Cable/DSL Router/switch 4 port; Linksys BEFSR41, Barricade SMC7004BR , & Netgear RT314

[SLEEPER5555]

also what does it mean when it says it has no uplink? anyone know what they are refering to?

are there any differances on these 3 units (asante/smc/dlink) does anyone know if one is better than another (this is possible as firmware is different)

the asante does not have a power switch but i think the smc does can anyone confirm this?

also asante has a version that replaces the serial & parallel port with a usb model #3004usb do the others have that config as an option?

 

[Schmo]

Yes, an uplink port is usually used to connect another hub or a switch to the router. Hubs and switches cross over the transmit and receive lines for you but when you connect a hub to another hub, you don't want those crossed again. Therefore the uplink port is a connection that doesn't crossover the transmit and receive lines.

If the switch does not have an uplink, you will need to use a crossover cable to connect a hub to a hub. The crossover cable will undo the crossover that the hub is going to do therefore negating it and yielding a straight though connection.

Darn, now I am confused. ;-) Moral of the story... uplink not that important, just use a crossover cable if you don't have one.

 

[SLEEPER5555]

ok so if i understand right an uplink is nothin more than a port that is already croossed over, where a sandard port would require a cross cable in order to hook up another switch. Are there any quality (such as speed) sacrafices from not having an uplink? also if you used a cross over cable could you use the uplink port as a standard port or no because it is unswitched and needs the switch (not that i am gona try but i am just curious, and interested in knowing)

 

[srxtreme]

I thought it was a good Idea to conbine all these into one thread too get some experiences going.
Oddly someone decide otherwise when I started the thread.

"Please try to avoid double, triple, etc posts."

I've learn from all the input received today!
It's only a good deal is only a good deal if it's something that fits your needs, and your budget!


My Rig #1 P3V4X P3 600@800
My Rig # 2 CUV4X P3 600@800

 

[SLEEPER5555]

srxtreme - i think this thread is great don't let the few get you down, peopel like that make people not want to post for fear of being pi**ed on. that is part of the reason that anandforums is just not what it once was. I wish people would remember that

A) you were once new and some of you made many mistakes

B) by crapping on someone they will not want to post here or not want to come back at all, that is not what we need here, the more people that are here the more knowledge and expirience we have here and that is what we need!

and if you dissagree with me READ MY SIG! but please dont turn this into a contest of who got the bigger d*** cause I am hung like a fly!

 

[Schmo]

Clarification first, more technical details near the bottom.

That "person" would be me and here I am answering questions. I did not crap on him... I posted that it was a great deal but it has been posted numerous times. Technically, the details about the router should really be in the Hardware forum.

In general I don't complain too much its just that I saw this thread a million times. Hind sight being 20/20, I probably should not have said anything since having them together is definitely not hurting anyone and it is helping a lot of people.

At first, it just appeared to be another duplicate post where I found 5 others just like it. Afterwards, srxtreme informed me that he thought it would be a good idea to combine them for a one stop router shop.

In this case it makes sense... I just see so many post that same thing over and over even when it is already posted only a few messages down.

For this reason, if srxtreme took it as me slamming on him rather than giving advice about duplicate posts, then I am sorry. I am by no means trying to hurt, just help. Believe me, there are a lot of others around here that will give you a MUCH harder time than I give anyone.

On that note...

the uplink port ISN'T crossed over. The router has already crossed it over so the UPLINK is a straight through connection.

The reason you need a crossover for a connection between hub to hub (switch to switch) without an uplink is because:

The first hub switches the transmit and receive which is correct, but then the connection to the second hub will switch them again, which is NOT desired. Therefore if you use a cross over in the middle, the first hub crosses them, the cable then uncrosses them then the second switch crosses them.. putting back in the correct state. Kinda confusing but thats the way it works.

 

[SLEEPER5555]

i also oplogize if you feel that i was targeting you i was just saying in general that all this happens, sorry

so there is no performance loss or speed loss when adding a second switch or hub after the first router/switch?

 

[Schmo]

As far as throughput goes, no. There may be a fraction more lag with the more switches that you go through but these things are pretty fast.

This is how I have my network set up. Cable into office, cable from office wall plate to cable modem. Cable modem to 4 port router. One port with a straight through cable to an uplink on an 8 port switch in my office. Connections to ports on the first and second level of my house.

I also have another connection to my router with a straight cable to an uplink port in a switch down in my basement which then has all the connections down there hooked up to it. So I have a switch to serve the main level and the upper level and another switch for the basement... both of those swiches plug into my LinkSys router which then goes to the cable modem.

Phew...

BTW, no, I don't have 16 computers... just the convenience of hooking my laptop up almost anywhere... now I need a wireless access point and then I can go anywhere!

 

[Sesopedalian]

Jeez Schmo, and I thought I was bad.

 

[srxtreme]

[I, srxtreme, feel I must explain myself as well and offer an apology to Schmo, a respected and knowledgeable senior member here!

Schmo stated "That "person" would be me and here I am answering questions.

Srxtreme
Yes you have been here throughout the thread, and might I add provided some some useful experienced input too!

Schmo
I did not crap on him... I posted that it was a great deal but it has been posted numerous times.

srxteme
True He did explain the reasoning for his comments well and provided links to back it up.

Schmo
Technically, the details about the router should really be in the Hardware forum.

srxteme
Most definitely true It is all hardware

Schmo
At first, it just appeared to be another duplicate post where I found 5 others just like it. Afterwards, srxtreme informed me that he thought it would be a good idea to combine them for a one stop router shop. For this reason, if srxtreme took it as me slamming on him rather than giving advice about duplicate posts, then I am sorry.

srxtreme
Advice noted, and apology not required, nothing wrong with a little constructive criticism.
You as a senior member have every right to suggest restrict and limit duplicate post. Agreed it did look like it was going to be the same as several others lengthy threads. Luckily for me it turn out well, Hot deals or hardware topic,this ended up running a good course because the two go hand in hand.

I feel it is a good ideal,
A thread with one topic (like this one)with post on reviews from real users of all experience levels, as Schmo said earlier, a one stop shop.

I believe we are all Hardware Junkies here and us hardware junkies gotta get our fix with good information and the best prices

It follows my motto; ITS ONLY A GOOD DEAL IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT FITS YOUR NEED AND YOUR BUDGET!

Schmo also wrote:
BTW, no, I don't have 16 computers... just the convenience of hooking my laptop up almost anywhere... now I need a wireless access point and then I can go anywhere!

srxtreme
You see Schmo you are a hardware junkie, just as I am. That sounds like a nice setup you have going there. I'm preparing to add access to very room too using a similar setup (2-4 port switches should do, I only have 8 rooms 1 floor and 3 systems (coming soon a laptop and possible server)
I'm working on wiring every room with that all in one cable with a single wall connector for all given access to for Cable,(TV / SAT) Cat 5, Phone 2 lines. Audio/Video (S- Video) Want TV/Sat via S video cable and PC and DVD to TV via S-Video I want to plug my Direct TV with all those commercial free digital music channels to my pc to burn digital audio CD.
Sorry, definitely drifting off topic here.

Thanks for reading and I hope there are no hard feeling here.
It's all good information, just trying to share.


My Rigs System 1 ASUS P3V4X P3 600@800
My Rigs System 2 ASUS CUV4X P3 600@800
My Rigs System 1 ASUS P2B-F C- 500@550

 

[tjll11a]

hope you have money for a wireless network that would meet switches speeds.
Going ro cost a lot for a good setup

 

[mrre]

My vote goes for the SMC router that I just picked up. I am sure the others are great, but only the SMC has the print server port. I got in on the Valentines day send $50 Flooz and get $15 Free deal. Combined with the $20 rebate from Outpost, free shipping, and 5% Ebates, my out the door price came out to less than $75 after rebates. The Flooz deal is gone, but with Outpost rebate (good until 2/19) and Ebates you can still get this router for less than $90 shipped after rebates ($115-$20-$5+). It may not be as nice looking as the other routers, but it makes up for it in features and performance. It works great and from what I have seen gives the best bang for you buck. Besides, why does a router switch have to look good. If you have one that does its job, it should be out of the way and ignored. The manual comes on the CD, so I would print it out and take a look at it, but you can use the quick install card to get up and going. I was amazed at how fast I had it set up and running! I thought it was going to be hard to do, but it was a snap. It got my garbage PPPoE software off my PC, and I feel like I have an always on connection now. I easily flashed it to the latest firmware, and set up the print server in no time at all, and now my laser printer is a network printer thanks to the bonus printer server port on this router. Now the kids can print from their PC without me having to power on mine. This is a bonus I did not count on when I started looking at routers!
At first I thought my speed had slowed down, but it turns out it was my DSL (I think too many kids downloading as much from Napster as they can in case it gets shut down, killing the net for the rest of us). Off peak, my speed is virtually unchanged from my setup before installing the SMC Barricade, about 1200k. I read a lot of reviews, and most of them were good, but I have to say it works even better than I expected it to. So a 4 port switch, router, firewall, and printer server for less than $90 is a bargain. The Linksys and Netgear are probably great routers, but if you think the printer server will come in handy, check out the SMC.

 

[srxtreme]

Great Input! That's what I wanted to here,.
Thanks





<< It's only a good deal if you actually need it! The follow item are EXCLUDED:

1. Fast Cars and/or Trucks.

1. Fast Computers and realeted parts.

1. Big Screen TVs Must ne over 36&quot; to quilify.

1. Home Theater systems, must be 5.1 digtal of course!

1. Most other Electronics equipment.

>>



My Rigs so far
System 1
ASUS P3V4X P3 600@800
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=2907

System 2
Asus CUV4X P3 600@800
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=3360

System 3
Asus P2B-F Celeron 500@ 550
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=3386

 

[YahooUser]

Just got my SMC yesterday from Outpost...
Love it... set it up in less than 5 minutes...
Just hooked up all the wires.. unpluged the power
source from the cable modem for 1-2 minutes to
release\renew IP address...then went to all my PC's
and release\renew IP address from there (winipcfg)...
AND everything was up and running...
My only complaint is that the Owner's Manual SUCKED...
nothing helpful in it...But since it was so easy to
set up, you really dont need it...
GO FOR THE SMC...

I set up a Linksys for a friend once...Took us 4 days..
had to talk to the helpless desk for linksys and cable co..
to get it up... BIG HEADACHE!!!

 

[dougjnn]

Well, I found the LinkSys to be about as easy to set up as you found the SMC.

The one thing you have to know is the winipcfg release/renew trick. After that it's a piece of cake.

 

[DavidTigerFan]

I too bought the Linksys, and I don't know what you were smoking when you were setting it up. I just follwed the directions and was up and running in under 5 minutes...I did have to release and renew though since I had had a static IP before that.

-D

 

[Nucleus111]

Just to add my .02 -
I knew that I had to get off software sharing/routing sooner or later and was dead set on getting a netgear(I always did like their products). However, I decided to go with the SMC for 2 main reasons: dial-up backup and port triggers. Print server is nice, but isn't what sold me. If the netgear had either of those two, well it might have been a different decision. Only thing I can say is, since they're all around the same price...stay away from the linksys, doesn't work with a lot of applications.

 

[dougjnn]

I agree that a built in printer server is a nice additional feature.

Wake on LAN does pretty much the same thing, but he printer server option could be nice to have.

Enjoy.

(As an early adopter of the cable modem business, I dinna have the option. Actually looked for that feature. But at the time (about a year ago) the LinkSys was the only reasonably priced router game in town, and causing quite a stir. Oh well, we pioneers always get arrows in our backs.

Then again, its been nice have cable behind a firewall and the live-in GF cable connected all that time as well.

 

[YahooUser]

Forgot to mention that it was the ONE PORT version..
with a 4 port Switch I was working with...
I had found a good deal on it..
came out the be the same price as with 4 port..
but I got 2 NIC cards with the Switch..

 

[Kippster]

What is everyones opinion on the Kingston 4 port 10/100 router with 2 netwrok cards for $100 after $30 MIR at Buy.com? I'm planning on getting a router and I can't decide between this Kingston, SMC, or the Netgear.

 

[fargus]

Outpost now has the SMC7004WBR Barricade 11Mbps Wireless Broadband Router for $289 with free shipping. (found it for $10 less elsewhere, but that required tacking on another 6 bucks for ground UPS, plus it was out of stock there...) Less than I was looking to pay for just a Wireless Access Point, plus all the other goodies. The dial on demand and print server will be used heavily in my case, so not having to buy separate ones saves me a few hundred $ more...On its way.


Edit 2/28/01 - cancelled my Outpost order; they showed it as in stock when I placed the order, then sent me a nice email saying it was backordered and I might have it sometime within 30 days.... then found it for $279 at computers4sure, applied a $20 coupon (from t*chbargains) to bring it down to $259 + $6 shipping... have it installed now (5 min setup) and is very nice. Just downloaded firmware update for it.

 

[impulse]

I'm thinking about getting the SMC

 

[Southpaw]

what were the dates on the rebate from Outpost???

I bought one a couple of weeks ago, and never saw anything of a rebate..

someone got a link to the outpost one???

thx

southpaw

 

[srxtreme]

SMC Barricade Router
The rebate is locuted right below in Adobe

Rebate is only good Feb 7th - Feb 28th !!

Beter hurry only a few days left.

 

[Southpaw]

thx but I got mine before the rebate period....
Although I only paid $99.95 and got free shipping..

so I am only out $5...I can handle that...

thx anyway