Rating: Summary: Easy Setup and it works well with PPPOE (Bell HSE) Review: I was skeptical that I would be able to easily route my DSL connection without having a static IP. I have read many reviews about people who had problems getting their router to keep their connection alive when they connect using PPPOE. Well read no further the SMC7004ABRn does it all!! It kept my download speeds fast, my computers connected AND it was simple to setup! It took me 10 minutes to connect and configure 2 Win2k boxes and a printer!! This is an excellent choice for anyone using PPPOE to connect.
Rating: Summary: Bad news... Review: 1. Basic routing worked ok.2. Dial-on-demand doesn't. There is a poor workaround, but it results in lots of unwanted connect time and it's buggy. Numerous firware upgrades since product release, but the product still won't actually perform this basic function with a modem. 3. To avoid unwanted connect time, the unit must be configured so that all users must have administrative access in order to manually initiate dialing. Very insecure. 4. Administrative interface poorly designed and buggy. 5. Print server is extremely slow. Useful only for simple text printing. Won't operate bi-directional with Win ME so you can't use the features of a "smart" or multi-function printer. 6. Tech support is horrid. Non-response to some e-mails. Responses to others did not show professionalism or much technical knowledge. Seemingly no organized way to track issues on SMC's end.
Rating: Summary: Doesn't Work with Windows Messanger Voice Review: I bought this router because the website states that it will work with Windows Messanger Voice communication. It does not. I tried every suggestion on the FAQ on the SMC website, including placing the router in the DMZ zone. Nothing worked. I emailed SMC's technical support three weeks ago, and was ignored. If you do not need the voice/video of Windows Messanger or similar programs, the router works ok. That is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 star. If you want to use voice/video communications, look elsewhere.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Product for the Price! Review: I found the installation and set up was very easy and took about 10 minutes to hook up to my cable modem and computer. Instructions must have been updated since a previous person complained about a wrong IP address, mine worked on the first try. The only problem I had was with my Laptop which is still running win 95 and the PCMCIA slot card needed to be reconfigured. I called tech support at 11am EST and was on hold less than 5 Minutes and the problem was solved in another 5 minutes. SMC is the best customer service I have encountered at any computer or software company. Great Job Guys! I highly recommend this product as well as SMC Ethernet, and PCMCIA cards..
Rating: Summary: Great Product AND VPN Works (contrary to what you see below) Review: I got this router almost ten months ago and so far it was a great buy. Setup is very simple and changing it is but a click away through your browser. Another great thing about this product is that the company supports it continuously and even improves on it through updates to its firmware. These updates are simple and fast (although they may require a re-setting of your setup) and often provide a truly impressive array of new features. One feature that I received in a recent update is VPN pass through -- and feel free to ignore the guy who complained about that in his review below. SMC's e-mail support is great too. It took me less than 10 minutes to receive a readable coherent e-mail in response to a question I sent. The one nit with this otherwise great product is that I was unable to properly make the print server work with Linux. Otherwise, it is a terrific device that can save you money and help you set up a home network with almost no hassle at all.
Rating: Summary: Can not use VPN Review: The product is solid but it can't do VPN. I have one and bought another for my sister in law. Neither one of us can use VPN to connect to worko with this product. The VPN works only if you move the machine to the DMZ area which gives you no firewall protection. Just like saying "my machine is open, go aheah and hack it". My workaround the VPN problem is that I installed a personal firewall software on my machine and move my machine to the DMZ whenever I want to use VPN to connect to my work place. I borrowed a Linksys DSL 4port router from a friend and my VPN works without having to move the machine to the DMZ. All my co-workers with Linksys DSL/4 ports/routers have no problem using VPN and they dont have to move their machines to the DMZ. I am in the process of looking for a cheap Linksys router to replace the SMC router or may be go wireless. Also, the printer port on the SMC router is a joke. Sometimes it sends junks to the printer continously wasting paper. You have to turn the router off/on to clear out the buffer. My sister in law and I dont use the printer ports at all.
Rating: Summary: Terrible customer service Review: I had a problem configuring my computer to the printer server (basically, I don't think that that default IP address in the instruction manual worked). I emailed a question and recieved on autoconfirmation of my email on March 6. As of March 22, no answer or real response. So I called customer service and was told I would have a 30 minute hold. I'm still on hold as of this writing and the timer on my phone says 50 minutes, 39 seconds
Rating: Summary: Great Product Review: Very flexible device. I was able to setup the router automatically when I plugged in the RJ-45 cable from the cable router it worked perfectly. Setting up the printer connection was very simple. I also have the router connected to an access point which works perfectly. The connections are all very quick and the status lights in the front work perfectly This is a very solid product which deserves the five star that I gave it!! Hope the review was helpful.
Rating: Summary: Not Good for Server Review: This product is not good if you have any server application that you want to expose to the WEB. First of all, this does not support loop back. For example, you cannot access your own web server using the the WAN IP address. You have to use the LAN IP address to access/test your web server. I mean why not??? This is just an example. I also have been experimenting my other ports exposing to the WAN and it is a pain. Some don't even work. If one of your purpose of buying this product is server related, this product would not be a good buy. But if you want to just share internet connection, this product is good enough, just good enough. And also technical support is also NOT good.
Rating: Summary: Poor Customer Service Review: I tried to call the technical support 1-800 number for more than an hour and I wasn't able to talk to any technician. The automated telephone system kept on telling me that "They are having a high call volume" and then it would HANG UP. I kept on doing this FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR???? What kind of service is this? It has been almost two hours and I still cannot talk to any technician. This is ridiculous...... This is the very exact opposite to LINKSYS......With Linksys, I could talk a technician with almost no waiting time. I mean it is like RIGHT AWAY SERVICE. Now, that's what I call EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE....... This product has smooth setup. Just Plug-and-Play and you are connected to the Internet. But exposing the PORTs to the WAN has been challenging. It hasn't been as easy as the Linksys product. In short, customer service/support for this product is poor.
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