USRobotics Broadband Router

[glha]

Anyone here have any experience with the USRobotics Broadband Router - USR8000? I can't seem to find much information about it on the internet. I have no experience at all with any routers. One other thing I noticed is that there is a serial port on the back of it. Does this mean I now have 2 serial ports? How does my computer even recognize the port on it? It was my impression that the only connection this router has to my computer is through the ethernet cable to NIC. Am I wrong? Also does it work under Windows XP or is the OS irrelevant?

Also if you know of a better one in a similar price range, I'd appreciate if you could tell me of it and how or why it is better.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[glha]

Anyone?

 

[namux]

I have never seen a serial port on a router before but from the specifications this is why the serial port is there:

"The built-in serial port allows you to add an analog modem to maintain your connectivity for backup Internet access."

The only connection to your PC is through a network card. I guess somehow your PC will communicate with your backup modem to keep your connection alive. Maybe the router comes with software that will allow this to work. Usually routers are not os specific unless you have to go through a usb port or something which, in this case, would require drivers for the usb connection. You should be able to hook up the router to any PC and it should work.

I bought a Linksys 4 port (BEFSR41) and it works fine for me. It doesn't have a print server but so far I have not had any problems with it. You can probably find this for $99 bucks or less if there is a mail in rebate. I cannot comment on whether it is better because I have never used the USR router. A print server would be nice though. =)

 

[glha]

Thanks for your reply.

I took a look at the Linksys. It does not appear to compare feature-wise to the USR8000. I like the idea of being able to put a 56k modem into it as well as the print server as I have 2 computers, but only one printer. With the Linksys I can't do any of this.

Anyone else have an opinion on the USR8000?

 

[Mday]

3com owns usr.

I thought 3com dropped out of the broadband market.. or maybe it was just modems...

anywho... having the serial port is a g0od thing....

 

[gplracer]

I think it is being discontinued. It is the smc 7004br on the inside.

 

[glha]

Mday: Regardless of if 3com owns USR, they both still appear to make completely seperate products.

gplracer: Why do you think it is being discontinued? This is definitely not the case. In fact, a new model, the USR8000A just came out in March 2002.

 

[LanEvoVI]

Try looking at www.practicallynetworked.com for reviews on routers. I've been doing some research on routers for my apartment and this site has been a great help.

As for the US Robotics router, it seems to have gotten decent reviews, although they recommend the SMC and the Asante over it.

 

[Optimist]

I have owned the SMC barricade 7000br for a couple of years now. It has been great and virtually trouble free for me. (I did have to reboot it once about six months ago.)

The SMC7004BR is programmed through one's web browser. Besides serving as a network switch and firewall, it also functions as a simple print server. It has a serial port for an external modem. If your DSL or Cable connection is down, the Barricade will attempt to dial out on the modem.

For almost all normal home networks, the unit is very easy to set up. There are a bunch of additional-and more complex-features which can be blissfully ignored by most users.