PPROKTE - Visonic Powermax Pro Advanced Home Security System Review

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(More customer reviews)The Powermax Pro is an excellent DIY home security system. The one I purchased had the built-in cellular (GSM), Powerlink and X-10. It's not incredibly intuitive to configure at the panel, but once you get the feel for where everything is in the menu it's really pretty simple. The package didn't include a 21 dollar two-way powerline interface or the .83 cent RJ11 data connector cable for it, which was disappointing. I'll have more information on that below. I purchased the Powerlink Pro from an Amazon vendor, but made the vast majority of the other purchases through home security store (google for link). They are pretty knowledgeable about the product and all its accessories and knew about the powerline X-10 interface required cable.
About the integral GSM module:
The GSM module is definitely useful as it serves as a good back up caller in case a burglar were to cut your land line prior to breaking in. The GSM module works with a GSM SIM card that you need to purchase from T-Mobile or AT&T. I found that I get bad T-mobile reception so I'm probably going to get a go phone AT&T SIM card because my AT&T signal is 5 bars in my house. Make sure you get the pay as you go SIM card. They start you out with 40-60 minutes and those expire in 90 days, so you'll need to refill the minutes. They explain how to do that so no worries there. Use you land line if possible when yor setting up initially so you dont burn all your GSM minutes you have inthe SIM card you purchased. Each call it makes via GSM is a minimum of one minute so have it as back. I was not able to do this because I have DSL and there is a special DSL filter you need as well as a special wiring situation so the alarm system can make phone calls over the land line. If you don' have DSL I think you basically just follow the basic directions.
About the integral Powerlink Module:
after you hook up the unit to you home network you can access it at [...]
as in my case since I have DSL modem/router and an additional Neatgear LAN router. You can log in with the default Admin credentials per the directions in the Powerlink CD tutorial. Once you're in there you can turn lights off and on or program that when alarms comes on or off, etc. You can't schedule lights to turn on. I have an entirely separate X-10 system for automating the lights. You can also see your camera and even control it if you get the CAM3200 - Visonic CAM3200 Wireless Pan/Tilt Network Camera.
About the integral X-10 Module:
The most important thing to note it that it doesn't work out of the box because they don't include the X-10 Powerline Interface (PSC05) or required x-10 data RJ11 cable (15FT Data (Straight) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable). A regular phone cable WILL NOT WORK...it's not the same thing. Also, there is a jumper inside the panel near the X-10, RJ11 plug that is set to single-way, but since you will want two-way x-10 communication this needs to be set to the two-way jumper setting. 2.) Dollar and items breakdown
1x $480.00 for the PPROKTE - Visonic Powermax Pro Advanced Home Security System w/ built in Powerlink and GSM module. This came with the one key fob, two proximity swipers, a door/window sensor, and one pet-friendly motion sensor.
2x $68.40 Visonic MCT-425 Supervised Wireless Smoke Detector
1x $20.49 PSC05 Two-way X-10 Powerline interface -- [...]1x $0.83 15FT Data (Straight) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable - you need this for connecting the PSC05 to your X-10 module in PowerMax Pro
1x $294.35 CAM3200 - Visonic CAM3200 Wireless Pan/Tilt Network Camera
1x $110.00 Visonic MCS-720 Two Way Wireless Indoor Siren Built-in White Strobe Light
1x $2.50 RJ31X RJ31X - JACK AND CORD
1x $24.00 GSMANTENNA - Visonic External GSM Antenna
3x $102.00 Visonic MCT-501 Visonic Wireless Glass Break Detector
2x $52.00 Visonic MCT-237 6 Button Miniature Wireless Two Way Keyfob
1x $149.75 Visonic MKP-150 Two Way Wireless Keypad with Voice
1x $20.00 T-Mobile GSM SIM card -- probably will go with AT&T go phone SIM for better reception in my area
Approximately (1170.00 + 480.00 = $1650 ) and my time of 30 hours is what I have in it. Since I'm monitoring it myself, as opposed to using a monitoring station, I have no monthly charges or contracts with a security provider. They do offer a $9.99 per month monitoring solution that I may look into, but I wanted to get it all set up and fine-tuned prior to doing that. Right now the only recurring charge I'll have is the minute refills on the GSM SIM card from T-Mobile which is only 10 bucks every 90 days.
Useful Research (Google the text right before the "-")
Above all read the manuals first. There are things the manual doesn't tell you and for that the following research will help.
1.) diysecurityforum - There is an assortment of info for you here
2.) visonic - this is the vendor home page
3.) Port Fowarding - you'll need to bone up on port forwarding if you want to remotely monitor with Powerlink interface The port forwarding method and configuration you use will depending upon the brand of router(s) you have and if you have two or a single home-router situation.
4.) PSC05 - This item is needed to make the x-10 stuff work.
5.) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable - this is the special data cable need to connect the PSC05
6.) X-10 - Google this to find out about X-10 in general and the modules you can get to control lamps
7.) SIM Card - Google this to learn about SIM cards. Warning many SIM cards only work in an actual phone. The GSM module Panel behaves as if it is an unlocked GSM-based phone. Make the SIM you buy is supported by a Vendor with strong signal in your area. The T-mobile SIM was cheap but the reception is poor in my area so an AT&T SIM card is more appropriate for me.
In summary, Getting the full deal all working is no simple task, but you can definitely do it. I work in IT, and I'm an X-10, AV and home networking expert. For that reason it was a relatively simple and quick set up for me. I didn't need phone tech support but I suspect most of you will. That said buy from home security store or another seller that offers support after you buy. You'll spend more for the Powermax Pro ($530.00+) from these vendors, but that is because they will give you good technical support. The $480 I paid was from a vendor that has no support, so expect to pay more. Finally, there are $299.99 versions of this that do not come with the integrated GSM, X-10, or Power link. Without all that jazz you lose features, but basic monitoring of your doors, windows, plus some motion detection, and a 10 dollar per month monitoring contract may be all you require. You can add the GSM, PowerLink and X-10 later as separately powered units, but my rationale for buying the integrated version was an easy consolidation of install of all features offered.
I hope this helps and good luck.


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D-Link DI-714P+ Wireless Cable/DSL Router, 4-Port Switch, Prnt Server, 802.11b, 22Mbps Review

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(More customer reviews)Setup: fairly straightforward. There is a "wizard" setup for those who don't like to go through every single option screen. The screen navigation is laid out in a simple, but not intuitive manner - it takes a few moments to realize the buttons on the left change with tab options at the top, but the buttons on the left don't change if there are multiple screens on the right (like "next page" or a button to press). There is no "go back a page" - they expect you to hit the button to the right that is still visible. All my complaining about that aside - it's as easy, if not easier, to navigate and find settings than both netgear and linksys.
Print server: no setup available on the router - it either is or is not plugged in. Software setup for PC works fine. Did not try it with linux yet.
Wireless: finally, something that works with 64/128 bit WEP. Netgear never worked. Linksys was so-so. This works. NOTE: For those who want to limit ACCESS to the WIRELESS by MAC ADDRESS - this unit cannot do it. It can limit by MAC to the INTERNET, but that will also limit who can attach to the unit, both with wireless and with a physical connection. Most other units only use this filter to limit access to the wireless portion. If used, you have to put in all the machines connecting to it - both wireless and physical....
Firewall: Syslog, email logs available. Nice. SPI works. DMZ support. Passthrough ports available. Works great with my nortel VPN client (this is always a good test of PPTP and so on).
FIRMWARE NOTE: I had the hardest time getting this thing to work with windows terminal services. No matter what setting I used, it would lock up then drop the connection until I rebooted the router (software reboot). Some settings would go longer, but I could get it to lock up within 2 minutes. Nothing seemed to fix it - a few people have reported this on the internet, but since most people aren't using the terminal services part of windows on a regular basis - they would never know it.
The fix was to load the 1.22 firmware, not the 1.23 that came with it. This REMOVES the 802.1X authentication tab (some type of shared radius key BS - if you want radius support, get a REAL wireless device) and it removes the 4X mode for the B+ series of wireless adapters (which I do not have anyway).
TO LOAD FIRMWARE: you would need to run either executable (one for MAC or the other for PC) OR use the web browser to upload the file (requires either java or activeX - not sure) because it opens up the "open file" dialog box - meaning - experimental browsers, like those in my beloved linux box - don't work well with this. ALSO - it states in no unclear terms DO NOT UPGRADE USING A WIRELESS LINK. Use a hard wired computer. I went from 1.23 to 1.22 and back and forth and so on testing this remote desktop issue.
FINAL FIX: load 1.23, hit the button to reset the router to the defaults, load 1.22, reboot, hit the button to reset the router to the defaults, then type all your configuration back in.
Why the crazy steps? If you loaded 1.23, typed ANYTHING in the boxes that aren't available in 1.22 - it remembers and will cause problems, even though that option isn't availble in 1.22 (I tried this - several times for fun). 1.23 -> load setup defaults -> load 1.22 -> load setup defaults -> configure.
Live without their crippled version of RADIUS (if you don't know what this is you don't need it) and who cares about the crappy 4X mode for the B+ stuff? Another marketing ploy anyway.
Bottom line - with some experimentation, I figured out the firmware thing. IT has worked BETTER than the linksys ever did (can we say firmware of the week?) and improved over the netgears I have used (you can print and not be disconnected from the internet - thanks a lot netgear).
4 stars because firmware is supposed to fix stuff, and their two listed updates should not have affected the RDP stuff in 2000/XP. But it did.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DI-714P+ Wireless Cable/DSL Router, 4-Port Switch, Prnt Server, 802.11b, 22Mbps

D-LINK DI-714P+ - The AirPlus Enhanced 2.4GHz Wireless Router combines next generation 802.11b Digital Signal Processing ( DSP ) technology from Texas Instruments with D-Link's own robust firewall security features, for simple installation and comprehensive management settings.Fully compatible with the IEEE 802.11b standard, and interoperable with all existing 802.11b compliant devicesSupports 64/128/256-bit WEP encryptionBuilt-In Print Server -Includes Parallel port to connect a printer, along with Windows based print server software applicationDimensions -1.3H x 6.5W x 9.25L; weighs about 2 poundsThree year limited warranty

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NEW BELKIN F5D8235-4 WIRELESS ROUTER N+ (COMPUTER CABLES/ADAPTERS) Review

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(More customer reviews)I ama pc geek from hell. I ahve built my own pc's for over 10 years and been through a lot of them. I have used 20 types of monitors, mouses, keyboards and routers. I have used the msot expensive routers on the planet and I can tell you, not one single one compares to this one. tech support was awesome when I needed it years ago and now it is so easy to set up you do not need help. but if you do they are they 24/7.
I have several pcs on one network and this router is the bad boys of them all. The price is what makes this the ultimate cream puff on top of that.... It should be the most expensive compared to the others I have returned and I have tried them all.
Thank you Belkin!
Keep them coming!


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Dell TrueMobile 2300 Wireless Broadband Router, Model WX-5565D Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought that router because the cable modem from Comcast is crap, so I need a router to share the internet connection with other computers at home.
I am so glad that router is cheap because it's not an newest model, but it works well. It's not 802.11n but it's enough for me at this moment.

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NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)This USB adapter will cause your sound card to stutter in a horrible manner. Many users on the netgear forum are reporting this issue and NETGEAR is not fixing this problem.
This is not a problem with XP/Vista IRQ conflicts (I went through the process of verifying this myself, which requires me to re-install XP to get my hyper threading support back). This is 100% a NETGEAR issue.

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The NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter makes it simple for you to provide the highest speed wireless internet access to your computer, whether it is a desktop or notebook, letting you surf the web, check email, stream music, make internet phone calls, and get a leg up on opponents when playing online games.
Easy to Carry, Easier to Setup Small and easy to pack in a bag, the WN121T is an elegantly designed thin white box with rounded corners that stands upright on your desk and has built-in storage for the USB cable. The adapter supports Windows Vista and is also compatible with Windows XP and 2000 SP4. The WN111 features a USB 2.0 connection for wide compatibility and high speeds, and setup is as simple as installing the included software and plugging the USB connector into an available port.
Fast, Backwards Compatible, and Secure The NETGEAR WN121T uses the Wireless-N protocol (based on 802.11n draft) for speeds up to 300 Mbps and a range ten times that of 802.11g adapters when paired with a NETGEAR Wireless-N Router. With this much speed and bandwidth, you can easily download large files, place Internet phone calls, download MP3s, stream video, and play online games -- all at the same time, without hiccups, and from farther away. You'll notice the difference immediately.
The WN121T is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless networks so you'll be able to connect to any hotspot, and it improves network performance up to 50 percent when used with the older 802.11b/g networks.
You can feel secure about your information as the adapter supports Wi-Fi protected access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK) and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for IEEE 082.11b and IEEE 802.11g. The included software makes managing different WEP passwords a breeze as you can set up different profiles for each location you frequent, saving yourself the trouble of having to type in encryption keys each time you connect to a hotspot you've already used.
The NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter, installation guide, setup CD, warranty/support information card.

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Netgear WGU624 Double 108 Mbps Wireless A+G Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a very experienced information technology professional. I wanted to upgrade my old SMC 7004 since my 13 year old decided to step on it and break off one of the antenna stalks. I went for this beauty because of specs and looks.
I downloaded the latest firmware (.11) and flashed it before doing anything else.
I did not have any problem configuring it since the browser interface is pretty straight forward. I have PPPoE with Verizon DSL and use 64 bit WEP since I don't want to have to configure all my wireless bridges around the house. I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes and I had Internet connectivity as well as brand new DHCP leases on every laptop and over every wireless bridge except for one laptop still running an old SMC2635W PCMCIA 11b card. The throughput was pretty decent for the 11b/g side and phenomenal on the 11a side. It gave a very strong signal on my back porch, way better than the 7004.
This euphoria lasted about 20 minutes. Since then, it has decided to drop connection to the Internet, drop DHCP, drop connectivity and behave in a very erratic manner.
I have been resetting it at least once every few hours for the last three days. I am getting so frustrated that I want to open the window and chuck it out.
Needless to say It is going back today.
Shame on you Netgear.

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As networking technology continues to evolve, the needs for a wireless network continue to expand, be it in the home or office. A home user may find his existing Wi-Fi wireless network inadequate for transferring movies and home video files to his notebook PC, as there is too much interference from other networks, or the speed is just not sufficient. The NETGEAR WGU624 Double 108 Mbps Wireless Router operates in either of two 108 Mbps modes, similar to having 2 networks in one product. The first 108 Mbps mode is compliant with standard 802.11g, while the second is an 802.11a network free from interference by other wireless traffic such as microwave ovens and cordless phones, and thus ideal for applications such as video streaming.

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D-Link DI-784 Wireless Cable/DSL Router, 802.11a/802.11g, 108Mbps Review

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(More customer reviews)
As several others here, and elsewhere, have reported - the unit worked fine (great actually) for several months, then started locking up. All LED's lit - reboot and all is ok. Does it once or twice a day, sometimes more often. If I leave for a few days, it will surely be locked up when I return. Have updated to the latest 2.40 firmware - no help.

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Belkin F5D9230-4 Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router Review

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(More customer reviews)The original version of this router was version 1000, based on the same platform as Belkin's F5D8230-4 Pre-N and the Linksys WRT54GX routers using Airgo's v1 technology and a Broadcom engine. It got an excellent review from Tom's Networking guide.
Then Belkin put a whole new circuit bard inside the same case and called it Version 2000. It used Airgo's v2 technology and a Realtek engine, and got roundly criticized on the equipment forums for being an inferior product.
The latest version is 3000, which isn't even based on Airgo technology any more. Now Belkin is using Ralink technology, and it's essentially the same router as the Airlink AR-525W, SparkLAN WRTR-300 or Compusa's store brand MIMO router, any of which can be found in stores for about 25 bucks. The version 3000 technology bears no resemblance to the Airgo version that got such a good review at Tom's. In fact, the router with the Ralink chipset (the Airlink) came in dead last and was the only one to receive a rating of "not recommended" in Tom's roundup.
Of course there's no way to tell in advance which version you'll get, but it's a pretty good bet you'll get the latest one. The only way to tell is to look at the sticker on the bottom of the box.
This practice of changing the internal electronics without changing the model number is a really annoying practice. It's hard enough to do all your research and decide which model to buy, so then to end up with something entirely different from what you thought you were getting is just maddening. Your best bet is to just stay away from this one.

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WIRELESS CABLE/DSL ROUTER G with MIMO

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NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall 4-Port 10/100 Switch with USB Server Review

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(More customer reviews)I've applied the new flash upgrade, and performance is still quite good. Most of my comments from January still apply. Setup is quick, Citrix & terminal services work without modification, and I can connect to my main office via Cisco VPN client. Games are still working too.
As with most vendors, I suspect you'll have better compatibility if you use a Netgear WiFi NIC with this unit. I can get it to work with a Cisco Aironet NIC, but I cannot get WPA encryption to work. WEP (for what it's worth) works, but I'll probably have to spring for the corresponding Netgear NIC if I want to move to WPA.
The print server took a hit with the flash upgrade, however. Now it will only work as long as the PCs using it never reboot. If they do, you lose the connection to the print server until the firewall is rebooted. Tech support has been, um, less than helpful in resolving the issue. For that reason, my rating still stands at 4 stars. I strongly recommend you check the printer compatibility list on Netgear's site before you count on this as a print server.
A couple of other notes:
- The firewall is solid. I'm a networking guy, and I've tried to hack my way in a couple of times. Nothing's perfect, but this is a good solution in the home or very small business market. The worst I've been able to do against this unit is a denial of service, which disabled the Internet connection to my home network until I rebooted the unit.
- If you plan to use MSN Messenger 6.2 and/or Windows XP's Remote Assistance, you'll need to enable UPnP on this unit, which is a bit annoying, but more of a Microsoft issue.
- The e-mail logging is VASTLY improved over that of the previous flash. My logs are much more manageable, and the number of false-positive security alert messages is minimal.
- You can now create up to two remote access VPN tunnels with the new flash. I tried it and it works, although as a home user I can't imagine ever needing that feature. Difficult to set up, though, so unless you have a solid understanding of IPSEC VPN protocols, good luck.
Still, I believe this is a good unit for a home office. For me, combining the functions of print server, wireless access point, and hardware firewall into a single device make it worth the price.

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The NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall 4-Port 10/100 Switch with USB Server is a mouthful to say but provides your business with a router, switch, print server, wireless access point, and firewall. Instead of multiple devices and a tangle of wires, the FWG114P is all you need.
Wired and Wireless Connectivity The FWG114P can connect up to 253 users onto the LAN, including 64 wireless users, to share a single broadband connection. Built in to the router is a 4-port 10/100 switch for up to four connections, as well as an 802.11g wireless access point. The wireless network supports speeds up to 54 Mbps and there is a detachable 5 dBi antenna included.
A USB port allows you to connect a printer to the network that multiple users can share simultaneously. An RS-232 serial port provides a backup connection in case the main network connection fails. A row of LED lets you know the status of the network at a glance.
High-class Security For more security than just a simple NAT router, the FVG318 offers significantly more protection. It provides: a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall to prevent Denial of Service attacks, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), the ability to block Java/URL/ActiveX based on extension, and FTP/SMTP/RPC program filtering.
The FWG114P supports two simultaneous VPN tunnels to protect links between remote locations, encrypting the data between them. The wireless network is protected by 40/64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption as well as WPA.
Easy Setup Even with all the functionality the FWG114P provides, NETGEAR makes setup a breeze with the intuitive Smart Wizard that automatically detects the ISP connection and adjusts your configuration accordingly.
The NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall 4-Port 10/100 Switch with USB Server is backed by a 3-year warranty.
What's in the Box FWG114P, AC power adapter, ethernet cable, installation guide, resource CD, warranty/support information card.

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NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, let's get a few things out of the way: I am not a newbie, I am not bitter, and I have absolutely no incentive to bash any company - Netgear included. I am writing this review because I want to prevent anyone else from making the mistake of buying this product. Why? Because it is a defective design - and, more importantly, Netgear has no idea what is wrong with it. What does that mean to you as a consumer? Your device will most likely fail. And Netgear is not likely to make it right. Here's the story:
After between 3 and 6 months of your router working perfectly, you will wake up one day and only the green power light will be on. The wireless light will no longer blink actively and the network lights will all be dead. Why you ask? Because your router has just bitten the dust. You'll unplug the router several times to reboot it, but nothing will change. Then, you'll press and hold the reset button on the back for 10 seconds or longer - just like the manual tells you to. But that won't fix it either. After a few more tries, you'll finally suspect that the thing is dead and, if you're like me, you'll go to Netgear's site and find no documentation of the problem in their knowledgebase. Then, you'll go to the trusty forums where they can't hide their problems, and you'll see hundreds - yes, hundreds - of posts by users just like you and I who are having the exact same problem. And those are only the small percentage of troubled users who actually bothered to write about it. They'll share stories of nightmare phone calls with Netgear, and some will tell you about the same problem happening to 2, and sometimes 3 replacement routers. Frustrated before you even begin, you'll probably call Netgear to confirm it all and to see if maybe you're reading outdated posts. Certainly the problem must be fixed by now. So you'll call them and get placed on hold for anywhere between 10-45 minutes while you're treated to a selection of awful music, paused only by a shameless pre-recorded message telling you how much Netgear cares about you. Yeah, right. Finally, one of the interruptions will actually end up being a real-live person. What you'll have reached is a tech support agent (friendly, but fairly useless) who will confirm the problem (but only if you're saavy enough to tell them that you already read about it online) and then they'll offer you three return options - all of which have you, as the victim, paying to ship the unit back to them (provided you are still within the 1 year warranty period). Option 1 is for you to ship it and get a replacement within 5-7 business days. The second option is for them to ship you a replacement for $16 within 5-7 business days, along with a prepaid shipping label. This way, I guess, you don't have to bother with choosing the shipping company. And, unbelievably, the third option is to have them expedite you a new unit within 2 days, for the bargain price of a brand new router. How this option is helpful to us, I have yet to figure out. But, it will be presented to you as an option nonetheless. It seems they are making a tidy little business out of selling us defective units.
After all of this, hopefully, you are still calm, cool, and collected enough to ask if they have actually fixed the problem - a logical question to be certain since you don't want to pay to replace a bad router with another bad router. And then, if you get an honest person - as I did - they'll tell you that they actually have no idea what the problem is and that the replacement router will be no different from the one you are returning. So, although I haven't quite made it this far, I'm certain that you'll be doing the whole thing over again in another 3-6 months.
So what can we learn from this little story: 1) This router is sick; 2) There is no cure; 3) Netgear doesn't care; 4) Your time is worth more than all of this.
Stand up for yourself and, if you would be so kind, for me as well. Don't buy this item. Believe me, you will regret your purchase. Remember, this is not an opinion. It is a factual account of what happened to me and to hundreds of other consumers. Don't let it happen to you too.
Thanks for listening...

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition

The NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition lets you easily set up a wireless network in your home so you can share a single internet connection with everyone in your household at speeds up to 300 Mbps. You can stream music and video, make internet phone calls, videoconference, and surf the web, all at the same time.
Easy Setup The WNR854T makes it easy for even a novice to set up a wireless network: just plug the included Ethernet cable from your LAN into the device and insert the included CD into any computer on the network, which will provide step-by-step instructions. The WNR854T includes a stand for vertical placement.
The WNR854T employs a web-based interface for configuration for compatibility with any computer with a web browser. The firmware is also upgradeable via the web interface so you can be sure your router will always be up-to-date.
New Technology Means Blazing Speeds and Backwards Compatibility The WNR854T complies with the latest 802.11n draft specification which allows for speeds up to 300 Mbps; this maximum speed can be achieved when used with other TopDog devices. By utilizing MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) technology, the WNR854T has speed and range far surpassing the older 802.11g standard. The preset internal antennas ensure that the device is always tuned for optimal performance, and NETGEAR's Wi-Fi Multimedia technology optimizes audio, video, and voice applications.
If you still have computers that use 802.11g or 802.11b, don't fret as the router is backwards compatible with the older wireless standards and can be set so all your computers can connect to the network. The WNR854T will automatically figure out the connection type and work accordingly.
By using Gigabit Ethernet for the backend, you'll be certain that the router is receiving data at the highest possible speeds. The router also has four Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet ports in the back for connecting computers to the network via a wired connection that will give the fastest performance.
Security Made Easy The WNR854T offers many security options to ensure your data is private. Double firewall protection keeps your network shielded from outside attacks. It also prevents Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
NETGEAR's Touchless WiFi Security makes it quick and easy to set up network security on a WiFi network by asking for a passphrase from the user. The WNR854T supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK), and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for 802.11b/g networks. Additionally, you can set security through MAC address authentication, allowing only authorized users onto the network.
The NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box WNR854T RangeMax Next Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition, power adapter, Ethernet cable, stand, setup CD, warranty/support information card.

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Axis 2100 Standalone Network Camera-10/100BT RJ45 Rs232 Tcp/Ip Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Axis cameras are currently the best all-around camera for FTPing jpeg images to an ftp server. They are compact, carry their own server, and can be programmed by YOU to do whatever you tell them to do. The problems with these cameras are not in capability or dependability. The company assumes that you are a technically minded person, but their marketting strategy would have you believe that anyone with two or more brain cells clicking at the same time can set up and operate one of their cameras in "no time". Don't be discouraged, though. These cameras are DEPENDABLE once you figure them out. Also, once you get the camera, junk the cheap and fuzzy lens that they give you and buy a good one. There is no alternative for quality here. Sharp pictures are what what you are really after and the lens that it comes with is very disappointing. If you would like to see what a "sharp" lens can do for the Axis camera, take a look at the one on http://www.slocam.com. While the view may be static, it is clear enough for most purposes. THAT is what you want; a clear picture. .... there is much more to tell but it is good to start from here. E-mail me if you want any more info. Marc@slocam.com.

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Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I live in a two story house, with plenty of walls in between. This unit replaced 3 11a Access Points. I can now get 108mbps anywhere in my house with almost 100% signal strenght (my laptop is using the WPC54GX card).
The web interface is very straightforward and looks professional. I would buy it again.

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Now you can enjoy wireless home-network access in those hard-to-reach rooms and--simultaneously--get faster networking and Internet performance, too. The WRT54GX Wireless-G broadband router from Linksys uses the company's advanced SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion) technology to enhance the speed and the reach of a Wireless-G (802.11g) network. The WRT54GX can provide faster wireless network throughput, reduce dead spots, and increase wireless range over standard Wireless-G networks. The handy WRT54GX serves as an Internet-sharing router, a four-port 10/100 switch, and an SRX-enhanced Wireless-G access point all at once. Relative to standard 80 2.11g technology, a network using all SRX products can extend network reach up to three times as far and boost wireless network speed by up to eight times. (Actual throughput, speed, and range depend on a host of factors, from building materials to network traffic and distance from the router.) The device is Wi-Fi-certified and backward compatible with 802.11b (Wireless-B), 802.11g (Wireless-G) and, of course, other Linksys SRX products. Mixed wireless environments such as networks containing SRX, Wireless-B, and Wireless-G products can operate each client at its own maximum data rate. SRX products maintain their higher speed and range, providing the throughput and quality of service to deliver applications such as VoIP (Internet telephony) and video streaming. SRX is based on MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N (802.11n) standard. To improve range and speed, MIMO uses two radios and three antennas on a wireless router or client adapter. To enhance data protection and privacy, the router can encode all wireless trans missions with WPA (Wireless Protection Access). Its powerful Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall enhances protection to all the wired and wireless PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks while also supporting VPN passthrough. Configuration is easy using a Web-browser-based configuration utility. What's in the Box Wireless-G broadband router, a setup CD-ROM with Symantec Internet Security, a u ser's guide on CD-ROM, an AC power adapter, an Ethernet network cable, a quick-i nstallation guide, and a registration card.

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54Mbps 802.11g Wireless LAN/Firewall Access Point & 4-Port Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)overall this is a good product, my only complaint is that i have to unplug it everyday for about 20 seconds to reset it. other than that, it works pretty good. and arrived on time

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Apple MA073LL/A AirPort Extreme Base Station Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using many wireless routers (Linksys, D-Link, SMC, Netgear, Siemens...) over the years, since the early days of 802.11b, but this is my first experience with an Apple router.
There is no need to comment on the manufacturing quality, design and packaging: in typical Apple fashion, they're miles ahead of the competition. For instance, unlike all the other routers I ever used that came with a 110v only power supply, the Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS for short) comes with a universal worldwide power supply equipped with a standard power cord.
Performancewise, it is exceptional. I have been putting it through its paces over the past few days and it's barely breaking a sweat in situations where my previous routers (Linksys WRT54G and Netgear WGN824) would progressively get slower, or just plain crash and require a reboot. Coverage is excellent, better than my WGN824's which was already quite impressive.
Apple has traditionally be doing things differently, and it shows here again: unlike most routers, which are managed by accessing a built-in web server, this router can only be configured using the "Airport Utility" configuration program. The bundled CD contains a Mac OS X and a Windows version of the utility (I can already hear groans from the Linux geeks). The utility is extremely simple to use, although I haven't tried to use the more advanced features such as setting up another router like the Airport Express as a range extender.
One problem you might run into is the lack of support for "legacy" devices: although the AEBS offers a compatibility mode with WEP devices called "WEP (Transitional)" which lets WEP and WPA coexist, this mode imposes restrictions on the keys that may not work for you (for instance you won't be able to reuse an existing 40-bit WEP key). The problem is that WEP-40 and WEP-128 are not compatible with the 802.11n standard, so you have to choose between speed or full backwards compatibility. Also, you should know that WEP-40 and WEP-128 are not very secure: there are utilities out there that can crack these keys easily.
Note that 802.11n gives a significant speed boost to the AppleTV and laptops equipped with compatible cards (such as Apple's Core 2 Duo laptops with the 802.11n enabler installed -- you can find the enabler on the AEBS CD). Unless you own one of these machines, there is no harm in switching to a non-802.11n radio mode. How? Just hold the command key (or control on Windows) while clicking on the "Radio Mode" popup in the Wireless tab of the AEBS configuration utility. Extra, non-n modes appear in the list, and once one is selected the WEP-40 and WEP-128 modes become available under Security. If you select WEP-40 or WEP-128 security, you can enter a hex key by prefixing it with a dollar sign.
The AEBS also comes with a versatile USB port, which can be used to attach hard disks and/or a printer (USB hubs are supported). Unlike other base stations or NAS boxes, the AEBS does not require that you reformat the disk; all you have to do is plug it in and voilà! Instant NAS, all your files show up on the network. Some very basic access control features are provided. I plugged in the external USB drive I use to backup my MacBook, and now I can do automated backups without having to worry about remembering to plug in the drive: it just works wirelessly. The AEBS also lets you share a USB printer.
In conclusion, this router is a fantastic performer. Although it's one of the most expensive 802.11n routers out there, its feature set, build quality, performance and top-notch customer support more than make up for the price difference. I recommend it highly.

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Apple has updated its highly rated wireless router with faster speed, twice the range, a lower price, and wrapped it all up in a whole new design. The new AirPort Extreme Base Station now has extra Ethernet ports for making wired computer connections and/or sharing network printers. It even has a USBslot, for connecting a USB printer, external hard drive, or other USB device. Also, it works with both Mac and Windows machines.
About 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station is compatible with the 802.11n draft specification, the new, all-but-finalized (as of February, 2007) standard for wireless networking, or Wi-Fi. Apple says their 802.11n is up to five times faster than the currently ubiquitous 802.11g. It uses three discreet antennas that not only double its range over previous AirPort base stations, but allows up to 50 simultaneous connections. Unless you're an office manager, school principal or a cafe owner, you probably don't care about that much capacity. Still, it's nice to know you can, say, telecommute over the Internet while someone else in your household is streaming video without slowing each other down. Thankfully, AirPort Extreme is backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g devices. Apple does caution, however, that "speed and range will be less if an 802.11a/b/g product joins the network."

And while setting up a Wi-Fi network in your home can often be a confusing, frustrating experience, consumers have learned that Apple is adept at painlessly guiding even novice users quickly through a set-up process. Apple promises that their wizard will have you up, running, and secure in the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee. It offers WPA/WPA2 and 128-bit WEP encryption, as well as a built-in firewall, which helps protect you from Internet intruders.


Sharing Features One of the most interesting features of the new AirPort Extreme Base Station is its ability to turn almost any external USB hard drive into a network attached storage (NAS) device. Just plug the disk directly into the AirPort Extreme Base Station's USB port, and it will be accessible through the built-in file sharing capabilities of both Windows and OS X. The AirPort Disk Utility software helps you set up permissions and passwords, keeping the disk (or parts of it) inaccessible from others on your network. You can similarly turn a standard USB printer into a network printer. The AirPort Extreme Base Station only has one USB port, but you will be able to plug both of those devices and more in by using a separately sold USB hub. Like most wireless routers, AirPort Extreme Base Station lets you create a list of devices allowed to access your network. A new parental control feature in this router, though, lets you lock out specific devices, like a kid's computer, from connecting during certain hours of the day, such as after bed-time.

What's in the Box Apple MA073LL/A AirPort Extreme Base Station, AirPort Utility for Mac and Windows, AirPort Disk Utility for Mac and Windows, 802.11n Enabler for Mac, Bonjour for Windows, power cord, printed and electronic documentation.

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Apple Time Capsule MB765LL/A 1TB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've owned the Apple Time Capsule 1TB model for several months now.
Pros:
1. Very large 1TB hard drive
2. Very fast WiFi connections
3. Easily sets up with your network (what Mac product doesn't?)
4. Much faster on my DSL network than the DSL wireless router I had previously connected
Cons:
1. Extremely SLOW data transfer. I'm not exaggerating when I say it took 15hrs to backup a wired connection with about 250gb of data to transfer...... wireless backup of that amount of data wasn't even reasonable, it was going to be several days.
2. I had wanted to use it for my iTunes library. To share my library on several devices when my Macbook was not available. Turns out the transfer speed is too slow for this purpose and I had to scratch that idea.
3. At times, it's been too slow to even use for Time Machine. The problem lies with the hard drive it seems since the wireless connection is extremely fast. Maybe there is some issue with the way the Time Capsule communicates with it's hard drive? I don't know, I only know it's painfully slow.
lf this can only be used as a wireless network hub and painfully slow backups, then there are better options out there. If Apple can somehow get this thing to work as advertised, then it might be worth a look. The way it is now... NOT RECOMMENDED!

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Time Capsule - 1TB

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Belkin Wireless Surf Router (F7D2301) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Scratch my original review: What every other reviewer is saying is true. Horrible connection, constantly dropping connections...this thing sucks. Going to one of the big box stores to buy a D-Link (which I've never had problems with). Thanks belkin for putting out crap!I had actually originally ordered the Belkin Wireless Play Router (F7D4302). After rereading the differences, I figured I could live without the extra "apps" and the USB port. I'm sure I made the correct choice at this point!
First about the physical aspects of the router:
When I opened the box I was really surprised. The cables are plugged into the router where they should be already. That might not seem like much, but to explain this to my father on the phone for when his shows up, it will be a snap. There was no "manual", but it is included on the cd. I do like that it came preconfigured with WPA2 and a password on a card. There is space to write down your configurations that you set, and it stores in a little pocket under the router.
Next the software and firmware:
The application on the CD just takes you to the router config (which you can do through a browser if you know the url which ISN'T a 192.168.x.xxx). The tool automatically configures everything, but I suggest setting a password for the router itself. There is also a program it installs, but I haven't had to use it yet. The firmware gives a bevy of options that I got to playing around with. There isn't anything special here to be honest. QoS is set to on, I've yet to decide whether to leave it or not. I don't have voip, but I stream a lot of movies from my own network and also boxee and Zinc. Some of the menu's don't have as many options on the same page as I would prefer which caused me to browse more pages that I thought necessary. Nit picky yes, but I enjoyed the firmware on my Dlink Gaming Router.
Finally Performance and Pricing:
Let's be real. It's a excellent performing $49 wireless N router. I've yet to see the value add of the "Self healing" application, but overall, for the price, I didn't see a better offering. Performance wise, I used to be able to transfer 10GB + files on my Dlink Gaming Router (g) at about 2-3Mb/s. I get 12-15 with this one. I'm very pleased. Streaming 10GB .mkv's is no issue at all now. Probably my only true gripe, it feels like REALLY cheap plastic. I personally would have paid $10 more to get a metal case like the netgear switches. This could be a heating dissipation issue, I'm not sure, but like I said, it feels amazingly cheap (and light).
Don't need the USB, this is your best bet!

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Belkin's Surf Wireless Router with the latest N technology allows you to surf the web, email and instant message from anywhere in your home.

Get 36% OFF

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Cisco-Linksys WRV54G Wireless-G VPN Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this item from Amazon even though the reviews I read were less than stellar. I just assumed most of the problems were user configuration errors. After all.... it is easy to mess up a VPN configuration, especially if you are using Windows IPSEC policies because the UI for setting that up can be a little misleading.
However after setting it up in my home lab I discovered that... it just didn't work as a VPN device. I connect with a VPN client called SSH Sentinel (it is a little dated but works on every other VPN I have used). I could get a connection fine but it refused to route traffic inside the LAN at all. Even setting up the route recommended by Linksys it still would not work.
So I decided not to give up yet and searched out Google groups for people who have solved this issue and I found... no one. Everyone complained at the constant problems with each firmware release and the inability to VPN into the router properly. I was surprised because quite frankly all the other linksys hardware I have work great. I rarely have any problems with their print server, kvm switches and other routers... why in the world would Linksys drop the ball on this product.
Well it seems this particular router is different than any of Linksys's other routers because it is running an embedded version of Linux. It would seem that Linksys and this Linux vendor are having some big difficulties getting this thing to work and perhaps it got pushed out the door too soon.
Well I went out and bought a cheaper BEFVP41 VPN router from Linksys (it is not wireless but I had a spare WAP-G) and I was able to get a VPN connection the first time.
So.. if you buy this router to VPN into your home network you will have some serious problems. I also had some flaky wireless problems with it but I must admit... after reading all the problems with this model I put the thing back in the box and bought something else that works...
I hope this isn't the end of Linksys putting out good products and being responsive to their clients...

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