Buying expensive equipment is not always advisable. If you choose a router for home or office, it is better to pay attention to budget items, for example, Keenetic Start model from Zyxel. It is designed as a reliable LAN and Wi-Fi distribution device for multiple users. Let's consider the router, its main characteristics and capabilities in more detail.

The Start Keenetic router works from a regular 220 V network, it is completely autonomous, easy to configure and does not require maintenance.

The model has all the necessary functionality for connecting to the Internet. But its main difference from more expensive models is reliability.

Keenetic is designed to ensure uninterrupted interaction of all electronic devices at home with the "global network". The functionality allows you to configure several types of connection - Link DUO - to the provider:

• Directly to the Internet.
• Through the local resources of providers, the so-called district network.

Network types

Also, the Start Keenetic router creates two types of networks: home and guest. The following devices are connected to the home:

1. Receiver for IPTV.
2. Computers in the amount of four units over LAN (wired).
3. Smartphones, laptops and IP cameras over a wireless connection. The quantity is set by the user.

The guest network is configured for a wireless connection to the Start Keenetic router bypassing the home network, thus ensuring the safety of personal data.

The first model of Start Keenetic router, unfortunately, does not have the ability to connect multiple providers and add a backup 3 / 4G channel. Also, there is no possibility of connecting an external drive and, as a result, installing a torrent client. There is no DLNA server to manage media files from the phone.

Connection types

The main purpose of Start Keenetic is to provide access to the Internet via a line allocated by the provider. The model works with various types of connection:

• VPN (PPTP and L2TP).
• VLAN 802.1Q.
• PPPoE.
• IPv4 / IPv6.
• 802.1X.

The MIPS processor provides the ability to work with file sharing services from several devices at once at speeds up to 80 Mb / s.

The wireless Wi-Fi connection uses the latest 802.11n protocol, which provides data transfer at speeds up to 150 Mb / s. For the convenience of authorization, interaction with devices of the WPS standard is built-in.

Thus, it takes a few seconds to connect a new device.

Additional functionality

The general package of Keenetic functions includes a free Yandex.DNS service that protects a PC or smartphone from malicious sites and resources for adults. The built-in internet filter also blocks the download of infected files and warns about untrusted pages.

To work with devices via a local network, a managed switch is built into the router. It connects computers, receivers and other devices at speeds of 10/100 Mbps. To simplify the user's work, Start Keenetic is also equipped with a DHCP server that automatically issues an IP address to each new device.

If there are children in the house, the parental control function provided by the SkyDNS service will come in handy. With the help of this service, the categories of sites available to the child are independently selected, and filters are created to restrict it.

With Start Keenetic and DynDNS and NO-IP clients, it is possible to get remote access to your router. And also create file and web servers, share them with friends. In addition, use the server to monitor the house online by installing a network camera.

In general, these are all characteristics, the description of which will help you understand the Keenetic model.

Appearance

Start looks like a rectangular box made of glossy plastic with a ribbed pattern along the body. The front is equipped with indicators showing:

• Internet connection.
• The number of devices connected via LAN.
• Availability of food.
• Wi-Fi status (on / off).
• Whether or not the Start Keenetic router was authorized by the provider.

In the upper right corner is the Wi-Fi control button. On the back there are five RJ-45 Lan cable connectors. Four are for connecting network devices, the fifth is for. And also on the back there is a connector for connecting a power supply, a Reset button for resetting the settings and a power button. One antenna is included as standard to enhance the wireless signal.

Connection and preparation for work

Before starting the Start Keenetic router for the first time, you need to assemble it. If you plan to connect a PC via a LAN cable, you will need a wire crimped on both sides with connectors. One end connects to the network card on a computer or laptop, the other directly to the Start Keenetic router. After that, you need to connect a cable with the Internet from the provider to the port for external WAN connection.

At the last stage, the power supply is connected. First, a wire from the unit is connected to the connector designated as "5V 2A", and after that, the unit itself is built into the 220V network.

For the Zyxel Keenetic start router, the configuration takes place when providing access to the Internet. It is performed through a browser, and at the first start, this procedure is performed via wired and wireless connections. If the network is encrypted, the default password used is indicated on the router itself or in the documentation for it. Configurations are configured manually or using the "Installation Wizard".

Settings

As already mentioned, to configure "Kinetic Start" you need to go through a browser on any device connected to the router. You do not need to have access to the Internet for this. Opening any browser, in the line to enter the address, you will need to drive in the IP of the modem. It is indicated on the box with the device. But if there is no such data, the standard address for Zyxel Keenetic Start 2 and the first model is 192.168.1.1. If the connection fails, you need to change the line to 192.168.0.1.

When several devices are connected to a computer, a completely different address is assigned to the Start Keenetic router. To find out the exact IP on Windows 7 and older, go to the "Network and Sharing Management" section, and then - the "Change adapter settings" menu. All devices - local and virtual - connected to the network card are displayed here. All of them are signed, so the modem will be found right away.

After that, you need to double-click on the icon with the Start Keenetic connection and then - the "Details" button. Find the line "Default gateway IP". Enter the information of this particular line in the browser.

If everything is done correctly, a window will open, where it is proposed to quickly configure the system in two modes: manual and automatic. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Automatic tuning

To start the installation of Start Keenetic automatically, click the "Quick setup" button. A window will appear where the connection will be checked offline, a menu with fields for authorization will open. Here you need to enter the username and password received from the service provider. If the provider uses a PPPoE connection, you must tick the box "Provider provided ..." and select a server. After all the authorization data has been entered, click the "Next" button.

The Start Keenetic modem will automatically check for updates on its server. If there are any, you must click "Update". This will be followed by the installation of components. During installation, you cannot turn off the PC and the router itself, you must wait until the procedure is completed. When the update is complete, the device will reboot automatically, all configurations will be saved.

After the update, a window will appear with a message containing a proposal to connect the secure Internet function provided by Yandex.DNS. The service is helpful, but not required. If the Internet is weak, it is better to turn it off by unchecking the corresponding box. Now press the "Next" button and enjoy your work on the Internet.

Connecting to the Internet manually using the example of some providers

Manually connecting Start Keenetic depends on the type of connection used by the Internet service provider.

Dom.ru and Rostelecom

First, let's figure out how to establish a connection with a provider using the PPPoE protocol used by most providers. The first step is to go to the Start settings if this is the first launch of the router. Then, when choosing the type of setting, choose not the quick one, but the "Web configurator". If the launch is not the first, you need to go to the "Internet" section located in the bottom panel and then go to the PPPoE / VPN tab. After that, click on the "Add a new connection" button.

The submenu "Connection settings" will open, check the boxes in the first two fields. Tags will be responsible for the fact that Keenetic uses this particular protocol to access the Internet. In the "Description" line, you must enter the future name of the connection, using any name. Protocol type: PPPoE. Next in the drop-down list "Connect via ..." you need to select Broadband connection.

The following: "Username" and "Password" are provided by the provider in the contract. The specified data must be entered in these two fields. The rest should be left as default. The last point is to click the "Apply" button. To check if the connection is working, go to the "Connections" section of the Start router. A label with a green checkmark should appear opposite the new line with the description that was invented.

Beeline

To create a connection to the Beeline provider, you will need to go back to the Keenetic settings, the Internet section and select the L2TP connection. This type of manual configuration is suitable for both Zyxel Keenetic Start ii and the first version. In the first paragraph, check the box next to "Enable interface". Next, come up with a name for the future connection. The name will be displayed in the connection string. The line "Connect via ..." requires the selection of Broadband connection.

For the main section: "Use for access ..." a check mark is set. In the line "Server address" enter tp.internet.beeline.ru. Login and password fields are filled with data provided by the operator "Beeline". The very last section of TCP-MSS is also checked.

That's it, now Start Keenetic is connected to an Internet service provider.

NetByNet

The NetByNet operator uses several types of connection, including PPPoE or l2tp. But most often it is DHCP and binding by MAC address, as well as through a static IP address. The Keenetic modem can be connected in any way. The first two types of connection were described for the operators Beeline and Rostelecom, so we will analyze the last methods in detail.

To connect via IP in the "Internet" section, select IPoE from the list of available protocols.

First of all, you need to select the connector through which the Start Keenetic connection to the Internet will be provided. Therefore, two checkboxes are required under the rightmost WAN connector. Opposite the line "Enable interface" check the box, and in the "Description" section add any name for the connection, relying on your own choice.

The next VLAN ID field remains the default. The number 8 must be entered here. To obtain the IP address and subnet mask, you can contact your provider, but the data must be specified in the contract. Then, opposite DHCP, uncheck the box and put it in the very last section: "This is a direct connection ...".

It remains only to configure the DNS servers for the Start router. To do this, go to the appropriate section located in the same place as the IPoE. The servers are provided by the provider, but if they are not there, third-party resources are used. For example, the value 212.1.224.6 is entered in both lines, the configuration is saved.

To organize a Keenetic connection via a MAC address, you need to contact NetByNet technical support. The MAC is on the bottom of the router. Employees will bind the Keenetic router themselves. After that, the user will need to make a connection like the previous IPoE. At the same time, leave the IP-address and subnet mask fields blank, and check the boxes in all other sections.

To configure Wi-Fi, you need to go to Keenetic configurations. Then, in the bottom menu, find the icon of the corresponding wireless network. The Access Point submenu will open. To enable or disable it, you must put / uncheck the box next to the "Enable access point" line.

Now directly about the "Wi-Fi" settings on Keenetic. The second field is the name of the network SSID, by default the factory name Keenetic is used - ****. It is easy to change it to any other, if necessary. Also at the bottom there is a setting that allows you to hide your personal network from strangers - the "Hide SSID" submenu. In this case, only authorized devices will be able to connect to Wi-Fi.

If you want to connect your laptop or smartphone to hidden Wi-Fi, you will have to enter your username and password in the “Connections to a wireless network” menu on the Start device. In this case, the gadget will start searching for the network, find it and log in. But only with the correct login, otherwise the connection will not occur.

The next field after the SSID is Network Security. Here you need to select the security protocol. The most reliable at the moment is the WPA2 protocol, but a new one will soon be introduced - WPA3, which provides a number of additional protections for devices working over Wi-Fi.

If you do not use a password and the network is public, an empty encryption field is selected. After selecting the protocol, you will need to enter a password in the bottom line, one 8 characters long is enough. The code consists of any characters of the selected case (uppercase, uppercase) and special characters with numbers.

These were the main security settings on Keenetic. Now you need to specify the region. The default setting is Russian Federation, which is the correct setting. After the standard of the latest version comes, 802.11bgn is automatically installed. Thanks to him, the router in autonomous mode selects the maximum data transfer rate for the connected device, from 10 to 150 Mbps.

The choice of the channel affects the data transfer rate, as well as the correctness of the work. The more devices are on one channel, the greater the delay in sending data. The number of "broken" packets will increase when sending, which will reduce the transmission speed. The main problem is that the channels are used by all routers in the same range. Therefore, it is quite difficult to find an empty one. Typically, channels 3-8 are the least commonly used. Smartphone applications are used to determine the purity of the channel.

The next field - "Signal strength" - is responsible for the area over which the wireless network will be distributed. The parameter is independently adjustable for specific user needs. Be aware that concrete walls and wiring will greatly reduce the range. To improve the signal, the antenna should be in an upright position, and the router itself should be at a height of 1-1.5 meters from the floor level.

WPS

The last section is the WPS function. It is used for simplified connection to Keenetic devices that have a similar capability. WPS is activated both in configuration mode and when you press the Wi-Fi enable button on the router itself. The main thing to remember is that on the Start model, a quick press on the button is responsible for enabling / disabling WPS. But if you press the key for a few seconds, the network settings will be reset, and everything will have to be done again. To connect any device wirelessly using WPS with a Keenetic router, you must enable this function on both gadgets. After that, during verification on a smartphone or laptop, a button for normal connection and connection using WPS will appear. Pressing the latter will authorize the network without entering a password.

Configuring in repeater (repeater), amplifier, adapter or access point mode

The Start router can be configured in any of the above modes. To do this, in the configurations, go to the settings tab and the "Modes" section:

After selecting the mode, you will need to restart the modem. If Keenetic is to be used as an amplifier, Internet access is not needed on it. The main thing is that the first router, the signal of which needs to be amplified, has such access, and both of them work in Wi-Fi mode. The Start router will automatically “catch” the signal and amplify it.

IPTV

To connect the set-top box, the Keenetic router must have the latest firmware version installed. How this is done will be discussed later in the article. After updating the firmware, connect the receiver to one of the four LAN ports. But not to the WAN port used to connect to the Internet. Then go to the configurations of the Start modem, the WAN section and in the “Select ports” line specify the connector to which the receiver is connected. It is also necessary to drive in the IP and password data provided by the provider.

IPv6 protocol

To set up a connection via an IPv6 tunnel, go to the Start setting and select the required connection protocol in the "Internet" tab. Then click the "Add connection" button. A window with settings will open; check the boxes in the first two lines. The "Description" section must be filled in, here you need to enter the invented name of the future network.

The IPv6 protocol in the Keenetic router works by creating a tunnel between IPv4 and the new version. Therefore, to create it, you will need the data provided by the provider. If any, they are used to fill in the Server Address and IPv6 Address columns. In the line "IPv6 prefix" you need to enter the previous line without the "mask", that is, without the characters "/ 64" and click "Apply". That's it, now Start works according to the new protocol.

Dynamic DNS

The connection of this function in the Keenetic model is carried out through external services. If you already have a ready-made subdomain registered on one of the third-party resources, you need to go to the DyDNS tab. In the "Used service" section, select "Other". The URL that was previously issued and copied on a third-party site is inserted into the "Server address". After that, the correct domain name is entered. The "Name" and "Password" fields must be left blank. In the last line "We use DDNS" a check mark is put and clicked "Update".

Security settings (antivirus, firewall)

To go to the security settings on the Start router, you need to go to the "Security -> Firewall" section. Here are set the rules that restrict access to certain sites.

Going to the configurations, you need to click the "Add rule" button, after which the required window will open. Here you can choose: whether the rule will prohibit something or, conversely, allow it. Also, "Zixel Kinetic Start" chooses in which order the filter will be applied: for the home network or external addresses. To set filtering on visited resources, you need to create rules for the TCP, UDP and ICMP protocols and leave the "Ports" line in the "Any" position.

Parental control

For installation on Keenetic modems, a schedule function is provided. It is located in "Settings", section "System -> Schedule".

Clicking the button adds a new schedule. The menu has a convenient system for regulating the broadcast. It is possible to restrict several networks:

• The whole Internet.
• Wi-Fi.
• Guest Wi-Fi.

The menu has a choice of which particular device with limited access. After all the configurations are set, click the "Apply" button, the filter will start working.

Setting up the printer

Unfortunately, due to the lack of a USB connector on the Start model, there is no direct printer connection to the Internet Center.

Setting up a VPN server

To connect a VPN server to Keenetic, go to the network settings and select the PPPoE / VPN protocol. Fill in the "Description" column, for example, enter VPN. Protocol type - L2TP. In the "Connect via ..." submenu, you must leave the setting defined by the Start Keenetic router. In the next two fields - "Login" / "Password" - enter the data provided by the provider. The column "Server address" shall be designated by the server provided by the Internet provider. Save configuration.

Possible malfunctions and ways to eliminate them

Most of the problems that appear when working with the Internet are solved by resetting the settings to the factory settings. If there is no connection or works slowly, it is worth checking if someone else is connected.

You also need to carefully monitor that the Start router does not overheat and is regularly cleaned of dust.

Firmware update Start Keenetic

The software update is necessary for the correct operation of the home device. Later versions of the firmware are not only stable, but also have advanced functionality. Installation on Start Keenetic is done in several ways. Let's take a look at each of the options.

Through the web interface

To update the firmware on Keenetic from a computer, you need to download the latest version of the router software from the official website. In the Start settings, go to the "System -> Configuration" sections. A list of files is visible on the page. Click on the one highlighted in blue and with a gear on the label. You will be prompted to select a new file. This is where the pre-downloaded firmware for the Keenetic model comes in handy. During the installation of the updated software, the device must never be turned off or rebooted. You need to wait until everything goes automatically.

Via mobile app

To update the device firmware via a phone or tablet, you need to do the same operations as when installing from a computer.

Resetting Start Keenetic router settings to factory settings

To reset the settings on the "Zixel" Start modem, there is a special key located on the back of the device, near the Wi-Fi antenna. To reset, you need to hold it down for 10 seconds. For this, it is most convenient to use a needle or an awl with a thin forend.

Output

Start Keenetic router is a good solution if you need a reliable and inexpensive modem for home or small office. The router comes with an easy-to-use web configurator and many useful features.

Pros of Start Keenetic

Among the advantages of the router are the following:

• Choice of protocols.
• The presence of a power filter.
• Built-in system "DNS.Yandex" for filtering sites and downloaded files.
• SkyDNS to restrict access to non-children's content.

Minuses

Among the disadvantages are highlighted:

• The lack of a USB port, which distinguishes these routers from the Start Keenetic 4G and Light brothers.
• The lack of USB sharply limits the functionality: there is no torrent client, the ability to connect a printer.

An inexpensive but very functional entry-level Internet center with good technical specifications is Keenetic Start. Setting it up, technical parameters and other important nuances associated with its operation will be described in detail later in the text.

Device capabilities

Let's start with the technical specifications of this networking device. Everything you need to deploy a full-fledged local computer home network is in ZyXel Keenetic Start. WiFi setup is easy. This wireless standard allows information to be transmitted at speeds up to 150 Mbps. But its coverage area is limited to a radius of 10 meters. This is quite enough for an apartment or a small office. Five Ethernet ports make it possible to organize a wired section of a computer network, which can exchange information with the global web at speeds up to 100 Mbps. They can be reconfigured if necessary. Also, this device has a convenient display system. The following LEDs are displayed on the front panel: power supply, indicators of operation of each wired port and wireless coverage. There is also a separate indicator of the presence of an Internet connection. The router itself is based on the MIPS® CPU model 24KEc with a clock frequency of 360 MHz. There is no separate USB port in it, but there is support for network printers. This allows you to turn this router into a print site if necessary. It also integrates 32 MB of RAM.

Equipment

Everything you need to work is included with this network device. In addition to the router itself, there is a power supply crimped for configuration and an antenna for transmitting a wireless signal. ZyXel Keenetic Start is described step by step and in great detail in the user manual. The second important document included in the kit is the warranty card. Also with them in a paper sleeve is a CD with the necessary software. With it, you can easily and simply configure the router.

Appearance and controls

As noted earlier, this router model has an indication system displayed on the front panel. It consists of 8 LEDs. The first one shows the presence of power. When the router is turned on and booted up, it blinks. As soon as the initialization process is finished, it starts to glow continuously. The "zero" LED is tied to the input port by default. It shows the presence of a connection to the provider's equipment. Also, the last, eighth LED, which indicates the receipt of information from the Internet, should flash synchronously with it. The next four indicators show the output of information from the network device. Setting up Keenetic Start allows you to programmatically change the assignment of each of the ports. You can even configure so that there will be two input ones, and three will work for data output. On the back side are the previously indicated ports for connecting a twisted pair. To the left of them there is a connector for installing the antenna and a button for resetting the current parameters. But on the right are the power supply socket and the power button of the router. Another important control element located on the top cover of the device is the WPS button. It allows you to quickly connect your computer, smartphone or tablet to a wireless local area network. You just need to press it and immediately start the connection procedure. In this case, the security password does not need to be entered.

Provider parameters

The ability to change the parameters allows you to use ZyXel Keenetic Start in almost all local area networks. Configuring Rostelecom consists in setting the following parameters:

• The protocol for organizing access to the global web is PPPoE.
• Login and password specified in the contract.
• Be sure to set the option that automatically obtains the network address.

In turn, the ZyXel Keenetic Start Beeline setting provides for the introduction of the following parameters:

• The type of protocol used is L2TP.
• The server address must be tp.internet.beeline.ru.
• Login and password, as in the previous case, are taken from the contract.

Leave all other parameters unchanged. By analogy with the previously mentioned examples, you can configure this Keenetic for any provider. In any case, it is necessary to find out this information in advance, so that later you will not be distracted by its refinement in the process of parameterizing the router.

First connection

The first stage in the configuration process is the correct switching of Keenetic Start. The setup begins with this operation. When configuring a router for the first time, you do not need to be connected to the Internet. It is enough just to install the power supply unit into an outlet, and its cord into the corresponding socket of the router. On the other hand, it is necessary to use a complete twisted pair, which will organize the transmission between the network device and the computer. The latter can be a laptop, netbook or computer. We install one end of the wire into the blue port of the router, and the other into the PC connector. As soon as such a system is assembled and the correctness of the previously specified connections is checked, we turn on the computer and the router, wait until they are loaded. At this point, the first stage, consisting of switching equipment, is over, and you can now proceed with configuring ZyXel Keenetic Start. PPPoE or VPN configuration is performed in the next step.

Quick setup

Configuring a Keenetic Start router programmatically consists of the following stages:

• We go into network connections and delete all previously created connections to exclude the possibility of conflicts. To do this, in the lower right corner we find the icon of the Network Control Center and click on it. Select all networks and delete them by pressing the "Del" button.
• Then, in the same window, go to the "Adapter parameters" item. In the list that opens, we find the required wireless router and set the automatic acquisition of the network address and DNS.
• We launch any of the installed browsers. Then we enter 192.168.1.1 in it and press "Enter".
• In response, a request will appear with a login and password, which are indicated on a sticker on the top cover. It is them that need to be introduced now. After typing them, press the "Login" button.
• As a result of performing all the previously specified manipulations, the main router settings window will open.
• The next step is to go to the "Authorization" section. Here we set the connection protocol, the login and password specified in the contract from the provider, receive the address automatically.
• Then you need to save the changes made by clicking the appropriate button. We close all previously open windows and turn off the equipment. Then you need to disassemble the circuit.

Reconnection and installation

Now you need to install Keenetic Start to a permanent place. The configuration of its software components is over. You need to install the router so that the wire from the provider can easily reach it. There should also be a power outlet nearby. Well, to ensure maximum coverage, it should be located in the center of the apartment. After installing the router, we connect it. First, we put the cord from the power supply into the corresponding socket, and install it into the outlet. We install the wire from the provider in the blue port. If there is a wired segment of the local area network, then we connect all the necessary wires to the yellow ports 1 through 4 on the back of the router. Once the switching is done and checked, you can apply voltage to the network device by pressing the POWER button. After that, it will start downloading. At this time, the LED indicator of the same name will blink. As soon as he stops doing this, the router is loaded and ready to work.

Establishing a connection

The next step is to connect your computer to the ZyXel Keenetic Start router. Setting the parameters of the network device is over and you need to connect the individual components of the local area network. To do this, the router, PC, smartphone or tablet must be turned on. It is not possible to establish a connection while loading any of the previously specified devices. The wired connection is established automatically, but in the case of Wi-Fi, certain manipulations must be performed. On the PC, we find the logo of the Network Control Center in the lower right corner of the screen and click on it. In the list of available network connections, select the name of our network. A prompt with a password will appear in response. We enter the one that was specified at the stage of configuring the router. The algorithm for setting up a smartphone or tablet is similar. The only difference is that you need to use the status menu, which is located at the top of the device.

IPTV connection

It is not for nothing that the manufacturer calls this model of the ZyXel Keenetic Start router an "Internet center". Setting its internal parameters in a certain way allows you to connect an IPTV set-top box to it. Physically, they can be connected using a compressed twisted pair cable. You can even use the supplied cord. The output port of the router is configured to provide information, and the IPTV set-top box itself is configured in the same way as other elements of the local area network.

Test

Now you need to test the ZyXel Keenetic Start software settings. The configuration of the network device at the final stage must be checked without fail. It runs as follows:

• The computer and router must be powered on.
• A wireless or wired connection to the global web must also be established.
• We launch any of the Internet viewers installed on the PC.
• In its address bar, enter yandex.ru and press "ENTER". If everything is done correctly, the start page of the previously specified search engine will open.

Outcomes

No wonder the manufacturer positions itself as an entry-level Internet center Keenetic Start. Its configuration is quite simple, and its capabilities allow you to create a small computer network without any problems. It is ideal for home and small office environments.

The Zyxel Keenetic family of home wireless routers differs significantly from many similar products on the market. These solutions are developed and officially supplied only in the markets of Russia and the CIS. The most interesting for our users in them is the software created taking into account the peculiarities of domestic providers and their services. In addition, the location of developers close to the direct users of the products plays a significant role in its development.

Last fall, the company introduced two new devices that are positioned in the upper segment - the Keenetic Giga III and Keenetic Ultra II models. And recently, a new entry-level representative has appeared on the market - the Keenetic Start II model, which will be the story of this. Its cost at the time of publication is about 1,500 rubles.

Appearance

The router comes in a compact (compared to previous Zyxel solutions) cardboard box, for which blue tones have been chosen. The delivery set is minimal-sufficient - a router, a power supply unit (9 V 0.6 A) and an instruction. Note that the product was originally developed with the Russian language everywhere - from the box to the Web interface, not to mention the website and technical support, and we can rather talk about adding an English version than localization for our market.

The network patch cord was probably not added on purpose as it is now the age of mobile clients. In addition, the router can be perfectly configured "over the air", including from mobile devices.

In appearance, the router is similar to other devices in the series. Used black plastic, and a practical matte version we see only at the ends, while the top and bottom panels are glossy.

The dimensions of the case are about 14x10.5x3 centimeters excluding the antennas. The latter are non-removable, have two degrees of freedom and are installed on the side ends. The total length is 18 cm, and the movable part is 16.5 cm. Inside, 5 dBi antennas in the form of printed circuit boards are installed almost in full length, which is more interesting than the options used in previous models of the budget segment.

There are ventilation grilles on the side ends of the case, but they are unlikely to be necessary in this case. On top of the body there is one button for which you can assign actions to one press, double press and long press. By default, it performs the function of connecting clients via WPS and enabling / disabling Wi-Fi. At the front there are three dim green indicators - status, Wi-Fi and Internet.

At the back, there are two 10/100 Mbps network ports with built-in activity indicators, a hidden reset button and a power input. Reducing the number of wired ports is another deliberate cost reduction step based on the company's own statistics. This, in particular, leads to the impossibility of simultaneously connecting computers and a set-top box, which needs its own dedicated port, via cable.

Note the presence of two rubber feet and two plastic projections on the bottom, which also act as a wall mount. Between them there is a sticker with a unique name and password for the wireless network, MAC address and other data.

Configuration

The router is assembled on the basis of a single-chip MediaTek MT7628N system with one 575 MHz computing core. DDR2 RAM is 64MB and flash memory is 8MB. There are only two wired ports, as we wrote above. The maximum speed of their work is 100 Mbps. For wireless clients, there is an access point that supports 802.11b / g / n in the 2.4 GHz band with a maximum connection speed of 300 Mbps. Note that there is no hardware NAT in this platform, but there are dedicated blocks for the implementation of some other resource-intensive algorithms.

In general, this is a quite typical modern budget option. Of the features, we note the presence of only two wired ports, as well as the installation of two antennas.

Software

The firmware of Zyxel Keenetic routers has a modular structure and can be updated via the Internet. Before testing, the device was installed with firmware version V2.07 (ABCM.2). The interface appearance and software capabilities are unified with other devices. The difference can only be related to differences in hardware configuration (for example, the presence of a second wireless interface or USB ports).

So in addition to convenient control of work, flexible options for connecting to providers, setting up IPTV services, guest wireless network, port translation rules, firewall, alternative modes of operation, there are also interesting and useful functions here, such as cloud access for monitoring and control. , udpxy server (UDP-HTTP proxy), KeenDNS (proprietary dynamic DNS service), modules for working with SkyDNS and Yandex.DNS, client bandwidth control, PPTP VPN remote access server and even a module for working with IPsec. Note that the cloud-based KeenDNS is able to provide remote control of the router even when it uses a “gray” address from the provider.

Performance

This device belongs to the budget segment and is unlikely to be used with high-speed (over 100 Mbps) Internet connections, gigabit clients or network storage devices. So you need to evaluate it taking into account the work with "ordinary" computers and laptops, as well as inexpensive smartphones and tablets.

Despite the fact that there is only one wired port here and, most likely, many will simply not be used, evaluating the speed of routing over the cable in various modes will help to understand the capabilities of the platform.

Considering the platform used and the software optimizations implemented by the company's programmers, we expected exactly such results. We can safely say that the device copes with all connection options at speeds up to 100 Mbit / s, including in full duplex mode. So even in the budget segment today you can find routers that do not limit the performance of mass-scale Internet connections.

Recall that this device has only one port for connecting clients via cable. Today, in our opinion, this is perfectly acceptable for many users who only need a wireless connection for smartphones, laptops and tablets. However, another trouble lies in wait here - the 2.4 GHz band in urban areas is very busy, so a situation may well occur that a single-band router will not be able to provide the required speeds and coverage area. At the same time, the user has no ways to solve this problem, except to switch to the 5 GHz band or install an access point in each room, which leads to a significant increase in the cost of the solution (not to mention the fact that 5 GHz is also rare among low-cost clients. ). This is, perhaps, the most significant point worth paying attention to in the budget segment. Note that improving the antennas or increasing the power of your router, as well as replacing it with another (single-band) router, unfortunately, may not give any significant advantage in this situation.

Keenetic Start II uses a configuration of two antennas, which gives a maximum connection speed of 300 Mbps. However, many inexpensive smartphones and tablets will be able to connect only at 65 or 72 Mbit / s due to the presence of only one built-in antenna and the lack of support for the "wide channel" and of course this is not the fault of the router. Add to this the fact that the real speed is usually half the connection speed and 100 Mbit / s router ports, and the results presented in the next graph will not surprise us.

With a good adapter Asus PCE-AC68, which obviously will not be used with this router in practice, you can get 80-90 Mbit / s, and with an inexpensive operator's smartphone - about 30-50 Mbit / s. The test was carried out at a distance of about four meters of line of sight in one room.

The last performance test we did with this device was the speed of the built-in PPTP server. It allows (in the presence of a "white" address from the provider) to implement secure remote access to your local network from almost any type of client equipment. The graph shows the results averaged over the receive, transmit, and full-duplex data exchange scenarios.

When using MPPE, the router provides about 30 Mbit / s, but if you are satisfied with the option without encryption, then the speed will be 70 Mbit / s or more, depending on the type of Internet connection.

Conclusion

The Zyxel Keenetic Start II router is a budget segment model interesting for its software and fairly fast hardware platform. The device has a traditional case design with the ability to mount on the wall. Note that the router is positioned not only as an addition to the current line, but also as a universal inexpensive device that can act as a router for wireless clients, and be an access point or repeater. Thus, installing only two network ports is just a feature of this model. The presence of an access point supporting only the 2.4 GHz band is quite expected in this segment, and its efficiency depends significantly on the radio environment at the place of use. At the same time, the router is equipped with a fast processor that is able to cope with routing at speeds up to 100 Mbps, inclusive, for any type of connection. The embedded software supports technologies and standards that are current in our market, and also has many additional features, of which, first of all, cloud access, udpxy service, SkyDNS and Yandex.DNS support, bandwidth management, VPN servers and alternative operating modes are of interest.

By the way, it is worth noting that Keenetic Lite III (about 1900 rubles) and Keenetic 4G III (about 2300 rubles) have recently switched to a similar hardware platform, which now have revision B. So the performance test results presented in this material will be correct for them too ...

Setting up Internet access

Setting up a router consists in specifying the MAC address from your personal account. It is important for normal operation that these addresses match.

You can:

1. Specify the MAC address of your computer specified in your personal account in the router settings;

2. Specify the MAC address of the router in your personal account.

In the first case, you have the ability to quickly switch to work without a router, without any reconfiguration. In the second case, you will be forced to change the MAC address in your personal account every time you turn off the router. Therefore, we recommend using the first setting option.

Configuring a router for DC ++

For the correct operation of the DC ++ file-sharing network, you must do the following.

1. Assign specific IP addresses to your computers (not all routers have this capability). This is necessary in order for your port forwarding to work correctly - Port Forwarding. The fact is that in order to work in DC ++, it is necessary that your computer can receive incoming data from the outside. This is why Port Forwarding is used, which redirects all incoming data on a specific port to the IP address of your computer, which you specified when configuring Port Forwarding. If this address changes, DC ++ will not work. To keep the IP addresses of your computers unchanged, we configure Static DHCP. In other words, we tell the router to always assign a specific IP address to a computer with a given MAC address.

2. Configure incoming data redirection to the corresponding IP addresses of your computers.

First, reserve specific IP addresses for specific computers on your home network. Open the "Home Network" menu and select "Networking". In the window that opens, in the "Rented IP address" section, the MAC and IP addresses of all connected computers will be listed. Check the box next to the IP addresses that you want to assign to the corresponding MAC addresses. Click the Commit button.

IMPORTANT: Remember the reserved IP addresses. This is useful when configuring Port Forwarding.

If for some reason there is no data in the "Leased IP address" table, you can enter it manually in the form below.

The MAC address can be found in the following ways.

1. If the computer received an IP address from the router, then its IP and MAC addresses will appear in the corresponding columns of the "Local network settings" list (network connection properties).

2. Click "Start" -> "Run" -> "cmd / k ipconfig / all" -> "Ok". Find the line with your IP. Two lines above, in the "Physical address" field, your MAC will be indicated.

3. Click "Start" -> "Run" -> "getmac". This command will display a complete list of MAC addresses on your computer without specifying the corresponding IP addresses.

Configuring Port Forwarding

Let's expand the menu home network and select the item Servers.

In the window that appears:

Check the box next to Open access to home network services.

In some firmware versions this item may be referred to as "Enable port forwarding".

Click the "Apply" button.

In the "List of open home network services" section, you must do the following.

1. In the "Service" field, select "Other" or an empty line (depending on the firmware version).

2. In the “Computer IP address” field, enter the IP that you reserved earlier.

3. In the Protocol field, select TCP and UDP.

4. Enter 4000 in the Port Range field.

5. In the "Before" field, also enter 4000.

6. In the Description field, enter DC ++.

Click the Add button.

If everything is done correctly, then just below the button Add you will see a record of the added rule.

If DC ++ is supposed to be used on several computers, it is necessary to perform a similar operation. When adding rules for other computers, you must specify the IP addresses of other computers and other ports.

For example:

computer 1: IP 192.168.1.33, port 4000, name of the DC ++ rule;

computer 2: IP 192.168.1.34, port 4001, rule name DC ++ _ 2;

computer 3: IP 192.168.1.35, port 4002, rule name DC ++ _ 3;

To avoid future problems, all IP addresses must be reserved. How to do this, read above.

Setting up a connection in the DC ++ client

Go to the settings of your DC-client: "File" -> "Settings" or just press Ctrl-O. Then select the section of connection settings.

In the first field Network interface for all connections select the address 0.0.0.0.

Make sure Firewall with Manual Port Forwarding is selected and the TCP and UDP ports are set to 4000.

Make sure that you have checked the "Update IP at startup" checkbox and set 10 in the "IP update interval in minutes" field.

Make sure your IP address is listed in the "External / WAN IP" field.

On the first line under the button Find IP Addresses the address must be http: //dc..php

In the firewall, for your DC client, ports 4000 must be open over the TCP and UDP protocols. UDP is required for the search to work.

In the settings of your favorite hub, the "IP" field should be empty.

Your internal VPN IP address can be easily found by clicking Find IP Addresses in the same window. After clicking to the left of this button, your VPN IP address will appear.

ATTENTION!!! By clicking "Find IP Addresses", you will get the correct IP only if you have specified the correct addresses of the verification scripts. The first line must contain http: //dc..php,
and in the second http: //dc..php

Wi-Fi setup

Wi-Fi settings "before the picture, change to:" Open the "Wi-Fi network" menu and select the "Connection" item.

In the window that opens:

Check the box next to Enable Wireless Access Point.

In the "Network name (SSID)" field, enter the name of your Wi-Fi network - for example, 2KOM-WiFi.

Check the box next to Enable Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) mode.

Leave the rest of the fields unchanged.

Click the Apply button.

In the window that appears, click OK

In order for only you to have access to your Wi-Fi network, you need to enable protection. Protection is carried out by encrypting the radio signal using a code word. There are several types of encryption: WEP, WPA and WPA2. Since WEP encryption is not strong enough, we recommend using WPA2 encryption.

The code word must be between 8 and 63 characters. To configure the security of your WiFi network:

Open the "Wi-Fi Network" menu and go to the "Security" section.

In the "Authentication" column, select "WPA2-PSK".

In the column "Type of protection" select "TKIP-AES".

Select ASCII in the Network Key Format column.

In the "Network Key (ASCII)" field, enter your code word password. It can contain from 8 to 63 characters.

Click the Apply button.

After applying the parameters, your router is configured and ready for full-fledged work. " we correct it to “After applying the specified parameters, your router will be configured and ready for full-fledged work.

The budget version of the elite family of Zixel Keenetic Start routers, which appeared at the beginning of 2013, immediately gained popularity in the new price segment of the market “about 1000 rubles” for the brand. For a relatively low price, the manufacturer provided the same consistently high quality and reliability of the device. The router was designed to function both with a wired connection and distribution of a Wi-Fi network. Thanks to a high-quality antenna, the maximum transmission speed of this device via radio communication has reached 150 Mbit / s, and setting up the Zyxel Keenetic Start router has become even faster and more intuitive.

But, no matter how elaborate the process is, many may still have a question of how to connect the router to the Internet and iptv (dedicated video channel for the TV) on their own. It is to this algorithm that this article is devoted.

In order for the router to work for the first time, you need to take a few simple steps:

• Connect the device to the network using the power supply and pressing the power button;
• Connect the router to an external network (provider's cable) via the WAN port (highlighted on the back panel);
• Connect a PC via the supplied cable (inserted into one of five connectors);
• Check the correctness of the execution by the indicators on the front panel: the power light, the network connection and the port indicator with the inserted PC cable should be on;

Then we can open the computer, check the network connection (if there is an "Access restricted" error) and set an important setting:

• From the tray (the place on the Start panel next to the time and date) open the "Network Control Center ..." by right-clicking on the network icon;
• In the window that opens, find the adapter parameters tab and open it;
• On a working connection, right-click and select properties;
• In a new window, we are looking for the fourth version of the Internet protocol, using the button below the list, open the properties;
• For both selectors, we set automatic acquisition (IP and DNS);

This is the starting point for connecting a Wi-Fi network for a Rostelecom provider and any other service provider.

Configuring the router

To start configuring Zyxel Keenetic Start, you need to go to the main interface. To do this, we need to open a browser and enter the number 192.168.1.1 into the address bar - the standard address of the Kinetic family. Immediately after loading the page, we will see an authorization form, in which we will enter the standard data: login - admin and password - 1234. Behind it, we will see a configuration wizard unified for the entire line of routers.

To enter the settings, open your browser and enter the address: HTTP://192.168.1.1

We will find only two buttons to choose from in the newly opened page: "Quick setup" and the transition to the "web configurator". In this case, we are interested in the first option. After clicking on it, we will see three selectors that allow us to specify the relationship of our provider to MAC addresses. Most of the modern service providers do not register the address data, and for them the first option (selector) should be selected. But if your company is not Rostelecom, but, say, Dom.ru, you need to look into the contract or call the technical support service to get your MAC address. Then we indicate the resulting alphanumeric combination in the field next to the "Other" selector, click on the "Next" button.

On the page that opens, we set the automatic IP setting option or indicate our own address, as well as NDS, if the provider has given you this information. Let's move on. We indicate the username and password, if they are in the contract for the supply of Internet services, or put a tick in the value "I do not have a password ...". It is important not to confuse this data with the key and name for the Wi-Fi network, which are indicated on the bottom of the router. These are completely different data, since Rostelecom is the service provider and Zyxel is the equipment.

When we go further, we get to the status page, where the connection data and information about whether it was possible to connect the Internet (only wired connection, not wi-fi) are indicated or not. In most cases, the setup will be successful and you will be able to access the network.

Other customization methods

Let's consider a few more special cases for connecting to the networks of individual Russian providers. Let's start with the companies Rostelecom, Dom.ru and TTK. The algorithm of work in this case is as follows:

• Instead of quick setup, we choose to go to the web configurator;
• Set a new password for entering the web interface;
• Below we see a menu with icons, open the "Internet" tab;
• The new page we're on should be the List tab from the top menu;
• Click on the only name of the network interface in the list;
• Select the port where the WAN cable (Internet) is inserted using the "Use connector" checkbox;
• We check the presence of checkmarks below on the fields of inclusion and use to access the Internet;
• Leave the IP parameters by default: value "No IP-address";
• We do not change the MAC address either;
• Apply the changes and go to the tab of the top menu "Authorization";
• Add a connection;
• We enable it by ticking the corresponding selector;
• Select the PPoE type, assign an arbitrary (own) name-description;
• Assign a connection for Internet access;
• We enter the authorization data from the contract for the supply of services (login / password);
• We select all security protocols or the first two: pap and chap;
• Write the name of the PPoE server "Internet".

We apply the changes made. This completes the connection of the wired connection for Rostelecom. We will consider setting up WiFi and IpTV further. In the meantime, let's consider how the router setting for the Beeline company differs from the description above:

• At the first stage (configuring the network interface), you only need to set the automatic configuration of IP addresses. Otherwise, everything is the same as for the Rostelecom router.
• When adding a connection in the "Authorization" tab, only the protocol type is changed (to L2TP), and the link "tp.internet.beeline.ru" is written in the "Server address" field;

After setting the necessary parameters, we apply the settings and check the connection of the Kinetic Start router to the Internet. If everything is functioning as it should, we proceed to setting the parameters of the Wi-Fi transfer.

Wi-Fi setup

To configure WiFi transmission to Zlex Keenetic Start, you need to open the corresponding item in the bottom menu. Then, on the opened web page, set the device to the "Access Point" mode of operation, select a connection to a new radio network, apply. After that, you need to go to the menu item of the same name from above (Access Point), where a table for setting up a wi-fi network will appear in front of us:

• Set the desired connection name that users will see when searching for available networks (SSID);
• We set protection to the maximum level. The key is the password for connecting to your Wi-Fi;
• Without touching anything else, click on Apply.

After the router processes the received data, the wireless light on the indicator panel should light up. Devices capable of connecting to WiFi communication channels should detect a new available connection. Try to log in using the previously specified password and test the connection to work.

P.S. If there are several routers / Wi-Fi receivers operating at the same frequency in a room or in an adjacent area, the signal may mix and slow down. To avoid this, you must change the used channel in the settings above (from the Auto value to any other unused number). In this case, you need to reboot the device so that it starts broadcasting the Wi-Fi signal at a new frequency.

This completes the setup of your WiFi! Enjoy the Internet!

IP-TV settings

To set up a video stream, called today IPTV (IPTV), you must, first, select a port for it: go back to setting up an existing network interface (from the algorithm above) and put an additional checkmark next to the WAN port on another connector. You plug the IpTV cord into it and you can watch TV channels even on a laptop via Wi-Fi (in the installed viewer).

Next, it is worth checking the correctness of the settings in the WAN menu, the field for selecting ports for creating a bridge: the same as above should be specified. Also, in the LAN connection settings, the corresponding ip should be set: 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.1 for the top and bottom fields. The subnet mask should display the value 225.225.225.0. Leave the rest of the build parameters undefined (by default). After saving the changes, we check the IpTV and make sure that everything works.

In case something went wrong (the Wi-Fi signal or the Internet disappeared altogether), you can reset the settings to the factory settings by pressing the Reset button on the back panel. Holding it in the clamped position is worth 10 seconds or more, after which the data for entering the router and all parameters will be reset to their original values.

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