Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch (BEFSR41)

The router was easy enough to set up. However, contacting a knowledgeable technical support rep when setting up my network with the Xbox 360 & LIVE services was not. The technical support dept. obviously has varrying degree's of knowledgeable personnel. After the THIRD time calling I had a rep who knew what to do to open the proper ports for use with Xbox LIVE services. Good product, but a crap shoot when you call for technical support.

I bought this wireless router for use with my RoadRunner cable services. I work from home and run a variety of network intensive tasks, throw in a wife and a Wii and this router has taken care of everything with only a minor quirk or two all year.

At home my network consists of CentOS 5.2 servers, a Windows Vista Home Premium Desktop, two Vista laptops (Business and Home Premium), a MacBook, a Windows XP machine, and Virtual Machines up the wazoo. The 4 ports are full, everything else is run through the wifi including the new Wii. I port forward HTTP, FTP, SSH, Oracle, and Terminal Services through to statically assigned IP addresses and everything else is making use of the routers DHCP services. In short -- I think it is getting a pretty good test!

Setup was a breeze, but that is standard for Linksys routers I have found. The instructions were clear and would allow an absolute idiot to set this up although I didn't need them being familiar with their other routers.

I live in a largish apartment, and rather than being in a central location the router is squirreled away in the corner office on top of a desktop and below my TV - not ideal I know but the coverage throughout the apartment is always at maximum strength, is as fast as can be expected and I am happy. I often play online games in my living room on the opposing side of the apartment without problems of laggyness.

I first turned on the router in July 2007. It is now November 2008 and it has been reset maybe four or five times during that period. Wi-Fi services disappeared forcing me to power off and on again however considering that this is a router based on home usage rather than a fully fledged commercial enterprise I can handle that. So yes, I don't get my 99.9999% uptime, but I think the five minutes this router has cost me over the last 16 months is rather trivial.

I bought this for use with my new Slingbox and it works perfectly. The only thing is that when I set up the sling box there was a IP address problem where the router did not have the correct setting but it was quickly solved by reviewing all the places where the router needed to check and match IP addresses. Moreover, it does "hide" your computer from intruders.

Dis one, she no good mon. Last mebe, what? 3 monts zall. I buy 3 but don buy no mo.

I was pleased with my order and how fast I got it I will order more in the futer