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Recommendations on a cheap switch

I opted for the SMC Barricade SMC7004BR router, rather than a hub. Quite a bang for the buck when you consider it's built-in print server, RS232 COM port, switch and router capabilities. Double the price of that switch, but worth it if you need any of those extra abilities.
 


<< I opted for the SMC Barricade SMC7004BR router, rather than a hub. Quite a bang for the buck when you consider it's built-in print server, RS232 COM port, switch and router capabilities. Double the price of that switch, but worth it if you need any of those extra abilities. >>



How has it worked for you?

Anyone else used it? I know that SMC makes some good products, but I've never worked with any of their routers.

EDIT: this actually reminds me of the Linksys BEFRS41, which I've used before for my dad's cable connection. Any big differences? Maybe the built-in print server?
 
Reviews:We haven't been able to get ANY broadband here in any form. I have three PCs that I wanted connected via network and share Internet connection. I figured a nice router/switch would be a good idea in anticipation of getting DSL someday. In the mean time I hooked up an external modem to the Barricade's Com port. Every PC can access the Web, whether any other PC is running or not. The whole setup couldn't be easier. Now all three PCs can access the printer using the Barricade's print server too. Again, setup was a piece of cake and no other PC needs to be running.

I needed to have the modem's code to not dial out loud, passed to it through the router. It wouldn't work initially. I called SMC's tech support and got a technician in less than a minute. He couldn't tell me why the code didn't work, though. Turns out I needed to add an 'end of block' character to the string. It's very easy to get a technician on the phone, though, and that's the point. It is the most bang for the buck router out there. It's not as cheap as a switch alone, but well worth the extra bucks.
 
I just picked up an el cheapo Compaq switch of all things at Best Buy to help split the connections in the lower floors of my house. It was only ~$30 or so at the time (all the others were $45+) and also had a $10 rebate going. Granted, I still haven't gotten the rebate yet, but it was only a month and a half ago. For $30 (or $20 if I ever get the rebate) I can't complain.
 
It makes a tremendous difference, kind of a duh thing - a broadband router only has a throughput of about 4MB/s max, which is fine for a broadband connection. My dorm has a T1 line coming in, plus 10BaseT Ethernet connections all throughout, so I need specifically a 10/100 switch - if I could find one with a built in firewall and print server, that would be awesome.
 


<< It makes a tremendous difference, kind of a duh thing - a broadband router only has a throughput of about 4MB/s max, which is fine for a broadband connection. My dorm has a T1 line coming in, plus 10BaseT Ethernet connections all throughout, so I need specifically a 10/100 switch - if I could find one with a built in firewall and print server, that would be awesome. >>



4MB/s is larger than 10mb/s. A T1 is only 1.544mb/s, so 4MB/s wont be happening.
 


<<

<< It makes a tremendous difference, kind of a duh thing - a broadband router only has a throughput of about 4MB/s max, which is fine for a broadband connection. My dorm has a T1 line coming in, plus 10BaseT Ethernet connections all throughout, so I need specifically a 10/100 switch - if I could find one with a built in firewall and print server, that would be awesome. >>



4MB/s is larger than 10mb/s. A T1 is only 1.544mb/s, so 4MB/s wont be happening. >>



Why do I continually make an ass of myself when, deep-down, I knew the correct answers to my own questions? I always mix up the mb vs MB specification... so a broadband router would use the whole capability of the Ethernet line?
 


<<

<<

<< It makes a tremendous difference, kind of a duh thing - a broadband router only has a throughput of about 4MB/s max, which is fine for a broadband connection. My dorm has a T1 line coming in, plus 10BaseT Ethernet connections all throughout, so I need specifically a 10/100 switch - if I could find one with a built in firewall and print server, that would be awesome. >>



4MB/s is larger than 10mb/s. A T1 is only 1.544mb/s, so 4MB/s wont be happening. >>



Why do I continually make an ass of myself when, deep-down, I knew the correct answers to my own questions? I always mix up the mb vs MB specification... so a broadband router would use the whole capability of the Ethernet line? >>



Typically, the external port of those dsl/cable routers are limited to 10mbit/s. If you have a 10mbit connection this would be fine. You should be able to get internal (within the dorm or whatever) connections at 10mbit/s (With usual overhead and crap). Your link to the internet over the T1 would only be at 1.544mbit/s. Thats a lot slower than 10mbit/s. So it should be just fine for that connection. You're not making an ass out of yourself, this is semi-complicated and Ive screwed it up several times 😉

A regular switch would be fine though if you are allowed to connect more than 1 machine, but most places I have heard of restrict you to one machine. That is why I recommend the home router.
 


<<

<<

<<

<< It makes a tremendous difference, kind of a duh thing - a broadband router only has a throughput of about 4MB/s max, which is fine for a broadband connection. My dorm has a T1 line coming in, plus 10BaseT Ethernet connections all throughout, so I need specifically a 10/100 switch - if I could find one with a built in firewall and print server, that would be awesome. >>



4MB/s is larger than 10mb/s. A T1 is only 1.544mb/s, so 4MB/s wont be happening. >>



Why do I continually make an ass of myself when, deep-down, I knew the correct answers to my own questions? I always mix up the mb vs MB specification... so a broadband router would use the whole capability of the Ethernet line? >>



Typically, the external port of those dsl/cable routers are limited to 10mbit/s. If you have a 10mbit connection this would be fine. You should be able to get internal (within the dorm or whatever) connections at 10mbit/s (With usual overhead and crap). Your link to the internet over the T1 would only be at 1.544mbit/s. Thats a lot slower than 10mbit/s. So it should be just fine for that connection. You're not making an ass out of yourself, this is semi-complicated and Ive screwed it up several times 😉

A regular switch would be fine though if you are allowed to connect more than 1 machine, but most places I have heard of restrict you to one machine. That is why I recommend the home router. >>



We are allowed to connect more than one machine (there's only one Ethernet port in the room), we've been using a hub for the last two quarters... I'd rather get a switch (or a router), the hub is depressingly inefficient.
 


<< We are allowed to connect more than one machine (there's only one Ethernet port in the room), we've been using a hub for the last two quarters... I'd rather get a switch (or a router), the hub is depressingly inefficient. >>



In that case, just get yourself a netgear or linksys switch or something. I have 2 of the netgear ones at home and they work fine for me.
 


<<

<< We are allowed to connect more than one machine (there's only one Ethernet port in the room), we've been using a hub for the last two quarters... I'd rather get a switch (or a router), the hub is depressingly inefficient. >>



In that case, just get yourself a netgear or linksys switch or something. I have 2 of the netgear ones at home and they work fine for me. >>



You know if that D-Link one (first post) is comparable?
 


<<

<<

<< We are allowed to connect more than one machine (there's only one Ethernet port in the room), we've been using a hub for the last two quarters... I'd rather get a switch (or a router), the hub is depressingly inefficient. >>



In that case, just get yourself a netgear or linksys switch or something. I have 2 of the netgear ones at home and they work fine for me. >>



You know if that D-Link one (first post) is comparable? >>



I have no experience with D-link.
 


<<

<<

<<

<< We are allowed to connect more than one machine (there's only one Ethernet port in the room), we've been using a hub for the last two quarters... I'd rather get a switch (or a router), the hub is depressingly inefficient. >>



In that case, just get yourself a netgear or linksys switch or something. I have 2 of the netgear ones at home and they work fine for me. >>



You know if that D-Link one (first post) is comparable? >>



I have no experience with D-link. >>



Cool. Thanks for all your help!
 
'K, I found a DLink router at MWave, about $65 after shipping and rebate. Looks like a good deal, so I'll give it a try. Thanks!
 
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