TRENDnet produces world's smallest Wireless N travel router

Looking to drag that 802.11n connectivity with you to even the zaniest of places? Those newly implemented baggage rules totally cramping your style? Enter TRENDnet's TEW-654TR, a 300Mbps Wireless N Travel Router kit which is supposedly small enough to slip completely away into the average front pocket. The device only has a LED indicator, 10/100Mbps Ethernet port, a MIMO antenna and an AC socket. No price is mentioned, but don't count on the sticker being proportionally small.

[Tonicboy @ Jan 9th 2009 1:42AM]

I had one of those Linksys travel routers and it was very useful when I traveled a lot for work. I could set up a small network in my hotel room and share with co-workers or sit on the couch in front of the TV, etc. I like the way the Linksys had the foldaway plug integrated into the device, though.

[MM @ Jan 9th 2009 1:46AM]

Hope it costs like $100

[shugg @ Jan 9th 2009 1:52AM]

holy shhh ,this is tight.,.,

[NutMac @ Jan 9th 2009 1:58AM]

At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, Apple's AirPort Express 802.11n is all-in-one unit with integrated antenna and power brick. Overall, it is therefore more portable and smaller.

[solomalee @ Jan 9th 2009 5:21AM]

That was my impression too! Add the volume of the wall wart and the router and it's not small at all!

[NeoDarkSaver @ Jan 9th 2009 2:03AM]

this looks awfully like that D-link portable router.

[Lundmark @ Jan 9th 2009 2:27AM]

As a whole, Apple's Airport Express looks to be even smaller due to its in-built AC adapter.

http://sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/21161-TravelRouter-1-vs-Airport-Express

[spellprince @ Jan 9th 2009 2:28AM]

I've been using a TRENDnet router for over a year now, and it has never burped once. The signal quality and their support team are outstanding. I hope they start to become more of a name in the router industry with the likes of Linksys and NetGear. Their products, IMO, are of equal or better quality, but don't ever get the same name recognition.

[ikn @ Jan 9th 2009 3:00AM]

A 300Mbps Wireless N Travel Router kit with a 10/100Mbps Ethernet port??!! What does that say about the real capabilities of the router??

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jan 9th 2009 7:46AM]

my thoughts exactly when i first read this... and really, how more costly would it be in this time to put a gigabit chip inside!?!?!?

but, after some more thought, it's pretty common to have a 10/100 WAN port in routers, e.g. to hook up to your cable modem, so I don't think it's that crippled. also, I do quite a bit of travel and i've yet to find a hotel that provides gigabit ethernet.

[nutts @ Jan 9th 2009 3:25AM]

Others have already commented on the Airport Express, but I thought it was worth adding that it also has a USB port for connecting a printer, and a 3.5mm jack. So if you plug speakers into it, you can stream music from iTunes on PC or Mac.

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress

I have one, and I carry it when I travel.

[QuarterSwede @ Jan 10th 2009 1:31AM]

I do the same thing with my Express. Not sure why this particular one is note worthy?

[Doug @ Jan 9th 2009 2:05PM]

+1 This is weak compared to Airport Express and about as exciting as yet another digital picture frame.
Note that Airport Express also allows fiber connectivity to your TOSLINK capable receivers and streaming is not limited to iTunes on Windows or Mac if you download the free app "Airfoil"

http://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/

[Doug @ Jan 9th 2009 4:47AM]

Its TRENDnet of course it will be cheap...

[Guglielmo Cappucci @ Jan 9th 2009 8:17AM]

Looks a lot like my D-Link DWL-730 AP that I bought for $48.00. Granted, my D-Link is only a wireless G device, but these are sure to wreck havoc for any network security engineer! That's right Johnny, you too can just plug this into your network and allow for outside users to completely bypass your company's $15,000.00 firewall!

[Cesar Cardoso @ Jan 9th 2009 8:40AM]

Travel routers FTW. That's all.

[Eran @ Jan 10th 2009 11:33AM]

Apple Airport Express, everyone? (also has audio streaming and usb print server included)