Belkin F5D6231-4 Wireless Cable/DSL Router
by Belkin Components
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Belkin ComponentsAudio: English (Original Language)
Model: F5D6231-4
Product features:
- LAN Ports - N/A
- WAN Ports - N/A
- RS-232 Port - N/A
- Firewall - NAT
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Belkin F5D6231-4 Wireless Cable/DSL Router
Customer Review: Advance Users Beware
Summary: 5 Stars
Wireless router is a must have for laptop users. It provides a range of freedom unparallel to any wired set up. If you go to a university or work for a company that has wireless connection everywhere, you will truly appreciate the convenience of wireless internet. It has revolutionized internet as much as cell phone has revolutionized telecommunications.Belkin's 802.11b router is a good router to have if you are using it for only wireless internet and sharing connection. The installation is very easy for novice users. It's just a matter of following a bunch of diagrams in the manual to get everything started. If you run into problems, Belkin has an excellent 24/7 free tech support program. I got almost a no-wait response. However, the regular tech support's knowledge is very rudimentary, knowing less about networking than me. I think they just following a manual of FAQs.
With that said, I have found some problems with the 802.11b router running more advanced features like De-Militarized Zone (DMZ). Because many programs such as file-sharing programs, video conferencing, etc. require non-standard ports, you'll need to either forward these ports or DMZ the computer. With the 802.11b, the DMZ feature does not work at all for me. I've talked to Belkin's high level tech support but to no avail. I have to manually forward all the ports that I need to be open, even port 80 for web server. On top of that, the router allows port forwarding for only 20 programs. If you need to forward more than that, you will do some manipulating. You can get around this by forwarding a series of ports, which only takes up one slot in the virtual server feature of the router. Say if one of your program runs on port 1024 and the other one runs on 1030 you can forward 1024-1030. The draw back with this is that it compromises the security of your network. I sometimes change the port of one program so it will run consecutive with a port of another program, so I wouldn't have a bunch of unnecessary ports opened.
RATING:
One star off of ease of use and performance because of the the problems with advance features. Other wise 5 for ease of installation and cost/benefit. Average to 4.5, but since there's not 4.5 option, I would give it a 5.
FINAL WORDS:
All in all, the 802.11b router has an unbeatable value (...)The Tech Support is great. But for more advanced functionalities, it becomes quite a nuance.
Description of Belkin F5D6231-4 Wireless Cable/DSL Router
Belkin 802.11b wireless networking provides the perfect solution for the most advanced, cable-free installations. Our 802.11b Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Router (Router) uses the 802.11b wireless Ethernet standard to let you share a broadband Internet connection among your computers-without cables. The Router features an integrated 4-port 10/100Base-T Ethernet switch that allows you to connect wired computers for all the advantages of networking. It makes sharing files and peripherals, such as hard drives, printers, CD-ROMs, DVDs-and more-easier than ever. The Router offers advanced features for the highest level of flexibility. Using its firewall, the Router protects your network from outside intrusions by hackers. Its IPSec pass-through allows you to work from another location using Virtual Private Networking (VPN). DMZ hosting lets you play accelerated games over the Internet.