Originally posted by: Project86
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833130014
How about this one? I don't plan on adding a computer, neither desktop nor laptop. This would be solely for my VOIP setup, so I don't wanna spend a lot. This doesn't have any QoS options.... would QoS improve my call quality? Keep in mind I don't usually talk and have much data traffic at the same time.
If you're going to get a router -- which I believe is a good thing -- I'd probably spend a tiny bit more and get something with wireless capability and QoS. Even if you have no use for wireless now (you can turn it off in the router settings).
If you're not shy of rebates, I recently had a USR wireless router from CompUSA for $15 AR. I see it there frequently for $30 AR. It didn't quite suit my needs for a different feature I was wanting (wireless bridging) -- but it was feature filled for the price.
I'm not sure if Robor was forced to put the gizmo in a dmz or not -- but I'd strongly recommend against it. There is an interface on the wan side of the gizmo (the Telco version, anyway.. not sure about the innomedia) which could allow someone to log into it -- if it were enabled -- and do some potentially harmfull things.
The wan-side interface is disabled by default -- but it has the potential to become enabled without your knowledge.
If you're new to the concept of routers: when a pc (or device) is placed in a dmz, it is as if it is connected directly to the modem -- and is fully accessible from the internet. Sometimes, that is desireable. However, one usefull 'feature' of (all?) routers is called Network Address Translation -- a service the router does to relate traffic on the wan side of the router to and from any one of numerous devices attached on the lan side. In this scenario, all of the devices on the lan side have private IP addresses -- unknown and inaccessible to people on the outside (wan side). The router has one address on the wan side which is exposed to the public, and it manages all traffic inbound. If it's not expecting inbound traffic to a device on the inside (lan) -- then it doesn't get through. With a gizmo 'attached' in the dmz -- _I_, sitting right here at home, could access it if I knew your IP address. With a gizmo attached behind a NAT 'firewall' -- I couldn't.
I have my gizmo behind a router -- all alone, just like a seperate PC -- with no special settings, except that I had to adjust my particular firewalls Intrusion Detection settings to have a higher triggering threshold.
edit: to add routers 101