( 4 reviews )
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Posted: 06-02-2007
Bought this router thinking it would help me during my travels. The size and features are nice - it has 3 modes (router, ap and client) which is one more than others (client is extra - handy for machines that only have a hard wired ethernet and you want to go wireless). It does run hot, but seems to be ok. The web interface is a little confusing - you configure each mode seperately. But there is a button to copy settings from one to the other so it's made somewhat easier. Now for the bad - the DHCP and/or DNS is seriously broken. When plugged in at home for tests to my Comcast cable modem, the WAN IP address would expire after 1 hr and then not automatically renew. I tried manually doing it via the web interface and same problem. Then I found while travelling that in some hotels the DNS capability to clients would disappear or die. No pattern to that. Even after downloading the latest firmware (2.0.28) the problem persists. And there don't seem to be any more firmware updates (since about 2005) so that tells you pretty much where this product is headed. Overall, a major disappointment. Better off with the D-Link travel router which seems rock solid and is smaller to boot.
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Posted: 08-07-2006
I bought this product because I heard a favorable review of it on the radio. The product is about the size of a pack of cards, and includes a short ethernet cable to connect it as needed, and a power pack. A carrying case is included to take things on the road. The directions were not very clear. If you aren't a techie (that's me), there were many gaps in the directions for installation. One example was when I had to label a network as "ad hoc" or "infrastructure." The process became so frustrating, that I looked at the installation manual of a competing product: the D-Link Pocket Router. I downloaded its installation manual and looked it over. All the geek terms that 3Com took for granted were shown and explained in the D-Link manual. I then set the 3Com settings using the D-Link provided information. It worked fine. But, of course, by then I was interested in the D-Link Pocket Router and ordered it. I am much happier with this product for several reasons: First, as noted there is a detailed manual with full color pictures explaining things every step of the way; second, it is much smaller than the 3Com product, about 1/2 its size; third, and very important, the D-Link pocket router can be powered with its own power source, or you can hook it up using an included usb cable to your computer. So you don't have to have the external power source to hook it up; 4th, with a $10 rebate, it was less than half the cost of the 3Com. Bottom line? I kept the D-Link and returned the 3Com. It performs very well, is lighter, cheaper, and more versatile.
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Posted: 07-09-2006
When I travel I use my Life Drive to stay connected. It has built in WiFi and when staying at hotels with WiFi this is great, but some still have only Ethernet connections in the room. That leaves me unable to connect my Life Drive. This device fixes that problem. It doesn't take up much room and is easy to set up.
