Instant Broadband

The box for Linksys' EtherFast Cable\DSL Router says that this product is in the Instant Broadband series and nothing could be closer to the truth. My roommate and I got cable access from RoadRunner and wanted to share the connection. I asked RoadRunner's customer service and they gave me a pitch on how I had to purchase a separate IP address for $10 a month.

I knew that this could not be true, because I have a friend who split the same connection using a router. He suggested I try the Linksys router and I was more than pleased. In no time, I and my other two roommates had our own Network right in our home. I think that this is quite amazing since we set the network up ourselves and neither of us had any experience with networking whatsoever. I mean none.

Super Easy Setup

When I say it was easy to set up, I mean it. Of course you have to have an Ethernet card installed on you computer. If you do not have one before you get high speed access, you will need it to connect through DSL or Cable anyway. Setting up the router to give internet access though the cable connection could not have been easier.

You only have to read the manual and figure out what cable goes where. This was extremely easy due to the detailed descriptions and pictures. You literally just connect your access cable or line to the router and just run a network cable from there to the computers Ethernet connection. The hardest part was figuring out how to run the cable without is looking tacky. That was easily solved by running the cable under the carpet. Lucky for us we have carpet.

Included Goodies

The router comes with all the items you need, except the network cables. This is not uncommon for routers, since it would be impossible for the manufacture of the router to estimate how long the runs will be from the router to your computers. All hardware and mounting apparatus was included.

The instruction manual that came with the router looks intimidating because of its size. However, it is not as complicated as it looks. The instructions for setting up the router and firewall are not complicated at all. The manual's size only reflects all the advanced features that the router has. The tech helper CD is a wonderful addition that most new and some advanced networkers will find useful.

Some Specifications

-I would hate to bore you to death, but I have to tell you about some of the benefits and features that this router has.

-You can share your Broadband connection throughout you home or small office.
-You can use just one IP address to access the internet for you entire network.
-It supports remote administration and IPSec pass through.
-It comes equipped with a high speed 4-Port 10/100 switch.
-You can connect up to 253 PCs to the internet using only your one IP address.
-Firewall protection automatically provided due to a NAT firewall.
-Comes equipped with an internal switch that dramatically speeds up your gaming and multimedia functions.
-Can act as a stand-alone DHCPserver for your network.
-Supports single-session IPSec Pass Through and PPTP Pass Through.
-Has a DMZ Host Option that allows one PC to be exposed to the internet, allowing two-way communication between the PCs and internet services.

I know that this may not all make since to a beginner, because most of this meant absolutely nothing to me when I first bought this product. However, like me, with time you will begin to understand all the remarkable features that this router has. The best part is that you don't have to know anything about networking to reap the benefits that this product has to offer.


Recommended: Yes