What Is It?
This wireless modem/router allows you to share your ADSL connection and files without cables.
What Does It Do?
The modem part connects to your ADSL phone connection and the router connects to your computers either via the 4 port wired ethernet connections or via the 802.11g wireless ethernet standard.
This standard is backward compatible with existing 802.11b wireless networks.
More Details
- Transfers data at speeds up to 54Mbps
- Features security modes including WPA, 128bit WEP and 64bit WEP encryption.
- Protects your network from hackers by ising NAT and SPI firewalls
- Connect 4 wired computers to your network
- Works with PC's and Mac's (I use both and they share files/connections easily)
The Manufacturer: Belkin
I have used Belkin products for years and only ever had one problem. My previous modem/router died - no power at all, tried a different power adapter but still the same. So, rather than go and buy a new one (this one was 2 years old) I decided to use the Belkin lifetime warranty. I had a brand new updated model router on my doorstep within 2 weeks. I didn't pay a penny - they even paid for the postage. Wonderful service.
My Personal Experience With The Product
The wifi range around my house is great - much better than my current BT HomeHub. Just make sure you place it in a pretty central location in your home. I had mine in the cupboard under the stairs.
The 4 port router was wonderful - had my Xbox connected to it for Xbox live - no problems.
You can buy network hard drives now with ethernet connections so one could be connected here and all the computers on your network could share the hard drive - makes it so easy to watch movies/listen to music stored on the hard drive on multiple computers.
I even managed to stream movies using wifi from one computer to another which was connected to my TV, there were no drops in connection.
The NAT firewall has managed to withstand all the security probes I have fired at it. Top marks for that.
The firewall is easy to manage through the user interface - it is all set out very nicely and easy to navigate around using your web browser.
The modem itself is easy to setup, I had my BT broadband details to hand and entered them on the welcome screen - within seconds I had my connection up and running. A few minutes later i had WPA security setup and my connection was secure.
How Easy Is It For My Computers To Connect To It?
- My laptop uses the Belkin PCMCIA wifi card - connects no problem.
- The PC upstairs uses a Belkin USB wifi adapter - connects no problems.
- My Apple iMac uses Airport extreme and connects no problems.
- My Apple Mac Mini uses a Belkin USB wifi adapter - this can cause some problems and needs to be pulled out and reinserted after starting the computer for it to be recognized. No big deal - I just keep the computer on 24/7!
- Xbox - connects via ethernet - no problems at all.
- Nintendo DS lite - connects via wifi, no problems whatsoever - can even connect whilst i lying in bed so I can play people all over the world - much to the annoyance of my wife!
Summary
I bought my router new from PC world 3 years ago for £79.99, you can pick it up on
eBay
for about £25 - worth every penny. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking to setup a cheap, secure and good ranged wifi network.
