All The Right Connections

The Age

Thursday June 29, 2006

DAVID FLYNN

David Flynn looks at the freedom and flexibility offered by wireless routers.

NO MATTER what type of broadband connection you have - entry-level over the normal phone line ADSL or super-fast cable, there's one bit of hardware that makes it all happen.

That's the digital modem, which forges the connection between your internet service provider (ISP) and your computer - or perhaps a network.

Many first-time broadband customers settle on a simple, low-cost digital modem supplied as part of the internet service provider's package.

Some ISPs prefer to point users to a recommended model that their help desks are familiar with and hence for which they can offer support during setup. The help desks also offer basic troubleshooting if a connection starts to go pear-shaped.

These modems do all that's asked of them - they feed the broadband signal into a single Windows or Mac computer using either a network port or a USB jack.

However, the time will probably come when you need to improve your network and broadband experience beyond what the simplest ADSL modem can achieve.

A multifunction device broadly known as a gateway is the answer. This can combine any number of features, from a router that lets multiple PCs share one internet connection, to USB ports so the same computers can use a single printer or hard drive.

Some gateways include an ADSL modem, which is a smart buy if you're keen to give your new broadband set-up a little room to grow. Everything you need is in one box, so there's less gear to hook up and fiddle with.

The most common component of a gateway is a router. This is an essential piece of kit if you want to set up a home network and avoid tantrums and timetables when it comes to who gets to use the internet.

If you've bought a printer with built-in networking you'll be able to hook this up directly to the router so that every PC on the network can use it. The network printer port on the router makes it possible for any USB printer to be connected to the network and shared among all the users.

Wireless is the next item on the checklist, due to the growth of notebooks for home and student users - especially those using Intel's Centrino technology with built-in wi-fi.

Most wireless-ready gateways also come with regular networking ports so you'll have a choice of connections, but it's hard to beat the freedom and flexibility of wireless.

Even if the only other PCs in your house are desktop units, unless they're in the same room as the router, it's neater and easier to buy a wi-fi adaptor, which plugs into any spare USB port or slides into the internal PCI slot of your computer (both cost well under $100) than to run cables under carpets, around skirting boards and through walls.

For this week's round-up we selected a handful of gateways with several of those handy features.

None of these wireless routers enabled security by default, so it's up to you to make the necessary adjustments once your network is up and running - unless you want to leave your network open to intruders and freeloading neighbours.

The best form of wireless security for the home is known as WPA-PSK, and your router's instruction manual will explain how to set it up.

The contenders

Belkin F5D7230

$170

****?

If you already have a basic ADSL or cable modem and are looking to set up a home network, it's worth considering Belkin's low-profile gateway. In addition to the mandatory four ports for network cables plus an 802.11g wireless transmitter (wi-fi) you can plug in any USB printer. The set-up process includes an animated walk-through, quick-start brochures for the router and the basics of home networking plus a detailed printed manual. There's also a six-month trial of Belkin's web filter service for blocking unwanted and offensive online content.

belkin.com/anz

Netcomm NB620W

$240

****

Netcomm packs a lot into this compact unit. On top of the four LAN ports and wireless transmitter is a pair of USB ports. The first is for a printer, the second lets you hook up an external USB hard drive for network back-up as well as sharing files such as documents, photos, music and video clips across the network. The fold-out A3 set-up sheet, with its ample screen shots and step-by-step instructions, is one of the best we've seen, except that it contains no instructions for Mac users.

www.netcomm.com.au

Linksys WAG-54G

$210

****

This popular Linksys model is one of two gateways we tested with built-in modems supporting the new high-speed ADSL2+ standard - it also works with standard ADSL connections - making it a smart way to future-proof your network. There are the usual four LAN jacks and 802.11g wireless features but no USB printer port, so this unit falls short of being the perfect fit for a home or small-office network. Set-up instructions were disappointing, relying mainly on a fold-out sheet that sprinted through the basics.

linksys.com.au

Netgear DG834PN

$330

****

Like the Linksys WAG, Netgear's all-in-one gateway supports ADSL2+ for fast LAN and wireless connections but leaves a printer port out of the equation. However, it uses an advanced multiple antenna technology called RangeMax that boosts wireless coverage and speed, even if you're using standard 802.11g wi-fi, although it works best with Netgear's matching RangeMax wireless cards, which cost about $130. The skimpy set-up brochure barely covers the basics before referring you to the supplied CD, which includes the manual as a PDF file.

netgear.com.au

Verdict

Belkin's gateway has nearly everything for the average home network, provided there's already a broadband modem. If you're making the move to broadband, then try an all-in-one gateway with an ADSL modem. The Linksys will do most single-story homes on a budget, while Netgear's RangeMax has the edge in larger, two-storey buildings.

© 2006 The Age

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