I bought this router from Amazon just before Christmas, taking around six weeks to arrive. They said it would take one to two weeks to dispatch, and now I know why...
INITIAL REACTION
On arrival it was evident that the product was meant for another country, as the manual and instructions were in another (European) language. However, the basic manual (and nothing else) was available in English on an included CD. The package also came with an odd beige device that takes RJ-11 cables.
The important thing, however, is how this thing works.
HOW THIS THING WORKS
The SMC7904BRA is a ADSL2+ broadband router and modem in one. ADSL2+ basically means it supports broadband connections faster than 2Mb - normal ADSL routers and modems can't go any faster.
It's a four port router, which means, if you want to share a broadband connection ...
Advantages: Easy to setup, stable, flexible options Disadvantages: Hard to diagnose problems if not connected to PC
Upon moving into my new house, I was informed by landlady that I wasn't allowed to stick holes in the walls. Clutching my ADSL line and with 5 other people wanting to share it, this obviously posed a problem to my traditional solution - wired networks. Instead, I went reading through PC magazines to find a good wireless router with ADSL, and came upon this device.
On first impression, there doesn't seem to be much to it. However, looking closer, you'll find an ADSL modem with highly configurable firewall (both on the ADSL line and to protect your wireless network), wireless access point/router, and a 4-port Ethernet switch all in one very stylish looking box. And what's better still, is that it all works.
To first set it up I plugged it all in, hooked up my ADSL line, and turned it on. To set up all your details is very simple ...
Advantages: stylish, robust, wide range of features, WiFi and wired connectivity Disadvantages: drops connection during lightning storms, manual slim on advanced features
*** I should note that my Netgear router has v2 on the bottom of it - version 2 in case that makes a difference. The model number is the same though. ***
There are a number of machines (laptops mostly) which knock around in my rented flat, and a couple of years ago, I was looking for a decent ADSL router which would meet the bill.
This isn't the first one I bought - but I soon got rid of the other one and replaced it with this one, and have been happy about it ever since.
This comes well-packaged up, and is fairly simple to setup and install. Simply follow the instructions and plug it into the phone socket in your wall. The router comes with a DSL filter (nice - saves you buying one) to plug into the wall. You may need to have your broadband user id and password handy for setting this up to connect to the Internet later ...
Product Information for "SMC Barricade SMC7004VBR V.2 - router" »
Manufacturer's product description
The Barricade Broadband Router is the ideal networking solution for any home and business user that is looking for a simple cost-effective network product. This affordable platform independent multi-function router combines a 4-port 10/100 Mbps dual speed switch and a network management system, which features an option to log DHCP and hacker information, into one convenient device. The Barricade supports various network protocols, such as TCP/IP and NetBeui, while also providing support for VPN connections with PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec pass through. The Barricade Broadband Router has an integrated Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall feature to provide a high level of security against hacker invasions, such as Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. The highly efficient SPI firewall analyzes individual data packets, as they pass through the Barricade, to ensure that only authorized packets are allowed access to your network. To control network access, parents or business owners can block certain web sites by entering either a URL address or just a keyword of the web site. In addition to these incredible features, this addition to the Barricade family also provides hacker prevention and logging functionalities. For example, when a hacker attempts to access your network, the Barricade can alert you via email so you can take appropriate action. The Barricade Broadband Router provides Network Address Translation (NAT) and a DHCP server allowing for simultaneous Internet access for up to 253 PCs. To manage these connections, this NAT router has a built-in DHCP server to auto-assign IP addresses to devices on your network. To install this device, simply plug this router into your broadband connection using the integrated 10/100Mbps RJ-45 WAN port - configure your static, dynamic, or PPPoE connection through the web-based interface - and in minutes you will be surfing the web. By using the web-based management system you can configure this router to handle IP routing and port forwarding through the Virtual Server option. For added 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. The Barricade Router is a comprehensive networking solution for PC, Mac, or Linux users.
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