router recommendations - linksys BEFSR41 has dead port!

Greetings

I have had a linksys BEFSR41 for a bit over 4 years now, and been quite
satisfied, but ...

Now suddenly the thing has a dead port!

Any recommendations on configurable, reliable, routers to use with cable?
I've googled away and can't find much in the way of ratings with
significant numbers of raters. Of course, I want something that is
configurable by a browser interface and not some proprietary software from
a "legacy OS" ...

I really don't need a print server built in. A VPN might be useful in
future, though I didn't have one on the BEFSR41. I do appreciate the port
forwarding, dmz, etc. features of the BEFSR41 -- most all probalby have
now?

Thanks

RSP

> I really don't need a print server built in. A VPN might be useful in
> future, though I didn't have one on the BEFSR41. I do appreciate the port
> forwarding, dmz, etc. features of the BEFSR41 -- most all probalby have
> now?
Why not look at the Linksys website? They still make this one, though
they may have added features. You can download the user manual for one
that interests you and see exactly what features it has. For a few
more $$, you can get something with 802.11G.

If the dead port isn't the outside one, another alternative is to buy a hub.

Allen McIntosh wrote:

>
>> I really don't need a print server built in. A VPN might be useful in
>> future, though I didn't have one on the BEFSR41. I do appreciate the
>> port forwarding, dmz, etc. features of the BEFSR41 -- most all probalby
>> have now?
> Why not look at the Linksys website? They still make this one, though
> they may have added features. You can download the user manual for one
> that interests you and see exactly what features it has. For a few
> more $$, you can get something with 802.11G.
>
> If the dead port isn't the outside one, another alternative is to buy a
> hub.
I guess what I am looking for mostly at this points is recommendations for
which brands are reliable:
Linksys (3com now)
Netgear
D-Link
.... these are probably the first tier?
Belkin
SMC
others?

In article <Fwg_d.121$(E-Mail Removed)>,
R S Prigan <NO-SPAM-TO-(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
> Allen McIntosh wrote:
>
>>
>>> I really don't need a print server built in. A VPN might be useful in
>>> future, though I didn't have one on the BEFSR41. I do appreciate the
>>> port forwarding, dmz, etc. features of the BEFSR41 -- most all probalby
>>> have now?
>> Why not look at the Linksys website? They still make this one, though
>> they may have added features. You can download the user manual for one
>> that interests you and see exactly what features it has. For a few
>> more $$, you can get something with 802.11G.
>>
>> If the dead port isn't the outside one, another alternative is to buy a
>> hub.
> I guess what I am looking for mostly at this points is recommendations for
> which brands are reliable:
> Linksys (3com now)
> Netgear
> D-Link
> ... these are probably the first tier?
> Belkin
> SMC
> others?
I have a Netgear FR114P, and am quite happy with it. I got Belkin
routers (on sale cheap at Sears) for my son at college, and my mom.
Both types of routers have stateful packet filtering, though the Netgear
is more versatile. I didn't think my mom or son needed the extras. The
Netgear also has a built-in printserver, though I haven't used it.

The Netgear is almost 2 years old, and appears to still be available. I
have had to kick it (unplug, wait 30 sec, plug back in) 2 or 3 times in
that period, but from what I can tell, that's not bad for budget
routers. The Belkins seemed to be on a Sears close-out, but appears to
be marginally available (while supplies last) at MWave.

None of these, or the brands you mention are first-tier. Or at least,
those names are all associated with sub-$100 home-market routers. I
guess some of them offer higher-tier products, too. I suspect you're
also trying to sort the sub-$100 home routers into tiers, and that can
be done.

First, I would suggest deciding what features matter to you, and let
that be your guide. Stateful packet filtering was important to me, and
to give to my family members. I needed family members to have port
forwarding, so I could service their machines. For my purposes, I
wanted static routing and more rule flexibility, in addition.

Dale Pontius