Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I've been putting off the purchase of a router for a while now, but after my ISP was irked at the fact that I was logging in with two simultaneous PPPoE connections using an old hub, I really had no choice.
My college offers wireless access on campus, and I had already purchased an 802.11b card, but I didn't think I'd really have a need for wireless access at home. In fact, I was looking for a wired router at first, until I found the SMC7004VWBR on another site (before Amazon began offering it).
I had read many of the reviews about Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear products, and SMC was the one that had fewer complaints. I was skeptical at first considering I had purchased it for $98 including a $10 rebate, and figured that perhaps I would end up getting what I paid for. After about 3 weeks, I haven't had anyting to complain about yet.
The router's features include Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Denial of Service (DoS) protection, email alerts, parental control, integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN) pass-through support, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and hacker logging options. Turn on the email alerts and you'll see several alerts in your inbox everyday.
Setup was a breeze. I merely plugged in my desktop into one of the 4 wired ports, plugged in my DSL modem into the WAN port, and accessed the IP address specified in the manual. (The manual is provided on the included CD as well as online).
Even though the quick-start guide asks you to use the CD to set up your connection, you can go ahead and access the setup page via your web browser, as what type of operating system you're using is irrelevant and you don't need any kind of software loaded on your computer.
The setup includes both a quick EZ version (as in 3 clicks and you're done), and a more advanced version. I first used the quick setup just to make sure everything worked, but I then went into the advanced setup to set up my wireless encryption, firewall and NAT settings, etc. The setup page also includes a nice help file that will explain any terms you're not familiar with.
Performance has been exceptionally good. The signal doesn't fade too much as I travel from room to room in my house with my laptop.
Perhaps my only complaint is that there is no easy way to mount it on the wall (although aspiring engineers like myself will find a way).
Overall I think this is one of the best purchases I've made so far, and recommend this to budget-minded (read: college students) individual looking for a feature-rich router with wireless capabilities.
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SMC7004VWBR Barricade Cable/DSL router w/ 4-port 10/100Mbps and 802.11b 11 Mbps Access PointThe Barricade wireless cable/DSL broadband router (SMC7004VWBR) is a platform-independent multifunctional router that combines a 4-port 10/100 Mbps dual-speed switch, an 802.11b wireless access point, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall security, network management, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) pass-through support in one convenient device.
The wireless Barricade router is the first router in its class to offer an integrated SPI firewall. This firewall provides protection against hacker invasions--such as Denial of Service attacks--by analyzing individual data packets as they pass through the Barricade, to ensure that only authorized packets are allowed access to the network. To control network access, parents or business owners can block certain Web sites by entering either a URL or just a keyword of a Web site. In addition to these incredible features, this addition to the Barricade family provides hacker prevention and logging functionalities; for example, when a hacker attempts to access your network, the Barricade can alert you via e-mail so you can take appropriate action.
The wireless Barricade provides a 10/100 Mbps WAN port for high-speed integration into your network. Supporting NAT, the Barricade can provide simultaneous Internet access for up to 253 PCs using a single, purchased IP address. To manage these connections, the Barricade has a built-in DHCP server to auto assign IP addresses to devices on your network. To install this device, simply place the EZ 3-Click Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive and in minutes you will be surfing the Web. Using the Web-based management system you can configure this router to handle IP routing and port forwarding through the virtual server option. For additional management, this router also has a full-featured access control option. The integrated feature allows you to filter traffic through your network based on IP and MAC address.
For wireless connectivity, the wireless Barricade supports 802.11b communication at data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps. To secure this wireless connection, the Barricade supports MAC address filtering and both 64- and 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). This integrated wireless technology allows you to connect to your network from up to 1,000 feet away.
SMC's Barricade wireless cable/DSL broadband router is a comprehensive networking solution for PC, Mac, and Linux users, and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Combine all of these features, functionality, and affordability with SMC's award-winning technical support and service, and you have the perfect network device for any situation.
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