Average Rating: 
Rating:  - My PC and my Mac now share high-speed Internet access!
We have a PC upstairs, which is our primary computer, and a Mac downstairs in the tv room. I wanted both to be able to share our broadband Internet service. I looked at several routers, both wired and wireless. It came down to the Linksys (wired version) and SMC Barricade Wireless. I kept coming back to Linksys because a friend owns one and raves about it. Besides the fact that it looks really cool, it almost took me longer to get it out of the box than it did to set it up. No kidding! Using the QuickStart guide, I was up and running in less than ten minutes. You hook up the necessary cables, restart your computer, log-in to the Linksys website to configure your router, restart your computer again, and you're good to go. I wasn't as optimistic about setting up my Power Mac G3. However, I was pleasantly surprised and it took me all of about five minutes before I was doing some high-speed surfing on that machine as well. Fortunately, my Mac has an Ethernet port so it was just a matter of attaching the CAT-5 cable from there to the Linksys and setting the TCP/IP control panel to the Ethernet and DHCP options. I saved my configuration, opened up my browser and spent the next two hours high-speed surfing with no problems. I have no problem recommending the Linksys, especially for its ease of setup on a PC and Mac network. While I would have preferred a wireless setup, they've received mixed reviews and I was concerned about Mac compatibility. After seeing how well my Mac performs with this Linksys, I'm ready to make ours a wired household!
Rating: - Pretty gosh darn happy with it
I was able to set up this router *very* easily, virtually automatically and instantaneously, and have since been able to use multiple computers via my single broadband IP address at once without my usual deal of unplugging cables, releasing and renewing IP addresses, etc. The built-in Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall is great--though I previously received repeated warnings via Norton Internet Security about port scans, etc., I don't recall having a single one since this was installed.Given the relatively low price, the lessened hassle for connecting multiple computers is wonderful, though I primarily purchased the BEFSR41 for the increased firewall security, which has been enough of a benefit in and of itself to more than justify the investment. On the potential downside, I've simply heard elsewhere of people being moderately confused if they desire to adjust security settings for internet gaming, video conferencing, etc. (though I know this is possible). Admittedly, I also haven't experimented yet with transfers between computers and whether or not using the Linksys for such is much of a hassle. One of the most worthwhile investments I can recall having made in recent years, I give the BEFSR41 from Linksys a full and thorough recommendation. Only potential lingering doubts have to do with whether or not I should have purchased a model with wireless capability for potential future expansion, but I don't think I could be happier for my current ongoing needs/wants. Outstanding product, and Amazon had the best price(s) I could find. If you don't mind internet searching for how to handle more advanced uses you might have (like the gaming and file transfers between computers), I think you'll find this one of the best tech investments you can come across. Kudos to Amazon, too, for such a great price and immediate shipping.
Rating: - Step-by-Step for Cox @Home
5 minutes to hook up and about 90 to get working. On the set-up page (DHCP), change the starting IP address to 192.168.1.2 (why it defaults to .100 is a mystery). I have COX cable and set my Linky and computer as follows:Linky: Host Name: cxXXXXXX-x (your Cox machine address) Domain Name: @home Firmware Version: 1.36 Oct 05 2000 LAN IP Address: 192.168.1.1 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 Specify an IP Address: On your Cox paperwork (IP ADDR:) Default Gateway: Should be on your Cox paperwork DNS: See below Leave the rest alone. MSIE (Tools>Internet Options): Dial-up settings: I have none LAN Settings: Nothing checked (no proxy, nothing) Network: Client for MS Networks Linksys LNE 100TX (whatever your NIC is) TCP/IP That's it...No bindings in the config tab, but the NIC is bound to TCP/IP and TCP/IP is bound to Client for MS Networks (properties bindings). If you lost your paperwork or need the DNS IPs, go to the Cox@Home homepage, then Member Services>Home Networking>Additional IP Addresses>log in here>View current addresses>Manual Configuration (at the bottom of the page). This will give you all the info you need. You may want to keep your proxy server enabled. I've gotten a lot better speed here in NW Florida with it turned off. Assuming Cox uses pretty much the same rules throughout the country, this should work for you. If not, I hope you wrote down all of your old settings and remember how to get to them. Oh, and before you start, RTFM...especially the part about pinging your ISP in the appendix. You HAVE to do this to get the right addresses for your mail (and don't forget to ping "news" if you use NNTP). You need to do this BEFORE you connect the router. I'll *try* to answer questions sent to the above e-mail (rums_n_cokes@yahoo.com), but my time is limited. Read through this and make an attempt. You can let me know if it helped.
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