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Sizzle! SMC Barricade Wireless Broadband Router $59 after rebate!

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Thanks very much for the deal!

I have been looking for a good deal on a Wireless/Cable/DSL combo router, and the firewall stuff this offers just made it too good to pass up. I have read good reviews of it as well.
 
Anyone have a deal on wireless NICs for this router ? I would guess at this price that the cards will probably cost what the router does. TIA

Edit: I checked the SMC website and they only supply PCMCIA cards. There's currently a post for an Orinoco card but that too is for a laptop, not a desktop. I saw no mention in the SMC FAQ about preferred brand or model of cards and just wanted to make sure before buying gear.
 
beergeek, I had the same problem when updating the firmware on my router. You can reset it by sticking a paper clip in two of the pins of the serial plug. I don't remember which ones, but if you call SMC technical support, they'll tell you.
 
Originally posted by: WT
Edit: I checked the SMC website and they only supply PCMCIA cards. There's currently a post for an Orinoco card but that too is for a laptop, not a desktop. I saw no mention in the SMC FAQ about preferred brand or model of cards and just wanted to make sure before buying gear.
Click to expand...
Looking at the SMC site, I see 2 wireless PCI NICs, the SMC2602W (a straight 802.11b NIC) and the SMC2402W (which also supports the 22Mbps "turbo" mode). I'm pretty sure that mode (all?) of the wireless vendors have PCI cards in their lines, and I've frequently seen them on sale (for less than PCMCIA cards) at OD, OM, etc.


 

For those that are interested in this router, just a warning:

Based off of a test from
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/Reviews-19-ProdID-SMC7004VWBR.php
it seems that if you enable WEP, the speed decreases quite big (30% was the figure mentioned).

I was looking at this thread yesterday, and I was seriously thinking about this router. I just bought (haven't opened yet) a DI-614+, and was really tempted to just get this one instead. After reading the report, I think I'll keep my DI-614+.

However, this is just a report - can anyone attest to this slowdown?
 
Hmmm...should combine this offer with the amazon deal and get this wireless router and pick up wireless cards from amazon...but I'd have to buy 3 wireless nic cards to get $75 off...and I certainly don't need that many...hmmm.
 
Originally posted by: hmsrolst
beergeek, I had the same problem when updating the firmware on my router. You can reset it by sticking a paper clip in two of the pins of the serial plug. I don't remember which ones, but if you call SMC technical support, they'll tell you.
Click to expand...
I had seen this info on the SMC site, but couldn't get it to work and assumed that if you hosed an update, it wouldn't reset that way. Based on your comment here, I tried again, and finally got it to reset (about a half hour of futzing to get the pins connected and then disconnected at exactly the right point in the power up sequence - if you don't time it right, either nothing happens or some really interesting (but not useful 🙂) patterns in the LEDs...) It's now running again! Thanx for the push!

ted
 
Great deal! I think that SMC, D-Link, and Asante equipment are the same but rebadged. I have a Asante router (paid alot for piece of equipment without wireless access) and have been happy.
 
just a warning to those who plans to buy SMC router. I had the smc7004awbr(wireless and 3 port). it worked fine and dandy for about 2 months, then all of a sudden a constant dropout appears, and the router freezes up. once this happens, there's nothing you can do, you won't be able to communicate with the routher at all, and the only solution isa power off/on. This problems appears randomly on the smc7004awbr and the 7004wbr, and it is a known problem(which smc cannot fix). some say it is a heat issue, but no one really knows.

now i am now sure if it will happen on this model, but i suggest you do a research on dslreport.com before taking a dive, else you might just wast your $70.

just my $0.02 and a dissatisfied smc customer.
 
FYI: There's a new rebate on this at the Microcenter website. It's $45, and is good on units purchased from 10/28/2002 to 12/1/2002.
 
How is the range on this? Can it *actually* go 300ft indoors? I'm putting together some info for my friend on wireless networking as he is moving into a new house and does not want to bother with wiring it up. 🙂

Are there any other wireless routers with better range?

Thanks.
 
Wow, this is even get hotter ...$45 off ...yeah, I wait for few more days to save another 5 bucks

Also, does anyone know any PCI Wireless card selling around for cheaper price? Please let me know ...thanks much
 
I have the same problem as treetop, 7004AWBR and it keeps hanging. I think it's a heat issue cause ever since it started to cool down its become more and more stable.
 
Originally posted by: zippy
How is the range on this? Can it *actually* go 300ft indoors? I'm putting together some info for my friend on wireless networking as he is moving into a new house and does not want to bother with wiring it up. 🙂

Are there any other wireless routers with better range?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

5ghz wireless networks are out, which have better range for more $$$

Wish I would have gotten in on this deal, I also may be moving and might not be able to wire the house.

 
Originally posted by: zippy
How is the range on this? Can it *actually* go 300ft indoors? I'm putting together some info for my friend on wireless networking as he is moving into a new house and does not want to bother with wiring it up. 🙂

Are there any other wireless routers with better range?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Man, if someone could afford a house that was 300ft long (or wide), then they surely would be able to afford to wired that house... 🙂

Seriously, though, I believe I read somewhere that it did seem to work close to that range. Keep in mind that the range shortens if you use encryption. I think the range I saw was around 55 (or was it 75?) feet if you used 128 bit WEP.
 
I thought that the 802.11a (5Ghz) actually has a shorter range with higher throughput. I thought that is why they were introducing 802.11g next year... 802.11a speed and compression with 802.11b range.

Am I wrong?
 
I asked that same question way up above, 10/01/2002 7:05 PM I have almost the same question. I have the wbr on the second floor, and I would like to use this to 'strengthen' the signal in the basement. Can I hook up this $59 router to my 7004wbr via CAT5 and place the $59 router in the basement? Is configuration difficult with 2 wireless routers?
 
jjsole, you could use it for desktop PC in houses that has a few floors....also great for notebooks, laptops....
 
I bought a Dlink for $40 with a $10 rebate at Officemax last week or a couple of weeks ago......works great with this SMC......
 
If you live near a Microcenter, you might browse their rack of returned stuff. They may have gotten a number of these back, and if they were purchased for $99 may put them on the rack for $89 or so, making $45 after the new rebate. I found one there when they were on sale and the rack was an additional 30% off so my net for the router was <$25. Inside the box, it looked like the unit had never been taken out of the plastic wrap.

As for cheap PCI solutions, thru Saturday OfficeMax is giving a free Belkin PCI adapter when you purchase a Belkin 802.11b PCCard for $39.99 AR. They may be a little hard to find at this point. There are other threads around on this deal.
 
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