Linksys EtherFast® BEFSR41 Router

Pros: No hub or switch needed, 4 LAN ports
Cons: Zero guidelines for Macintosh installation

As soon as I ordered my new G4 iMac, I knew I wanted to get a router and network it with my G3 Blue and White Mac. Truthfully, I'd never actually seen a router and didn't really understand how they worked, but I knew I wanted access to our AppleTalk...

Pros: easy set up, easy installation, great tech support for trouble shooting
Cons: firewall can be the root of mostly any problems with the router

It took me until I was in eight grade before I finally caught up with the times (well, tried ...

Pros: Simple, fast, great documentation.
Cons: Can't really say I've found any so far.

Recently, my girlfriend and I moved into a new home together. This changed us from being two, one PC homes into one, two PC home. That being the case, when it came time to get our systems connected I had to go shopping around for a few new items to get...

Pros: A joy to install! Easy on the pocket book, but versatile and very reliable.
Cons: No onscreen warning when DSL connection fails. Firewall/antivirus is built in, but an extra expense.

My friend Nate is a techno-junkie. He's pushing 85 this year. That's both in age and the number of toys he has plugged in at his home. He won't be happy until he has a telephone and a speakerphone in every room. When he hangs up a phone, they all...

Pros: Easy to setup Documentation stored on router
Cons: Drops outgoing connection, often Does resolve names properly Annoying buzzing.

I purchased the EtherFast Router to connect a home network of three machines to the internet over a ...

Pros: Easy setup. Firewall with NAT, port forwarding.
Cons: None.

Every year somebody asks me where they can get a hub for their computer network. Every year I ask them why they need a hub, and every year I get the same answer: "Our cable/dsl was just installed and we need to share it with the [insert number here]...

Pros: It worked for about 6 months, extra internet connections
Cons: Short lifespan, poor tech support

Linksys BEFSR41 v4.1 Router I have had 3 of these routers over the last 5 years or so. The first one lasted about 4 years until one day it slowed the connection speed of any computer connected to it down to less than that of dial-up, then finally ...

Pros: Easy, simple solution to home networking
Cons: none

So, you just got DSL or cable, have a couple PCs in the household and want to share Internet access? This box makes it a cinch.

Originally, before I purchased this router, I had a home network (consisting of a Win2k box, a Win98 box, and a DEC...

Pros: Simple installation, reasonable price
Cons: No written help on gaming configurations

Why Linksys? The salesman at CompUSA recommended this brand as a wired, 4 Port Cable/DSL Router for my Earthlink Cable Modem and Xbox system. I needed a new router because my Siemens Speedstream 4 Port Cable/DSL Routerexpired after 2 ...

Pros: configurable options, port forwarding, DMZ, PPPoE, DHCP, inexpensive
Cons: frequent lock ups, requires reset or waiting for reset

Introduction
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I've had this router for a few years now, originally bought it to share our Cable/DSL connection on a wired LAN. I've since stacked a Linksys Wireless Access Point (WAC) on top of it so we could connect our laptops...

Pros: Easy set up; best high quality-cheap price router; Features galore
Cons: Port 1 gets disabled for using Uplink port

We all know you can buy several internet IP addresses to use for every computer in the house. Because more and more households are demanding more than 1 computer in the house, they are also demanding internet access for each one. Why would anyone pay the...

Pros: Heavy Duty 4-port Switched Router
Cons: Setup, updating the firmware

Linksys 4-port Switched Cable/DSL 10/100 MBPS Router
Model: BEFSR41

This model is wired box not wireless, but is very heavy duty compared to the others on the market for routers. It offers 4-ports switched and 1 uplink port shared (note...

Pros: nice looking, buildin LAN, flawless connection with linksys cable modem
Cons: no manual, online support not comprehensive. Useless firewall

Actually I bought this unit not because I need a router, I need a hub. I had a 10M hub which connects my two computers at home. The speed is very slow when I transfer big file between computers.

Two months ago I installed broadband internet...

Pros: Tech Support was toll free.
Cons: Annoying constant buzz, Would not work, 3 Hour Phone Wait for Tech Support!

The reason we had for purchasing this Linksys was the arrival of cable internet in our house and our need to hook up more than one computer to the cable. We needed one that would handle both a Mac and a PC, and the reviews spoke of this one favorably. It...

Pros: Connects the whole family, easy setup, uses one IP address,reliable.
Cons: None

What a Great Invention! If you have more than one computer in your home, and everyone loves to surf on the internet, I would suggest buying the Linksys Cable/DSL Router. It comes in a 4 port or 8 port version, and is absolutely wonderful. You can all be ...

Pros: Supports PPPoE without dialer software. Web browser setup interface.
Cons: Instructions may not apply to all DSL or cable modems.

I took it out of the box, plugged everything in and it worked. Thank you, good night, and drive safely. Oh, sorry, you wanted a few details, didn't you? For a household like ours (darling wife has an iMac, dear hubby has a PC), the Linksys ...

Pros: Small and does the basics
Cons: Can be confusing for beginners

I have been using a Linksys BEFSR41 router for about 4 years. I have used the router for home use, and has been reliable. This model is hardwired ( not wireless ). I've noticed many negative reviews of this model; perhaps it was designed without ...

Pros: Simple setup, highly configurable
Cons: Slow processor, can't handle heavy wan traffic

This is my third review of a broadband router. Because I've been on a mission to find a fast inexpensive router that can handle my internet usage. The linksys isn't it.

I host two servers on my home network to a 768k DSL connection. One a...

Pros: SHARE INTERNET WITH NO SPEED LOSS
Cons: none yet.

If you have more than one computer in your home or office, and you pay the price for high speed, then you need to share the wealth. There are a couple of ways to do this, but in my opinion the fastest and most secure way is with a wired router. A router ...

Pros: Share your DSL or Cable connection, Enhance Security, Eliminate PPPoE Protocol/Drivers
Cons: Seems to get "hung" at times

I wanted to share my DSL (later Cable Modem) with another PC in my home - and this little box is what did it for me.

Unfortunately, I bought it when they cost $100 instead of the current ~$60 price, but oh well - nature of the industry.
...

Pros: Easy setup, great instructions, reliable quality
Cons: None that I've found

I received my Linksys 4-port Cable Router from buy.com and had the home network up and running by early evening. Cable modem access shared, printer shared, kids playing multiplayer games over TCP/IP.

Setup was painless and quick. I'm giving...

Pros: Easy to configure and install. Very functional.
Cons: Has a tendency to stop working.

The Linksys BEFSR41 is a 4 port switch/router/NAT. What does that all mean for you? It means that it will connect to your broadband connection directly and be the only exposed computer to the Internet and allow for the 4 other computers ...

Pros: Cheap, effective, and incredibly easy to set up.
Cons: None seen.

This won't be a particularly technical review because if you're reading this, you probably already are familiar with what a router does and how it works. I only have one computer at home but, still, I chose to install this router. Why? Because a ...

Pros: Easy setup
Cons: Tech Support not worth you know what

Well My sister recently got a new computer and wanted me to hook it up to the house high speed connection, the only problem was the high speed connection line was on the top floor and her computer was in the basement a few floors down. So I bought her ...

Pros: Provides a firewall and a fast switch. A no brainer to install.
Cons: None

I opened the box, installed and connected the unit between my computer and my cable modem, turned the power on. I rebooted the computer and I had internet access. It was that easy. The BEFSR41 is already configured to act as a DHCP client on the modem...

Pros: Smart and User Friendly
Cons: Absolutely None for Me!

I have used this Linksys router for over 9 months now with zero problems. I am normally one that has zero tolerance for failures :) so if there were any on this end you would hear em!

The setup was plain nothin! Couldn't be easier unless it...

Pros: easy setup
Cons: frequent disconnects

I upgraded from dial up to broadband. In part this decision was made because I wanted to get xbox live. I went out and bought this router. Ever since I've had it I have had conectivity problems. Called Cox a few times and had a couple data techs come ...

Pros: Relatively cheap, pretty easy to use.
Cons: Lacks features, tends to be buggy.

This is the first router I ever had and I replaced it after trying several others. I managed a team of technicians for a while who agreed that other units are far superior. Notably, the SMC products.

Installation is pretty easy. Just plug...

Pros: Quality, Robustness, ease of Use, Simple user interface, Firewall protection
Cons: Only 4 Ports, lack of Cisco Quality customizations, too cheaply priced

All you may ever need in a home network environment so long as you need only 4 ports. Uplink and Wan connections are a boon, and online updates have completed this product into a finely tuned piece of hardware with few if any glitches. Compare with ...

Pros: none
Cons: drops connection, bad performance, buggy software

i'm a IT professional, my home network is more complicated than most of my friends. i have multiple computers, laptops and game console. all of them are connected through ethernet. also i'm running a web server on of the computer and play tons of games. ...

Pros: Inexpensive, browser administration, NAT/Firewall security, reliability.
Cons: Not wireless (this is also an advantage, in some locations)

Here's the scenario. You sign up for high-speed internet, and your ISP provides you with a standard cable modem. One Port, no network security, and then you plug in your vulnerable Microsoft based PC. What's wrong with that picture? Everything, ...

Pros: Popular, been around for a while
Cons: Old technology, overpriced, doesn't work with BitTorrent

The Linksys BEFSR41 has enjoyed the status of being the "standard" of the home broadband router for a couple of years now. However its price and feature set is becoming more and more outdated. Newer routers that support SPI (stateful packet inspection) ...

Pros: Easy installation.
Cons: Caused errors and system problems on two seperate systems.

My first mistake was buying computer accessories at Wal-Mart in the first place. The reason I bought this router is because we've got another system here with a cable connection, and me on dialup, I had to help share the bandwith.

A hundred...

Pros: Attractive physical packaging, easy setup. Handy reset button on the back.
Cons: Drops connections, absolutely no tech support or firmware upgrades for Mac users.

I am on my second Linksys BEFSR41. The first one, bought a few years ago, worked flawlessly with my Power Macintosh G4 running OS 9.x and OS-X and my Roadrunner cable modem. I had previously tried routers from other manufacturers, and had experienced ...

Pros: Cheap & easy, but you get what you pay for, if it works
Cons: New product dies in one week, firmware upgrades don't work

I had a V1 model of this router that worked fine for years. Suddenly it starts dropping connections between machines on my local network (meaning two different machines plugged into the ports on the back, doesn't even involve the Internet.) I read up ...

Pros: Not too hard to set up & many features
Cons: Reliability

I bought this router back in Feb or March 05 & put it to use with my mixed network of MACs & PCs and wired & wireless connections. I use this router as an upstream router that connects to my ISP's DSL through a PPPoE connection. Not too many issues & not ...

Pros: Easy installation and a clean GUI interface.
Cons: The adapter makes a ringing sound every now and then.

If you want to share your broadband service with several computers then this is the hardware to get. It sports 4 ports to connect 4 computers simultaneously to the internet with out buying any extra devices and one port to connect a series of routers to...

Pros: It works, easy to get going
Cons: Longevity

This product is left on 24/7 in a cool area on top of a desk, without anything sitting on top of it. This is important since it needs to dissipate its heat.

However, even with this setup, the router managed to have an irrecoverable failure...

Pros: Very easy to set up and configure. Add PCs to your LAN with ease.
Cons: None that I can think of so far.

The Linksys DSL/Cable router 4-port switch has been the easiest piece of networking equipment I've installed yet. This unit requires very little up-front configuration or changes. The unit allows you to configure your LAN for DHCP (it will...

Pros: Easy to configure NAT router integrated with ZoneAlarm firewall and PC-cillin antivirus
Cons: Not a true firewall since software is needed. Also latest firmware provides protection.

This is a tale of two brothers, one a die-hard PC user since 1991, and the other, a die-hard MAC fan since 2001, and their computers hooking up to the BEFSR41 Linksys router.

My brother is more paranoid than I am and has an Alphashield between...

Pros: The hardware is reliable; had mine for over a year.
Cons: Software is getting worse. 1.42.3 now on LinkSys web site is NOT usable.

The hardware has been solid (had it over a year now); but the software is getting worse and LinkSys support is non-existent. To be fair, they can't reply to my e-mails; but that's because they don't appear to have the skills to fix their DNS server....

Pros: Easy Setup
Cons: Some problems if your using a VPN for work

Not know very much about setting up my own network at home I was told to buy one of these routers and set it up that way. I was amazed to find that it is really *very* simple to set up and get working, very quickly.

A good way to have more...

Pros: Allows you to share your broadband internet with 4 computers.
Cons: Bad tech support, negative reliability.

I bought this 4 port linksys router after having decent luck installing a similar single port router for my parents. At first it seemed great, I was able to share four computers without a hitch... until I started sending and recieving large amounts of...

Pros: Easy Setup, Fast Routing, Reliable (Doesn't Crash or Require Power Cycling)
Cons: None.

I've been using a LinkSys BEFSR41 for over a year now to share a high speed Starband satellite inter ...

Pros: Very easy set up. 24/7 tech support, an easy RMA process
Cons: cheap plastic case

I have been a big fan of Linksys products for years now. I am a computer engineer that has set up numerous networks, both in offices and homes, and I have to tell you that this router was the easiest to set up and for over 2 years have had zero problems....

Pros: Good looking, easy to set-up, and nice features for advanced users
Cons: Disconnect problem.

I purchased a brand new Linksys befsr41 version 3 router two days ago. I was pleased to hook up both computers and turn them on achieving instant internet - truly plug and play. The next day I lost internet. I'm on cable by the way. So I started from ...

Pros: Cheap
Cons: Unreliable / Poor Customer Service

Linksys products have been degrading in quality over some time. This product is no exception. I have had to RMA several of these items over the last year. Linksys support is outsourced, meaning poor communication. Also, the support department is no longer about providing support, but will instead try to throw roadblocks in your path to keep you from replacing your defective product. Expect several calls and at least a week to replace a defective product through Linksys if you have never had to run their gauntlet before.

Pros: None
Cons: Installation was a nightmare. Works only intermittently. Not worth the money.

I bought this router for a home network; two desktops & a laptop. Installation was a real pain. It took multiple attempts to get it going. It worked off and on for about three months then quit. Nothing I did would get it working again. I contacted tech support and sent it in for repair/replacement. When it came back it had the same problem. It never did work. I retired it to the scrap heap. I have subsequently read that others have had similar problems.

Pros: Set Up easy
Cons: Re-setting router very tedious

I've had this for over 3 years and I've had alot of problems with it. Linksys told me on many occassions I needed a new router, which wasn't true.

Re-setting the router is a real pain. This issue came up very often.

On the positive side Linksys was very helpful with set up, they made it easy

Pros: Easy set up
Cons: Warranty and the units don't last.

GARBAGE. Its the best way i can describe it. Bought the first one and easy to set up but only lasted just under the year warranty,and had to send the unit back to LINKSYS first,then after they determined it was defective (2 1/2 weeks later),set me the replacement one that lasted 14 months, and when i contacted the company they said the warranty ran out one the first one ,so the replacement one had NO warranty at all when i received it.One fact i almost didn't cover,is that these units where on a APC battery back up with surge protection.
So noe i bought a Belkin (so far its working good),because i was not going to give LINKSYS any more of my money. Think three times before buying a LINKSYS.

Pros: Was easy to set up.
Cons: Numerous problems and then it died after one year!

Died one week after the warranty expired!!! Had problems with my connection and thought it was cable, but turns out it was the router (which then died completely). Thought Linksys was a top maker - then I went to retail store and was told it was not unusual for them to die. Horrible - will never buy Linksys again. If you have a choice, buy another brand, this one did not live up to the hype.

Pros: A breeze to install, nice control panel.
Cons: It stops working frequently, completely worthless.

I bought this router to replace an outdated hub, it seemed fine at first but it dropped my connection a few times a day. The router would completely lock up and I couldn't even access it from its local address. In order to get it working I'd have to manually reset it with the button on the back, I got tired of this and returned it for a refund.

I do not recommend this router to ANYONE, it'd be a perfect router IF IT WORKED but it doesn't. I've heard about other people having the same issue so it could just be a bad release, or just a lot of faulty hardware.

Pros: Simple low cost solution for sharing broadband access.
Cons: None.

I took it right out of the box, applied power, connected the cable modem and two computers and it was running. I didn't even use the manual or installation disk. It can't get any easier than that. It has worked flawlessly since.

Pros: It detected my dsl connection with no problems
Cons: the router drops my connection after heavy duty internet usage

This router likes to drop my connection anytime i put it through heavy duty internet usage. Whenever i try to upload a large family quicktime video file i dont know whether or not it will get thru. About every other day i have to unplug the router, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in. i also noticed a delay of 1 or 2 seconds when opening internet explorer with this router. i am currently looking for a more robust router that can handle anything i throw at it. as my title indicated, there are better routers out there.

Pros: Easy installation. Cost effective. Attractive blue and grey color. Very simple to set up.
Cons: Can't access free tech support unless you have system up and running.

I had one of these that blew during a brown out, and went to the store and purchased another without hesitation. By far, the simplest and easiest to use Cable/DSL Router out there. The instructions were easy to follow and the software installed without difficulty. Currently we have two systems routed through it - and our speeds remain super fast with no delays. This model is redesigned from the one I had before and is sleeker with less lights and a sturdy base.

Pros: Ease of use (web based interface) Quick setup
Cons: Doesn't protect against DOS attack

The linksys router offers great features for all basic or advanced networking needs. It comes with easy to use software so even the novice networker can install with ease. I have owned one for 2 years now and I am very happy with it. Everytime I've ever had any trouble with my network connection it's never been the router always the ISP! The only problem I had with one in this time was being struck by lightning and 2 of the 4 ports still worked! This router gets my vote.

Pros: easy setup 4 port switch makes it pretty fast
Cons: not enough slots in the port forwarding section

i have used this router for some time now and i am generally pleased with its overall performance.

easy to use and plenty of features for more advanced users

however i had 1 prob with there being not enough slots to forward ports

other than that great router for little money

Pros: Good email support. Worked fine until it quit.
Cons: quit working in less than 6 months, Keep your receipt.

One day it was working fine and the next zilch! I used email support and received a lot of courteous attention but couldn't get it to come back on. I could ping it but it would not connect to set up - when connected to modem could not get on line.

Pros: ease of use ,Plug in 3 cables ,power supply and your up and running
Cons: None

i wanted to share two computers with one cable modem.i purchased the linksys router and had both computer up and running in less than 10 min.
both systems run winxp and everything was configured properly right out of the box.
it took longer to run the 25 foot cat 5 cable to other system

Pros: reliable;easy to use. Uptime of this router is great to have an always on connection.
Cons: Your router will become outdated when they release a new version of it.

Linksys is a well known brand that takes pride in its work. This unit is well priced in its range. The web management features are best of breed.

SECURITY:
Blocking hosts from the internet is easy you can do it via MAC address or IP of the host. Firmware updates for security related issues.

INTERNET TIME SAVER:
You can use NAT to share the same IP over the internet. You cant share the internet with windows like this. Out of the box you have an item that saves you time.

OS FRIENDLY:
You could be using a Linux or a Microsoft product due to the web management any operating system with a web browser can use this.

RELIABLE:
This is the key you need your network to work. You need a router that you don't need to reboot every few days. I have had no problems with this router just working. I have only had 2 instances where the router has fallen over in 2 years. I reboot the router once every 3 months and thats it.

Pros: It is a good router for the novice. Just plug and play. No setup.
Cons: I have replaced three because they go dead. Instruction book says re-down load firmware.

I have had four routers and only one is still working. I have to go buy another and it will not be a Linksys.
Instruction book says re-down load firmware. I can't even talk to the router. The link lit is green and the dia is read. The reset button does not seam to work on any of them.

Pros: Easy to install. Good for basic users
Cons: Absolutely horrid for powerusers

The Linksys BEFSR41 is adequate for the occasional surfer on the internet, but horrible for powerusers. If your whole purpose is to connect mulitple computers to each other and the internet, then this product is alright. No more.

This product showed serious latency during name resolution when browsing around. This latency was more prevalent on images and sites that I hit for the very first time (taking into account your local cache).

Due to this, I went back to NetGear, which is in my technical opinion, the superior product. Switching from the Linksys BEFSR41 to the Netgear RT311 was like night and day. I have a separate Linksys 16 port switch, so the single port NetGear router was still perfect. Browsing and name resolution through the Netgear product was immediate.

IMHO, go NetGear.

Pros: Very easy to set up, trouble free firewall, inexpensive
Cons: Occasionally drops its connection, possible security flaws

I bought this router to set up a 3 computer home network with cable INTERNET access. Having had a little experience with routers before I expected trouble. However within 20 minutes I we were all set up, with no problems, the steps were very easy to follow and the router is easily configurable. I had to make a few adjustments to get the most out of bit torrent downloads, but otherwise I haven't had to change a thing, and I for one have had no problems with its built in hardware firewall. The only real problem I experienced is once a week or so it drops its connection and I have to reset it. I read somewhere recently that certain Linksy routers are vulnerable to certain types of exploits. You might want to do a little checking before purchase.

Bought router 10 months ago. 2 ports failed 1 month ago. Returned to Linksys. 2 weeks later got replacement. Power supply was physically broken. Linksys sent replacement power supply. Plugged in replacement router, it was defective, no WAN connection. Called Linksys support, support rep I spoke with was pretty worthless. Have been without router going on a month. Will return the new defective router and broken power supply to Linksys tomorrow, right after going to Best Buy to get a D-Link...

Pros: Inexpensive, fairly robust, blue
Cons: Firmware must be watched

Like all routers, they need to be updated and somewhat maintained - this one is no different. Been working decently for a couple years now. For typical at home networks this one works great, but for more demanding uses I would not recommend it.

I have used this product for 2 years and not one problem! Easy to hook up and browser accessible for set up.very pleased with this product. : )