Review: Belkin 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router

Reviewed By: Kirk Hiner

Review Date: January 19, 2002

Developer: Belkin Components

Minimum Requirements: Macintosh with 10/100 Base-T ethernet network, cable/DSL internet connection

Retail Price: $111.99

Availability: Out now

I can remember when I first joined this whole internet revolution. It was 1993, and I was using a 2400 baud modem to connect through AOL. Funny thing, that. The 2400 baud modems are long gone, but AOL is inexplicably still around even though its technology is the more antiquated of the two. But I won't focus on the horrors of America Online in this review. Let's talk speed, instead...a concept AOL still doesn't understand.

When I got my first taste of high speed internet access, I knew there was no going back to dial-up. I found myself going to work early simply to download software updates, and I'd go in on weekends to plan vacations and shop for dorky movies on internet. The prices of cable and DSL connections have dropped to within consumer range, and although their popularity hasn't spread as quickly as the industry has hoped, they will soon enough. Along with dedicated connections, however, come new problems that must be addressed. Belkin's 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router takes care of these problems, but initiates a few of its own.

Routers in general allow cable/DSL subscribers to share a broadband Internet connection amongst multiple computers and can provide ethernet network access as well. Equally important, routers also provide firewall security from the Internet, warding off would-be hackers and hiding your computers' IP addresses.

It's a good thing Belkin contacted us regarding the 4-Port Cable/DSL Router or we would've never known it was even Mac compatible; the product page at their website makes no mention of the Macintosh. But hey, ethernet's ethernet and DSL's DSL, so why not? This is Macintosh networking...how hard can it be?

Well, that depends on your experience. To the novice, the Belkin instruction manual is a jumbled mess of jargon and screen captures that'll mean even less to the Mac user because it's all PC oriented. Nothing of use to Mac users is offered on the CD, and the online setup guide linked from the website product page is still PC only. For instructions on Mac setup, you have to dig in through the support page to the manual downloads. Or, you can just click here. We're helpful like that.

The good news is that once you have the proper setup guide, installing and configuring the router is a fairly simple process...assuming you have all the proper information from your ISP. Simply power down all the devices, make the proper ethernet connections, then turn the devices back on; modem first, then the router, and finally the computers. Connecting the cables to the router is easy enough; the upright, sloped design of the Belkin Router gives easy access to the ports while keeping them neatly hidden in the back of the device. The indicator lights for each port are located in the front, but this may not be a good thing. The amber lights are big enough to guide airplanes home, and their perpetual flashing can prove quite a distraction. Because of this, although the Router has a fairly attractive design, you'll still want to hide it outside your line of sight. With the docking ring, the design allows for easy linking with other like Belkin products such as the 5- or 8-Port Network Switch. The manual also provides instructions on how to mount the unit to the wall, if you're so inclined.

Getting the Router to communicate with your cable or DSL modem is a matter of adjusting your TCP/IP settings and configuring the router. It's the router that can give you trouble if you're not prepared for its questions. Before you begin the process, be sure you have all your proper connection information and know if you're connecting with a dynamic IP address, static IP address, or PPPoE. By launching your web browsers and pointing to the address provided by Belkin, you're given access to the router's configuration. I had no trouble accessing the router with Internet Explorer v5.1, but ran into JavaScript errors with Netscape v4.7.1 and iCab late in the configuration process. Be warned.

Also be warned that you will need an ISP Gateway Address if using the static IP address setup, information not normally provided to Mac users. I called our service provider to get this address, and the gentleman with whom I spoke was equally puzzled about what I wanted and why I would want it. On a whim, I entered the router address provided when we set up the account, and was then able to access Internet. Unfortunately, this hasn't proven to be the most stable solution as the router will randomly disconnect me every now and again, especially when transferring files through e-mail or FTP. To reconnect, I have to go back into the router's settings, switch to either dynamic IP address or PPPoE, then switch back to static IP address. Hopefully, I'll eventually reach someone at our DSL provider who can give me a more stable Inernet set-up configuration.

The set-up process also allows you to configure your security settings, but the manual again doesn't do a very good job of explaining what each feature is our why you would want to mess with it. Nice screen captures, though, if nothing else. Better descriptions of what's going on are located in the Belkin tech support FAQs (notice the first question), including details on how to place your IP address outside the router for some internet gamin. Once again, the instructions are PC biased, so make sure you know how to get your Mac's actual IP address before starting. After set-up, accessing the router from your web browser allows you to monitor network activity, including information on any attempts that have been made to gain access to your network. The navigation to get to this information--set up like a basic web page--is a bit unwieldy, but I quickly learned to find my way about.

Having gone through all of that, I've been happy with the performance ever since (save for the infrequent disconnections). Both our DSL and ethernet connections have been steady and quick. I did have to change my e-mail settings after switching to the router (see the FAQ linked in the above paragraph) and my ancient Epson ethernet card no longer wants to communicate with my G4, but blame for that lies with Epson; The iBook, iMac and Lexmark E322n are all communicating with the router without difficulty.

And hey, let's not forget Belkin's lifetime warranty and lifetime free tech support. When I was on the phone with Belkin tech support, the gentleman with whom I spoke offered to call my ISP directly to get a few questions answered. My family won't even give me that kind of support.

The unpleasant truth is that connecting to the internet through a router can be tricky work, but is very nearly a necessity for those with dedicated internet connections. Aside from providing firewall protection and hiding your IP address, it allows multiple computers to connect simultaneously through the same modem with only one IP address. Belkin's 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router is aggressively priced to be the solution for home and small office networks, providing steady ethernet connectivity and a solid internet firewall. Macintosh users coule benefit from either Mac-specific instructions in the printed manual or at least from a clearly marked web address for the download page (better yet, place the PDF on the CD). Small office owners may find the four ethernet ports limiting, but I guess that's why they make the docking ring. Belkin's 5- or 8-Port Network Switches are ready to step in and help out there, and at attractive prices, too.

Now, I think I'd better evacuate the computer room. It seems the lights on the router have been blinking again, and I've got a Piper Cub about to land on my computer desk. Sure hope it doesn't overshoot and hit my iSub.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

.