INTRODUCTION

Belkin, a name that I have always associated with quality cables, produces other computer related products, including a 4-port cable/DSL router that we will be taking a look at. Standing vertical, with a contempory look, it is a far cry from the traditional flat rectangle style. Quite a desktop space saver even when coupled with a Belkin Network Switch by means of a unique docking ring. It can also be wall mounted with an adaptor that is available from Belkin. Share your internet connection with up to 4 computers, share your files and peripherals, protect your entire network against unauthorized access and allow access to your network from remote locations with VPN. The Belkin Router is advertised to be able to accomplish these tasks and carries a Lifetime Warranty and Free Technical Support. Compatible with Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows® Me, Windows® XP and Mac OS up to Mac OS X and AppleTalk.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

• 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router
• Plastic Foot
• Power Supply
• CD-ROM
• User Guide

FEATURES

• Enables you to share your broadband Internet connection
• Lets you exchange data quickly between connected PCs and notebooks, share printers and other peripherals, and communicate via e-mail
• Auto-sensing to offer future scalability of 10Base-T networks into 100Base-T Networks
• Uplink port that lets you add computers to your network
• Dedicated bandwidth for each port so you can enjoy an efficient and error-free network
• Compliance with Ethernet IEEE 802.3 and 802.3u standards
• LED indicators for monitoring network traffic
• Plug-and-Play compatibility

SPECIFICATIONS

• Network Standards: IEEE 802.3 10Base-T Ethernet (WAN) IEEE 802.3u 100Base-Tx Fast Ethernet (LAN) Protocols: CSMA/CD, TCP, IP, UDP, PPPoE, and DHCP (client and server)
• Unlimited Multicast MAC Addresses Max Frame Size: 1522 Bytes Buffer Memory: 1Mb Speed Per Port: 10 or 100 (Mbps in Half Duplex) 20 or 200 (Mbps in Full Duplex) Cabling: 10Base-T: Category 3 or better 100Base-T: Cat 5 or better
• Ports: 4- 10/100Base-T auto-sensing RJ45 port, one shared uplink RJ45, LAN 1- 10Base-T RJ45 port, WAN LED Indicators: LAN Link, LAN Activity, WAN Activity, and Power MAC Addresses: 1024 Unicast MAC Addresses Limits
• Certification: FCC Class B, CE Mark, C Tick

INSTALLATION

Belkin has pages on their website that illustrate exactly how to set up the router and its software. Those step by step instructions are a step in the right direction for a large corporation accomodating novice home users... Or is it just another marketing plot to get into your pockets ? You be the judge ;). Either way, it's helpful to see this page especially if you have never set up a router before. And it will provide instructions for software and other configurations that you may need later on.

For maximum performance, Belkin recommends using Belkin FastCAT5e or CAT6 Networking Cables (for the record, any non-Belking CAT5e or CAT6 cable should be able to accomlish the same). The setup was fast and easy. I did use Belkin CAT6 cables, plugged into my Network Card on my main box and into a port on the router. The router has 4 ports numbered 1 – 4; I chose port number 1 for my main computer. Then I did the same thing for my other PC, CAT6 into the NIC and into another port on the router, this time port number 2. Then I plugged a CAT6 into the router port marked WAN and into my cable modem.

This picture of the rear of the router shows the port numbers & location, the WAN port, the DC power connection, and the Reset Switch.

The Belkin router has a web browser interface, which I didn’t have to use for the initial setup, as I had instant connection to the Internet after reboot, no problems for either PC, Windows 98SE or Windows XP Pro. However, I thought that I would give the web browser interface a look. I just open my browser and type 192.168.2.1 Then click “GO”. A small window opened and asked for a user name, I typed “Admin” where it has a small picture of a head beside “User name” and clicked OK. This opened up a window that neatly listed all of my connection info, or status as they refer to it.

After setting the router up, I noted that the lights on the Router’s face correctly showed the Power was on, the WAN Link status blinked in synchronicity with my Cable Modem, as did the Port Activity Status Lights show which ports was connected and info was passing through. To break it down into more detail, the WAN light is solid Green indicating there is an active connection and Flashing Green in sync with the modem when info is passing through. The Port Activity Status lights are color coded for the connection. Amber indicates a 100 Mbps (100Base-TX) link between the router and the computer connected to that port, while Green indicates a 10Mbps link (10Base-TX). They flash to show activity.

NETWORKING SETUP

Note: This step is only necessary if you'd like to share files between your client PCs and you're not sure how to accompish it manually.

If you want to network your PCs and not confident enough in what you're doing, now is the time to take out the Belkin CD which contains the software to accomplish this task easier. I'll describe the process below:

Installing the Software

Insert the CD into your CD-ROM on the computer that you have connected to Router Port number 1. Double-click on the “Install” icon and follow the simple directions on your screen. Default settings should work for most configurations; just keep clicking “Next”. The software will install.

Belkin NetSetup

After the software is installed on each computer, go back to your first client PC (connected to port 1 on the router) and reboot it. After it reboots, click on “Start”, go to “Programs”, “Belkin SOHO Networking”, and then click on “Belkin NetSetup”.

You can follow the simple instructions that will appear on each computers screen, such as naming each computer, your workgroup (what you call your networked computers) and if you want to allow file and printer sharing.

Naming your computers is a way for you to distinguish 1 computer from the other. Some people simply use “Computer 1” for their main, “Computer 2” for their second, and so on. Some give their computers the manufactures name, such as Compaq or Hewlit-Packard, some use the name of the case enclosure. The point is to use names that will help you to remember which computer is which.

After repeating the above on all your clients, your network setup should be complete ! :) You can easily tell if you have successfully networked your computers by clicking on the “Network Neighborhood” icon on your desktop, and then clicking on the name that you have given your workgroup, to see all of the computers in your network listed by the name that you gave them. This may take a few seconds for their names to appear, but when they do, you have successfully configured your network!

Setup for the Internet

You are now ready to configure the router to customize your particular networks needs, such as Intrusion Detection (Firewall), Security Logs that can record attempts to gain access to your network, DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) which will allow you to put a computer exposed to the internet, outside of the firewall protection, as some internet games don’t work well behind a firewall, Virtual Server Settings, Special Application Settings, Client Filter Settings, NAT (Network Address Translation) making your network invisible to the internet, Set Time Zone, Change Password, Remote Management…

This information is explained in the User Guide, although it has complete instructions and screen shots to tell you how to set up each function, it could have went into a bit more detail on each function, why you would need it and such… Still, it has the information needed for even a beginner to be able to follow.

All of these options are accessible and explained by merely typing 192.168.2.1 into you browser, as we did earlier before we had our computers networked, type “Admin”, and follow the onscreen instructions.

Connection Type

Intrusion Detection (Firewall)

DMZ

Virtual Server

NAT

SECURITY AND PERFORMANCE

OK, lets see how secure we are! We have a list of websites that can test your security, just pick a site and click on it to begin. Steve Gibson has a very decent security port scan, so let’s see how the Belkin Router does on this "Shields Up" Test.

Great! The Belkin Router has Stealthed our ports so we are invisible to the internet!

I don’t think so! :) ... Of course it is 2:46AM EDT, and with Cable connections, your speed is much better when less traffic is on the internet. However, that is still smoking speeds! :) I have seen no throughput degradation whatsoever as a result of the Belkin Router.

CONCLUSION

The Belkin 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router is a fine choice for the economical minded home user and entry level SOHO user. It does lack some of the optional functions, bells & whistles that the more expensive routers offer, however many of the potential users of this router probably wouldn’t need those features. You can plainly see what this router offers and decide if it does what you need. The ease of set up and install, coupled with a reasonable price is very appealing. It took about 4 minutes to have both of my home PCs online, and less than  an hour to have my network up and fully functioning as well (using the Belkin software), sharing files, etc… Good to go!

The router is secure to use and allows you to connect 4 computers directly to it (and onto the Internet) without even adding a switch. The unit is fast and provides software for the novice user to to network all LAN clients and share files and peripherals, it is attractive as well as space saving. For the price, it is a good economical router. I found it readily online for ~$80. Some sites even had it ~$40 after mail-in rebates!

Overall, a great entry level router !

PROS

• Very economical
• Very quick and easy to install to share internet connections
• Reasonable security protection
• Lots of flexibility with settings

CONS

• Lacking some features
• User Guide could be more detailed. The User Guide does have some other good points such as a place to write down your settings, Glossary of Terms, step by step instructions on how to install and set up, however it could have better described what each function did and why you may or may not need it.

Rating
Overall Rating: