Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is a nice piece of gear because it saves having to get a wireless hub and router separately, which frees up the 4 ports for just computers, and eliminate extra wires and boxes and power cables.
Router:
A great feature of this particular router is that it can email you activity logs which show what websites were visited on that day through the router. You can also block access to websites or any site that contains a keyword, so this could be useful in small office and home (children) use. (By viewing the website activity logs, you can find out which sites to block so that next time the user tries to go there it will say "blocked by netgear" and you will be notified of the attempt.) You can also lockout times and dates.
This Router does NOT have a firewall built in- even though this box looks like the netgear firewall router (the one for the same price without the integrated wireless hub).
Wireless hub-
Average range. Security wise, you can set it up with 128 bit WEP and with MAC Address authentication, which secures your network to a reasonably safe level. ALSO MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE ADMIN PASSWORD FOR THIS ROUTER, AND FOR ANY ROUTER.
Cons: The antenna can not be changed or removed. The unit is not designed to be hung from a wall like the SMC wireless hub. (WHY would you do that? To get better wireless range).
THE UNIT
The unit itself, like all netgear products, is metal and a nice dark hue of blue, with several blinking indicator lights. I am happy with my one, which uses a DSL connection with static IP address to feed 4 computers and two wireless laptops.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Netgear MR314 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch
Netgear's MR314 cable/DSL wireless router with four-port switch and access point offers the easiest way to share and extend your high-speed cable/DSL modem Internet connection, either with or without wires. This high-performance IEEE 802.11b standards-based router connects all your PCs equipped with wireless PC cards, while an integrated four-port switch connects your devices that need Ethernet wiring. The integrated Web-content filtering and alerts allow you to restrict Internet access based on Web addresses, Web address keywords, or the time of day, and protect your family or business with a safe surfing environment. Network Address Translation (NAT) and virtual private network (VPN) pass-through provides your network with protection from hackers. Simple Web-based instructions get your PC network up and running in less than an hour. With the MR314 reliability, you can rest assured that your network will stay up and running, backed by the Netgear five-year warranty.
Efficient The MR314 allows you to share and extend your cable/DSL connection to anywhere in your home or office, without the time or expense of Ethernet cabling. The built-in access point enables the MR314 to be used in larger wireless networks in conjunction with other standards-based wireless access points. For additional ease of use, Auto Uplink eliminates the need for cumbersome crossover cables.
Protective and secure NAT security and VPN pass-through features give you a greater level of protection against hacker attacks, while 40/64 and 128-bit WEP encryption guard your wireless network for maximum privacy.
Watchful and informative Web content filtering options let you customize restricted Internet access policies. E-mail reports and instant alerts keep you up to date on Web browsing activity.
Rugged and reliableSturdy metal construction on the outside, dependable 802.11b standards-based technology on the inside, all backed by a five-year warranty to give you high-performance reliability.
