Wireless Router Review

Recently I purchased and tried Microsoft Broadband Base Station
MN-700, Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router, and SMC Wireless 802.11b
Router for my new home. I wanted to find a good wireless router since
I don't want to drill holes and do wiring in my new house.

However, I found it's hard to find a good review of wireless routers
on Internet. So I decided to write one and share my experience with
others.

The follow is my summary of the three:

Topics:
1. Internet Connection
2. Wireless Connection
3. Firewall
4. VPN Pass-through
5. Singal Strength

Microsoft Base Station MN-700
1. You need to download Service Patch immediately if using PPPoE
connection, such as Bell Sympatico. This router has a bug on PPPoE
connection. Without service patch, the Internect connection drops
every 2-3 minutes. After patching it, it's OK.
2. Wireless connection drops 2-3 times for a period of 3 hours</td>
3. Cannot be turned off. It's always on. It's bad if you're running
Web server or FTP server at home and want to turn off your firewall
temp for testing. Also it doesn't support Loopback.
4. It doesn't support VPN pass-through with Cisco VPN Client even
Microsoft claims it does on this router. Called Microsoft India's
Support Center. These guys are absolutely helpless.
5. Not stable. About 80-100% if wireless client located in another
room at the same floor.

Linksys Broadband G Router
1. Internet Connection is Perfect
2. Wireless connection drops 2-3 times for a period of 3 hours
3. Can be turned off. Support Loopback.
4. VPN pass-through works well
5. Stable. About 60-80% if wireless client located in another room at
the same floor. Weaker than Microsoft's.

SMC Wireless 802.11b Router
1. Internet Connection is Perfect
2. Wireless connection Never gets dropped
3. Can be turned off. Support Loopback.
4. VPN pass-through works well
5. Stable. Always 100% if wireless client located in another room at
the same floor.

So you should go for SMC's. You never get wrong with it.