Wired Routers

For awhile now, my rule of thumb has been that if you can afford a broadband connection, you can afford a hardware router. And the current crop of low-cost consumer routers makes the decision even more of a no-brainer. By using a more highly integrated network processor chip as their heart, the new generation of routers have been able to reduce the price of a 4 port router to below $50! SMC and D-Link are the most aggressive cost-cutters with their SMC7004VBR and DI-604 models consistently being the low-cost leaders at around $40 on-line... sometimes even $30 with rebates and sales!

SMC7004VBR Barricade Cable/DSL Broadband router

Although they lack the built-in print server and serial WAN ports included in their previous-generation siblings, these newer models feature more speed than you're ever likely to need, and Stateful Packet Inspection firewalls that keep a closer eye on the data flowing through them.

The main negative is that, like many new products, these and their other latest-generation router siblings have had their share of problems. You may find that some of the port-forwarding features that are necessary to support many popular on-line games don't work. In other cases, you may find that the VPN connection that you need to connect to your office's network won't work. Manufacturers are working on these problems, but if your Internet sharing requirements go beyond simple web-surfing, emailing, and instant messaging, you may want to be sure that you can return your product.

One way to avoid these problems is to pay a little more and get a previous-generation product. These battle-tested veterans aren't that much more expensive, and have had years of field testing and firmware upgrades that may make them better choices. My personal favorite is the homely little original SMC Barricade SMC7004BR. It includes a parallel port print server, 4 port 10/100 switch and serial WAN port that allows you to use it with even a dial-up or ISDN Internet connection. Although it's discontinued, you can still find it for about $50. A next best choice that's still in SMC's current catalog is the SMC7004ABR, which replaced the BR, and is essentially the same box.

And what round-up of routers would be complete without mentioning Linksys' BEFSR41? It's arguably the product that built the low-cost router industry and Linksys' fortunes along with it. Although it had its share of growing pains, at $45, it's a good deal, and is found just about everywhere.