Belkin Wireless G Plus Router
See it at Amazon.com for $42.00Average Customer Rating
(3.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First
(4 out of 5)The Best Router For Cable Modem
The Belkin High-Speed Wrls. G Router works excellent as a cable modem wireless router, but not as a DSL wireless router. I have DSL, on my office and it doesn't work properly, I cannot expereience high speed internet because the message that shows up on the wireless computer was "Low Connection" no matter where was the router ubicated, I had to buy a Netgear one and was perfect. However I put the Belkin wireless router in my house where I have Cable modem connection and works awesome! The laptops computers works twice as fast and properly when they go online, even from a further distance than the Linksys wireless router I had before without loose the connection. I have discover that the Belkin wireless Router is designed specially for cable modem connection but have technical problems with the DSL Protocols from providing companies, so in clear words, this router is perfect for cable modem connections but a nightmare for DSL.
(1 out of 5)Absolute rubbish
Previous experience: Having set up several routers for myself, friends, etc., I bring to the table some experience in setting up routers. Call me an "advanced beginner."
I bought this wireless router based on the strength of the reviews here and have been plagued by it for the past several days. In an effort to improve my security from WEP (previous Hawking router) to WPA-PSK, I've exchanged insecurity for unreliability. It comes with a promising installation CD and a manual, to its credit, but a hang-up during the installation process did not bode well, and it's been downhill ever since baby!
The device was never able to maintain a connection without having to manually reconnect frequently. An older Wi-Fi B connected laptop couldn't hold a connection at all. The reset feature takes several minutes instead of the instantaneous reset of my previous. I really was left with a very poor taste in my mouth and I would be giving it a negative rating if it were possible. I won't be buying another Belkin any time soon. Wish me luck on my next purchase.
(4 out of 5)Good and Reliable Alternative Brand Solution
So far, I've purchased 9 of these routers for home users and have to admit at $60 they're a little overpriced but if you can pick them up for less than $40. They're a good and solid investment. So far...none have failed and the CD install makes it easy for any Luddite to install.
It's not the most feature rich unit out there but it is reliable and the firmware appears to be compatable with all DSL provides and Comcast Cable.
As with any piece of equipment, you may have to upgrade the firmware and alway's check the DSLReports.com Hardware forums for any possible compatability or functional issues with your specific provider before purchase
(5 out of 5)Very easy setup and decent signal
Incredibly clear and easy setup directions. Done in a mere few minutes. It found my DSL internet connection automatically, but if it hadn't, there was a lovely typed instruction sheet in the box listing LOTS of DSL providers, including mine, with details for how to configure things. I never needed it, but it was nice to know it was there. (I had tried to set up a Linksys router the week before and it never managed to find my internet connection at all and had lousy, techspeak instructions that were not helpful to a nontechie type like me. It's getting returned tomorrow!) Nice to have an actual printed instruction manual, too, instead of having to use a CD or online manual.
So far the Belkin is working just fine and the signal goes where I want it to. Going through multiple walls I get a "low signal" reading but it still works fast enough for my DSL connection.
My only complaint is that there was a peculiar chapter in the instruction manual about how to set up a network if using AOL DSL, which required assigning an AOL screen name to the router and to each computer. This seemed more than a little bit strange, and since we are already using nearly all of our seven allotted screen names, this wasn't practical, so instead I used the Network Setup Wizard that came with Windows XP and got things working with only a few minor glitches.
(1 out of 5)I'd rather poke my eye with a sharp stick...
...than continue to deal with this peice of junk. The thing gave me nothing but headaches, and I'd give it NO stars if Amazon would let me. Some of the issues I encountered were...
a) It is permanently stuck on one specific network address (192.168.2.x). If you want to change it to anything else, the thing stops working. It simply reboots over and over, forcing you to reset to factory default and lose all your settings.
b) when you instruct it to download the latest firmware, it stops working. It simply reboots over and over, forcing you to reset to factory default and lose all your settings.
c) Backing up the settings you gave it is a simple matter...but if you attempt to restore the settings you backed up, it stops working. It simply reboots over and over, forcing you to reset to factory default and lose all your settings.
d) Every so often, it decides to stop working on its own. It simply reboots over and over, forcing you to reset to factory default and lose all your settings. I suspect it's trying to automatically download the latest firmware according to some schedule, but I'm not sure.
e) if you're an advanced user, you'll run actoss another snafu- don't use this with any Windows 2003 servers- the security port it uses for its configuration is the same port Active Directory uses for authentication. It is hard wired into the router and cannot be changed, so anyone who tries to log onto a Windows 2003 server will receive a Belkin configuration screen instead.
If you're looking to buy one of these crummy things, unless you happen to like it that your router stops working, rebooting over and over, forcing you to reset to factory default and lose all your settings, walk right by it and get a Linksys instead.
Piece of %$#@&!!!!!