Belkin Wireless-G Router DSL/Cable Gateway Reviews

• Having wireless problems with this router? Try this.

  
  By A2J8K8PYCEYBW4 on 2007-09-29
  I think this router might be getting a bad rep on the wireless end, because it comes with a proprietary setting enabled by default that I think does more harm than good. If you have this router and are getting intermittent or no wireless connectivity, and you've verified all your settings are right, try this.
  
  This router (Belkin model F5D7230-4, and other models) has a (proprietary?) feature called "Protected Mode". The default setting on this model (at least the one I got), unlike other models, has that mode set to "Auto" under the Wireless settings, which I take to mean "on". So turn it off. It's wonky, because even tho it's a proprietary feature, there is NO documentation in the router's online "Help" section. However, it IS described in the user's manual:
  
  "As part of the 802.11g specification, Protected mode ensures proper operation of 802.11g clients and access points when there is heavy 802.11b traffic in the operating environment. When protected mode is ON, 802.11g scans for other wireless network traffic before it transmits data. Therefore, using this mode in environments with HEAVY 802.11b traffic or interference achieves best performance results. If you are in an environment with very little--or no--other wireless network traffic, your best performance will be achieved with Protected mode OFF."
  
  Okay, so if it works best off, why does it ship in "Auto" mode? Turn it off. On other models, by default it does ships with the feature "off".
  
  
  Basically, I recommend setting this router up as simply as possible, but still having wireless encryption, of course.. So here are my further recommendations for setting this up. There's another (proprietary?) feature called "Turbo" mode. Again, no description of this on the interface itself, but it is described in the manual:
  
  "Turbo mode is enabled by default. It allows the Router or Access Point to use frame bursting to deliver the maximum throughput, 2 times faster than any standard 802.11g equipment, to 802.11g clients. This measurement is based on aggregate throughput in a mixed 802.11b and 802.11g environment. Belkin 802.11g clients with the latest driver will support Turbo mode. Clients that do not support Turbo mode will operate normally with it enabled."
  
  Again, I recommend turning it off. I also recommend deleting "Belkin Router" from the "domain" section under (I think) LAN settings, just keeping that field blank, and leaving wireless Channel as Auto (default choice, which normally goes to Channel 11 in the USA). And, as with any wireless rouer, you DEFINITELY want to put in a new wi-fi network name (SSID). Change the default SSID to something impersonal, but still unique. Further recommendations are keeping the thing well-ventilated, such as propping it up (securely) at an angle so air flows below it, above, and around the sides, and adjust the antenna of course then so it is vertical. Another thing I did was to turn Range Extension on, but I'm not sure that's necessary or if it just creates unnecessary heat, but since my friend was across the country, I was trying to pull out all the stops.
  
  I chose this router for a friend (who purchased it on their own, and then I set it up). I chose it because it was the cheapest one in the store, and Belkin is a generally respected name when it comes to all their equipment (if often having the reputation of being a little expensive), and my past knowledge of their reputation with routers was good. Even though they don't make them themselves, but farm them out to others, their choices in the past have been good.
  
  I initially set the router up at my home. I noticed that I had trouble connecting using Vista's wireless connection wizard, and I hate wizards and Vista's "wow" crap in general, so I got frustrated and found a "connect manually" choice, which was a whole lot easier for me, and after that, I was able to connect fine wirelessly for that time I was setting it up. However, my friend took it home and reported back that the laptop wasn't connecting, then it did, and then it stopped after a few minutes. Only then did I come to Amazon and read the reviews, where I saw so many others having similar issues. I suspected Protected and/or Turbo modes, so I did a little research, which confirmed my suspicions. I read a review of a similar Belkin router, the following excerpt summing it succinctly: "[Protected Mode] seems to make the network invisible to wireless devices you may be trying to set up for the first time".
  
  With my friend having gone home (across the country), I was relieved to find this router has a remote admin mode (called Remote Management in the router). I learned this by downloading the User Manual. The manual doesn't have great screen shots, and my friend is not tech-savvy, but after only moderate pain, I had them successfully enable Remote Management, and tell me the WAN IP address (which, strangely enough, is nowhere to be found under WAN Settings--you have to go to the "Home" page of the interface, and it tells you there). I was then able to plug their WAN IP address into my browser, and wham--I'm signing in and configuring their router from across the country (we had set up an Admin Password together before leaving--very important).
  
  So after disabling Protected and Turbo modes remotely, and doing my other recommendations above, my friend's laptop then connected immediately and automatically, with no action on their part (I had originally set up the laptop with the router when my friend was here). The connection now seems reliable and strong. My friend commented that it seemed fast.
  
  
  I think this is a good router for a beginner or someone who wants to purchase & config it for a less-advanced user. First, it looks cool in person, which means a surprising amount to newbies (frustratingly), but more importantly, the interface is very easy to understand, and well laid-out and not intimidating or illogical, unlike some of D-Link's later interfaces. Part of that is the logical layout itself. Some part of that is the absence of a lot of advanced features most people will never use, such as being able to tweak the Beacon and Broadcast Interval settings on wireless. However, the truly important advanced features seem to be there, such as MAC address filtering (both wired and wireless, where some routers won't let you filter wired MAC addies), Remote Admin, and the standard fare. The only thing I noticed that i'd like to see would be an option to completely disable the radio from the interface (because apparently the antenna is non-removable/non-upgradeable), but then again, you CAN set the radio to not broadcast its SSID (network name).
  
  I liked this router enough that I only half-jokingly offered to my friend to trade my current router for this one--an offer which was promptly declined! :)
  
  The router has 4 or 5 wired network ports in the back. It feels very lightweight. I didn't see any holes for airflow or heat management and it does not stand on its side, which is why I recommended leaning it against something on an angle (airflow is an issue on most home routers). The LED light array on the front seemed less obnoxious than D-Link's. For wi-fi encryption, I chose WPA-PSK. The password field is less confusing than some other brands, and it lets you choose either a hexadecimal or plain-text password, and it doesn't make you fill up all 64 or 128 characters, unlike some other brands I've seen IIRC, which can ironically make for a more complex password in some cases, because people can pick a long phrase they can actually remember. The passphrase we chose was long and plain-text, but did not use all the characters allowed, and it worked just fine with the Vista laptop.
  
  
  Further recommendation: if you're not a newbie, you'll know you don't have to run that silly "installation CD" that comes with the router. They REALLY encourage you to run the CD before you do ANYTHING, even before plugging in the router. It is obviously aimed at trying to cut down on the amount of tech support calls, which in spirit is a good idea. However, this gives new users the impression that routers need some kind of "driver" to work properly on a computer, which isn't true. Although the CD is probably nothing more than a glorified Computer-Based Training session, I wish they'd just provide a real manual instead (they do provide a paper Quick Start Guide). However, newbies will probably appreciate the interactive guidance and it does sound like a good idea for them. I don't know how many other companies are doing this now (nothing similar came with the 2 other routers I've bought, although the second one did have a "Wizard" built into the interface), but this could be a value-added feature for beginners who don't have a generous computer-savvy friend.
  
  The default gateway address for this router is 192.168.2.1, not the traditional ~.0.1. This is good, because most DSL and cable modems are now selfishly commandeering ~.0.1. Another good thing is that I was able to do either all or almost all interface functions in Mozilla (Firefox of Seamonkey) browsers. I think there may have been one screen where I needed to switch to IE, though; I can't remember. I know that tonight when I did remote admin for my friend, I didn't have any problem. I made a bookmark for 192.168.2.1 in my friend's Mozilla browser before leaving, and named it "Router". This way, I could just tell them to drop down Bookmarks, and choose "Router" when the inevitable tech support call came.
  
  I didn't bother updating the firmware, because I usually don't mess with firmware unless something's not working right--and I almost did so tonight in attemt to solve the wireless problem. Since updating firmware usually resets all previous settings (and often, backed-up settings [which this router allows you to do] won't work in newer firmware versions [somewhat defeating the purpose of backup settings, I think]), and we got it working right, I left it on the original firmware. The firmware version it shipped with was 9.01.05, and the latest version is 9.01.07--not too far off, and from August 8, 2007--pretty recent as of this writing, so as of this writing, the firmware is still being actively developed.
  
  That's about it, as far as commenting on things I haven't seen in other reviews. One last comment could be that DSL modems now commonly act more like cable modems, from the perspective that you don't have to input all that PPoE information directly into the routers anymore, and you can leave the router's WAN configuration in "Dynamic" (i.e. standard cable modem). The DSL modems I've seen recently give you the option of letting the router handle the PPoE info, or the modem, and I strongly recommend letting the modem handle it--it's just easier in multiple ways. So what I mean is don't necessarily set this router's WAN setting up as "PPoE" just because you have DSL. "Dynamic", the default setting, is much easier if you can let the DSL modem handle that. For most cable users, this and most other routers will pick up the cable modem automatically.
  
  Final thoughts: cable modems and DSL modems need to be power cycled (unplug, wait 10-15 seconds, plug back in) to change network devices (i.e. changing from a computer directly plugged into the cable modem, to attaching your router). I'm sure this is covered in the guidance CD, but it's worth mentioning. Also, with reviews on any router, you're going to see a lot of people having reliability problems, and it's usually going to focus around wireless. So if horrified by the reviews, make sure to check out other routers' reviews as a reality check. Also, different routers will tend to have people of different skill levels using them, which I think can affect review ratings. In this router's case, it draws many new and less-skilled users, who have more difficulty, as configuring a router is going to probably be the most complex thing an average user ever does with a computer. What routers do, even (especially?) home routers, is actually incredibly complex, and it's a minor miracle they are available at such low prices, as they are like mini computers in their own right. That is the other reason for so many bad reliability reviews with routers in general, far worse than with other products.
  
  Conclusion: a nice router with a good, understandable interface, for a good price, which has most of the advanced features most people will need, and therefore very good for the beginner or average-needs advanced user. Sad that one or two simple but badly-chosen default settings are apparently causing a lot of trouble and making the router seem less reliable than it is. Armed with the knowledge in this review as a proviso, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this router. BTW, tier 1 tech support, though free and on a toll-free number, is apparently Asian Indian from what I've read, and not very helpful. This product gets 4 stars, not 5, because of that, and the obvious problem-causing default setting.
  
  

• Easy set up and works great; lacks some advanced features

  
  By A1TS7LUEDD6B03 on 2004-10-26
  I bought this Belkin wireless router to see if it'd work with my company's VPN so I could work from home because the two Netgear routers I've tried only let me do it wired--not wirelessly. I'm happy to say the Belkin does indeed let me do VPN wirelessly! I was also happy about how easy it was to set up--after I realized I needed to totally unplug my cable modem first. I've had continuous, error-free connections since plugging it in, and I'm even getting slightly better signals through walls and floors, using a mix of b and g equipment.
  
  There are a few features I don't like about, or are missing from, this Belkin as compared to other brands I've used--I'll just list the major ones here: 1) Anyone on your network, whether they're allowed on it or not, can see certain configuration information on the web interface because it's not password-protected. 2) You can't see a list of associated wireless devices. 3) You can't set whether you want to use only open or only shared key WEP (you also can't set some other advanced wireless settings that D-Link is known for, such as transmit power). 4) You can't see details of what was happening in the security logs (e.g. it says "Blocked by DoS protection" but you don't know what was actually blocked. 5) You can't manually release/renew the dynamic IP of the router. 6) You can't turn off NTP or specify the server.
  
  It also has some features I like that my Netgear routers don't have, like the ability to specify a local domain name, restart and reset the router from the web interface, and set DHCP lease time.
  
  The only problem I've had with it is it doesn't allow the 802.11b bridge I have to do DHCP. I can set a static IP and it works fine, though, so I'm not too upset about it. Also, I can't comment on the parental controls since you have to subscribe to activate them.
  
  

• Fantastic! Better than linksys!

  
  By A2ME89MSWVG9NF on 2005-01-28
  I got this router for my classroom at school. Set up was a piece of cake on my macs running 10.3. Up and running on the internet in less than 5 minutes!
  
  Super fast speed!
  
  This replaced a linksys router running wireless g, and the speed on the connection has doubled! Downloading pages, and email has increased in speed conseiderably. I was amazed!
  
  Highly recommend.
  
  

• drop connection when security is enabled

  
  By A2Y3FAO82SU0M0 on 2005-04-07
  I bought this model since it has a fat rebate which brings down the price to $10. Good for the price. And the stability is not too far above the price level.
  
  Installation is relatively easy. Hooking the router up with my DSL modem and computer is trivial. Running the software on the CD is easy too. One thing though: since I use static ip for Internet connection, the quick setup does not support it so initially my Internet connection is not up. That's fine and I know it since many such routers only support dynamic ip address on the Internet side by default. I manually configured that through its web interface and then its wireless and ethernet connections start working.
  
  Good so far. And I expect most people would be happy now. But since the default wireless mode does not use security at all which means someone could peek at what you visit or use my Internet connection, so I decided to add security to the router. Now the fun begins.
  
  It took me half an hour to figure our which security mode is useable - I finally chose WPA-RSK mode since this is the only security mode I found working (after numerous reboots). But the story does not end here. It keeps dropping connection every 3-5 minutes. Yes, every 3-5 minutes! This is virtually unuseable.
  
  I have to turn off the security feature and this works fine for only 20 minutes. The connection remains on and off periodically.
  
  My laptop is only two feet away from the router, so signal strength should never be an issue for me.
  
  I don't use any other features of the router, so no comments on other parts.
  
  For the price and basic functionality, I gave it 2 star. I wish Belkin had more reliable product, but it certainly disappoints me.
  
  

• Works fine for me, and you can't beat the price!

  
  By A3W1J0223WTOFJ on 2005-12-10
  Don't be fooled by the negative reviews. As long as you follow the very simple instructions, there's nothing to the installation, and it works fine. One of the reviews commented on the difficulty in setting up WEP or WPA security. Nonsense! All you need to do is take two minutes to read the relevant chapter in the very detailed electronic manual, in Adobe Acrobat format on the CD-ROM installation disk. You have to access the router settings via Internet Explorer, and if you use WEP, you generate a passcode and then set the same code on your other computers. If you've never done that before, it may seem a little frustrating, but the fault lies not with Belkin but rather with Microsoft's Windows XP. So long as you know how to configure a wireless networking adapter on Windows XP, the Belkin components -- routers or adapters -- perform flawlessly. As a budget minded consumer, I'm thankful that Belkin makes such competitively priced networking products.
  
  
• Simple and Awesome
  By A1D08GQJBPK5JE on 2006-06-02
  i have used dlink, netgear and the linksys but belkin tops them all. its simply PnP. no need to do all of the setup unless you really want to. dlink was good but their customer service was as bad as one can imagine. belkin got lifetime warranty and life time customer support. i had it installed in my basment and i was able to get a "good" or "very good" signal in my bedroom on the second floor.
  
  
• Belkin wireless DSL/Cable router is the pits!
  By A1MGBFX03BE7Q8 on 2004-01-10
  I bought this router to hook into my broadband wireless network at home, because I wanted to be able to have my friends and family to be able to use their laptops via the BBW ISP. I have been using the Belkin for five months and it is a chronic pain in the you-know-what. The ISP technical folks I have consulted on several occasions have repeatedly told me that they absolutely do NOT recommend the Belkin -- it is unreliable and a constant problem. I have tried to get assistance from Belkin, but to no avail. Why did I buy this piece of garbage?
  
  
• Don't even bother if you want reliable wireless.
  By A7BPQ1W1N607X on 2006-05-03
  I had this wireless router for several months and had nonstop connection problems. At least once or twice a night my laptop would get disconnected, and the only way to get things working again was to pull the power on the router and reset it. I finally replaced it with an equivalent product from D-Link. The new router is in the exact same location and not only is the average signal strength slightly higher, but I have yet to be disconnected. Save yourself the hassel and get a better product from another manufacturer.
  
  
• Works great/skip the included software
  By A30GT91JHIBUOM on 2005-08-18
  UPDATE: I have had it for over a month now, looks like a keeper. WPA and VPN work well. Occasionally (once a week?) I have to power cycle the router, but nothing more. I was lucky?!
  
  I bought this from a local chain store for 30 bucks - didn't want to spend double that (dislike rebates) for Linksys or D-link, and figured Belkin was worth a shot (30-day return policy...) Belkin includes WPA, MAC address filtering (though haven't tried that yet), seems good enough.
  
  Day 1: Spent a good half hour with the included installation software (Easy, HA!) - the software couldn't detect the Internet connection ("the ten tries are normal" part), even though I did exactly as asked.
  
  Day 2:
  Read a couple reviews on Amazon, opened the User Manual (PDF, included in the CD), went to the website (192.168.2.1) - just follow the instructions in the PDF file for manual configuration. There's a lot of explanations for each tab on the 192.... website, so you have to skip a bit to get to the important parts (see below).
  
  Some tips:
  A green "CONNECTION OK" in the upper right corner of the 192... webpage means you are connected to the Internet.
  The first time I tried "logging in" with the default *blank* password, no response - so skipped to the other tabs, and voila - it worked! Later, I had no problems "logging in". Change the password!
  Haven't updated the firmware (I have a ver.4000).
  Each time you click "Apply Changes", the router reboots after 25 seconds.
  
  For CABLE MODEM (sorry, I don't have DSL or dial-up) ONLY:
  (Disclaimer: This is to the best of my recollection!!)
  
  WAN:
  Connection Type (Dynamic)/
  DNS (Auto from ISP)/
  MAC Address (clone computer's... only when you are setting up the router with the computer on which you initially set up the cable modem)
  
  Wireless: (if you don't want your neighbours piling on to your wireless, keep Broadcast SSID OFF, use WPA-PSK, but be careful*!)
  Channel (default 11)/
  SSID (whatever name you want - don't broadcast*, WRITE IT DOWN!)/
  if you don't know, g&b/
  Protected Mode OFF (if you have only one wireless computer, or limited wireless traffic)
  Security (I kept WPA-PSK (no server)/TKIP, but (*) WRITE DOWN your SSID and Pre-Shared Key (PSK) exactly as you enter it to configure your computer's wireless connection, if Broadcast SSID is OFF.)
  
  Up and running, works great in my 2-bedroom apartment.
  
  A funny thing - the router I have has just one antenna, that's what the box shows too, even though the website of the chain store and other stores/Amazon show two antennas for the same part #. Dropped a star for the software.
  
  
• Needed a little help (ATTN SBC DSL customers)
  By A22BPBZ6V9WBAD on 2004-12-05
  First off: People who have EffecientNetworks SpeedStream 5100b DSL modems (I got mine from SBCYahoo DSL) will need to set your modem to 'Bridge Mode' to use this router. See your instructions to do this, it is pretty easy after you know you need to do it.
  
  Okay, Router: I had the Belkin 802.11b router, and that thing was excellent for what it was. It was limited, No WPA and b speeds, but it worked perfectly out of the box and had excellent coverage. I don't have a g wireless card, but I figured I can future-proof myself a bit as well as upgrade my security to WPA. Out of the box you can see it has a different PCB layout than the b version, made me nervous since the b was such a solid performer. I hooked it up and it wouldn't connect to my DSL modem. I troubleshot for 2 hours and then called Belkin. They instantly diagnosed that unlike the b version, the g needs `bridge mode' on my DSL modem. So I contacted SBC and got excellent directions on how to do this, but still no connection. Long story short, I called Belkin back and got an AWESOME technician who tirelessly helped get this thing up and running. She even troubleshot my SBC-provided modem. We got everything set as it should be, no connection. Then I had to hang up to go to an appointment, and suddenly the router connected. Since then it has worked perfectly. No drops, no reboots and solid performance (does what it is supposed to do). Bottom line, it has been working perfectly for a week now, but seems a little more sensitive/touchy than the rock solid b version. However the features etc. are much more sophisticated. Within my test conditions wireless range is comparable to the b in the sense that they both give excellent connections throughout my house and yard, but it seems to reconnect every now and then. This is not a problem and I only know it is happenening because I see a "Wireless connection found" window every now and then, it is just curious. In all, this router is not as solid of a product out-of-box and through installation as the b version, but Belkin's excellent technical support makes up for that.
  
  
• EXCELLENT WIRELESS ROUTER
  By A3JDF5VIOTL0TW on 2006-07-09
  Well, I can only speak for myself, but after reading many negative reviews, I bought this router anyway, and am glad I did!!! I don't know where some reviewers are getting the idea this was a cable modem?? Anyway, install went flawlessly, and I have this up and running for about a week now, with no disconnects of any kind.. One computer wired, the other wireless.. At first I skipped the wireless security, but later secured the wireless, and was surprised to gain more signal strength.. Be sure to secure the wireless, or anyone could log on, and use ur signal. At about 30 ft. I had very good signal, before I secured, and after, it jumped to excellent!! I think the people having problems with this, probably have other computer issues, causing the install, and performance issues.. Such as poor computer maintenance, many programs running during install?? So from my experience,and for 39.99, I would recommend this wireless router!! Actually, I was very surprised, at how well it works, especially the wireless signal, and range....
  
  
• Poor quality product with worst customer support
  By A2CZEQLFNCQ0KC on 2005-03-26
  The router drops internet connection every 5 - 6 hours. I called
  Belkin and after long discussion he said my issue was escalated
  to level 3 and would be contacted 24 hours. No contact.
  I called again and got the same response - "level 3", no contact
  again. I sent email but they didn't reply, either ...
  It's waist of time. I wouldn't buy any Belkin product ....
  
  
• Drops connection- horrible support
  By A2V2GDVAJX44JS on 2006-07-28
  I've had this router for about 9 months now and it drops the connection about once every 2-3 days. Many times all the lights on the unit go dark. Remove the power plug and reinsert and it will work again for another 2-3 days. Belkin support has been no help and firmware upgrades don't work. Total piece of junk. Will be switching to Linksys.
  
  
• Perfect 54g Wireless Router for Home/Work
  By A2ZGQDG3PHCPLZ on 2007-01-09
  I am a network engineer, and I've included a long saga to compare this router with other brands that I have just tried to install. The short review: 5 stars - great router. You can be up in minutes and speed, coverage, reliability are great.
  
  I had a Linksys 802.11b router and notebook card that worked fine, but the coverage and speed were slow around the house. My wife wanted wireless in her laptop. I didn't use my laptop for the internet much, so I decided to give it to her. The installation crashed her Dell Latitude D600. So, I came on to Amazon and bought the top of the line Linksys 802.11n SRX400 router and card - not cheap. I also just bought a MacBook Pro, so I thought a better router would be in order. The Mac connected initially. My old laptop with the 802.11b connected (but said it was disconnected). The SRX400 card I bought with it kept going dead in two laptops. I exchanged the router. Same problem. I returned them. Then, I got a Netgear Extreme...also expensive. After much struggle, I got it up and running for a few weeks. Then, the router kept rebooting itself. NetGear support couldn't help (sounded like they were on cell phones - terrible). I returned it. Then, I talked to a guy at Best Buy. Went with the Linksys 54g SRX200. Same problems with the SRX400. I have set up many Linksys routers, so I have no clue what is up with these new ones. I called support. They couldn't help. They then told me no level II technicians were available, and they would call me back. They didn't. I took it back.
  
  I bought the Belkin G router and was up in minutes (the way it should be). All the computers connected without a hitch. Got security set up just like that. What's more, my coverage is just as good as it was with the MIMO and SRX...and other range boosting/speed boosting technology. I don't notice much difference in speed. Bottom line, this router is perfect for most anybody to use at home or work, and it is incredibly easy to use and reliable. Although I didn't need to use Belkin support, they have a huge CALL US and an 800 number right on the front of the box.
  
  Thumbs way up for Belkin...and less expensive.
  
  
  
• INCOMPATIBLE with Intel Centrino processors
  By A3Q5S9VH832QW5 on 2004-07-22
  I bought the Belkin F5D7230-4 a few weeks back when I bought a new Dell inspirion 600m with Intel Centrino 1.5 GHz.
  Though the setup was easy (nothing great because all routers are easy to set up). But I found that router kept dropping my connection every few minutes. I finally called Belkin support and they told me that Belkin routers have an issue with some Intel processors.
  The tech support told me to call regular customer service. When I did, Customer Service said that even if there was a problem (notice they didn't deny it) it should have been fixed by now.
  
  FINAL VERDICT: Save your money. Buy Netgear or Linksys routers. If you still want to buy Belkin and if your laptop has intel chips it will be a good idea to call Belkin customer support and verify if that particular router supports your particular processor. Also keep the receipt of your router in case you have to return it to the store. Remember, Belkin will NOT refund your money.
  
  
• Great Router for Both Windows and Mac
  By A23QOG8HFGXFJT on 2004-11-10
  I bought this router in July when my Siemens Speedstream wireless router somehow fried. To date, I have only had to restart the router a handful of times (all during electrical storms)and since I upgraded the firmware in September, I have had no restarts.
  
  The router works seemlessly with my G4 Mac with a Belkin PCI wireless card running 10.2.8 and my Windows XP laptop using a D-Link PCMCIA wireless card. The mac address filtering feature included in the router software is a very useful security feature for apartment building living and setting it up is very easy.
  
  I highly reccommend this product.
  
  
• Don't think this is a router
  By AEAQW23QJCWUY on 2005-02-09
  The basic functions work fine. Connecting to the internet, vpn, wireless, etc all work fine. Don't think you are buying a router though. I can't broadcast video traffic, send point to point video traffic or set up multiple client IP firewall rules. Tech support recommends updating the firmware which I did to no avail. Without routing functions, my free router (after rebates) isn't such a good deal. Oh yeah, I'm having trouble with the virtual server too. BTW, My old wireless router (Brand D) didn't have any of these problems.
  
  
• Constantly drops / Dead after 3 months
  By A26LXZWZPVG16I on 2005-03-14
  I see all these problems in previous posts and it happens to me, too:
  
  1. If you use cable modem (my modem is the newest Motorola surfboard): It drops and reconnects every 2-3 minutes. It's annoying since I need to login everything again. If you use DSL it's OK.
  
  2. It's now dead after 3 months. Try 192.168.2.1 to access control panel and it will take SEVERAL MINUTES to bring it up. Did soft and hard reset but no luck. My network is wired and hasn't changed for a year. So it has nothing to do with my WAN service or wireless noises. Tech support just keeps telling me nonsense like that. (I have 3 windows computer and 1 linux server hooked to it, maybe I "overloaded" it?)
  
  3. No firmware update in 2 years. A lot of bugs there. e.g. Needs reset from time to time; DHCP lease time is a joke (it always lease the lowest possible IP to you/never remembers your last IP)
  
  Overall, stay away from any Belkin products except power cords or CD jewel cases. They are not serious network equipment maker. Don't buy even if it's free after rebate. Get a more reliable LinkSys, NetGear, D-Link... whatever.
  
  
• Works great - even at far distance
  By A26AL2UPJH5TXT on 2005-12-19
  I just bought this item and it seems to work great. I have one computer connected over wire and two wireless. Both work great. The wireless works at further distances than the linksys I owned and just dumped. Setup was easy (except that the default SSID described in the manual isn't the same one that was configured - but this was easy to figure out). I have 64bit WEP enabled and have no problems. I also like that it has the parental control feature (although I have not yet tested that).
  
  
• Better than Netgear and Dlink
  By A1D08GQJBPK5JE on 2006-06-26
  I have been using belkin routers for almost 5 years now. my first router was a dlink, what a waste of money and time, second one was netgear 11g and the thoughts about that one are not much different from the dlink. as far as belkin goes, hands down the best router ever. first of all you dont have to be a network genius to hook this one up. as long as you can read and follow directions you will be alright. it took me literally 5 minutes to hook this router up. everything is plain and simple. i had to hook up a friends netgear rangemax the other day and believe me i was ready to pull my hair out. in the same room my friends laptop was unable to connect to the router. i took my belkin there, hooked it up and walla full bandwidth in no time. i likes belkin so much that i replaced my belkin 11g (the one above) with a new belkin mimo. not that i needed the upgraded its just that i wanted to. :)
  trust me if you want a router free of trouble buy this and you will be happy.
  
  
• Easy to install, works all the time
  By A2V7H9SCUVEDNS on 2006-08-28
  I have had this router for about a month and have had zero problems. ZERO! This is a big deal for me because I am worthless when it comes to anything with an "on/off" switch. The set-up was quick and I think anything with an opposable thumb could install it. The price is pretty reasonable too.
  
  
• junk
  By A25SR04F6JEQL9 on 2006-11-07
  worked okay for a few months, then started dropping connection to the cable modem randomly, requiring frequent power cycles. eventually, the unit could not be contacted at all via wireless connection and THEN wouldn't even power up. look elsewhere.
  
  
• Quick setup but time consuming issues
  By A3PTWJ0MRJCWB3 on 2003-07-06
  I originally bought this particular wireless router after deliberating a couple weeks looking at CNET's review sections. I took it out of the package, plugged it in, and my laptop instantly recognized the network and I was good to go. However, once the router had to be disconnected for a few minutes, everything was shot. It took me about 3 hours to get it back up. This was the only issue, and it was quickly forgotten because, oddly enough, the internet IN port is taking a cable from an OUT port coming from another router that is receiving the internet signal. In my haste I set it up this way figuring that it should work. I can't access the wireless router but I can log into the main router. It's basically acting as an access point, and is giving me good range (it's in my basement, and I brought my computer out of my house and into my car, about 75 feet away from the house before the signal died. Most people are concerned about range with wireless routers and access points, and I can tell you that it is dependent on many things, like the construction of the house and strength of signal. I typically use my laptop 2 floors up from the router at a distance of about 40 feet. There I get "Low" signal strength, but can get a rate of about 250 Kbps. The case is plastic, but then again wireless technology is not going to be in any pretty packaging anytime soon. It will mount on the provided stand and has 2 moveable antennas which should ALWAYS be pointed up, not at your supposed position in the house. Overall I would recommend this product because of good performance and easy setup. Read the directions!
  
  
• Uses same chipset as more expensive Linksys and Apple
  By A26SA8Q5X5HCGN on 2004-11-08
  The Belkin uses the Broadcom wireless chipset, the same as Linksys, Apple, HP / Compaq, and many others, yet it costs far less. It's also got good parental control features that are free for the first six months. I got one for under $30 with free shipping and no rebate.
  
  
• do NOT buy
  By A1T928838E9E8W on 2005-02-26
  has firmware issues, will NOT allow port forwarding because of buggy firmware that hasn't been fixed for 18 months! don't expect a firmware upgrade to fix it; furthermore, the new version v1444 has packet loss issues and will not be a good wireless bridge
  
  
• I am happy
  By ASY6K1MX1BGI4 on 2005-10-24
  Allright. First of all let me tell you that I have Roadrunner cable connection so I do not know how this router would perform with DSL. This is my first wireless router. I searched Bestbuy and Circuitcity websites to find a wireless router that costs less than $30 without rebates (because I have sworn NEVER to buy products with MIRs on them). I saw this router for $29.99 on the CircuitCity website and for $39.99 on bestbuy website. I went to the nearest bestbuy store (because I dont like circuitcity customer service) and started looking for the product on their shelves. I had the product code with me. The thing is, the product does NOT have two antennae and the unit is much smaller. The one that has two antennae costs more. Anyway, I stood in the store staring at the product wondering whether to buy it or not. They told me that there is no reshelving fee so I decided to take the chance. Ofcourse, they matched circuit city price.
  
  I came home and opened the box, and the router was tiny (much smaller than any other wireless routers that I have seen) which made me wonder what exactly the carton meant by "upto 400 feet coverage". I thought maybe they left out the word "square" before "feet". Anyway, it came with an installation CD and the steps were fairly straightforward...except the penultimate one in which the router "checks for internet connection" and "reconnects upto 10 times if necessary" and which begged me to be patient.
  
  /* Skip the next para if you have not yet bought the router - it will not make much sense to you. Just remember that the penultimate step in the installation procedure is bit crazy...probably because of a bug in their installation software and that it took me about an hour to get thru this step.*/
  
  I was patient allright. It tried and tried and finally said that it could not make the connection...which was stupid. I switched off my cable modem and switched it on again (been using Windows for too long I guess!) and it did not seem to make much of a difference. Finally I thought maybe the cable (that connected my computer to one of the router's ports) was not connected properly. So, I unplugged the cable from its port and plugged it into the adjacent port. The thing then said it found the internet connection! I think it was a fluke. I am not sure it will work for you.
  
  At this point, my computer found the router (and I was able to see the admin page by typing the given IP in the browser) but the router was still not connected to the internet (which was bizzare because the previous step succeeded *because* it found the connection). Anyway, I switched off the modem and switched it on and the router then said that it is connected to the internet. From that point onwards, it was simple and easy. I went through each of the menus in the admin page and set the security etc. I used both MAC filtering (only one machine uses the router) and WPA. I turned off SSID broadcasting as recommended. The security log leaves something to be desired. I thought I'd be able to see the urls being visited by the machines...but I was wrong (may be I just dont know where to look for them). The system log records the time at which a machine logs in and the MAC of the machine. The time for some reason was not accurate (It was one month ahead) - another glitch in the software/firmware.
  
  After that, things have been great. I live in a 1-bedroom apartment. The connection speed is usually full 54Mbps. Some times it drops to 48 Mbps..but never less than that. Internet speed is blazing.
  
  Overall, for the price I paid, I could have gotten one of those fancy routers (netgear for example).....but that is after MIRS and I hate MIRS. I am happy with this router even though the software, in my opinion, has some glitches. I would suggest to give this a try if you are getting it from a nearby store (so that you can return it if you dont like it). As far as buying it online is concerned, well, it depends on how good their customer service is (Can they walk you thru the installation procedure?) and I don't know anything about that.
  
  Update: It might interfere with some of your tv channels (if you use the indoor TV antenna).
  
  
• misleading label
  By A26EQL6RL6ACDN on 2006-01-26
  This is nothing more than an old-fashioned router, fairly slow and hyped in a way implying it is a cable (gateway) modem - it may do what a router is supposed to do, but JR/Amazon is not quite honest in how it is presented.
  
  
• Garbage!!!
  By A26FG96TJNX33G on 2007-03-04
  Had the router for only 3 weeks. Started dropping the internet connection to both my laptop & desktop within 3 days. Belkin told me to change the settings after I sant them numerous emails for help. Now, one week after I set this up, the router is completely dead. Belkin hasn't responded to any of my emails since I told them about this 3 week old product dying out on me.
  
  
  Buy a Linksys, it will save you the trouble in the long run.
  
  
• Belkin 54g Wireless Router: The Future (When it works...)
  By AWVUUGTZUBFZP on 2004-01-02
  I had just received cable Internet access in my household, and I needed a convienient way to share the connection with the three computers in the house. Ethernet seemed impossible, so I went the wireless way with the Belkin 54g Wireless Router. One major hiccup aside, the router has worked pretty well.

  Setup was painless. I plugged the cable modem into a designated port on the router, turned on the machine, installed the device and drivers (drivers before device, or the thing will not install easily) for the matching PCI cards on all the computers, and bada-boom, bada-bing! Windows XP immediately recognized the router on all the computers and connected me to the network.

  Everything worked flawlessly until about a month ago. The router, all of a sudden, would not connect us to the Internet. We called Belkin, and support was not too good. A two-hour wait and about an hour spent diagnosting the problem. I continued to tell them that the router was probably faulty, but the support staffed denied that a replacement was necessary until after an hour on the phone. They sent us the new router (with the new firmware for the updated 802.11g standard), we called up for an RMA number, and we were set. Router continues to work very well.

  One note: look for upgrades at www.belkin.com. I was an "early adopter" of the 802.11g standard, and by the time it was finally an "official standard," new security features had been put in new firmware.

  Final verdict: Great product, works excellently, but don't expect great support from Belkin when it is needed.
  
  

• Good for basic stuff, not for networks w/ web-type servers
  By A2KYGC8IE9LV6 on 2004-01-18
  This router is fine for simple network Peer to peer, hooking up multiple computers to the internet for web browsing. However, the routers software has serious flaws on it's port forwarding/virtual server configuration. Basically, it won't allow you to enter in your settings. This means you can't run a web server, ftp server, etc with through this. Tech support is non-existant. I've tried the lastest and older firmware, they all have the same problem.
  
  

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
• Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
• Nero 8 Ultra Edition [OLD VERSION]
• Nero Liquid TV

• Belkin F5D7010 Wireless 54 Mbps Notebook Card
• BELKIN F5D7050 Wireless 802.11g USB Network Adapter
• Belkin ME1001-USB Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter 802.11g
• Kingston Data Traveler 4 GB USB Flash Drive DTI/4GB
• Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router