Admin panel
The good news for users wary of installing superfluous software is that the Play Max can be setup and configured the old fashioned way.
The tried-and-trusted admin panel should be familiar to most users and is accessible via the default http://router/ address.
Security-conscious users may note that Belkin's admin panel is not password protected by default. As a result, anybody on the subnet can gain access to the home screen pictured above.
We'd prefer to see a default password set as standard, as well as a prompt to encourage users to choose a password of their own.
Taking a look at the more pertinent sections of the admin panel, Belkin's Wireless Channel and SSID options provide an array of dual-band tweaks.
Both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands can be individually tailored - or disabled if need be - with the option to limit each band to b, g or n devices. Useful if you're intending on running g and n networks side by side; one for your older, slower devices, and one solely for n-capable products.
The 2.4GHz and 5GHz WEP, WPA or WPA2 security modes can also be configured individually.
Providing a little extra out-the-box functionality, the Play Max has a guest network enabled by default.
Operating on the 2.4GHz band and a separate subnet, the guest network can be configured to run with a choice of WEP, WPA/WPA2 or Cafe-Style security modes.
The latter prompts users on the network to enter a pre-configured password via a browser webpage, and works perfectly well, providing access to the web but not to shared devices such as USB storage or USB printers.
Elsewhere, the router allows the user to adjust quality of service (QoS) profiles to favour certain types of network traffic, including; VOIP, online gaming and video streaming.
Music Mover enables a built-in DLNA server for content stored on USB-attached storage, and a further set of utilities allow for the router to be rebooted, updated with a new firmware or restored to factory default settings.
Eco-conscious users will also like the fact that the router's primary LED can be dimmed, and that the wireless radios can be disabled between set times on any day of the week.
Last but not least, a "Self-Healing" tab provides regular maintenance to ensure "a more problem free network". We were interested to see what Self-Healing could actually do, and though it looks as though it simply reboots the router at a set time, Belkin's official description states:
"The Self Healing application looks for the clearest channels to operate on and automatically makes the switch if a clearer channel becomes available. It also automatically cleans routing tables, which can become bloated and slow down your connection over time."
We've yet to see the wireless channels switch automatically, but having the Self-Healing feature enabled hasn't done us any harm. During a week of use, with one mid-week self-heal, we haven't witnessed any dropped connections.
So far so good, and Belkin hopes to put the icing on the cake with what it calls Belkin Apps.
