This article is part of a group review of six voice-enabled Wi-Fi routers

None of Thomson’s business broadband routers combines Wi-Fi and VoIP, so we looked at the SpeedTouch 780WL, which sits at the top of the firm’s consumer range.

Although it is very cheap compared with the other products we tested, the 780WL does combine all the features we specified.

The web interface has fewer functions than the other products, and is not particularly easy to use, despite being aimed at home users. The functions are basic, and are accessed via large, somewhat patronising icons. These are spread around a confusing jumble of pages, which takes a while to get used to.

Having said that, we found it easy to set up DSL and Wi-Fi, and also found the box could use one of its LAN ports as an uplink. Wi-Fi security is turned off by default, with the LED on the box showing red until the security is applied. The system also has unique default WEP and WPA keys sensibly printed on the bottom.

VoIP was a bit more fiddly, with separate screens to enter the provider and account details. It limits users to only one SIP provider, though it does provide more than one account to be used through the two phone ports.

Although the 780WL has a socket to connect to the PSTN, it did not have the flexibility of the Fritz!Box. We could not see a way to make the box dial on the PSTN for preference, for instance, or apply any other dialling rules.

Although the firewall is visible, it cannot be adjusted, and there are no VPN options. Somewhat surprisingly, the 780WL offers the WDS protocol to extend a wireless network using multiple boxes. There is a USB port, but only for connecting PCs.

Next review: Zyxel P-2602HWL-D