Help. Need a cable router
Help. Need a cable router
Author
Discussion

sparks

Original Poster:

1,217 posts

307 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
I need a broadband router, for a soon to be installed ntl broadband connection.
I have done some research, and came up with a list as follows:

Linksys BEFSR41
Netgear RP114
Netgear RP614
DLINK D1604

Which is best (or doesn't it matter)?
I am leaning to the Linksys, as I have seen a customer review which said it worked great with macs (which is what I have)

TIA

Sparks

twin40s

154 posts

283 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
I couldn't say which is the best, but

I've got the RP114. No problems so far.
Pretty easy to set up, for what its worth.


whoozit

3,866 posts

297 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
I've used an SMC Barricade for nearly two years with no problems. Usefully, it has a print server as well so you can print from anywhere on the network. It now comes in 4 port, 8 port and 4 port/wireless flavours.

filmidget

682 posts

310 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
Or if want to be really IT-nerdy (and a tight git):

An obsolete PC (some old pentium?), 2 NIC, and install 'Freesco' program...

Router, firewall, print server, and many other things if you know what your doing.

Only downside is power consumption and noise of the PC fans. Been using one 9 months without any glitches, and it appears that no attacks have got as far as the firewalls installed on the networked PCs.

Cheers, Phil

sparks

Original Poster:

1,217 posts

307 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far.

Although I am a bit of a UNIX bod, I haven't got the room at the moment for a Linux PC. I could update my iMac to OSX (BSD core), but it is just as cheap to get a router (Have OSX on my iBook, but 'play by the rules' re using multiple copies).

Sparks

stc_bennett

5,253 posts

295 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
Sparks

Be careful which one you get cause i had a problem 6 months ago with NTL where the netgear and dlink adapters didnt work. I later found out they only aproved 3 or 4 routers for there broadband service..

Also its got a coaxial connection no the BT broadband type......

Steve

filmidget

682 posts

310 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
Freesco is a freeware free-standing program (doen't need an OS installing on PC), that can actually run off a floppy ie don't even need a HDD in the machine. I am currently running it on a DX2-66 with 16mb and a small HDD.

Once the box is set up, it just sits there doing its thing. Doesn't need monitor, keyboard or mouse. Most things are accessible thorugh a browser window on any connected machine. Otherwise telnet in.

Cheers, Phil

paolow

3,261 posts

286 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
Linksys BEFSR41

- ive been using this for over a year with my NTL broadband and it hasnt missed a beat so far. the setting up is easy and its got quite a few features that i never use. i think it was about £65 then so may be cheaper now
HTH
paolo

pdv6

16,442 posts

289 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all

paolow said: Linksys BEFSR41

i think it was about £65 then so may be cheaper now



£49 at Amazon

FunkyNige

9,790 posts

303 months

Tuesday 28th January 2003
quotequote all
NetGear RP114 here, no problems in the year we've had it on ntl broadband. I think it was about £70. It's built-in firewall works well - I switched off my personal firewall and the Sygate tester still said I was invisible.