The 3Com OfficeConnect ADSL Wireless 54 Mbps 11g Firewall Router combines an ADSL2/2+ modem, router, 802.11g wireless access point, four-port switch, and firewall to enable up to... more
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This was the first purchase of its kind on my part so I have no other similar routers to compare it to, except the ADSL modem which is supplied with my tiscali broadband. The router unit was originally, purchased to allow us to share the internet connection throughout the household, it has never ceased to impress me.
I sure this is exactly what happens with everyone, we take the product out of the box, and the static bags and what have you, and immediately our intuition kicks in and we start plugging in cables.
The correct set-up is easy enough to achieve, even without the instruction manual, (which is printed in very small print, in black and white so it wasn't too appealing in the first place.) I had connected all the cable and was ready to do away with my unreliable overheating tiscali ADSL modem.
I turned on the power to the router, and lights immediately start flashing, the clean layout and the simple labelling to all the lights explains what is happening.
After all, the router has a lot to say, it indicates, the power status, the status of; wireless activity on the network, the activity of computers connected via the Ethernet, and the status of the internet connection. The lights are simple once you have got used to the layout.
The internet obviously would not connect first time, so i turned to the instructions, there were no silly utilities to be installed via CD ROM or anything, the router can be configured through an easy interface via the web browser, you might have to do some digging to find certain things about your internet connection, but it is all there.
And before long ( 5-10) minutes, you can be enjoying, your broadband connection to its full potential, the router allows wireless connection and provide a great range, (it can be accessed in the garden, Just like the BT advert !!! finally, I can use a laptop in the garden in the height of summer!)
The unit offers encryption up to 128 bit, ! The key can be easily applied, and changed, it offers a kind of password of hex characters say, FFE101 that need to be entered on the first access attempt by another computer.
I have never had any intruders to my wireless network, and I hope this is the reason. A superbly useful feature, and another reason to consider buying this unit.
The internet connection is biased strongly towards the wireless clients, however the difference is not noticeable unless you are downloading a particularly large file.
The only other real disadvantage to this router is the casing, it was a pretty ugly shade of grey to start with, but looking at it about six months on... it has started to tinge yellow, like all the old grey and white coloured computer hardware used to.
I can hardly say that this really impinges upon its ability to perform it can easily be tucked away, out of sight if needs be, as it is not too bulky or awkward.
I really can say here that I got everything I expected and more from this router!
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 ... ...only two negatives for me are: There's no way to add your own antenna to the router and the fact that you can't limit the traffic for WiFi or local use.
Overall the 3Com officeconnect is a great mid-range adsl router with easy setup and a great performance record. ...
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The 3Com OfficeConnect ADSL Wireless 54 Mbps 11g Firewall Router combines an ADSL2/2+ modem, router, 802.11g wireless access point, four-port switch, and firewall to enable up to 253 total (64 wireless) users to economically and securely share a share a single ADSL or ADSL2/2+ connection. The high-speed routing engine and 54 Mbps wireless throughput easily handle large data transfers and Internet downloads, including those from multimedia applications. Providing a high-speed, 54 Mbps wireless connection for users with 802.11g-equipped PCs and laptops, it is also backward-compatible with 802.11b wireless LAN equipment, preserving existing network investments. This Wi-Fi certified router also features support of Wireless Distribution System (WDS). WDS simplifies setup of an extended or completely wireless network (requires access points that support WDS). Advanced wireless security and multiple firewall features offer a strong level of protection for the network. To shield wireless connections, the 11g gateway router implements 128-bit WPA/WPA2 with TKIP/AES encryption for maximum security, along with 40/64 and 128-bit Wired Equivilant Privacy (WEP) encryption for legacy clients. A stateful packet inspection firewall, hacker pattern detection, URL filtering, IP and MAC address filtering and support for the SurfControl Web Filter service and other security features help protect the entire network from attacks and other Internet security risks.
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