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Netgear FM114P 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Router with Print Server

Netgear FM114P 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Router with Print Server

List Price: $199.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I am worried this thing will let me down.
Review: I have just read every review and comment on this product and I am a little worried. I spent my whole Friday night last night on Long Island (I live in the Bronx, NY), replacing a Linksys BEFW11S4 v.4 with an FM114P. I had to foot my own money for the replacement because I am the consultant who went with the Linksys in the first place. I also had to pay for my travel out there. I also have recommended similar Netgear units to other clients, namely the FR114P (non-wireless). In effect I've spent or gotten other people to spend a lot of money on Netgear hardware. I think I have something to say that Netgear needs to listen to.

1) There's a hole in the ground where the natural resources for your product come from. If you are going to use steel, paper, plastic, and other metals to build something, don't squander those materials building junk.

2) Please respect people's time. After all, it is time out of lives that we spend trying to get your products to do what we need. (Research time counts too, so your website makes a huge difference.)

3) Please note that there are a lot of people like me, who when time comes to spend our money or do our job, we want to get the most out of it. I genuinely like your routers because they are smarter than the rest of the stuff out there (though built-in diagnostics and config backups are becoming more common). Linksys annoys the hell out me. They make routers that can't give me a heads up with a simple e-mailing of the log, they make routers that can't be mounted on a wall (I do a lot of closet installations) unless I drill a whole in the legs and void the warranty. Yes, I could *order* their mounting plate, but I am adamant about respecting natural resourses. The less junk and packaging the better.

Now onto performance and other design comments.

Your website is very helpful and easy to navigate. Your website helped me locate your products at a CompUSA where I could just walk in and it for that days work. No online ordering and no hassle waiting and scheduling. Thanks. The frequent firmware release online are a boon. It shows us that you support your product post purchase.

The wireless funtion of this router does not let me see what machines are connected to *it*. I have another wireless access point and I'd like to make sure which WAP is servicing which machine. I can get a little info with Netstumbler, but you should enable client management features. Troubleshooting a wireless connection or lack thereof needs this feauture desperately, as does the SECURITY aspect of knowing how many and what machines are on your wireless network.

Thanks for the generous memory on the unit. But how much is used to process print jobs and how much is used for routing? I imagine it is used for the task at hand as needed, but that's my guess. Of course the print server is a great boon. I replaced an older external HP Jetdirect EX Plus (J2591A), so I was a little worried about a clunky third party software printer port that would make WindeXP crop out. It worked fine on WindeXP Pro and Windows Meep machines. I did forget to go into the port properties and change the IP address of the Port *after* changing the default IP of the FM114P.

Your newer units have auto MDI-MDX. Yes, we complain about wanting solid devices but we don't stop asking for features. But that little button can cause trouble if a user picks up the unit and toggles it inadvertently. I know not to do that, but the lady on Long Island does not. Dump the switch, please.

If this thing is indeed burning out due to overheating, then you guys and gals have totally ignored one of the basic tenets of computer hardware design. Please put heatshinks or a fan in your units. Don't get your great product bad mouthed on Amazon because you got sloppy. The rule about heat is: if you can't keep your finger on a chip for 30 seconds, but a sink or a fan on it. Please. I don't want to go to Long Island, it's too far. And I don't feel like opening up the unit and modding it. It's not fair to me or respectful of my time.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Works great while it lasts.
Review: Very pleased with the set-up and performance. Unfortuanately, it died in just 11 months of use. Very disappointed. Netgear also failed to honor rebate. Buying another brand (Linksys) and hoping for better results.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Broke after 10 months. Speed is 50% faster without it.
Review: I didn't mind paying extra for the FM114P inorder to get the built in print server. I like the built in firewall. I do not like the limitation in the managing of ports (rules) where you cannot have a port number in more than one rule. I am not experienced with other wireless routers but I am not impressed with the range. It works in half of my 1300 sq ft house but if there is too much between my laptop and the router, signal is down to 0%.

I regulary monitor my bandwidth speed using DSLreports.com and with the router I get 1900 bps and 2900 bps if I connect without the router. Big difference!

Another negative is that there is apparently a design flaw. They die in less than a year! Mine just died after 10 months.

Comments from other reviewers...
"the thing broke after 6 months of light usage"
"Ran it continually for a year. Then BANG, one day it died."
"bought my FM114P 10 months ago. It stopped working couple days ago"
"However, 11 months later the router failed"
"My FM114P failed after 8 months of operation"
"My only complaint: I've had mine die on me twice, each time after about 2-3 months of use."
"The first one I own died after 3 weeks...The second unit died after 6 weeks"
"my box died after only 2 month."

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: broke after 6 months
Review: just like a bunch of other people wrote here - the thing broke after 6 months of light usage. It's not a bad router, but kinda flaky - kept rebooting it at least 3-5 times a week under light usage (playing games and browsing web mostly). Beta bios upgrades are numerous, but very few of them worked well - although I don't mind it that much, since flashing its bios is a breeze.

I think this router is very sensitive to power fluctuations. I'll put the Netgear's replacement router on my UPS - hopefully it'll get more stable and won't break again.

Gosh! this thing generates a ton of heat just sitting there, doing nothing!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Move on! But consider another Netgear model.
Review: In summary, this unit has some design problems that seem to have been solved in newer models. Move on, but consider a Netgear.

This is a great product, when it works. I purchased this unit in Septerber 2002. Very easy to set up, great browser-based interface. I have past experience with the Netgear MR314 and the FM114P is more user friendly and less flaky. No problems getting the print server to work. Great wireless signal strength with the stock antenna. Ran it continually for a year.

Then BANG, one day it died.

Called tech support, got right on (no holding!), very friendly but a bit hard to understand (from India). They did some trouble shooting. Nothing worked. I got the old "My manager will have to call you back." I thought "Great, how long will that take." Got a call back in 3 minutes. Got my Return Material Authorization (RMA) without any argument, and I hope to have a new unit in a couple days. They also have a nice feature where for a couple extra bucks, they will express mail you a new unit, with a postage paid box, and then you mail back in the dead one after you get the new one.

Unfortunately, they will be sending me another FM114P. It seems like these things are good for about 6 to 12 months then they die. Netgrear should really discontinue this model and offer an upgrade or replacement with a model that does not have the same design problems. But great tech support, great capabilities, and high marks from a user-interface and capabilities standpoint.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So far, so good; but support staff weak.
Review: I bought the whole deal - 2 wireless Neatgear MA 521 PC cards for our 2 laptops and the FM114P.

I am quite pleased, so far, with how it works (granted I've only been using it for a week).

BUT - if you're using Windows XP, be prepared to figure out any problems by yourself. The support staff, via the web, could only quote the manual for me.

HINT: if you are using XP, DISABLE the XP firewall in the Network settings. Your computer won't be able to find the Printer Port on the FM114P, otherwise.

You're not going to need that Firwewall, anyway. The router IS a firwewall. I used to get upwards of 30-40 potentially harmful inbound events registered on my Personal Firewall software before using the Neatgear router. Now, I'm surprised if I see 3 to 5 (even with XP's Firewall shut off).

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: So-so performer for the price
Review: The Netgear FM114P is easy to set up and administer via its built-in web interface. The rest is problematic.

We have had intermittant lock-ups where the router simply stopped working and we had to reboot the router to continue connecting to the web.

We have had nothing but grief from the built-in print server, which likewise has sporadic failures requiring reboot. (We are looking at buying a separate print server to solve this problem.)

The wireless works OK, although the throughput seems quite variable.

Overall, I'm unimpressed, and will not likely buy any more Netgear products. Giving it a 2 may be a bit unfair; a 2.5 would be about right.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply simple to install
Review: I had zero trouble setting up the FM114P router. I have a cable modem and the set up wizard handled it with ease. I have my main PC running off a patch cord to the router and 2 remotes, a workstation and a laptop, using the wireless connectivity. All were easy to set up.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Stopped working after 10 months. Still on hold for support
Review: I bought my FM114P 10 months ago. It stopped working couple days ago. Manual advises to contact Netgear support. I have been waiting on hold for nearly 45 minutes now; haven't spoken to a real person yet. At this rate I think I am going to chuck Netgear and go to another brand.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Heat Warning
Review: I had a great time with this router, easy to setup, decent WiFi range. But It is so poorly vented it burned itself out. Really this thing would be 140-150 degrees during little to no usage. I recommend the newer netgear routers, cheaper, lighter, and they don't overheat at all. I hope mine was just a lemon, I always recommend netgear over linksys.


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