Routers
Last month Tampa had some sort of odd wind storm in the middle of the night and our power went out three times in less than 5 minutes. The next morning I discovered my router got shorted as a result of the strong winds. As always I couldn’t find the warranty for my power strip and had to work on a replacement.
Several months ago I sold a brand new 4-port Linksys for $40, d’oh. I had my neighbor retest my SMC router hoping I had a faulty wire connection somewhere on the network. Considering the fact that it would light up as normal. Nah, it was dead. I wanted to replace this router with the same kind, but didn’t realize that it retailed for $80 and up. For that price, I’d rather go completely wireless.
I decided that I would try out the new modem/4-port switch/wireless router that I got for free from Verizon, the Westell Versalink. To make a long story short with this lovely paper weight, I know why it’s free. Good luck configuring its “highly advanced port forwarding features” that is all preconfigured. Even after overriding and tossing one PC into DMZ, nada.
Then it was time to just go buy a new replacement. I was so annoyed with everything I just went and picked up a simple 4-port Belkin router. OMFG. If you ever feel like paying for a pile a shit, choose Belkin. Aside from the fact that it uses port 80 to configure the router via web, after overriding this setting it still wouldn’t let me use this port. After fully reconfiguring I get: Lag, Lag, Steady, Lag, reset.
At this point, I assume, TEST THE WIRES. After testing and replacing these I give my neighbor the new Belkin and an hour later he returns and says, “It lags, goes steady, and then resets itself”. Boo on you Belkin.
After a few days, I return the Belkin get a 4-port Linksys and all is beautiful. Until after my tenth day of being able to return the Linksys, their Wireless-G with 4-port switch goes on sale for the same price. Go figure.
Of course, this is the reason why my webpage was down for weeks. Now everything is finally stable.
When it comes to networking, I will never, ever, ever stray from SMC or Linksys.
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
Maybe you’ve got lucky when you picked the Linksys. Just three days ago, a 24-Port Dumbswitch made by Linksys started spewing out bad packets. That switch was only 3 months old. There have been other bad instances which I could recall that my Linksys equipment went bad. Same thing with SMC equipment. It was actually the 24-port Switch by Linksys that replaced the 3 8 port SMC switches (those actually lasted 1 year). I guess you get what you pay for. Now, all of my equipment are actually running on Macs. One month ago, I’ve eBayed an old iMac, installed OpenBSD on it, and it’s been running my webserver for about a week now. Its all hooked into the AirPort Extreme base station.
Jan 14th, 2005
My SMC actually lasted about 3 years and it was used before that to boot. I hope by some dumb luck this linksys lasts longer than 3 months.
If any more problems arise I might just jump the PC fence myself…maybe.
Jan 14th, 2005
I use LinkSys as a router of last resort (got piles of them laying around at home and in the lab). I use a SonicWALL TZ170 (full firewall with built-in hub, wifi ipsec upgradable). http://www.sonicwall.com/products/tz170.html
But I pay NFR prices for them, so there’s that.
Jan 14th, 2005
Now that’s a nice piece of equipment. For the retail price however, I could put together at least 2 new computers!
Jan 14th, 2005
Net Gear is Satan as far as I am concerned. Of course, I have hated Belkin products ever since one of their “surge protectors” basically said, “GO ahead Mr. Lightning Bolt! Blow the FLIPPIN’ CRAP out of everything plugged into me! I don’t mind!”
So meh. LinkSys is the way to go!
Jan 21st, 2005
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