Rating: Summary: Great Product for Novice Home Networkers Review: I read many reviews here before I purchased my Linksys BEFSR41 4-port router. The positive consensus was earned. My router installed easily and was successfully configured quickly to my cable modem. The instructions, especially the quick-instructions, are easy to follow. The router has worked with two different cable modems (I have changed high speed ISPs since I bought my Linksys router) and has successfully allowed me to simultaneously work on the internet with my desktop PC using Windows 98 and my laptop using Windows NT 4.0. The hardware installation was like hooking up a new telephone, and the software installation, if you call it that (more like configuration) was almost like shopping here at Amazon. The product is small, efficient and very reasonably priced. I am glad I have it and am able to use it. And thus far, ableit after only 2 weeks, I have had no problems.
Rating: Summary: In the begining all was darkness. Review: In the begining all was darkness about this equipment. I followed its instruction carefully, but I couldn't install it in my DSL system. Later, I did read some articles in the Internet about Linksys and Zyxel modems, and I almost die after that. After several trials, finally I got installed the router with my modem. Now, I really enjoy the benefits of this combination, and I'm satisfied with it.
Rating: Summary: Fantastic Product! Review: This product works wonderfully, as both a router and a switched hub. Installation was a snap, and I've had zero trouble getting multiple PCs on the Internet at the same time. The switched hub manages local traffic efficiently, and supports Ethernet and Fast Ethernet clients concurrently with no problems.One word of advice. If you plan to add more than four PCs to your intranet, just get the one-port DSL router and use a separate switched hub. That way, all your connections are handled by the switch, instead of split between the router and the switch. There are no problems doing it either way, you just may save some money buying a one-port router, plus your switch may manage traffic better.
Rating: Summary: One gotcha for Earthlink ADSL users Review: This is my first attempt at home networking and all went smoothly except for one glitch. I didn't figure out that I needed to remove the existing WinPoet install on my computer until I did a search for "earthlink" in the linksys.com knowedge base. Everything has been working smoothly since including a VPN connection to work.
Rating: Summary: Poor Engineering Cripples Great GUI and Design Review: I'm a software engineer with a MSc in Physics. I have two home computers and Sympatico HSE ADSL (which means PPPoE). The BEFSR41's feature list and price are excellent, and the web based configuration GUI is very nice (better than all the competitors I hear). HOWEVER, no matter how it's configured (whether I use it's DHCP or whether DHCP is disabled and IPs are hardcoded), this router will require power-cycling one or MORE times per day when some or all of your PC's are cut off from not only the internet but also your internal network. This is completely unacceptable when you're doing things that require constant connectivity, for example ftp'ing a file home from work at the end of the day, playing games, talking to friends, or attempting to enjoy the bandwidth your lovely broadband connection is supposed to provide. I've tried a half dozen different versions of Linksys' firmware versions. Searching on the web, it is clear that there are 3 or 4 WIDELY experienced failure modes of Linksys broadband routers, and this is one of them. Tons of other people experience this exact same problem, with no resolution from Linksys. A huge proportion of the people who buy Linksys broadband routers either return them and get another brand, or are left with an expensive brick. It's quite clear that although the designers did a great job with the very well designed web based configuration GUI, with the feature list, and with the requirements, the product is plagued by poor engineering implementation or software at the core of the router, making it horribly unstable. Save yourself the trouble and buy Netgear or Barricade, then find a techie friend or teenager to configure it.
Rating: Summary: Easy to install no Problems! Review: I having been using this router for quite a while and have had great sucess. The installation was a breeze.just plug in your cable/dsl modem to one port and your computers to another port. (they are all marked so you can't go wrong) When you first turn it on you can change all the settings through your web browser. The settings are easy to change and configure and the istructions are great for explaining every single posible setting so if you don't know you can always check the manual. The firewall works great no need for any software firewall. Pc and mac can both be connected at the same time. Doesn't slow down your connecting or anything like that. And its at a great price. Hands down a must buy for anyone with a high-speed connection.
Rating: Summary: Works flawlessly Review: The setup was quite easy and it works quite well.
Rating: Summary: Ok hardware bad support Review: On the plus side... The price is great and it will get 4 computers to the internet For a beginners, the on-line help is good On the down side... For IT Experts there is no support after "where the cables go". The support personnel @ linksys want to fix everything with "please check your cables" they are no help. The router will shut down if you use the default "auto select" on the Network card speed and it will disconnect of you try to force it at 100mips. At 10mips it works like a champ.
Rating: Summary: Great Router, but... Review: This Linksys Router has some very nice features to it. What I really like is the web based prefrences area to change settings. And, if you already had a cable hookup before you bought this router, you can change the MAC address so you don't have to call your ISP saying you changed hardware devices (Don't worry, the manual will explain that). But, My first I bought kept freezing up. Returned it and got and new one, which worked just fine.
Rating: Summary: USCLAWYER Review: I appreciate the reviews that raved about this product. The bottom line is I am now able to use a single DSL account I have with SBC for both my computer and my wife's computer (I don't have a problem with paying SBC more money so I am not violating the subscription agreement, yet they don't currently have multi IP accounts for residental use--stupid for them). It bothers me that my law firm's "tech guy" steered me the wrong way and told me I only needed a hub, when it was a router I needed. Thanks to those whose reviews identified the hardware I needed. The only beef I have with the reviews is it took more than three minutes to hook up my router, and definitely longer than it took to open the box. I may not be a techie, but I am reasonably knowledgeable about computers considering my day job is as a lawyer (hey, I replaced my hard drive all by myself). The problem I had with installing the router is that you have to know how your ISP sets up your account. Basically, the only thing I had to insert when I configureed my router was to indicate I have a DSL line (actually "ADSL"), to "enable" something, and to include both my user name and password. I wished somebody told me I didn't have to worry about "MAC Addresses," "Default Addresses," "DNS" and all of the other alphabets. PLus, I apparently had the darn thing installed, but I was trying to connect directly to my ISP, rather than simply opening up my browser. What a relief. Therefore, for mere mortals, it may take you more than three minutes to set up your router if you don't remember all of the technical stuff about your DSL or cable modem account.
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