Microsoft Networking 10/100 Ethernet 4-Port Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an extremely easy device to set-up. The documentation is clear, and would make it very easy for even the novice to use. Also this is a very small device. You are able to stand it on it's side and and it takes up practically no space. You can't go wrong if you need this type of item.
I would also recommend, if you don't want to use or install the network card, the USB/ethernet adapter. It is another good ad-on.
Put your bad feelings toward MS aside, and give this a shot.

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With the Microsoft 4-port router, you can connect up to four computers to a single broadband connection (with cable or DSL modem), share files and printers with other computers on your network at up to 100 Mbps, or play games with multiple players on the Internet and within your own network.
Included with the Microsoft 4-port router is an easy-to-use setup wizard, designed to make connecting your computers together easier. The router comes with strong security features, including a built-in firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), and access control lists. The 4-port router easily connects to your network with universal plug and play for functionality such as voice messaging, video messaging, and games. You can also monitor your network status easily with Microsoft broadband network utility.
Along with the 4-port router, you'll receive a stand (detachable), a power supply cable, an Ethernet cable, a startup guide, a user's guide, a setup CD-ROM, and a blank floppy disk.
System requirements include a computer with a network adapter to configure the router, and external broadband (cable, DSL, or other) modem with Ethernet port (not compatible with dial-up modems), Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.7 or later to view and use the router management tool, and an available 120 V AC power outlet.
Additional requirements include: a computer with processor running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home Edition; Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later (setup will install Internet Explorer 6.0 browser components, if necessary, but will not displace your primary browser); 28 MB of available hard-disk space if you already have Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (132 MB of available hard disk space if you are installing Internet Explorer for the first time); a 4x or faster CD-ROM drive, and a VGA or higher resolution monitor
Note:Not all Internet service providers (ISPs) allow the sharing of a broadband connection. Please check with your ISP.

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Cisco-Linksys EG008W Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Contrary to what many of the reviews say here, the latest version (3.0) of the switch has been redesigned without a fan. The switch is 100% silent. Also, the pictures on a lot of sites of the switch are old. To see the new case go to the linksys site.

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If you need an affordable, versatile way to make lightning fast local network connections, the Linksys EG008W Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch is the answer. Get blistering speeds of up to 2000 Mbps with this wired switch, which allows heavy users of multimedia, graphics, video, and other bandwidth-hungry applications to share and transfer large files with ease. Plus, thanks to the technology built into the EG008W you can mix clients that support slower, 10 or 100 Mbps speeds with those that run at full gigabit speeds -- without any speed loss. Simply put, the EG008W is the perfect solution for your desktop gigabit and 10/100 networking needs.
With workstations that support Gigabit Ethernet networking, you'll see amazing speed increases over 10/100 Mbps networks. Connect your clients to the full-duplex ports and see your data traffic efficiency improve several times over. Dedicated bandwidth of up to 2000 Mbps can be attained with the EG008W, making it perfect for graphics, multimedia, and other applications that have to move large files across the network quickly.
A full array of LED indicators are provided on the front of the EG008W, giving you detailed information about the status and performance of the switch:
Power: The power LED lights up when the switch is powered on.
Link/Act: The Link/Act LED blinks when data is being sent or received through the port. When the LED is off, there is no data being transferred through the port.
Speed: The speed LED blinks when that port is transmitting at 1000 Mbps. If the LED is not lit, the port is transmitting at 10 or 100 Mbps.
FDX: If the FDX (Full Duplex/Collision) LED is lit up continuously, the connection made through the corresponding port is running in full duplex mode. If the LED is blinking, the port is experiencing data collisions. Infrequent collisions are normal. If this LED is blinking often, there may be a problem with your connection.
Amazing versatility is built into the EG008W. Simply install this switch in place of your current workgroup hub or switch, and you can network your high-requirement workstations with Gigabit Ethernet speeds, while continuing to service other clients at their current speeds. Or build your network from the ground up, and choose the link speeds that are right for each of the users on your network.
The EG008W is designed to integrate easily with your existing network and you can connect your existing 10/100 Ethernet network to your gigabit server backbone without any additional equipment. All ports on the EG008W are auto-negotiating, and they have automatic MDI/MDI-X crossover detection. This means that you no longer have to fuss with which type of cables you're using, as crossover and regular networking cables are automatically detected. Other advanced features include address learning and aging, as well as 802.3x flow control. Plus, head-of-line blocking prevention keeps your high-speed clients from bogging down in lower-speed traffic.
What's in the Box EG008W Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch, AC power adapter, registration card, and user guide

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Netgear DS104 4-Port 10/100 Dual Speed Hub with Uplink Button Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this hub as part of a network starter kit (2 PCI ethernet cards + hub) and had no problems installing it. I run both Unix/Linux and Windoze machines and wanted all machines to be networked even with a mix of operating systems running at the same time -- and that meant simultaneous internet access, multi-player games, shared printers, etc. Basically, I wanted the network to do everything, so that any family member could sit down at a machine and do what they needed to do.
The DS-104 hub delivered from the time I installed it until the day I replaced it with a router (RT-314, also from Netgear). Installation was a snap, and as soon as I turned it on, I never had a moment's trouble from the DS-104.
So why did I switch? In two words, performance and price. Although the DS-104 is a fine product, its multiuser performance simply can't compare to a switch (which was built-in to the RT-314 router I replaced it with). I noticed that performance suffered when all of us wanted to use the computers simultaneously, which got me thinking about alternatives to improve performance. I initially intended to replace the DS-104 with a switch. After checking prices, I realized that I could actually purchase a router (switch + hardware firewall) for less than the cost of a switch alone. I eventually went that route, after receiving outstanding service from the DS-104 hub.
So was this purchase a throw-away? Hardly. The DS-104 did what it promised to do, reliably and without fuss. It handles both 10 and 100 Mbps connections transparently, so you don't even need to know the speed of whatever you're connecting. It's well-constructed (metal case instead of plastic) and absolutely reliable. Although I've replaced the DS-104 with a router, I haven't gotten rid of it -- I'm saving it for the day when I need to add several machines to the network and I'm out of ports on my router.
The DS-104 is solid, dependable networking at a very reasonable price. Recommended.

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The Netgear DS-104 4-Port 10/100Mbps Dual Speed Hub connects multiple PCs to share printers, files, Internet access, and e-mail communications. You can mix and match 10 and 100 Mbps PCs, servers, and peripherals with this hub, all without any configuration required. The DS100 family combines many capabilities in a compact package and is designed for cost-conscious small-business users.
Each unit has a built-in self-learning bridge that provides the communications link between the 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps network devices. The intelligent bridge automatically manages network traffic so that 100 Mbps traffic and 10 Mpbs traffic do not unnecessarily crowd each other.

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Cisco SD2008 8-port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Signifiant changes have occurred over the life of this switch. Version 1 had an internal fan and was quite noisy, albeit cool running. Version 2 & 2.1 eliminated the fan. However capacitor C251, sitting next to an internal heatsink is prone to failure after 6 - 8 months, resulting in dropped packets and link connections. Version 3.0 has solved this problem with a complete re-layout of the printed circuit board (PCB), with a redesign of the power/voltage regulation. The new version, still fanless, runs MUCH cooler than version 2.1.

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Harness the full power of your network with the Cisco SD2008 8-Port Gigabit Switch thatprovides nonblocking, wire-speed switching for your 10-, 100-, and 1000 megabit (Mb) network clients, all from the comfort of your desk. Formerly Linksys Business Series, now Cisco Small Business Unmanaged Switches, the SD2008 Desktop Switch allows the connection of up to 8 separate devices into your network - computers, printers, and servers - to share and transfer files and videos across your network.World-famous Cisco reliability and limited lifetime warranty gives you peace of mind.

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D-Link DIR-665 Xtreme N 450 Gigabit Router Selectable Dual Band 802.11n Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm not sure why people are having such problems with their DIR-665 Xtreme router - I am happy to report that after three solid days of use, the router hasn't even so much as hiccuped for me.
My DIR-665 from Amazon Vine is replacing my purchased D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router. For those who know the older DIR-655 model, you will find the updated DIR-665 to be very familiar. In fact other than some cosmetic changes to the faceplate, the physical body is exactly the same between the two products.
I'm an IT person so of course I don't read any of the instructions or follow any of the guides. Out of the box I remove the DIR-665, notice it uses the same power adapter as my 655 so I just pull the local LAN cables, the WAN cable and the A/C Adapter and swap them over to the new 665. I'm in cable-internet country (TWC) so unfortunately the cable modem is somewhat fussy about dynamically releasing and renewing IP addresses on the fly to a new MAC, so I had to unplug/replug the cable modem in order to initiate a power cycle. After that, internet connectivity on physically connected machines was up and running.
So to recap:
1 - Unbox DIR-665
2 - Move LAN/WAN/A/C cables from DIR-655 to DIR-665
3 - Reboot cable modem
4 - Internet is go!
Wireless connectivity was a tiny bit harder since I had a specific pre-shared key that I wanted to keep in order to make reconfiguring my wireless connections easier. In that same theme, I kept my SSID name the same from when I had the DIR-655 installed. This was the first time I cracked open the web-based router configuration (192.168.0.1). Step 1 is always to change the basic blank password to something you'll remember. Step two, I simply did a once-over on the internet settings - every thing was auto-set to dynamic (which is normal for most ISPs nowadays), however if you have specific PPOE or other authentication requirements, they were all laid out here.
I noticed that the wireless config had the option of going through a wizard, so I selected that option first. Wizard is a bit misleading as you assume a wizard would explain what the options you were selecting meant. This would be my biggest gripe about the DIR-665, you really do have to have some knowledge of what you're looking at, setting-wise. Unfortunately the web-based configuration does not help in any way, there are no "?" popups or descriptions. You'll have to Google in order to find out what all the settings mean (which may be an issue if your router is down). The wizard seems to default to the widest acceptance settings, not locking out any wireless configuration, leaving security open to WPA or WPA2 and running on a closed 20Hz channel width. I didn't play around with the wizard too much so your personal results may vary.
Next, I went into manual wireless configuration in order to set up my personal preferences (a screenshot of my settings is included in the Amazon customer photos). Once I had moved to the 5GHz band, mixed 802.11a/n, Auto 20/40 Hz, my laptop reports 216-270Mbps connection speeds (screenshot also included).
One thing to keep in mind with the DIR-665 is that it runs a bit hot (again, just like the 655), so make sure it has ventilation room.
Since installation I have had zero issues with my DIR-665 - my laptop did initially have disconnect issues when I first switched to the 5Ghz spectrum, but a quick driver update for the NIC fixed that problem. In my home there are four wired computers, two wireless laptops (one 802.11g, one 802.11n), an iPod, two XBox360's (one with the new 802.11n adapter, one with the older 802.11g), and a PS3. Almost all of these devices work flawlessly. Streaming HD content from Netflx (via XBox) takes less than ten seconds to buffer. When you switch to the 5GHz network the protocols are limited to 802.11a and 802.11n. Therefore, if you have older devices that only run on 802.11g networks, they will not work when set to 5GHz (this could include iPods, phone WiFi, laptops, consoles, etc, etc). So check your wireless NICs, this may not be the router for you. Of course you could always get a secondary 802.11g WAP to hookup to your DIR-665 (this is actually what I ended up doing). For "gamers" this is how it breaks down for the 5GHz spectrum - the only units that will be able to use the 5GHz network will be XBoxes using the external "black" version of the 802.11N wireless adapter. This means that XBox 360 "slims" and PS3's will not be able to see the 5GHz network. The 360 "slims" can use the 802.11N black wireless adapter if you wanted to hook it up.
Now whether or not you'll be able to get the full oomph of the theoretical 300Mbps speed out of the dual band router is so dependent on your home configuration that it's probably silly to even try and address. Just know that just because something runs in the 5Ghz spectrum it does not mean that it's better than a 2.4Ghz device - we're not talking CPUs here, bigger does not always equate to better. Ideally the DIR-665 when in 5GHz mode is utilizing both the 2.4 and 5GHz spectrum (I really don't know how to check if this is true - if someone has a guide, I'd be willing to give it a try) and using the concept of channel bonding in order to use dual channel communication. I never saw the magical 300 number reported by Windows on my wireless NIC, but it does stay over 200 constantly and maintain a full 5 bars of signal strength.
Misc info - My router is located upstairs (laptop/xbox downstairs) in a home built after 1990. There is approximately 18ft of distance as the crow flies, but that goes through the roof/floor.
This review was done with hardware version A1, Firmware version 1.00NA
*Update 12/20/2010 - Just writing to let everyone know that I've been running this router for a little over a month and a half. Still works like a champ with zero issues. The laptop I'm writing this update from is reporting a 270Mbps connection as we speak.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DIR-665 Xtreme N 450 Gigabit Router Selectable Dual Band 802.11n

The D-Link Xtreme N 450 Gigabit Router (DIR-665) represents a breakthrough in Wireless N connectivity. The 3x3 MIMO technology in the DIR-665 uses three distinct data streams to enable extremely fast data transfer rates (up to 450Mbps?), making it ideal for streaming high bandwidth content such as HD video.

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D-Link Xtreme N Duo Wireless Bridge/Access Point DAP-1522 - Wireless access point - external Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I needed a wireless bridge so that I could move my printer to a room with no jacks. The D-Link DAP-1522 had great reviews, and a bridge should work with any environment. Not this one.
* The router's wireless settings can not be configured without Internet Explorer (a Linux user like me has to fire up a VM).
* The bridge would not relay DHCP responses from the wireless network to the attached wired devices. D-Link support says that is because I am using a Linux router (though it shouldn't make a difference). If I configured static IP addresses on my wired devices, they worked great.
* D-Link has not released new firmware in over a year, so I doubt that these problems will get fixed.
* D-Link support was "lacking" (and don't get me started on Office Depot's awful return policy).
* Custom firmwares like dd-wrt or tomato won't work on this device, so there is no easy way to correct these problems.
In short, I can get it to do what I want, but it's a lot of hassle.

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Use the D-Link Xtreme N Duo Wireless Bridge / Access Point (DAP-1522) to connect up to 4 Ethernet-enabled devices such as Game Consoles, Digital Video Recorders (DVR), and Digital Media Adapters (DMA) to your wireless network. Connect the D-Link DAP-1522 to an existing wired network and easily enable wireless connectivity in your home. Use your new wireless network to stream HD multimedia content, play multiplayer games, or make Internet phone calls (VoIP). The DAP-1522 has selectable 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands. 5GHz is ideal for wirelessly streaming multiple HD videos across your network. It helps avoid interference by providing a clearer wireless band for HD signals than existing 2.4GHz products. The Wireless Bridge feature of the DAP-1522 allows you to easily connect up to 4 Ethernet-enabled devices in your entertainment center to your wireless network. Connect devices such as Game Consoles, Digital Video Recorders (DVR), and Digital Media Adapters (DMA) to the built-in 4-Port Gigabit Switch.

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TRENDnet 300 Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router TEW-639GR (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've spent the last few months dealing with a horrible wireless n router so I decided to go with this one. I also have a TREDNnet wireless n gaming adapter and it's been fantastic so far. Anyways, this router runs cool even though I've been using multiple connections at the same time and using tons of traffic. My PC shows that I average 250Mbps and I see it peak at 300 constantly so the speed is as advertised. I have it running in mixed mode. It only took about 10 minutes to set the router up out of the box. Once I plugged in my cable modem and my pc it automatically configured the connection and I just had to log in and configure the wireless portion and security. In the 10 minutes I also configured my DDNS and my wireless IP Cameras to work with the router. It's a super easy interface.....pretty much the same as any other router you can buy. When saving settings the reboot only took a few seconds and always went back into the setup. Most routers clunk out and you have to reset and log back in manually. I could go on and on but to keep this short I'd have to say that this router is awesome and it does EXACTLY as advertised. I've used most of the major brands of routers and I can't say much for most. It's very difficult to find a good reliable product but I think I've gotten lucky with this one. Don't believe hype or buy something because you've heard the name before. The only other router I've ever been happy with was a Viewsonic believe it or not. That thing was rock solid and never gave me a single problem. If anything changes I will post it....otherwise you can count on this router. I love how people here are claiming they have advanced knowledge but can't set this router up. It's really very very simple just follow the quick setup in the manual.
*UPDATE 1/17/10*
Still no reset needed! I've been using tons of data with multiple devices. As a matter of fact Netflix is streaming to my living room right now. I have a torrent downloading on this pc @ 500kB/s and there are no hiccups. Just solid lightning fast connections!
*UPDATE 3/14/10*
Still no reset needed. I'm running in Mixed Mode and you MUST run 20/40 on the Bandwidth to get full speed. That must be the problem with others but this is standard with any N router.

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The 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router offers unsurpassed wireless speed, coverage and reliability. Enjoy up to 14x the speed and 6x the coverage of a wireless g connection*. Gigabit Wide Area Network and Local Area Network ports transfer your data fast. Wi-Fi certification ensures optimal wireless throughput signal strength and compatibility. Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technology eliminates wireless dead spots. Wireless encryption and a manual on/off wireless switch keep your data safe. Wireless Protected Setup (WPS) integrates other WPS supported wireless adapters at the touch of a button. Seamlessly stream HD media, download files, surf and play games at wireless n Gigabit speed.

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Linksys RV0041 10/100/1000 4-Port VPN Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just wanted to extend my utter frustration with the RV0041 router. I spent more than $250 for this router, thinking it would be all I ever needed. Only a few months after owning it, the already LOUD internal fan started sounding like a jet engine. I contacted Linksys support and was sent a replacement through the RMA process. The unit I received worked for about a month or so now without a problem until now. It has started sounding like the other one. What piece of junk fans did they put in these things? I am getting rid of this and going with another brand. Now I am out $254, and I have to go spend money on a router.

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Linksys (RV0041) CABLE/DSL 10/100/1000MPBS RTR

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ZyXEL ZyWALL USG50 Internet Security Firewall with Dual-WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN/DMZ Ports, 5 IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, and 3G WAN Support Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I work for a large Fortune 100 company and there I maintain our firewalls. We use firewalls costing tens of thousands of dollars so I am well aware of what is current in an enterprise firewall. While this box does not have the throughput of a large commercial class box, it has all the bells & whistles you could need or want. It is not a novice class device however. You need to really need to know what you are doing and for this box if you do not, you do not want this device. It has features home users would not have a clue about. However if you want an enterprise class firewall at an affordable price, this is it. I have been using it for a week now and for the price, it's the best you can get.

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The ZyWALL USG 50 is a Unified Security Gateway, integrated with complete, enterprise-level and advanced security solutions designed for Small/Medium Business (SMB) recommended for up to 10 PC users. Its flexible configuration helps network administrators set up the network and enforce security policies more efficiently. With certified by ICSA SPI Firewall and IPSec VPN, the ZyWALL USG 50\'s security features also include IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, Firewall, Content Filter, Anti-Virus and IDP (Intrusion Detection and Prevention) for maximum network security protection. It also provides bandwidth management, for QoS of VoIP or mission critical applications, Multiple-WAN Failover and Load Balancing. Moreover, IPSec VPN and SSL VPN design for telecommuters and home workers can access data more easily and safely at home. Remote access with SSL VPN requires only a standard web browser. ZyWALL USG 50\'s excellent throughput is the key to implement features of an enterprise level to provide a full-time, non-stop and secure service.

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Rosewill RNX-EasyN400 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I currently have a 22 Mbps inet down connection and 5 Mbps Up.... This router wireless speed was Atrocious I dont expect my wireless N speeds to be that fast but they were not even 2Mbps Down absolutely horrible 3 hours on with Rosewill customer service and they basically gave up. Stay with either a TP-Link or i went to a Cisco Linksys 4200 for Fast speeds.

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Manufacturer WarrantyParts 1 year limited Labor 1 year limited Rosewill RNX-EasyN400 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless-N Draft 2.0 compatible Broadband Router (1T1R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates/ WPA Personal and Enterprise, WPA2, 64 & 128 bit WEP, PSK, TKIP, AES, WPS Security with 2 dBi fixed Antenna

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Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router WRT160N - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g/n (draft) - desktop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've given up on this product. The installation CD's first window was a mystery on what process to select since none showed as "installation". Called toll free number. Answered eventually (after enduring endless menu) by person who clearly spoke English as a second language. 30 min. on the phone later, I just gave up,thanked the guy for his time and ended the call. At one point I wondered if my call had prompted a hidden camera joke where eventually someone would tell me a joke had been played on me and the person I was speaking with really was Not a tech support rep etc.etc. I was absolutely worn out after dealing with Linksys's customer support for new installations. I had to repeat every sentence the guy said in an effort to confirm his instructions and then steps later, he would change his mind and have me un do something he had instructed me to do previously. After 30 min. on phone I questioned what to do with an included cable that he had not mentioned.When he told me it should have been installed many steps prior, I knew it was time to stop this torture. It was truly unbelievable ! End result: I am donating this unit to a local youth home,and buying another brand highly recommended to me by my neighbor who installed a wireless network in his home without any calls to tech support or any problems.I read scathing reports about the poor installation software on various Linksys products and now I am a believer. However poor the installation CD is, live tech support is worse....worthless, in fact.If you are not tech savy, I can't recommend using this product based on my installation misadventure.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router WRT160N - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g/n (draft) - desktop

Do More, FasterEnjoy fast wireless connectivity for your home or home office. The Wireless-N Broadband Router is designed to deliver plenty of speed and coverage, so large groups of users can go online, transfer large files, print, and stream stored media - all at once, all without wires. Great for bigger homes. Easy to use and setup; includes Mac setup wizard.Wireless-N PowerThe speed and bandwidth of Wireless-N, today's most advanced wireless technology, makes it easy for multiple users to share Internet access, files and printing. Enjoy media-intensive activities like gaming, video and Voice-over-IP phone calls - all at once, with less lag and performance degradation. Achieves faster speeds when used with Wireless-N enabled devices, but is fully compatible with Wireless-G and -B equipment.Reliable CoverageExperience coverage you can count on, all around your home. Wireless-N's Multiple in, Multiple Out MIMO technology actually uses the signal reflections that confuse ordinary wireless technologies to boost range and reduce dead spots.Connect to MoreFour 10/100 Ethernet ports let you connect printers, networked storage drives, and other Ethernet-enabled devices to your network, so you can access and share them wirelessly from all your computers at once. No need to trade cables, or wait for someone else to finish their work before you do yours.Advanced SecurityAdvanced wireless security and SPI firewall protection designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.

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Cisco SD2005 5-port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Real quickly, I'm a network administrator for one of the largest websites in the US, so I'm not clueless when it comes to these devices. Like all the positive reviewers here, I was very happy with this unit when I first bought it. Worked like a charm, fast, cheap - what more could I ask for? Well how about a unit that didn't go belly up due to Linksys cutting corners on parts?
Apparently some versions of the SD2008 and SD2005 had fans, but they have been cut out. Now these little buggers overheat, and when they do, it can cause capacitors to go bad which basically kill it's ability to operate in gigabit mode. In fact, several of my computers (and I've tried all sorts of NICs/computer combos) just repeatedly drop connection in a neverending loop. Nice work Linksys.
I've read on forums that many others have the exact same problem - usually takes months for it to show up. One guy actually tore his apart, and saw the blistered/bulging components that had overheated and replaced them (hope you're handy w/a soldering iron.)

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The 5-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch provides non-blocking, wire speed switching for your 10, 100, and 1000 megabit network clients. Drop this switch in place of your current workgroup hub or switch, and you can upgrade your high-requirement workstations to full Gigabit speeds as necessary, while continuing to service other clients at their current speeds. Or build your network from the ground up, with appropriate link speeds for each users requirements. Either way, its perfect for graphics, multimedia, and other applications that have to move large files across the network quickly. With the 5-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch, you can connect your existing 10/100 Ethernet network to a Gigabit server backbone without any additional equipment.

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D-Link 16-Port 10/100/1000 Rackmountable Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this gigabit switch for around 3 weeks now. It works as desired and setup is, well, trivial. Just remember that this switch is UNMANAGED, so no VLAN's or anything like it.
I was also afraid it would be noisy because of its fan, but it turned out to be very quiet as well. I strongly recommend this product.
By the way, this switch came to replace an old D-Link 10/100 hub that worked almost non-stop for 7 years! I have no doubt of D-Link's quality, at least so far.
Finally, I must say that so far I have no complaints on this product, not even the slightest.

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D-Link - DGS-1016D - 16-Port 10/100/1000 Unmanaged Layer 2 Gigabit Switch

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D-Link DSS-16+ Desktop 16-Port Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I picked up a DSS 16+ switch and it definitely improved our network of 14 computers. We were using the two uplinks. I purchased the system in January and it has a 3 year warranty.
Yesterday, it died completely. We lost all our ports. You cannot get through D-Link tech support by phone, and e-mail has been slow to get an RMA.
In retrospect, I think the slightly more expensive Link-Sys switches may be manufactured with better quality control.
Pete

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DSS-16+ Desktop 16-Port Switch

The D-Link DSS-16+ is a powerful desktop dual-speed 16-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet/Fast Ethernet NWay auto-negotiating switch. Designed to bring switching to the small office and small business, the DSS-16+ delivers high-speed switching capabilities at a low price per port. The switch functionally eliminates unnecessary traffic and relieves data congestion by delivering dedicated bandwidth for each of the 16 ports. An individual port can connect to either an Ethernet or Fast Ethernet device, and n-way auto negotiation automatically determines the transmission speed of the attached device on each port.
The DSS-16+ provides dynamic buffer allocation that employs network-load balancing for faster data handling. The uplink interface connection enables easy expansion. The DSS-16+ uses fast store-and-forward architecture to ensure low latency and high data integrity, and supports stacking through two MDI-II uplink shared ports.
D-Link offers a lifetime warranty.

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Netgear FVS336G ProSafe Dual WAN GigaBit SSL VPN Firewall Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)3.0.6-29 Firmware Update
I thought this update fixed problems with NAT rules. It did fix the bug where inbound NAT rules were damaged on restart, but now newly created outbound NAT rules don't work! Packets go from LAN to WAN but the responses are lost without even triggering dropped packet logging. Netgear online support doesn't seem to have the technical knowledge to investigate.
Stay away from this router. You will never get it working.Earlier reviews follow.
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This router has suffered numerous firmware bugs that prevent it from working securely and reliably. Tech support's answer is always to hard-reset and reprogram manually. Reprogramming using a backup file only restores whatever corruption you're trying to get rid of. This is a BUSINESS class router! Manually reprogramming takes at least an hour. After fixing the bug that gave admin privileges to Telnet without a password, I've picked up a bug where an important NAT rule vanishes on each reboot. I've been told by Netgear Support to install the beta firmware update (and then manually reprogram AGIAN) but they never sent it to me and they stopped responding to the trouble ticket. Netgear has a forum that they recommend for fast support but it's staffed by illiterates. I can't tell what they're trying to say.
There's still no VPN client software for 64 bit systems.
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Firmware 3.0.5-25 may grant administrative access to everybody on the LAN through Telnet. If this happens, you can't set a password and you can't turn the feature off. The ONLY solution is to reset to factory defaults and re-configure from scratch. If Amazon let me, I'd drop to no stars until this is fixed.
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This little box is awesome. This is for anyone who has multiple internet connections, multiple static IP addresses, multiple home servers, or any other problem that a "home router" can't handle. Gigabit ports and the custom NAT rules allow a home server, a desktop computer, and a NAS can talk to each other at raw Gigabit speed.
The best feature isn't obvious until you're half way through the initial configuration - it's actually easy to set up. The web GUI is clear, full of help, responsive, and it tells you about potential conflicts. The owner's guide is all about how to create your network. It doesn't waste your time with Windows screenshots. Ping, traceroute, DNS, and packet sniffing tools are built-in for troubleshooting mistakes without yanking wires.
A test of NAT showed about 52Mbps, which isn't too bad for a small box. The only bug I've seen so far is that routing might not work immediately after setting up a custom NAT rule.

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Netgear Dual Wan Giga Firewall

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NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, let's get a few things out of the way: I am not a newbie, I am not bitter, and I have absolutely no incentive to bash any company - Netgear included. I am writing this review because I want to prevent anyone else from making the mistake of buying this product. Why? Because it is a defective design - and, more importantly, Netgear has no idea what is wrong with it. What does that mean to you as a consumer? Your device will most likely fail. And Netgear is not likely to make it right. Here's the story:
After between 3 and 6 months of your router working perfectly, you will wake up one day and only the green power light will be on. The wireless light will no longer blink actively and the network lights will all be dead. Why you ask? Because your router has just bitten the dust. You'll unplug the router several times to reboot it, but nothing will change. Then, you'll press and hold the reset button on the back for 10 seconds or longer - just like the manual tells you to. But that won't fix it either. After a few more tries, you'll finally suspect that the thing is dead and, if you're like me, you'll go to Netgear's site and find no documentation of the problem in their knowledgebase. Then, you'll go to the trusty forums where they can't hide their problems, and you'll see hundreds - yes, hundreds - of posts by users just like you and I who are having the exact same problem. And those are only the small percentage of troubled users who actually bothered to write about it. They'll share stories of nightmare phone calls with Netgear, and some will tell you about the same problem happening to 2, and sometimes 3 replacement routers. Frustrated before you even begin, you'll probably call Netgear to confirm it all and to see if maybe you're reading outdated posts. Certainly the problem must be fixed by now. So you'll call them and get placed on hold for anywhere between 10-45 minutes while you're treated to a selection of awful music, paused only by a shameless pre-recorded message telling you how much Netgear cares about you. Yeah, right. Finally, one of the interruptions will actually end up being a real-live person. What you'll have reached is a tech support agent (friendly, but fairly useless) who will confirm the problem (but only if you're saavy enough to tell them that you already read about it online) and then they'll offer you three return options - all of which have you, as the victim, paying to ship the unit back to them (provided you are still within the 1 year warranty period). Option 1 is for you to ship it and get a replacement within 5-7 business days. The second option is for them to ship you a replacement for $16 within 5-7 business days, along with a prepaid shipping label. This way, I guess, you don't have to bother with choosing the shipping company. And, unbelievably, the third option is to have them expedite you a new unit within 2 days, for the bargain price of a brand new router. How this option is helpful to us, I have yet to figure out. But, it will be presented to you as an option nonetheless. It seems they are making a tidy little business out of selling us defective units.
After all of this, hopefully, you are still calm, cool, and collected enough to ask if they have actually fixed the problem - a logical question to be certain since you don't want to pay to replace a bad router with another bad router. And then, if you get an honest person - as I did - they'll tell you that they actually have no idea what the problem is and that the replacement router will be no different from the one you are returning. So, although I haven't quite made it this far, I'm certain that you'll be doing the whole thing over again in another 3-6 months.
So what can we learn from this little story: 1) This router is sick; 2) There is no cure; 3) Netgear doesn't care; 4) Your time is worth more than all of this.
Stand up for yourself and, if you would be so kind, for me as well. Don't buy this item. Believe me, you will regret your purchase. Remember, this is not an opinion. It is a factual account of what happened to me and to hundreds of other consumers. Don't let it happen to you too.
Thanks for listening...

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition

The NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition lets you easily set up a wireless network in your home so you can share a single internet connection with everyone in your household at speeds up to 300 Mbps. You can stream music and video, make internet phone calls, videoconference, and surf the web, all at the same time.
Easy Setup The WNR854T makes it easy for even a novice to set up a wireless network: just plug the included Ethernet cable from your LAN into the device and insert the included CD into any computer on the network, which will provide step-by-step instructions. The WNR854T includes a stand for vertical placement.
The WNR854T employs a web-based interface for configuration for compatibility with any computer with a web browser. The firmware is also upgradeable via the web interface so you can be sure your router will always be up-to-date.
New Technology Means Blazing Speeds and Backwards Compatibility The WNR854T complies with the latest 802.11n draft specification which allows for speeds up to 300 Mbps; this maximum speed can be achieved when used with other TopDog devices. By utilizing MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) technology, the WNR854T has speed and range far surpassing the older 802.11g standard. The preset internal antennas ensure that the device is always tuned for optimal performance, and NETGEAR's Wi-Fi Multimedia technology optimizes audio, video, and voice applications.
If you still have computers that use 802.11g or 802.11b, don't fret as the router is backwards compatible with the older wireless standards and can be set so all your computers can connect to the network. The WNR854T will automatically figure out the connection type and work accordingly.
By using Gigabit Ethernet for the backend, you'll be certain that the router is receiving data at the highest possible speeds. The router also has four Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet ports in the back for connecting computers to the network via a wired connection that will give the fastest performance.
Security Made Easy The WNR854T offers many security options to ensure your data is private. Double firewall protection keeps your network shielded from outside attacks. It also prevents Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
NETGEAR's Touchless WiFi Security makes it quick and easy to set up network security on a WiFi network by asking for a passphrase from the user. The WNR854T supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK), and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for 802.11b/g networks. Additionally, you can set security through MAC address authentication, allowing only authorized users onto the network.
The NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition, power adapter, Ethernet cable, stand, setup CD, warranty/support information card.

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D-Link DGL-4300 Wireless 108G Gaming Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a computer professional so technology is not much of a mystery to me, but I still want something that's solid, and easy to manage. The internal software to his unit is pretty good, and the performance is top notch. For one its easy to store, and save your configurations. This is important because there may be occasion where you have to reset the router, and your settings would be lost. The firmware was easy to update, and will need to be updated as soon as you connect the device. A word of caution here, if you are using a dial-up connection, (unless its always been very stable), I don't recommend upgrading the firmware with it. One thing you cannot do, because it will likely render the router useless, is lose your connection in the middle of a firmware upgrade.
This is a gamer modem, and the help files and web manual provide good information as to how to set it up. It even has the settings to port replicate many popular game already built in. In addition, it has a special gamer network traffic section to keep your games running on an even keel over your network. I works, but better with some games than others. While I can't speak for any screaming, bleeding edge speed boosters, it seemed fast. I connected my old Windows 98SE machine using a Hawking, USB, wireless receiver, and it just worked! I experienced none of the problems I'd read horror stories about with other wireless routers.
Connection is a snap. Disconnect your cable modem from the back of your comp, connects its ethernet cable to your new D-Link router, run the included cable from the D-link to your ethernet port on your comp. (If your computer was connected with USB, you might need a $10 ethernet PCI card if you don't have an ethernet connection.) Turn everything back on, and (at least in my case, it just worked). If your running it as a network, and not just a single firewall, I'd recommend the most modern computer for the wired connection. The rest can either go wired or wireless. I got excellent signal strength, and have yet to experience a dropout on my wireless machine. For those who don't know, a wireless router is normally wired to the first machine (wired connections are generally faster and more solid than wireless). The wireless part is generally for other computers and network devices (like printers and such) to be connected to the wireless part of the network. In the past all connections to a router were wired. If you have one computer you can use an access point, instead of a firewall, but with the exception of this one, (which is expensive) most access points cost near the same as a four port wireless router.
Ok, now the bad news. It is a complicated piece of tech, and to do some things, people might need help. My advice is to read the FAQ's, and go to the web boards. I needed to get it to host a BattleNet game. I had the correct ports replicated as an exception, but it didn't work. I called the tech serve, and a typical moron told me how to ping the system with Windows command line. I spent a half hour trying to tell him I was connected fine, and could even play the game I wanted (Warcraft III Frozen Throne), but could not host a game. He couldn't answer a few simple questions, and finally admitted he didn't know anything about networking, but was reading from a test script. He agreed to transfer me to level 2 technicians. When I spoke to them they couldn't answer my questions either, and gave some lame excuse that if they told me how to host on BNet it would make my network insecure, and they would be liable to a lawsuit. Give me a break, you create a gamer router, and even include the ports listed for that game, then won't tell your customers how to set it up. I just don't think they held up their end of the bargain (D-Link support that is).
After two days of testing it, I finally figured out, I had to create virtual servers for each port separately, then create a static IP address, and connect it up to the dynamically created one from Comcast. That would allow the virtual servers to be used by the gamers connecting to the host machine, to connect to a defined, unchanging address, which would connect to whatever other address came up dynamically by the service provider, using the DCHP server. It sounds complicated to a non-network guy, and it is. I'd have like to been told how to do that by tech serve, but they were too incompetent so it was just trial and error, plus a lot of reading.
Bottom line is if you've gone though the router trials before, this will probably be a good experience. If not, prepare to educate yourself on the wonderful world of networking. I do recommend routers to be used as firewalls to all computer users who access the web, gamers or not. Hackers are banging on your computers ports all day long on the web, and with a hardware router, they only see a router, not the computers hidden behind it. If your not a gamer, this one is pricey, but if you want the latest greatest, as of today, this is pretty much it.

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Push the limits of basic networking technology and experience the evolution in networking. Wirelessly share broadband Internet, boost network performance, and stay competitive in your online games with D-Link's new cutting-edge GamerLounge Wireless 108G Gaming Router, powered by GameFuel Priority Technology.
The D-Link DGL-4300 Wireless Gaming Router intelligently manages and automatically prioritizes network traffic to better execute bandwidth-sensitive applications including VoIP and multimedia applications. It also features enhanced wireless technology for optimal range and connectivity--up to 108Mbps bandwidth, pre-configured ports to accommodate up to 256 policies for games and applications, and customizable settings to add or modify new applications or game configurations.
Other features include multi-tasking between other applications without degradation in game connection, high-Performance CPU to support thousands of concurrent connections--ideal for P2P applications and multiplayer interactivity. Meanwhile, a firmware upgrade notification feature keeps your new D-Link Gaming Router up to date.
What's in the Box DGL-4300 Wireless 108G Gaming Router, detachable antenna, CAT5 ethernet cable, power adapter (5V, 2.5A), mounting kit, vertical stand, CD-ROM with manual, and installation guide.

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