A cable router offers another layer of security from the treacherous world of the internet if you are using a cable modem. According to a friend at work who uses one, a lot of stuff ZoneAlarm used to pick off never gets that far.
Considering a cable router? Smart move as you improve the moat around your veritable castle.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
Added Layer of Self-defense
Moderator: Scott Danziger
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Dakkon98
Added Layer of Self-defense
I'd recommend the Linnksys series of DSL/Cable routers. Built in Firewall/NAT & DHCP server. Also allows selective protocol filtering and port filtering. After 72 hours of use Zonealarm had ZERO alerts. This weekend is the final test before uninstalling Zonealarm.
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Allen M.
Added Layer of Self-defense
Thanks for the reccomendation, Chuck. I picked up a <a href="http://www.linksys.com">Linksys</a> on the way home. USB ported and all. The earlier firmware ones had problems with MediaOne, but I understand that is all straightened out.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Dakkon98
Added Layer of Self-defense
The only "current" issue with the Linksys is that you have to open port 113 for ident on IRC.
Just for reference what did you pay for yours?
I picked up the befsr81 (8port model) for $179.00 on sale
Just for reference what did you pay for yours?
I picked up the befsr81 (8port model) for $179.00 on sale
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Tony-San
Added Layer of Self-defense
Chuck,
Chelsea will probably be getting a machine of her own and I will have to network these two machines. Will I need this piece of equipment to set this up? If so, perhaps I should just get it now. I wouldn't mind pulling zone alarm out of my start up menu.
Chelsea will probably be getting a machine of her own and I will have to network these two machines. Will I need this piece of equipment to set this up? If so, perhaps I should just get it now. I wouldn't mind pulling zone alarm out of my start up menu.
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Allen M.
Added Layer of Self-defense
You got one hell of a deal. I got BEFSRU31 for $149.95. Prices go all over the place for these things, depending where you shop.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Dakkon98
Added Layer of Self-defense
Tony,
Yes, it's so much easier to deal with. I'd go ahead and get it now. <a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/66841">Outpost.com</a> has a 4 port model for $109.95 w/free overnight shipping. The one Allen picked up the <a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/73366">BEFSRU31</a> is also available.
Chuck
Yes, it's so much easier to deal with. I'd go ahead and get it now. <a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/66841">Outpost.com</a> has a 4 port model for $109.95 w/free overnight shipping. The one Allen picked up the <a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/73366">BEFSRU31</a> is also available.
Chuck
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Allen M.
Added Layer of Self-defense
Keep it up with the prices, Chuck, and I'm going to send this one back.
Before anyone goes out and gets the USB model, be aware that the USB port only works with windows 98 and Windows 2000. The good part is that a net card is NOT required.
The good part is that the cable router can be set up such that it uses the MAC address of one of the net cards you are using.
The cable end plugs into the cable modem as it always did. Unplug the cable modem from the PC and plug it into the WAN port of the router. A 3-port or 4-port router is adequate as you may want to plug your printer into it so that your printer is now shared by the attached pcs.
Suppose you go a little crazy and decide to have, say, ten PCs. You can attach up to 255 PCs by merely plugging in a regular router to the back of the cable router and keep cascading them.
EVERYTHING is now hidden behind the firewall protection that the cable router affords without having to load ZoneAlarm or Norton or whatever on each PC, freeing you from MAINTAINING each piece of software BEAUTIFUL. Anyone trying to get in never sees your pc.
Check with your cable company. MediaOne allows up to 3 MAC addresses, some may not.
You can even set up a private network behind the firewall with all kinds of permissions, etc.
The BAD thing I experienced was when I was learning how to set this thing up and I unplugged it twice, the router gave the PC a blue screen of death. I disconnected the USB cable and connected a regular 10/100 cable and no problem.
Linksys is NOT good for support. I called once last night with a promise return call that never came. I called once this morning and waited for ONE hour for someone about as sharp as a stick of butter. THEY promised someone would call back within an hour. I saw that hour a LONG time ago with NEVER a return call.
Buy a Linksys and you are on your own. Fortunately, except for the USB glitch, it just works. AND if everything is DHCP all you have to do is either register the new MAC address or plug in the net card's mac address.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
Before anyone goes out and gets the USB model, be aware that the USB port only works with windows 98 and Windows 2000. The good part is that a net card is NOT required.
The good part is that the cable router can be set up such that it uses the MAC address of one of the net cards you are using.
The cable end plugs into the cable modem as it always did. Unplug the cable modem from the PC and plug it into the WAN port of the router. A 3-port or 4-port router is adequate as you may want to plug your printer into it so that your printer is now shared by the attached pcs.
Suppose you go a little crazy and decide to have, say, ten PCs. You can attach up to 255 PCs by merely plugging in a regular router to the back of the cable router and keep cascading them.
EVERYTHING is now hidden behind the firewall protection that the cable router affords without having to load ZoneAlarm or Norton or whatever on each PC, freeing you from MAINTAINING each piece of software BEAUTIFUL. Anyone trying to get in never sees your pc.
Check with your cable company. MediaOne allows up to 3 MAC addresses, some may not.
You can even set up a private network behind the firewall with all kinds of permissions, etc.
The BAD thing I experienced was when I was learning how to set this thing up and I unplugged it twice, the router gave the PC a blue screen of death. I disconnected the USB cable and connected a regular 10/100 cable and no problem.
Linksys is NOT good for support. I called once last night with a promise return call that never came. I called once this morning and waited for ONE hour for someone about as sharp as a stick of butter. THEY promised someone would call back within an hour. I saw that hour a LONG time ago with NEVER a return call.
Buy a Linksys and you are on your own. Fortunately, except for the USB glitch, it just works. AND if everything is DHCP all you have to do is either register the new MAC address or plug in the net card's mac address.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Dakkon98
Added Layer of Self-defense
Allen, thats why I only posted the link 
OutPost used to be the highest priced one on the net even compared to Egghead, now with free overnight shipping they have become one of the lowest priced ones.
RoadRunner in Central Florida doesn't require the MAC address to be registered so it's quick and painless, it really is Plug-n-Play.
Chuck
Chuck
OutPost used to be the highest priced one on the net even compared to Egghead, now with free overnight shipping they have become one of the lowest priced ones.
RoadRunner in Central Florida doesn't require the MAC address to be registered so it's quick and painless, it really is Plug-n-Play.
Chuck
Chuck
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Allen M.
Added Layer of Self-defense
Just look at some of the rediculously low prices on the hard drives at outpost.com, will ya. The Cheetah 73 SCSI is still up there, though. Everyone's holding the price of that one high.
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera
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Tony-San
Added Layer of Self-defense
Chuck,
3Com has a wirelss one which also allows you to hardwire it. I'm thinking this one may be a better option for me even though it's 3 bills. Have you heard anything about it?
3Com has a wirelss one which also allows you to hardwire it. I'm thinking this one may be a better option for me even though it's 3 bills. Have you heard anything about it?
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Dakkon98
Added Layer of Self-defense
Tony,
No sorry I haven't heard much about the 3Com wireless one. I've been asked to get a quote ready for a wireless home network and it's not cheap. The main gateway as you know is like $300, and the individual wireless cards are like $200 each. The only other draw back to wireless for now is it is limited to 10mbps which is fast but compared to 100mbps it's dog slow. But for the wireing mess it could create this may be an acceptable solution.
Chuck
No sorry I haven't heard much about the 3Com wireless one. I've been asked to get a quote ready for a wireless home network and it's not cheap. The main gateway as you know is like $300, and the individual wireless cards are like $200 each. The only other draw back to wireless for now is it is limited to 10mbps which is fast but compared to 100mbps it's dog slow. But for the wireing mess it could create this may be an acceptable solution.
Chuck
