OT: Seeking input on broadband routers

I've recently kicked it up a few notches; by-finally-getting hooked up on cable modem.
Interestingly, I find that ports 23 (telnet) and 80 (HTTP) are wide open now. Not so on dial-up.
After searching the Internet, talking with tech support-and other folks-, I understand a router will help with this problem.
This brings me to ask for opinions from ya'll.
Looking over reviews for the basic routers ('bout $60.00 USD), namely- Belkin, NetGear, and LynkSys, it seems folks have a bit of trouble with them all, and then-some folks don't.
Apparently, all three suffer from the same problems-i.e. Shutting down frequently.
Before I plop my bucks down for something that doesn't work right (from what I understand, all three manufacturers are aware of the problem), can anybody steer me right on this router perplexity. I'm not to familiar with this new technology, but I sure would like a bit more privacy.
All comments, suggestions, opinions-welcomed.
Hawk"First thing I remember knowin', was that lonesome whistle blowin'-And a yungun's dream of growing up to ride-
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
No-one could steer me right-But Mama tried."

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RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, ssw, Aug-21-03, 07:11 PM, (1) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, DTA, Aug-21-03, 07:55 PM, (2) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, derekmorton, Aug-21-03, 10:50 PM, (4) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, heffed, Aug-30-03, 02:16 AM, (17) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, Hawk, Aug-30-03, 05:54 AM, (18) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, Hawk, Aug-31-03, 10:23 AM, (19) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, rdamon, Aug-21-03, 10:31 PM, (3) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, chucksc, Aug-22-03, 00:14 AM, (6) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, dgauci, Aug-21-03, 11:27 PM, (5) SMC Barricade., Robber Baron, Aug-22-03, 02:01 AM, (7) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, derekmorton, Aug-22-03, 03:06 AM, (8) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, wws04662, Aug-22-03, 07:19 AM, (9) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, PcKiller, Aug-22-03, 11:05 AM, (10) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, sd70mac666, Aug-22-03, 01:31 PM, (11) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, Hawk, Aug-27-03, 06:25 PM, (12) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, PcKiller, Aug-28-03, 03:23 PM, (13) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, johninchicago, Aug-28-03, 03:51 PM, (14) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, cnwnick, Aug-28-03, 07:00 PM, (15) RE: OT: Seeking input on broadband routers, Hawk, Aug-28-03, 07:28 PM, (16)

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I've got a Linksys Wireless(802.11b protocol) router/4 port hub, model BEFW11S4 (about $100) and haven't had any trouble with it.. I use a Linksys WMP 11 wireless card in my desktop system, which is in another room than the family computer.. I was too lazy to run wire.

Bradley Linda
Waco, Texas

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If you have windows XP, it has its own firewall, which is just as good as zonealarm, which would be my recommendation. The free version is every bit as good as the payware one. Go to GRC.com and test your ports through that.Clever hackers can get through all protection, including hardwired firewals, so there is no guarantee. But nobody has got into my system yet. (touch wood! LOL!).David

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>If you have windows XP, it has its own firewall, which is
>just as good as zonealarm, which would be my recommendation.No, its NOT as good as ZA, ZA catches outbound traffic and the XPF does not.

Derek

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>No, its NOT as good as ZA, ZA catches outbound traffic and
>the XPF does not. I agree. Not to mention that ZoneAlarm also monitors all programs accessing the internet. If a program has changed since it last accessed the internet, you get a message saying it has been changed, do you still want to allow it internet access? This is very cool! If some .exe on your system has been tweaked due to a virus or trojan horse, you'll know it before it connects.Hawk, if all you're wanting a router for is to block your ports, even the pro version (payware) of ZoneAlarm is much cheaper than a hardware router/firewall. -Jeff

Union Pacific is my drug.

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Thanks for the advice, but I tried a trial version of Pro and had some problems with it. Maybe I just didn't have it configured right.
I do have another computer that I'd like to access the internet with, so a router would be good for that, but I'll look into Pro again.Hawk"First thing I remember knowin', was that lonesome whistle blowin'-And a yungun's dream of growing up to ride-
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
No-one could steer me right-But Mama tried."

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I just downloaded, and installed, ZA Pro-Trial version.
I've looked through the configuration options and can't find anything concerning blocking ports 23 and 80.
I also went to GRC and they're still open.
I visited the ZA site and couldn't find any understanable info there regarding these ports.
Any advice?Hawk"First thing I remember knowin', was that lonesome whistle blowin'-And a yungun's dream of growing up to ride-
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
No-one could steer me right-But Mama tried."

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-21-03 AT 10:32 PM (EDT)

I've been running a Linksys router for about 4 years now (The same model as SSW's but without the wireless access point).Of course since Cisco bought them any thing can happen With the linksys (and others) you can block all incoming traffic or poke some holes for specific ports to be redirected to your private IP addresses. (eg if you want to run a web server)I am running zone alarm with windows firewall and have had no problems with the last round of viruses.Robert
"insert witty signature here"Edit: If you want some help setting it up.. I should be in town the next few days

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I too am running a BEFW11S4v2 and have had absolutely no trouble with it.....Chuck Schneider
(Virtual) CEO
North American (Virtual) Locomotive Works

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I've been personally using the wired, (as opposed to wireless), LinkSys 4 port DSL/Cable router for the past year. I really like it and it has served me well with no complaints. I also use Norton's Personal Firewall software. The Windows XP firewall while better than nothing, is lacking in features compared to the others.You can now find it by shopping around for about $50 USD.

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Get an SMC Barricade. It's (currently) the only one with stateful packet inspection on its firewall. I've got oen, a friend has one and I've got a client with one in each of two different offices. Never had a problem.

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Gidday Hawk,I think you will find that the dropouts are due to the conditions on the phone line and not the router itself. What they need to do is to make sure that the device can recover from the bad line conditions.Having said that, my cable modem (Motorola SB4100) only drops out when the cable signal drops out, which has only been twice this year.A look over the brands you have mentioned, make me think that they are ADSL routers? Derek

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I have been using a D-Link DI-704P broadband router for the last year. I have had no problems with the router itself. I did not go with the current wireless craze, since the speed of wireless networking has not caught up with hardwired cable networks, as well as security concerns that I discuss later. I will switch to wireless, when the network speed catches and surpasses hardwired networks. I have all 3 computers in the same room, so I have no need for wireless. If you have computers in different rooms around the house, wireless networking may be the way to go. One other aspect of wireless that concerns me is security. Any type of wireless connections can be tapped from outside the house and I think it would be possible for someone to tap into a home, wireless network, using a laptop and some type of scanner to detect the frequency of the network signals that are floating freely in the air around your house. Right now, these concerns are somewhat mute for me, since I live in a "3rd world" country and there are not a lot of tech savy people here.
Sorry for getting of topic. I think what you refer to as "router crashing", is dropping off the network. If your cable modem requires you to use PPOE connections and you do not have a dedicated IP address, then there are occasional interuptions in the internet connection and the router will relog on to the internet, if you have it configured to do so.
I really do not think that brand name of a router makes any difference. I would hesitate to purchase a BRAND XX router that I had never heard of. If you get any one of the top 4 or 5 brands, you should be fine. In the recent MSBLAST attack, I had absolutely no problem. The log on my router recorded a lot of Port 135 probes, but the router has this and other ports "Stealthed", so that no response is sent back to such a probe and my IP address appears not to exist to anyone or any program probing my ports. I do not use or utilize any other firewall except for the one in the router. I keep my operating system up to date using automatic updates as well as using anti-virus software and "Knock on wood," I have never had or contracted any type of virus on any of my systems in the 15 years that I have actively been on-line.
I, again apologize for all the information that you did not ask for. Bill

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I have a linksys router, and have had no trouble with it. Leave my PCs on 24/7, and never got a virus thru the router. I also use the free version of Zone Alarm, so I what program is trying to phone home.

My Game Review Website

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I use a Belkin 4 port router and it works like a charm

Dr. Satan

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Thanks for all the input folks.
I think I'll go with a LynkSys. I got more good reports on that than anything else, from here-and outside the forum.Hawk"First thing I remember knowin', was that lonesome whistle blowin'-And a yungun's dream of growing up to ride-
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
No-one could steer me right-But Mama tried."

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Hawk, I think you will be happy with it. As mine never shuts-down on its own.

My Game Review Website

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I've got a Linksys Wireless(802.11b protocol) Access Point Router with 4 port switch, model BEFW11S4 (about $100) and haven't had any trouble with it. Easy to configure, and very reliable.

John in Chicago

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I also have the LinkSYS I believe it's the BEFSR41 It has all the latest features tho I chose the non-wireless option since I bought a wireless access point previously and just didnt need to spend the extra on that feature on the LinkSYS. It has the latest features and passes the "Stealth mode" probe test with flying colors. My connection does not even appear to exist on the internet. Between the features that it has and it has no problem keeping connected, even when my cable ISP change my dynamic IP it was a good buy.Just my $.02Nick

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OK! I'm sold. LynkSys it is.
The BEFSR41 is the one I was thinking about.
I'll fetch it up in the next couple days.
Thanks all,
Hawk"First thing I remember knowin', was that lonesome whistle blowin'-And a yungun's dream of growing up to ride-
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
No-one could steer me right-But Mama tried."

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