3Com NETBuilder II 8-Slot - router

Advantages: Awesome Value for Money, Great Setup Utility
Disadvantages: Not the best looking object in the world!

...When you purchase an all-in-one solution for broadband in your home these days, you want something that will sit in the background, quietly providing you with fast broadband - whether wired to your desktops, wireless to your laptops or networked to a whole range of bandwidth hungry appliances. You want it to work and you want it to be reliable and of course it must be simple to set-up. The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Router ticks all these requirements. I originally purchased one for a client, and I was surprised at how easy the installation was, especially since they used dreaded AOL! Many manuals for routers are usually of two distinct formats: horrendously complicated jargon-spewing bohemoths aimed at network professionals with accreditation from Cisco, or are partonising pamphlets covering the "perfect" install, which we all know... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Reliable, dual speed compatible, built in management
Disadvantages: Connectors have begun to rust - might cause problems in the future

...Preface = When you work so much technology around you, like I do, you begin to learn which technology is more reliable than others - especially when you have to deal with warranties/replacements! Some hardware is appalling, and without mentioning any brand names in this opinion I would say that the monitors that we use are the most unreliable monitors I have every seem. Seriously, we replace one at least every couple of weeks. But then you get some pieces of hardware, like the 3com Superstack II hub, that you don't even remember exists. It just sits in the corner of my office, doing its job, and just doesn't stop. That is why I'm writing this opinion. This hub deserves recognition for its reliability - as it's a fine piece of kit. The 3com SuperStack II Dual-speed hub 500... Read review

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Advantages: Good price, reliable, lifetime warranty, easy setup
Disadvantages: No way to add an external antenna

...I bought the 3Com router after having countless problems with my previous router (Linksys WAG354G *shudder*). The set-up is suprisingly easy to be honest, especially with the step-by-step instruction booklet (only a few pages long, and in 5 or 6 languages). All that was needed was to plug in the ADSL filter (into the landline socket), connect the line to the back of the router, plug in the power supply and connect the ethernet cable (the large-ish square one) to the pc and router respectively. Then all that's left is to run the, very easy, set-up wizard. If my memory serves me right it's accessed by going to http://192.168.1.1 from your internet browser. The basic information needed is time/date settings, ISP username/password settings, a password for the WiFi (or use the automatically generated one) and a few other bits... Read review

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