What Is BELKIN Wireless Cable DSL Router?
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Before the popularization of broadband, there was little demand for Internet connection sharing. Surfing the Web with a dial-up modem is slow enough when you're not sharing it, let alone when you have two or three computers using it at the same time. Because broadband is more than ten times faster, however, sharing the connection amongst a few computers is not just feasible, it is downright recommended! Consequently, a wide range of routers and combination devices have hit the market making it not only possible, but also easy, to set up broadband connection sharing. Once your connection is shared, all your computers will be able to use the Web, email, instant messaging and any other Internet application you can think of - anytime and all the time. When you set up a shared connection you are essentially setting up an Ethernet network - wired, wireless, or both - around your home and/or office, with a connection to the Internet attached to that network.
There is of course a variety of wireless cable DSL router nationwide. One of those is the Belkin wireless cable router. It is a compact, gray, and inconspicuous, the Belkin wireless cable/DSL gateway router combines straightforward setup with very respectable performance. Equipped with a standard 802.11b radio, it also features a WAN port for connecting a DSL or cable modem and three 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports for land-line connections. Belkin--best known for its cables and connectors--has not produced a flashy, feature-packed gateway, but its perfectly serviceable unit can provide reliable wireless access for any home or small office. And it has a lifetime warranty. As with most routers, to set up the $250 Belkin, you must first connect it to your computer via an Ethernet port and to your DSL or cable modem via its WAN port. Then, fire up the browser-based setup utility by typing in the provided IP address. Unfortunately, despite Belkin's reputation as a cable company, you won't find an Ethernet cable in the box, so remember to buy one.
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The setup utility is a little thin on explanation, but the unit's printed manual (also included in electronic form on the CD-ROM) provides a good 30 pages of setup info and a glossary of terms. The utility offers MAC Address cloning, a must-have feature if your broadband ISP prefers to talk to only the Ethernet card you used when setting up your account.
The Belkin offers plenty of security for your network, but some components have to be enabled manually after setup. By default, no password is required to access the setup utility. When unauthorized computers attempt to intrude, the built-in firewall pops up alerts and keeps a log of the disruptions. While most vendors offer a one-year warranty, Belkin backs its device with an incredible lifetime warranty and toll-free, 24/7 phone support. The Belkin Web site also offers drivers, manuals, and FAQs. So, definitely it is such a recommendable item to purchase.
Broadband Vs Dsl
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