Broadband routers combine all of the central components of home networking. The functionality and features of a DSL or cable modem, a hub or switch and a firewall are all together in an easy-to-use package.
Before Buying a Broadband Router
The keys to look for when shopping for a broadband router are reliability, cost, speed, special features and manufacturers’ reputations. Before you buy anything, make sure the broadband router features a Virtual Private Network, especially if a home computer is used to access to your office network. VPN enabled routers provide a secure communication tunnel between two or more devices through the Internet.
Wireless is an Option!
Remember there is the option to buy a Wireless Broadband Internet Router. Be sure to check out our page on wireless routers to see if this is a good option for you: What Is a Wireless Broadband Router?
Review of Four Broadband Routers
Multitech RouteFinder RF550VPN - Here is a broadband router that matches the needs of small branch offices or telecommuters who need secure access to the corporate LAN. In addition to providing a WAN Ethernet port for DSL or cable broadband Internet access, it also offers both client-to-LAN and LAN-to-LAN VPN connectivity based on the IPSec protocol. The Routefinder RF550VPN supports up to 5 concurrent VPN connections, has a new Web-based user interface and includes all the standard features you would expect in a modern broadband router.
Netgear® RT314 - This four-port broadband router contains all of the basic gateway features and is really easy to setup and configure. Maintenance after setup is not necessary because this router is reliable and works impeccably. Netgear RT314 broadband router delivers better performance because it runs on faster hardware than many other routers in this category. Netgear offers a five-year warranty for the RT314 broadband router and the price is quite reasonable.
Asante Friendly Gx4 - A new kid on the broadband router block is Asante FriendlyNET GX4, which features an entirely new family of network switches that work faster than anyone in the neighborhood. Speed and port management capabilities are two good reasons to purchase this router. Compared with traditional fast ethernet hubs, this broadband router delivers more than 10 times the available bandwidth per port. This broadband router is highly regarded around online game experts and backed only by a one-year limited warranty.
SMC 7004ABR Barricade - The SMC Barricade four-port broadband router includes a built-in dual-speed Ethernet switch, print server and a NAT firewall. In addition to letting you share a broadband connection, it offers an easy Web-based configuration, capability to log hacker attacks and built-in print-server capabilities. It's also reasonably priced and comes with a lifetime warranty. This broadband router should appeal to a wide variety of home- or small-office network users. SMC offers a limited lifetime warranty for the 7004ABR.
