Originally posted by: bulletpr00f
I do not want to sound like an MS hater ... buuuut ... this is probably the worst home router I have ever seen.
The only good thing about it is the local computer installable remote router admin utility.
Today I just bought two of them from Costco and guess what, both of them are going back!
Below are its shortcomings:
1. No ability to support WEP and non-WEP clients at the same time
2. No 802.11 or 802.11a support
3. Web based admin tool is extremely slow
4. No control over wireless signal e.g. signal strength, range etc.
5. Firewall, mac filter and virtual app admin utility is just horrible. Even the initial versions of D-Link's or netgear's admin utility is better.
6. Why in the world, I need to install software on my computer to "upgrade" the firmware on the router? I bet the guys from microsoft designing this process
were smoking dope during the design session.
7. I do understand that simplicity is important but this product neither simple nor useful.
8. I have not checked it yet but I bet the firewall does not filter the UDP traffic. As usual, Microsoft does not think neither security or privacy is "that" important
9. No static DHCP
Couple positive things are
1. Encryption and decription processes for WEP are impressively fast.
2. Nice background color on the administration utility .
I know that some of what this guy said has already been addressed, but think it might be a good idea to have some more remarks on the subject of this post, since a lot of people are not advanced enough to see through the bull$hit, and might forego an otherwise perfect hot deal. So, here goes:
1. When Wired-Equivalent Privacy is enabled (WEP), the communication is automatically encripted at the level you specify within you router config program (web interface) as well as within your wireless card config utility (either Windows or proprietary): 64bit, 128bit, and more recently 256bit. Thus, if WEP is your choice, not a very good one, in securing your wireless network, I double-dare you to provide me with a brand and a model number for a device that would allow WEP-encripted and a totally unencripted access simultaneously. Further more, I hope you were referring to WEP/WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
WEP and non-WEP clients at the same time
. WPA is a much better and mature way to secure your wireless communication (i.e. WEP now takes entire 10 minutes to break through without any prior hacking or programming knowledge!) I can not imagine MS being a huge proponent of WPA and the underlying 802.11x (it's built-in into every win XP by default, for crying out loud), not including it into the configuration of this device (router). And even if for some oddest reason it is not included with default version of the firmware, it's either available for download and upgrade now or will be available, like tomorrow
2. Get a grip, dude What da hell have you been smoking
4. I hope you are not referring to some sort of a nub (luke a Volume on your receiver or a radio) that should have been built into this device If you are talking about the bogus feature that is included with some of the other configs (products) outthere, like in my SMC Barricade: Extended range mixed mode b and g, it's been site-surveyed time and again - nothing but marketifng fluff!!!!!! The best way to improve signal strength is to acquire a different antenna. A consumer-grade router has to come with 2db antennai by regulation, but you can purchase a 6db antenna at CC for $19.99, if my memory serves me well.
6. To configure a router via a web interface one would usually need to open a browser window to the address of such router on their network, therefore some knowledge is required on the part of the user. On the other hand, if all you have to do is plop a CD in and go through a wizard, that starts by itself too, I might add, and everything would be completed and configured in a couple of minutes, it might be very attractive to a lot of people outthere. Also, if there is no way to upgrade the firmware via web admin interface now, I am sure it will be there very soon, since it is a norm to the rest of the market.
7. Autorun on CD --> 3-4 question wizard --> Basic config is complete --> VERY DAMN SIMPLE!!!!!
9.
What do you think D stands for in DHCP ?!?!?!?! For those who do not know - dynamic, and therefore, not static! DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. And yes, you should be able to disable DHCP if you want to have clients with static IP Addresses connect to the router.
I appologise if I came off way too harsh I did not mean it that way. I simply want to make sure that people who need a wireless setup at home do get on this deal, since this is definitely not a substandard product and I thought it did come out that way from the aforementioned review (1 through 9) by
bulletpr00f.
By the way, do flame me, if I so deserve :beer: