The D-Link RangeBooster N650 DIR-635 wireless router, D-Link’s first stab at networking gear based on the Draft 802.11n spec, does little to separate itself from the Draft N competition. (Vendors aren’t promising that Draft N hardware will work with final-spec 802.11n products but a firmware upgrade will probably bring Draft N products in line with the final spec.)

In terms of looks and connections, the DIR-635 is fairly standard. Three adjustable antennae protrude from the black-and-silver box, and the back of the router offers up the standard ports: four LAN jacks for hardwired connections, a WAN port for connecting the router to a modem, and one USB port.

Setup is straightforward. The included CD walks you through all the steps, from plugging in the cables to powering on and configuring network settings. A 90-page electronic manual further details the setup and configuration processes, and translates tech-speak into plain English. In an interesting move, D-Link in this router has done away with the familiar Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security option, offering support for only Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2.

In the tests, the DIR-635 beat all Draft N routers of short-range mixed-throughput test (at 10 feet) and in long-range test (200 feet), posting scores of 58.8Mbps and 41Mbps, respectively. It fell to the back of the pack, however, on maximum-throughput test (at 10 feet), with a score of 68.1Mbps.

D-Link backs the router with a one-year warranty, which pales in comparison to Linksys’ three-year policies and Belkin’s lifetime support. Still, phone support is available 24/7, or you can contact tech support via an online form.