Imagine it's a warm, sunny, summer day and you'd like to work out on the patio instead of driving 45 minutes to your dank, stuffy office. Thanks to wireless networking and products like SMC's Barricade 4-Port 11MBPS Wireless Broadband Router, what was once a dream is now reality.
However, before you start working on that tan, there are some prerequisites. First, you'll need to make sure you have working broadband Internet access (typically cable or DSL). Then you'll need to invest in wireless networking add-on cards for your PCs, which run about $100 each and can be tricky to install.
Once that's squared away, you're ready to tackle installation. Our Barricade router, which connects to a broadband modem and then transmits data to PCs via a wireless access point, was pretty easy to set up and configure, though first-time networkers should pay close attention to SMC's instructions and be prepared to call technical support.
Once everything was in place and working, we found that the device held true to its name by impressively sending wireless data back and forth at a full 11M bit/sec. The version we tested also included a built-in print server feature, making it possible to connect a compatible printer to the router and eliminating the need to keep one PC running all the time in order to print.
We did have some questions about the device's security features. For instance, it uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to block outside access from the wired Internet, but doesn't provide the comprehensive "firewall" capability that it claims. Also, the default settings make it relatively easy for an experienced hacker to sneak into your network through the air using some easy-to-find equipment.
So as long as take extra care during your setup proceedures and avoid storing classifed company info on your home PC, SMC's Barricade 4-Port 11Mbps Wireless Broadband Router can make it much easier to enjoy high-speed Internet access from the coziest spot inside -- or outside -- your home.
