Cisco-Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch
by Linksys
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Our Price: $78.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $9.94 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch
Customer Review: Great Product
Summary: 5 Stars
The Linksys 4-Port Cable/DSL Router has always been my top recommendation to friends, family, and co-workers needing to setup a small home or office network. It has more features than what most small office networks need, and is still very intuitive. The web interface makes changing options a pleasure. A pleasure, that is, unless you are an advanced user. This is my only complaint. There are times that having a remote logging shell (rlogin, telnet, ssh, SOMETHING) would ease many administrative pains. This especially goes for unix lovers who live under the wing of the bourne shell. But, again, this is for small home/office networks. Both DHCP and static IP's can be utilized. Port forwarding is another great feature, for anyone wishing to run a server that can be accessed outside of the network. For example, you can have all requests to the router on port 21 (FTP) to be forwarded to an adminitrator-specified machine. And all requests to port 25 (SMTP) to go to another machine. There is also an option for DMZ Host, which allows all ports to be forwarded to a single machine (in other words, all ports are open). You can even define the MAC address for the WAN. Another cool feature is filtering certain computers from getting internet access. Great for parents not wanting their children to get on the internet in the privacy of their own room, or an office computer that general clients/public can use. Also has an extension port, so if your network keeps growing, you can always buy a small switch (or hub if you're cheap) and there you go! More ports!One more thing. The uptime is good. Only once have I had a problem, which I never had the chance to really troubleshoot because it stopped occurring. What happened was this: About every 5 minutes I would lose internet access, but upon logging into the router and checking the status, it would say it was connected. Not until I would manually reset the router would I have internet access again. This happened repeatedly for about a full day, out of the blue. But then the problem stopped, just as quickly as it came. I haven't had the same problem again. My own linksys is about a year old and is still in great shape. So, to sum up, for the price this is a true bargain. A great quality product that has won my loyalty and the loyalty of many friends and relatives.
Customer Review: I cannot configure my router. I cannot have my ISP configure my router.
Summary: 1 Stars
Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch (BEFSR41)
Heidi 28639 and another Linksys rep denied me help to configure my router, spewing forth a very long worded set of explanations stating that my BEFSR41 version 2/ serial number C2110f700813 is not longer supported. Linksys's web service has instruction which are UPSIDE DOWN in the "customer service" support drop down menu.
That is sloppy.
I had a Lynksys wireless router which broke due to Lightning in South East Florida. I liked it. I purchased another networking product from Lynksys and the customer service was so outstanding, I bought a THIRD product, this item.
I cannot configure this router. I cannot have my ISP configure my router. I can't access the instruction online as they are upside down. I was to hook up a Apple G3 OS10/Safariand a Windows Millenium/Mozilla Borwser. Both are Legacy items, yet both work.
This product had a high reputation, but I found out otherwise.
I buy and spend MORE for customer support, and do not want to hear wordy, bureaucratic non USA foreigners try to dissuade me from simple information. This review goes onto amazon.com, the Palm Beach Post and I going to purchase another product from another manufacturer, never to touch or recommend but dissuade other from using this manufacturer.
It is simply good customer service or not. Linksys is not equated with good customer service. My ISP was terrific- they couldn't help me, but they got to the point quickly.
I am attemting to return this product.
I have used many other vendors with much better customer service who are willing to take the customer's hand and help them.
This was a horrible, time consuming experience and a more than disappointing product. I wish that other's considering it may perhaps have better service than I did, and if they do feel comfortable, then buy it. If they read this review, they may feel that other reviews reflect other applications. I purchased this product as it was "plug'n'play" and easy to configure with another persons similar Legacy computers.
Chris
East Riviera Beach, Florida
Customer Review: Excellent Product
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a Cox@Home subscriber, and my PC was the 'Server' for 2 other PC's for my kids, through an ethernet hub and the use of Wingate internet sharing software. Wingate was good, but could be temperamental at times. This little jewel (Linksys Router) solved the problem of my PC having to be on all the time for the other two PC's to access the internet, and eliminated for a second NIC in my PC, which of course frees up resourses in my machine.
Installation was a snap, just by following the instructions. However, it took a few tries and I did have to tinker with the TCP/IP settings a little. If you have @Home cable service, on the first PC you install, you will open up your browser with the address of 192.168.1.1, and input the following data per the instructions:
1. No "Host Name" needed. 2. "Domain Name" should be set to your assigned @Home name, i.e., CX000000-X. 3. You should click "Specify an IP Address" and enter your static IP address. (if you don't know it, it should be on your @Home paperwork, or there are instructions included on how to 'ping' yourself to get it.) 4."Subnet Mask" should have automatically filled-in itself (255.255.255.0) 5.The "Default Gateway Address" I found on my Cox@Home paperwork, and it was similar but not identical to my IP address. 6."DNS(Required) 1: and 2:" were also included on my paperwork, but for Cox@Home subscribers, these items were listed as: 'primary dns server ip address' and 'sec dns server ip address'. An entry under "3:" was not required.
On #5 and 6 above, if you don't have your paperwork from your original @Home installation, you will probably have to call your provider to get the numbers.
Performance has been the same or better as before with the hub. My son does some interactive gaming on the net with some state of the art graphics and programs. No problem! Napster works fine. The added benefit of a REAL firewall is nice. "GRC.COM" doesn't know any of the 3 PC's exist! No more superfluous Black Ice or Zone Alarms hits.
I wish I'd heard about this product sooner. I read all of the other 180 or so reviews on this site before I bought it, so I had professional networking friend standing by if needed, but I did it all myself! ....
Pax, Jon
Customer Review: Works great, when it works at all...
Summary: 1 Stars
Connection: RoadRunner (cable modem), Austin, TXThe Linksys BEFSR41 switch/router combo is a nice device for sharing broadband among computers on your LAN. It does a pretty good job with allocating IPs using its built-in DHCP server, and the web interface for configuring the device is great. It has a lot of functionality, and I've found much utility in the port forwarding functions of the device as well. However:
A big irritation (and I mean BIG) is that the device loses WAN network connectivity after a certain time period.
I run my machines all day long, and I get speedy throughput from the device. Suddenly and mysteriously, the device will stop making connections to the outside after a number of hours. Each port or MAC address seems to act independently, as I have had one machine on the switch stop working while the others continue working, but I've also had all three of my machines on the switch eventually lose connectivity. The problem is usually resolved by rebooting, but rebooting my machines takes forever, and I don't like to terminate processes that I need to keep running. This is absolutely unacceptable for machines that must have constant net connectivity. That's two stars docked off for Linksys.
Tech support was a joke, too. I reported this problem to Linksys tech support, and they suggested that it was a port forwarding issue on my end. Indeed, it appears that Linksys tech support is illiterate and ignorant of what I told them; I have never seen such gross incompetence and re-interpretation of the problem clearly defined in the e-mail that I sent to them. Minus one star for Linksys.
Needless to say, I did my own investigating with another owner of the Linksys BEFSR41 router on RoadRunner in Austin. He has the same problem, but with the Linksys BEFSR11 router. He also mentioned that at his work, he has another Linksys router that also exhibits the same problem. This is looking all too familiar; what is Linksys going to do about it? Nothing. Minus yet another star for Linksys.
If you don't keep your machines running 24/7, maybe this router would be good for you. If you are a power or corporate user, I recommend that you stay away from this product and get something that's more stable. Bottom line: You get what you pay for.
Customer Review: Top pick for a wired router
Summary: 5 Stars
I am currently using the Linksys BEFSX41, and it works effortlessly. It too is a hardware firewall based router. Two events happened that made me buy another router. 1) I needed more connections beyond the four. 2) I wanted to have audio capabilities with MSN Messenger. (A free service that gives you free audio with anyone you connect with via messenger, so you have a free long distance method.)What does all of this have to do with the BEFSR41? Simply this, I was having trouble getting the audio portion of Messenger to work on my network. A top tech site stated that if their isn't a multimedia option to allow in your router, then get the BEFSR41, which is what this review is all about. It has the multimedia option, while still having the hardware firewall.
Additionally if you go to the Linksys.com site, you will see it is still their most popular selling router, next to one wireless model. With the current running rebate, it is also a steal. It's a buy even without the rebate, whereas I had paid half again as much money for my current unit.
These Linksys routers hook up without a glitch. Getting a good connect speed with Verizon took a lot more effort. Not because of Verizon, but because I had some hum in my lines at home. Check your lines at home by picking up a phone, preferably one with a volume knob on it. Turn it all the way up, and press any number on the keypad. 5 for example. Then listen real hard. It should be dead quiet. If it is not, then that is wreaking havoc on your connect speed. Noisy lines are caused by running phone lines near power lines. One noisy run, will ruin the whole house. Getting off on a tangent here.
I have had my Linksys router for over 6 months, it just sits there with the lights lit. It never stalls, never fails, and does a very nice job. I also like having the house set up on a network.
All of my tech professional friends say, "For professional business applications, get a hardwired version of a router, because WIFI is too easily penetrable. I must admit I set up a WIFI system for a friend of mine, with a Linksys router, and XP as his operating system, and nothing could be easier.
Highly recommended. This Linksys router is the top pick for a wired router.