Rating: 
Summary: Great home network starter router
Review: Setup takes less than 30 minutes; plug in the power, network cables, install drivers and configure router per instructions.For those starting a home network using network cables, this is an excellent starter router with room to expand into the 801.11b wireless network. Some nice features: 1. Built in firewall to prevent hackers. The built-in capability is sufficient for most casual users who want to prevent amateur hackers from randomly finding and hacking your computer(s). Easy setup and management of VPN. 2. Wireless encryption (upto 128 bit): encrypts your wireless network to prevent unauthorized access. 3. Disable wirelss network: useful if you are using only the router for a wired network and do not want to hassle with the wireless setup and encyrption. 4. SMC offers a user friendly website where you can download the latest updates. Updating the firmware used by the router takes only minutes. Missing features:
A built-in print server. SMC offers a more expensive product that is identifical in everyway except it has one fewer wired connection port, but replaces the missing port with a print server connection. The print server connection allows you to share a printer, without having the printer tied a any particular computer. Without the print server, to share a printer means you need to have the computer connected to the printer turned on for the printer to be shared.
Rating: 
Summary: Everything you could ask for at a great price!
Review: I've been putting off the purchase of a router for a while now, but after my ISP was irked at the fact that I was logging in with two simultaneous PPPoE connections using an old hub, I really had no choice. My college offers wireless access on campus, and I had already purchased an 802.11b card, but I didn't think I'd really have a need for wireless access at home. In fact, I was looking for a wired router at first, until I found the SMC7004VWBR on another site (before Amazon began offering it). I had read many of the reviews about Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear products, and SMC was the one that had fewer complaints. I was skeptical at first considering I had purchased it for $98 including a $10 rebate, and figured that perhaps I would end up getting what I paid for. After about 3 weeks, I haven't had anyting to complain about yet. The router's features include Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Denial of Service (DoS) protection, email alerts, parental control, integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN) pass-through support, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and hacker logging options. Turn on the email alerts and you'll see several alerts in your inbox everyday. Setup was a breeze. I merely plugged in my desktop into one of the 4 wired ports, plugged in my DSL modem into the WAN port, and accessed the IP address specified in the manual. (The manual is provided on the included CD as well as online). Even though the quick-start guide asks you to use the CD to set up your connection, you can go ahead and access the setup page via your web browser, as what type of operating system you're using is irrelevant and you don't need any kind of software loaded on your computer. The setup includes both a quick EZ version (as in 3 clicks and you're done), and a more advanced version. I first used the quick setup just to make sure everything worked, but I then went into the advanced setup to set up my wireless encryption, firewall and NAT settings, etc. The setup page also includes a nice help file that will explain any terms you're not familiar with. Performance has been exceptionally good. The signal doesn't fade too much as I travel from room to room in my house with my laptop. Perhaps my only complaint is that there is no easy way to mount it on the wall (although aspiring engineers like myself will find a way). Overall I think this is one of the best purchases I've made so far, and recommend this to budget-minded (read: college students) individual looking for a feature-rich router with wireless capabilities.
Rating:
Summary: No problem with installation
Review: I was concerned with some of the comments, but decided to take the risk with the low price. I was able to set it up with little knowledge. It has been about a week and have had no problem. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get set up with a wireless router.
Rating:
Summary: You just can't beat this for [the price.]
Review: That's right, after instant and mail-in rebates. For the price, I couldn't complain. Anyway, I don't like the online manual. I like to see the manual printed out so that I can read it while I'm working with the product. I also don't like the "3-step" setup. It didn't seem to go well. It took me some searching through the docs, but I was able to determine how to get to the Web interface to set up the router. I moved out a Linksys Cable/DSL Router/Switch out to replace it with the SMC. I feel that I am now getting faster refreshes with this product. Pages come up extremely fast. The Wireless portion of this isn't all that bad either. I do have a Cisco Aironet Wireless card that is superior, but I'm not convinced that is the only reason my wireless is successful. I did utilize the 64 bit WEP and I do not see the service suffer. All in all, I have not had any issues with this unit. I'm happy with my purhcase. I have a 1600 sq ft house and I can move all around and still have ok signal. If you can get a good deal on the unit, I say get it. Realize this is a Consumer unit and will not perform the same as a professional unit.
Rating:
Summary: Great Product
Review: This is a newer version of the router if you didnt know. OK as advertised they have a 3 click install- its really that easy! I am using a d link wireless CF card with my IBM notebook. No joke - i plugged it in - connected the cable into the router , boom connected! I have another computer that is networked and that was no problem as well. Easy to network btw the computers with windows XP.
As for the wifi, the range is pretty good as well. I am connecting 65% from my room upstairs from more than 40 feet away from the router with tons of walls in btw. Connection is still good - and im able to grab divx movies, files, and mp3s from another networked computer with ease. Just in case ur researching just as i have done before, u'll see lots of good stuff said about SMC wifi routers and its true. I tested a D-link wireless + model and i didnt have the ease of setup as i did this. As for negatives, heres one, parallel port is useless and slow - we need a usb port for our printers! also no fault of the router, im having a hard time getting my pocket pc to connect!
good luck
Rating: 
Summary: Makes a nice space heater!
Review: I have now tried two SMC wireless Barricades (this unit and it's newer version, and both have "crapped out" after a few months.
Unfortunately, I also had problems with their older, wired router. Although I have ensured that there is adequate air circulation, and the ambient temperature never exceeds 70 degrees, it appears that these units are prone to overheating. (...)I found that my internet access was getting slower and slower, and my FTPs were aborting more and more frequently. Also, be aware that if you upgrade the firmware, you WILL lose all your settings (you [cannot] read the old .bin file back in!)
[Be sure] to write down ALL your current settings [before] doing an upgrade! It's too bad, since I have been a proponent of SMC ever since they marketed one of the first high speed UARTs many years ago!
Rating:
Summary: Good workhorse router
Review: I've had this for almost 2 years running. Used with a Win95 PC and now with a W2K. Shared access to a 56k connection via the serial port on back of router, no problems. Now share a high broadband signal 24/7, no problems at all. Haven't reset router in months. Share signal with two PCs. Dell W2K is hardwired to back of router. PC upstairs, thru 2 walls and 1 floor, using an external Linksys USB wireless network adaptor running WinME, no problems. Both get great speeds. Have noticed that friends who have WinXP and router get better speeds. Operating system makes the difference. Print server on back works well, print server may burp sometimes and the print server just needs to be refreshed in router tools. If you are in an apt building, you may want to name your wireless network and register the machines that are allowed access, or someone could tap into your network and steal bandwidth. I have the 802.11b router about 15" from a 2.4Ghz wireless Siemens phone, no problems. Also running a 900mhz a/v wireless transmitter near unit, no problems. 802.11b, 2.4Ghz and 900mhz all play nice. For the price it's a steal. I bought when it was over [money]!
Rating:
Summary: Great value
Review: I've had this SMC7004VWBR running for over a year on my home network. I share a DSL broadband connection with several home PC's. The Windows XP and Windows 98 PC's have worked very well connecting thru the router. This is not a perfect product but the value and features it offers for the price is hard to beat. I am impressed with the ability to configure the firewall. I use the browser based console to disable my son's internet access by time of day. I also use the URL blocking feature to filter out domains that I don't want access to. The time-of-day feature could be beefed-up to provide more flexibility, but again, this is a feature that use to be in firewalls a few years ago that cost thousands of dollars. Make sure you upgrade to the latest version of the firmware before you spend any time configuring the device. Generally speaking I can go months without having to reset the router. I haven't had problems with the wireless range or interference from cordless phones, but YMMV. If I were to purchase a new wireless router I would consider the "g" version since that gives you Wifi Protected Access (WPA) as opposed to WEP (which can be hacked). If you are very concerned about security and someone stealing your bandwith or hacking onto your network, then you want a product that offers WPA. Then restrict access to the MAC address of your PC's and you'll be virtually hack-proof.
Rating: 
Summary: horrible wireless, try Belkin or Lynxssys
Review: It's cheap and you get what you pay for. The setup was easy. That's the end of the praise. If you don't use encryption on your wireless link it seems to work fine. But with encryption enabled it won't keep the link. It continually drops the link and the re-init time kills your connection. Even with excellent signal strength. My wireless card, SMC EZconnect 2635, works great with other networks, but this SMC 7004 WiFi AP stinks.
SMC EZconnect card seems to work fine, not great, but acceptable.
Rating:
Summary: Drops connections - poor customer service
Review: I have to reboot the router every day. There is not live support, you have to email the customer service. They recommended to reinstall old firmware. Did not help. I hate it!!
| 
