory DDR2 type.

4 5dBi antennas provide strong Wi-Fi signal.

Wireless speed Wi-Fi networks 802.11n 2.4 GHz - 300 Megabits / s.

The speed of the Wi-Fi 802.11ac 5 GHz wireless network is 867 Megabits / s.

The wired ports have a speed of 100 Megabits / s.

There is a USB port that supports the installation of additional devices.

3G / 4G LTE modems, USB drives, printers, DECT phones.

If you need to use an Internet connection using ADSL technology, then this is not a problem either.

You can purchase a Keenetic Plus DSL ADSL2 + / VDSL Modem and use your usual Zyxel router to connect!

In addition, there is support for FTP / DLNA / CIFS / SMB protocols on board, as well as the Transmission torrent client.

Thus, a USB drive can act as a shared network resource with a data exchange rate of up to 12 Megabytes / s.

In the box, besides the Internet center itself, you will find instructions in Russian, a power supply unit and a patch cord.

The router itself is very compact and does not take up much space on your desk. The length of the body is about 17 cm.

The top of the case is made of matte white plastic with a pleasant roughness. This plastic does not collect fingerprints and dust.

There is also a row of indicating LEDs, they are small and do not hit the eyes with light.

Slightly to the right is function key, with a wifi icon. By default, the key can start WPS pairing with other wireless devices.

Its functions can be reassigned in the web interface.

P. S. By the way, many functions of the Zyxel internet center can be controlled from a smartphone, via the My.Keenetic application.

On the front side is the Zyxel logo.

On the sides, the device is perforated to remove heat from internal electronic components.

P. S. During operation, the device heats up a little.

On the left side there is a multifunctional USB port, next to it is the FN key.

By default, when you press this key once, the USB drive will be safely disconnected from Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2.

After that, it (disk) can be physically removed from the USB port. The FN key functions can be reassigned in the web interface.

There are five 100 Megabit ports on the back panel. One WAN and four LAN ports.

P. S. Supports the ability to connect two providers at the same time. If one Internet provider is disconnected, the other will automatically turn on.

All four antennas are non-removable and can be rotated up to 180 degrees and lowered to the sides, from 90 to 0 degrees.

On the bottom of the case there are rubber feet and holes for wall mounting.

The design turned out to be excellent and the device will fit into any interior.

Now tests.

First, I checked the speed of the wired internet.

I have a 50 Megabit tariff activated.

Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2 copes with this task perfectly, giving out the full speed of my tariff plan.

57 Megabits / s for downloading and 94 Megabits / s for uploading.

The presence of four antennas really does the trick, the wireless signal level is consistently high.

At a distance of more than 10 meters, more than 60 Megabits / s comes out to receive and transmit data.

P.S. Despite my tariff of 50 Megabits / s, the real transmission speed is often higher. The specifics of my provider.

So you won't have any problems with building a wireless network at home. You can confidently play any media content over the air, without brakes and friezes.

In order to check the speed of the LAN, I connected a 500 GB Seagate GoFlex drive to the USB port of the Keenetic.

After that, the disk will be displayed on your local network as a shared resource. The data transfer rate is 10 Megabytes / s, which almost completely loads a 100 Megabit data transmission channel (a 100 Megabit network can transfer up to 12 Megabytes per second).

So, if you use the Transmission torrent client built into the router, it will fully reveal the speed of the Internet tariff plan of 100 Megabits / s.

Now let's look at the firmwareZyxel Keenetic Extra 2.

The device has a lot of useful options and capabilities, and they correspond to more expensive Internet centers from Zyxel.

P.S. Reviews of other devices:

To go to the web interface, type in the address bar of the browser my.keenetic.net

Let's consider the main features and features.

– On the Performance Monitor page In chapter "System" contains basic statistical information about the connection, its type, the status of 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless points.

All connected USB devices can also be seen here.

All cables connected to Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2 are visually displayed as a picture. If suddenly something happened to the cable, then you will immediately see it.

In sections "Routes" and "Connections" the current routes and connections are displayed accordingly.

List wireless wifi clients are displayed in the corresponding section.

« USB-devices " contain a list of connected USB storage devices: modems and network printers.

The USB storage can be managed in the section "Accumulators".

If you use a special USB module for connecting via ADSL, then the section will be useful to you. « USB DSL» .

– Next page"Internet".

In chapter "Connections" you can see all connections to the Internet and to other networks, as well as prioritize connections.

This feature will be very useful when you are using two providers. You can also configure the system to "ping" two Internet providers and, in the event of a network break, at one provider, automatically switch the channel to the backup provider.

This function is configured in the section « Ping Check» .

All other options are responsible for IPoE / PPPoE / VPN connections.

802.1x and CABiNET provider are also supported.

Not forgotten and wireless protocols 3G / 4G and connection to Internet providers via "wireless" WISP 2.4 and 5 GHz.

« USB DSL» responsible for choosing the DSL technology, if you are using it. You can set ADSL2 / 2 + or VDSL.

If you have a white IP address, you can connect to your Zyxel Internet Center remotely via the Internet.

If there is no white IP, then it does not matter, there are other options for connecting from outside. I'll show you these additional options a bit later.

Chapter "Other" responsible for DNS servers, static routes and passing PPPoE connections.

- On the page "Home network" you can look at the list of devices connected to the network. The network can be divided into segments, and in order to use an external DHCP server, go to the section « DHCP Ready» .

IGMP Proxy responsible for setting up IP television.

– Page "NetworkWi- Fi» displays the parameters of 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless networks. Everything, from the network key, the type of protection and the Wi-Fi standard, is configured here.

If you want to monitor wireless network connections by checking MAC addresses, then there are no problems either.

– Security Page allows you to configure the rules for port and address forwarding.

You can also control the firewall settings, as well as services. SkyDNS and Yandex.DNS.

These services will be able to filter out unwanted and dangerous traffic.

P. S. For example, you can easily restrict access to dangerous resources for your children when they actively use the Internet.

- The "System" page.

In chapter "Options" you can configure the paging file if suddenly the system resources are not enough to work with all running services.

Slightly below is the button for the usual reboot of the router, and then the button for resetting the default settings.

Conveniently, you can only install the Zyxel firmware components that you really need.

All installed components, as well as updates are in the tab of the same name "Update".

To see a list of all components, just click on the button Show Components.

Tab "Mode" will help you choose one of the four operating modes of Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2 - internet center, adapter, amplifier Wi-Fi signal and an access point.

To reassign the actions of the functional buttons on the Keenetic body, go to the section "Buttons".

If you need to disable the wired and wireless network, then you can set a schedule convenient for you, in the section "Schedules".

- Last page "Applications" responsible for network services router. DLNA, FTP, torrent client, Windows network.

The shared folder of the USB drive is created in the section "NetworkWindows» .

To allow remote control via a smartphone, go to the section "Cloud service".

If you do not have a so-called white IP address to access the router settings via the Internet, then the section will help you. « KeenDNS» .

As you can see, Zyxel firmware Keenetic Extra 2 is very easy to manage and provides many opportunities, at the level of more expensive Internet centers from Zyxel.

All tabs open instantly, no long loading times in the rendering of the interface.

As a result, we get stable operation of the device, a reliable Wi-Fi signal with two 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.

Through USB, you can connect a disk / flash drive / USB printer / ADSL module, as well as a 4G LTE modem.

If you need to deploy DECT telephony, then this option is also available.

And all this at a cost of about 3.600 rubles.

Video version of the review:

For the combination of these characteristics Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2 receives a well-deserved award from the site

If you liked the video clip and article, then share them with your friends on social networks.

The more readers and viewers I have, the more motivation to create new and interesting content :)

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What, in your opinion, should be a router for a home? Of course, we all want to get the best possible for little money, but reality is not a dream. Choose home router accounts for two out of three conditions: reliable, with a large set of features, but expensive; inexpensive and high-quality, but little-functional or cheap, with a bunch of functions, but of dubious quality. However, I managed to find an exception where all three conditions are met - ZyXEL Keenetic Extra.

ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is not just a router, but a universal home Internet center with gigabit LAN ports and a dual-band point Wi-Fi access 802.11n standard. The model is not new this year, so its average price in Russian stores is about 4,000 rubles (as of July 2016). From this review, you will find out why it is still attractive, besides the price, and what is its main drawback.

Specifications and equipment

The word "Extra" in the model name may indicate that this device was the first of the entire ZyXEL Keenetic line to receive support for two frequency ranges. wireless communication- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which are capable of working simultaneously. In addition to it, only older and much more expensive models are endowed with this function. In all other respects, Kinetic Extra is inferior to the top "brothers" only slightly.

The device is intended for those who value the maximum high speed communication in a home network between devices with gigabit LAN ports, as well as full USB support and other "snacks" for all occasions. About them a little later.

Like other routers of this brand, Extra does not shine with exquisite design, its main strength is inside. In the depths of a discreet plastic case, there is:

• Chipset MT7620A with a clock frequency of 600 MHz.
• Random access memory (RAM) - DDR2 128 Mb.
• Permanent flash memory (ROM) - 16 Mb.
• Module Wi-Fi standard IEEE 802.11n / g / b 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz with a maximum transfer rate of 600 Mbit / s (when working in two bands simultaneously).

Outside are:

• 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports: 1 WAN and 4 LAN, with automatic cable type detection.
• 1 USB 2.0 port with the ability to connect 3G and 4G modems, printers, data storage devices.
• 2 non-detachable dual-band MIMO antennas with 3 dBi gain (300 + 300 Mbit / s).
• Power supply connector.
• Power button.
• Wi-Fi hotspot control button.
• Reset button (to reset the settings).
• Programmable button (action is set in the web interface settings).
• 9 LED status indicators.

On the bottom, as usual, there is a label with serial number, mac-address and data for accessing Wi-Fi, as well as rubber feet and loops for fixing the router on the wall.

The package, in addition to the device itself, includes a 12 V power supply, a patch cord and a set of documents - a warranty card and two user manuals.

Functionality

The hardware component of ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is quite good, but, to be honest, it is not something unique. The most valuable thing about him is functionality... It is they who just distinguish this router from a number of competing models sold at a similar price.

So, here are its main functions:

• Supports IP versions 4 and 6.
• Support for 3G, 4G (LTE), WiMax modems. It is allowed to create several Internet connections at the same time, for example, 3G + cable.
• Telephony support - by connecting the Keenetic Plus DECT USB module (not included in the delivery set).
• Ability to work in the mode of a signal amplifier, adapter and access point.
• Reading data from USB drives based on various file systems (ext2 and 3, FAT32, NTFS, HFS +). The maximum read speed is 17 Mb / s.
• Connecting a USB printer.
• The ability to simultaneously connect multiple USB devices through a hub-splitter.
• Support for all existing IPTV technologies.
• Support for virtual private networks (VPN), including protocols: PPTP, L2TP, PPPoE plus Link Duo (provides simultaneous access to the provider's intranet resources and the Internet).
• PPTP-to-L2TP transit and the ability to create multiple PPP tunnels.
• Support for IPoE - a protocol for automatic authorization in the provider's network. When using IPoE, the subscriber is freed from the need to enter a login and password when connecting.
• Possibility of combining devices in a VLAN.
• Traffic tagging according to the VLAN IEEE 802.1Q standard.
• Static routing.
• Telnet (via built-in command line).
• SPI is a technology for protecting against network attacks by analyzing the correctness of transit traffic.
• Firewall is a firewall.
• DHCP server is a configurator of hosts that have leased a temporary IP address.
• DMZ is a technology for separating public web services from private ones in order to protect the latter from external intrusion.
• Full feature NAT is a TCP / IP IP address converter with support for multiple external IPs.
• Supports manual port forwarding and Ethernet interface (LAN-WAN) role reassignment. Possibility of creating several interfaces from LAN ports for connecting to the Internet.
• Parental control.
• Support for guest networks.
• WiFi Multimedia (WMM) is a protocol that prioritizes one type of traffic, such as voice, over another.
• Access control by mac-addresses.
• Built-in DDNS (Dynamic DNS) client is a technology that allows you to get constant Domain name a device with a dynamic or local IP address.
• WPS stands for Fast Automatic Transfer Protocol.
• Encryption of wireless network traffic using WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK technologies.
• IGMP - management of data exchange in groups of devices.
• Servers: VPN, FTP, file, DLNA, UPnP, print server.
• UDP to HTTP proxy is a technology that allows you to view IPTV on devices that do not support multicast.
• Integrated torrent client "Transmission".
• Control from an external network, including through mobile applications for Android and iOS. There are several such applications, for example, ZyXEL Keenetic NetFriend, ZyXEL My.Keenetic, PrintHand(for printing from a mobile device to a printer connected to the router), etc.
• A separate control mode is provided through the command console (for advanced).

All this provides software platform NDMS V2.0, on which, in addition to Kinetic Extra, Internet centers of the entire model range operate.

Web interface

The admin panel of the router supports Russian, but due to the abundance of settings and functions, it is not so easy to work in it on the go. However, it is worth looking into the instructions included in the box, and everything becomes clear.

To enter the Kinetic Extra web interface, the default address is 192.168.1.1. After entering it into the address bar of the browser and pressing Enter, the form for setting the password for the administrator of the Internet center opens.

To change the parameters of the wireless network, go to the Wi-Fi section (indicated by an antenna-shaped icon on the bottom panel of the window) and edit the settings for each of the frequency ranges - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Guest connections and access lists are configured on adjacent tabs.

In each of the sections, as here, there is a small hint that will help you understand the purpose of the options and choose the optimal settings for them.

Another feature of NDMS V2.0 firmware is that it is modular. If the pre-installed set of functions is not enough, the user can go to the components menu on the manufacturer's website and download the missing from there. For example, a module for working with a specific type of USB modems. And unnecessary components can be simply removed.

It is worth noting that ZyXEL routers have one nice feature: the ability to work with them out of the box. A reliable username and password from the wireless network already configured on the router are indicated on the case. Those. if you only need Wi-Fi distribution from the router, then you can plug the device into an outlet and connect the cable from the Internet to it. With the vast majority of ISPs, ZyXEL routers also work out of the box.

Router control using mobile applications

ZyXEL My.Keenetic provides more advanced features: remote control router, control over all connected devices, as well as traffic distribution and connection speed limiting. Soon it will be possible to manage downloads via the Transmission torrent client.

Advantages and disadvantages of ZyXEL Keenetic Extra. Overall impression of use

Most of the owners noted three characteristics that, in their opinion, constitute the main advantages of this Internet center:

• Full compliance with the declared speed of LAN ports. The cable connection honestly reaches gigabits per second. More precisely, it almost reaches.
• Supports 5 GHz wireless frequency. This is especially important for residents of high-rise buildings and residents of office centers, where many devices broadcast on the air at 2.4 GHz. The 5-hertz band is still practically free, and where there is no interference, the quality of the connection is much better.
• Multifunctional software platform that allows you to configure a local network for any needs and use different methods of connecting to the Internet.

The only significant drawback is the low power of the antennas and the inability to simply replace them (without a soldering iron). A good Wi-Fi signal is only enough for an average 2-3 room apartment without thick concrete walls. It covers a larger area poorly.

In general, my opinion is that ZyXEL Keenetic Extra fully justifies the name of a home Internet center. With a dual-band access point, gigabit Ethernet ports, excellent VPN speeds, a full-fledged USB port with readable disks, IPTV technologies, and modular firmware, for which fresh updates are released, this model will remain relevant for at least another 3 years Verdict: Recommended for purchase.