LabsWireless routers
SMC's Barricade is one of the more compact routers here. Although it's a MIMO system, it operates at just 54Mb/sec. However, short-range throughput was a touch above the group average at 24Mb/sec and, although it dropped to 5Mb/sec at long range, it beat some supposedly faster opposition. It still isn't in the same league as the Belkin or Zyxel, but offers better value than most Draft-N equipment. PC Card installation was pain-free and, while not the prettiest, the utility has a decent status
The router's wizard guides you through basic settings for your ISP and wireless LAN. If you're looking for port forwarding to support local servers, this router uses the alternative name virtual server, supplying a list of common presets. That's bolstered by port triggering. The preset list is tiny, though, so you'll likely have to enter settings manually. Parental control has useful checkboxes to easily block services such as FTP, newsgroups and sending email. You can also block internet access, apply rules to any IP address or range, apply a URL/keyword filter and a schedule. Dynamic DNS is offered by four services, and remote management can be constrained to a single IP address or an IP range. Wireless security options include RADIUS server authentication. However, there's no QoS option. The SMC's parental controls, compact size and reasonable price make it a good home router, provided you don't need wide coverage.
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