From The Naked PC issue #4.26...

Belkin's Secure Networking Gateway Routers

by Al Gordon
December 20, 2001

I look upon the task of networking my computers with the same fondness as I attach to a dentist's drill. All I want from networking products is that they let me set up without making my life difficult. So I was happy as a clam (that would be a New England clam, of course) when Belkin Components rolled out a wide lineup of Ethernet and 802.11b ("WiFi") products, and discovered that I could actually get them to work. Quickly.

For more details, links, and pictures, please see my supplemental page:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/426/tr.cgi?al1

Belkin networking products are particularly helpful to users with broadband Internet connections. The flagship products--the Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Router (F5D6230-3) and 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router (F5D5230-4)--both have robust firewall technologies to protect your "always on" connection from hackers. The wireless gateway also has five different encryption levels for your wireless transmissions.

The gateways also have the crucial capability to clone your network card's MAC address. This allows you to set up the gateway so that as far as your broadband ISP is concerned, it is still connected to your original card. This is a safeguard, not against hackers, but rather against ISPs that impose extra fees for plugging in a network to their broadband service.

The competition in small office and home networking, such as Linksys and Netgear, are known for quality gear, but for which setup sometimes can be a struggle. Belkin has correctly noted that ease of use would be a major competitive edge and has emphasized that in its products. We will have more on setup (including setup in Windows XP) in future issues. But for now, if your holiday shopping plans include a SOHO network, give Belkin a look.

You can reach Al Gordon at:
mailto:al@TheNakedPC.com

Return to Top

---

TNPC Hot Tips:

• Email out of control? Spam filling your inbox? People trying to steal your identity? Same here - until I applied these tips. You can too in a new multimedia e-book. Tame Your Email.

• DO YOU MAKE THESE MONEY MISTAKES? Do you know that trying to pay off your high interest rate debts first and/or paying extra on more than one debt is the SLOWEST way to get out of debt? Don't make these same mistakes. Learn more at by clicking here...