Connected: anywhere, anytime

A multi-purpose Wireless-N pocket router that allows you to easily share your Wi-Fi hot spot account, the compact Asus WL-330NUL also functions as a wireless adapter, a USB Ethernet adapter, and a wireless access point for sharing a home Internet connection.

Measuring just 6.5cm and weighing in at 17.5g, the router can be powered through a USB port of your notebook computer or by a provided USB wall plug or USB power bank.

The WL-330NUL is easy to set up too with the provided utility embedded in the router’s internal storage. Connect it to your computer’s USB port and a set-up program will appear on the screen. You need to install the program to set up and customise the router’s use.

The set-up utility allows you to set a password for accessing the router though, if you prefer, you can simply use the password from the factory. You can also use the utility to set whether you will allow Internet connection sharing to guests.

If you decide to share the connection from your ADSL modem by connecting an Ethernet cable from the modem to the Ethernet port of the router, you will not have to change any more settings.

But if you want to use the WL-330NUL for sharing your Wi-Fi account, you will need to use the set-up utility to key in the password of the Wi-Fi account for the router to remember. The set-up utility will show the names of available Wi-Fi hotspots for you to select and you will be prompted to enter your Wi-Fi account password.

The router needs to be connected to your computer USB port during the set-up but only once provided you don’t change the Wi-Fi account.

This router is very handy if you want to share a single Wi-Fi account among multiple devices, such as a notebook computer, a tablet and a smart phone. Normally, one Wi-Fi account can be used for just a single device, such as a smart phone.

When you have set your Wi-Fi account with the router, you can then connect all of your devices to the router and share the wireless Internet account. All you have to do is enter the password to access the router for each device.

You can also use this tactic to share an Internet connection from your 3G or 4G smart phone. When you turn on Internet tethering or the mobile hotspot function of your smart phone, you can have the WL-330NUL to accept the Internet connection from the smart phone for sharing with other devices. Although you may already share Internet connections directly from your smart phone, it’s worth noting that the WL-330NUL functions better for this purpose and boasts a better signal.

I tested using WL-330NUL with the Sony Xperia V using TrueMove H HSPA+ 3G connection. I connected a notebook computer and a smart phone to the WL-330NUL simultaneously and found that web browsing on the two devices was smooth.

Another useful function of the WL-330NUL is as an USB Ethernet adapter for your Ultrabook computer. Normally, an Ultrabook computer has no Ethernet port. If you need to connect the Ultrabook to a network using the Ethernet connection, you simply plug the WL-330NUL to the Ultrabook’s USB port and plug your network’s Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port of WL-330NUL. No set-up is required. I tested connecting it to my home router and my desktop computer, using the Ethernet connection, without any problem.

You can also use the WL-330NUL as a wireless access adapter for a desktop computer that is too far from your router to have a wired connection. 

You simply plug the WL-330NUL to your computer’s USB port and use the set-up utility to connect the WL-330NUL to your home wireless router.

Asus WL-330NUL All-in-One Wireless-N Pocket Router has a suggested retail price of Bt1,150 and comes with a five-year warranty. Asus Thailand says that if the unit becomes defective, it will be changed for a new one during the warranty period.

 

 

Key specs

_ Interface: 1 x 100/10Mbps WAN, 1 x USB 2.0

_ Antenna: 1 x internal

_ Operating frequency: 2.4GHz

_ Data rate: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi at up to 150Mbps

_ Encryption: 64-bit/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2-PSK

_ Management: one click set-up and management, WL-330NUL Ultra-Link utility, web-based administration, DHCP server, NAT firewall

_ Power adapter AC input: 110V-240V (50-60Hz)

_ USB output: 5V with max 1A current

_ Dimensions: 6.5cm x 2cm x 1.5cm

_ Weight: 17.5g