Linksys Etherfast Wireless Router: Wireless internet made simple.
Written: Dec 16 '03
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Pros: Looks cool, great range, easy set up.
Cons: Advanced options may confuse some users.
The Bottom Line: If only the bottom line was wireless.
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| rice75's Full Review: Linksys (BEFW11S4) 802.11b Wireless Access Point |
After trashing the Linksys Wireless-B Network Kit, I wanted to give the router included in the kit a fair shake. The router included is the Linksys Etherfast Wireless Access Point Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch (BEFW11S4). This router is a powerful router, perhaps too powerful for the average user, but definitely robust enough for the power user and for professionally installed networks. Don’t let that statement scare you away, though. This is definitely suited for home wireless networks as well.
The Linksys Etherfast is packed to the dual antennas with features. It operates using the IEEE 802.11b protocol, transmitting data up to 11 Mbps. While this may not be sufficient for transferring big files fast over your network, it will suffice for average network traffic and sharing a broadband internet connection. It boasts a huge range (91m indoors, 478m outdoors) which is a plus if you’re going to be sharing your connection throughout your house. This will provide more than enough range to go anywhere in the house. I can attest to the great range, anywhere I go I can connect to the router.
It also boasts various security features to give the user the peace of mind that the connected PCs are protected from the outside world. It has an NAT firewall to inspect all incoming traffic and ensure that it is something it is expecting. It also supports WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) both 64 and 128 bit encryption. This is something that has been maligned by security experts but it is all we have for now. Since I set this up at my parents house I’m not too worried about my network being compromised.
Installation of the router was easier than I had expected. The ISP being used is SBC/Yahoo DSL service. DSL service differs from cable service, so setting up the Linksys Etherfast involved a little more than my Netgear system. The router needed to logon to the SBC/Yahoo service, which is handled by PPPoE. Since the DSL connection will disconnect after a certain period of inactivity, you have to manually have to log on to the DSL service for the PC to reconnect to the internet. Since this is handled by the router, if you connect to the internet from a wireless connection the router will reestablish a connection if needed. You also have the option to force the router to constantly maintain a connection, which is what I do. That way I have one less thing to worry about when I have to troubleshoot any problems that arise.
Setting the router up was simple. As with most routers, all the setup is handled by an internet browser. I was using IE 5. After a couple menus of setup and entering information such as the username and password of the DSL account, I was up and running. The router has both the wireless access and 4 LAN ports, so I first connected the main PC to one of these ports and I was up and running in a matter of a few minutes. I definitely give Linksys kudos for the excellent setup guide, it led me in the right direction with just a quick glance of the included instructions.
What sets the Linksys Etherfast apart from my Netgear wireless router is the amount of control and options that are available to configure and secure the router. You can track the status of your router with things such as the users accessing your router, an ingoing and outgoing IP log, address filtering, and a host of other options. Some of these are standard in most routers, the Linksys Etherfast goes beyond these options will many others. There really is more than I even understand. I don’t have the full “skill set” of networking knowledge, but I do recognize that there are a lot of features here.
It may sound shallow, but the Linksys Etherfast looks cool. With its two antennas and deep blue color just make it look pretty boss. I wouldn’t recommend buying this router on looks alone, though. It really is feature laden router with robust operation and a great range. You can’t go wrong with this piece of equipment. I gets a solid 4.5 stars from me.
Related Links:
Linksys Wireless-B Network Kit
Netgear Wireless Router (WGR614)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 89.99
Driver Availability: Windows only
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Epinions.com ID:
rice75
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Member: Tony Rice
Location: Columbus, OH
Reviews written: 73
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