Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Bought this to add to my wireless-wired home network. I have used a Netgear FWAG114 along with a Netgear WG302 access point, and several D-Link gaming adapters to connect 7 computers running a variety of systems along with a Slingbox and 2 laptops. Sytems include Vista, XP Pro, Win2000, Win2000 Server and Suse 10.2 (linux). I like the Netgear Pro series as they seem to be more robust and are fairly easy to configure and handle security really well.
Connected the FVW318, logged in and set up the WPA security, set my rules for VNC (Windows and one for Linux), HTML, FTP, Slingbox and opened the ports. Set security for the highest level of WPA I could. I can have as many as 15 different wireless systems in my neighborhood broadcasting at any given moment so security and ability to connect to my wireless is very important to me.
I replaced the FWAG114 with the FVG318 and after configuring it, it connected immediately. My WG302 is on the lower floor and is connect by POE. Once I booted both up the connection has been flawless for the last 48 hours. I am on Comcast and my connection is at a blazing 19,880 kbs (2485 KB/sec) down and 2485 kbs (196.9 KB/sec) up.
I have read many reviews that rate this router as bad. User became easily frustrated with all the dropped connections and poor performance. But I have found that configuring it right the first time is the most important step in getting it to work.
Configuration was easy and straight forward. Of, course, you must know how to configure your rules and set the ports. Some probably buy this router thinking it is plug and play and it is not. First thing I did was download the current firmware from Netgear and install it before doing anything. Bugs are generally eliminated with upgrades.
I must be lucky with my Netgear products. I started years ago with the Netgear RT314 router and now use Netgear exclusively. I have family that come to visit in their motor homes and I assign them logons and they can connect wirelessly from around 75 feet away.
I give this router 5 stars as it has performed flawlessly so far. I run Rosetta@Home (shared computing helping to determine the 3-dimensional shapes of proteins in research that may ultimately lead to finding cures for some major human diseases) on all of my computers and a good connection 24/7 is of most importance to me, plus, I love wireless computing.
If you buy the FVG318 read the manual that is on the CD thoroughly before you start the configuration. I will post a follow up review after a month or so to let you know if I still really like my FVG318.
Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall 8 FVG318 - Wireless router - 8-port switch - 802.11 Super G, 802.11b/g - desktop
Netgear ProSafe FVG318 8 Wireless VPN/Firewall - 8 x 10/100Base-TX LAN, 1 x 10/100Base-TX WAN
