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Thread ID: 30980	2003-03-08 09:07:00	Suggestion on this 2 ADSL modem	jtcc (3183)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
126600	2003-03-08 09:07:00	Hi everyone, I am going to get a ADSL modem with switch/router/firewall/modem all in one. I found 2 product here, one is the D-Link 504, and the other one is the Dynalink RTA300. Can someone tell me which one is the best, or you can suggest me a better product. Thank you for your time.	jtcc (3183)
126601	2003-03-08 09:31:00	Hello, I would not recommend either of these models. Dynalink because I would never trust them. They have had many product recalls before. I do like the D-Link, but I would very much suggest that you go for the D-Link DSL-500 which is getting quite cheap now, it is exactly the same as 504 except no hub, so basically: D-Link DSL 500 + HUB = Less that DSL- 504 Having a serperate hub also means that you can use it seperately when you want to. More advantages than disadvantages! :D Hope it helps,	~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
126602	2003-03-08 12:36:00	Hi I agree with sy. Go for a modem (with ethernet uplink port) with a separate 10/100 ethernet switch. They cost $65-85 for an ok one and provide you with more flexability, with a modem at around $180-250 its still cheaper than the better combined modem/hub. Unless you want to go wireless (a port is still handy tho). Get on the web and check out some reviews. You could start with www.nzadsl.co.nz/ and this is a good site http: for general netwoking and internet connections. HTH Cheers Murray P	Murray P (44)
126603	2003-03-08 13:23:00	Maybe a bit harsh but I’m not one to compare (I’ve only had 1 ADSL router "Dynalink RTA210" no problems so far) What I was going to say was I would use a software firewall program because they have more options, you can see that is happening and may people believe it to be far more secure	sc0ut (2899)
126604	2003-03-08 14:23:00	Watching the cricket sc0ut or not tired tonight ;)	Murray P (44)
126605	2003-03-08 21:07:00	> Watching the cricket sc0ut or not tired tonight I would say that scout would have been "working". ;-)	Susan B (19)
126606	2003-03-08 21:54:00	Well, at the risk of contradicting everyone (what do I know anyway?), I have swapped over from a Nokia Ni500 and switch and software firewall, to a Dynalink RTA300 ADSL router. The advantages - one less power supply on the crowded junction box - more desktop space through losing the switch - the whole set up looks neater and "more professional" - the RTA300 runs much, much cooler than the Ni500 - web based interface for set up - the Nokia was MUCH less intuitive - seems faster than the Nokia - has a hardware firewall. The disadvantages - ? None yet. I also have a Wireless Access Point so I can use my PC in the office, and family can use the laptop elsewhere in the house with both of us accessing the net and the same shared printer. If I was to start again, I would buy the RTA300W, which also includes a Wireless Access Point - this would have been cheaper than buying the router and WAP separately, and would get rid of one more brick from the junction box and free up yet another chunk of desktop real estate. However, I already had the WAP and it was too expensive to junk just for those reasons... If you do buy the RTA300, the trick to setting it up (not explained in the instructions) is that your user name is not just the user name you use for your ISP. It needs to include your whole email address. Some ISPs (at least two that I know of) require you to include something like "dsl" in front of your isp name - ie freddy@dslXXX.net.nz XXX being the name of your ISP. Check it out with your ISP. I still use the software firewall (Sygate Personal Firewall, which is free) as well as the Medium firewall setting on the router. According to an online test, all ports are rated "Stealth". Not sure if the software firewall is necessary - I am not sure yet whether the router firewall just stops intrusions from outside, or whether it also stops unauthorised programmes on the PC from accessing the net when I don't want them to. The software firewall certainly does that. Hope that helps John	John H (8)
126607	2003-03-08 21:54:00	I went for a Vigor 2600 but had to get it sent to me from Holland because they would not deal with anyone out of the country. However Dynalink has been good for me. Sure they had a product recall due to a faulty cap in the RTA210 but they handled that well. They have handled any questions fast and their support is A1.	Big John (551)
126608	2003-03-08 23:18:00	John H Sounds like your set up works well but I use a Nokia Ni500 and have a few quick queries: 1) Setup. That took all of 2 minutes using the Nokia CD, did I miss something? 2) Security. I thought the NAT capability of the Ni500 was effectively a hardware firewall, but I supplement it with ZA anyway. Again. did I miss something? 3) Temperature. Was yours the blue cased Ni500? I started with that but (on request) Nokia swapped then over to a black case/clear front version that runs much cooler. It now gets just warm enough to know it is switched on, the earlier version even smelled hot. :O Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
126609	2003-03-09 00:05:00	Hi Billy T > 1) Setup . That took all of 2 minutes using the Nokia CD, did I miss something? I bought the Nokia when there was a special deal on which got you free Telecom installation, up to three filters for nix, and a little man who came around and set the whole thing up . He was an "expert" at this kind of thing . Three Nokia Ni500's and about a week later, he finally got one to work . There must have been a bad batch, because the serial numbers of the first two were in the same series whereas the one that worked was not . Anyway, he took about an hour to get it connected and working . I did not set it up - I am afraid I have assumed from all of his sweating and cursing that it wasn't easy! Incidentally (and this may have been a miscalculation on his part) he did not use the CD . He used his laptop, because he claimed that he had set up something there that would do it properly and more easily . Hmmmm . > 2) Security . Sorry, pass - I was told that the Ni1122 (hope that is right - the next model up) had all the whoopdedoo firewall capabilities, but not the Ni500 . I may have been misinformed . > 3) Temperature . No, mine was the black jobbie with the clear front that replaced the model that burned itself up . It does get much hotter than the RTA300 . And I mean appreciably hotter . The RTA300 is barely above room temp, and it has been turned on for days, and used quite extensively today . Maybe the heating of the Ni500 is nothing to be nervous about - once set up it has never flinched, but I do prefer cool componentry for some strange reason . :-) John	John H (8)
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