I recently moved into a new home with a DSL connection. Since we were about to become a multi-computer household, I began looking into my options. My only two options were to use the DSL on only one computer at a time, or to create my own network.

My network contains a desktop and a laptop computer, the desktop was already positioned near a phone jack and had an Ethernet card, as it had already been using the DSL. The laptop could be used anywhere, but if I had to be wired in, I’d either have to sit in the same room, which would be pointless, or to start running cable through the walls. Neither of these options was particularly attractive to my parents or me. So I decided to go wireless.

This unit, the Linksys router/AP/switch, was the perfect fit for what I needed. I really needed the wireless access point aspect of the unit, but the other features are handy in a single package. I will be adding additional computers in the future, and now that I have actually set up two computers, it will be no sweat.

SETUP

Setup for my needs was a little difficult, probably because I’ve never dealt with DSL, networks, or one of the two computers involved. It took a while to get the wireless portion of the network running, not due to signal, but because my computer wasn’t connecting to the Internet properly. I think this issue is related to the computer though, not to the router. The “quick start” instructions included were surprisingly easy to follow, understand, and quick. My desktop was online in about 15 minutes (not including the time it took to find my WIN98 CD).

USE

Once I was set up and running, the router works beautifully. My connection to the Internet doesn’t waver, nor does my connection to the other computers/printers in the house. I haven’t had the router fail for any reason. Wireless performance is quite good as well. My connection runs at full speed from one end of my home to the other and outside.

COST

Linksys produces some of the most efficient networking hardware on the market, and it is also some of the most inexpensive, especially if you shop around.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 179.99
Driver Availability: Don't Know