Amped Wireless R20000G, SR20000G, and UA2000

A couple months back, we were contacted by Amped Wireless and offered a chance to look at their latest dual-band 802.11n router, the R20000G. Along with the router, Amped also sent their updated dual-band directional wireless adapter, the UA2000. Instead of your typical omnidirectional antenna, the UA2000 promises increased range and throughput when pointed at your wireless router/access point. Rounding out the review, Amped sent a third product, their SR20000G repeater, which is basically the same as the router but with tweaked firmware and software so that it can extend the range of your wireless network(s).

While there are many wireless routers on the market, there aren’t nearly as many repeaters, and a quick search through Newegg only turned up one other directional wireless USB: Amped’s previous generation UA1000. That certainly piqued our interest, but Amped is also promising better coverage and signal quality thanks to the use of higher power 600mW antennas. Higher power isn’t the only improvement, as Amped also uses higher gain antennas; the former improves the range of your signal (how loud the router “shouts”) while the latter improves the reception, particularly of weaker signals (how well the router can “hear”). Can the router, repeater, and adapter deliver on the promise of better quality wireless networking, with improved range and transfer rates? That’s what we aim to find out.