Opinion, SMC Barricade Cable Router or Linksys Cable Router

[jaytone]

After receiving a great deal of help in these forums on how to hookup a Cable Router, I now need to know which of the above 4 port cable modem routers to get. I am not worried about the price difference, only the most reliable.
Many thanks

 

[minmay]

jaytone ... I honestly think that they are both good products having work with them both. 8wire.com has a review on the SMC Barricade that you might want to check out. Here is the URL:

http://www.8wire.com/articles/index.asp?AID=1354

I haven't ran accross any reviews on the Linksys Router. I'll let you know. I think PracticallyNetworked.com has one. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Orbius]

If you ever consider running a game server or videoconferencing, the Linksys has a DMZ option that lets you put a PC outside the firewall, pretty handy. Also the Linksys uses a webpage to setup the router which is pretty handy.

 

[Chatterjee]

speedguide.net is an excellent resource for looking at networking hardware reviews.

-S

 

[coopa]

Two posts that i found, and have contributed to from the hot dealz forum.
you might find them interesting. Notice how they sorta blend into eachother.


http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=281727
thread on the barricade (or at least started there)
that was the main thread. there was also this thread that you should read:
the linksys router
this is only 8 posts.

hope that helped you.
i am very interested in what people say because i am debating the same thing.

 

[jman57]

<< After receiving a great deal of help in these forums on how to hookup a Cable Router, I now need to know which >>



I just bought the Linksys yesterday and set it up in 20 min. works great. Have played with the default settings a bit but I didn't need to. I was very close to buying the SMC as there was a good rebate but the store I went to was out of them for a few days.

 

[coopa]

Here is some of the varios info that i have got from other members, cut and pasted into here:

tell me what ya think.



<< coopa

In regards to the speeds of these I'd like to again point out that the maximum on both the Linksys and the SMC is above the specification of most broadband connections therefore you will not be able to saturate either of the two routers with bandwidth. As far as which one is faster you can judge by yourself from this comparison table, but it is clearly seen on there that when comparing the 4 port Linksys to a 4 port SMC that
Linksys maximum throughput is
WAN-LAN
3.1 Mbps

LAN-WAN
2.9 Mbps

and for the SMC it is
WAN-LAN
4.0 Mbps

LAN-WAN
4.0 Mbps


To answer your question about print sharing. It is possible with any switch, hub or even peer to peer provided your printer is connected to a computer that is acting as a print server. The SMC actually is a print server within of itself and has a parallel port to which you can connect your printer thus allowing you to print independantly of whether or not other computers on the network are on or off.

I consider what I said to be unbiased due to the fact that I do not own either of the products, but have read reviws, comparisons, and user reactions to both of them.

edit: I can only speculate that the reason that people are willing to pay more for the Linksys is due to brand recognition and generally out of low-cost networking products it does tend to stand out; however, I have heard better things about the SMC router in terms of not locking up and not dropping DSL connections, but with later firmware versions Linksys seems to have resolved some of the issues. In either case all else being equal the fact that the SMC has one extra feature being a print server that Linksys does not provide.

Message edited by: Len on 12/19/2000 11:57:06 >>




(next post) From HKSturboKID, Senior Member


<< Len,

You're right on the money. its sure is a lot cheaper than to get a jetdirect card for the printer. As for setting up a pc as a print server, its wasted a pc or its slow that pc down.
The SMC cost less than the Linksys. buy.com has it for 97.95. >>

 

[coopa]

more ref's i picked up:

Squisher:


<< Most reviews I have read favor the SMC over the Linksys. Netgear is also highly thought of. Also, the SMC comes with a printer port for network printing and a serial port for attaching an external analog modem for a dial-up connection. >>




SCSIfreek:


<< just to let you guys know. many had reported that this router is slower than both linksys and netgear routers. From my personal experience with the SMC router (at home) and Linksys (At work), the Linksys does seem to be a little faster and more responsive. Is it just me? or everyone who has this router are having the same experience? Comments are welcome >>

 

[TheOverlord]

linksys is my personal opinion...i just got mine and though it took 2 hours to set it up, it really only took 5 mins once i broke down and actually followed the directions
seriously, its a breeze to setup and configure with the controls accesible thru your web browser and has great options..if you get it you can't go wrong

 

[coopa]

thanks for the opinion overloard. all the pluses you listed are also part of the smc barricade also though...

I will say that whatever is picked, they both are going to be great. I have heard 0 people complain about eather router.

I think that i personally am going to go with the smc. it is cheaper, and has the east printing option.
also i need cables. im going to start a new thread on that.