3COM router for home. Anybody used this?

[Eug]

Somebody mentioned to me a $60 router from 3com for home DSL or cable modem sharing. However, I can't remember the model name, and I can't find it on their website

I'm thinking of this for two reasons.
A) I want the built-in firewall function. (I hate those software solutions.)
B) I want to run PPPoE.

I envision: modem --> router --> standard hub

The standard hub would be connected directly to my desktop computer, and also to a wireless hub as well. The wireless hub would be used for a laptop around the house.

This seems like a better solution than using the wireless hub for both desktop and laptop because of better reliability and because it's cheaper since I wouldn't need to buy a wireless PCI card for the desktop. (A 4-8 port 10/100 dumb hub is a lot cheaper than a PCI wireless card.)

Now, does anyone have more info on that cheap router? I've been told it runs PPPoE and well. I would prefer DSL over cable, but much of the stuff out there doesn't like PPPoE very much.

(By the way, please keep the explanations simple, as I'm new at this.)

 

[Eug]

Bump

 

[sharkbitz]

so far I've tried to Linksys, and it's crap. The 3com may be worth looking into...

 

[Eug]

Well, I may just buy it anyway, if I can find a laptop to borrow for testing purposes, since I currently only have one computer. (Seems kind of odd to buy a router for just one computer, but they're so damn cheap these days and more secure potentially much simpler than a software firewall solution.)

 

[CrimsonKing]

I haven't used a 3com DSL/Cable router, but I had their ISDN router and it was excellent. Some features (like DHCP management) were better than the Linksys Etherfast I have now. The firewall security was pretty good, but not perfect. If you can find a 3com for $60, I'll be shocked. Let us know where.

 

[Eug]

Hmmm, it turns it wasn't a 3com. It is in fact a Linksys Etherfast.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=142&grid=5

He says it is 10/100 and supports PPPoE. While it wasn't very fast, but at least it works. He got it from his supplier for CAD$79 plus tax. That's about US$55 before tax. Strangely enough the store near him was charging CAD$150 for it, which is about US$100. It only has one LAN port so you still need a hub though.

What's so bad about Linksys? You guys have me worried.

With this am I right in thinking that my pings would be basically unaltered for gaming? (I'm getting as low as 30 (usually 70ish) for the best UT servers.)