Posted: 5/20/2006 6:25:10 PM EDT
The city just installed a FiOS and I got hooked up Friday. I chose the cheapest option,5 mbps for $30 a month, and so far it beats hell out of Qwests standalone 1.5 mbps DSL (actual was 980 ks down at best) for $50 + tax! I'v ran a few tests and the best was 5119 down and 4134 up. The worst was 5050 down and 4128 up. For the $s I'm happy so far. My question is,they don't provide a router or any hardware type of firewall. I'v only used Qwests DSL in the past and they provided a modem with an internal firewall that you could activate. I'v got the free Zonealarm but I should have the hardware type also? As I only want it for added security how cheap can I/should I go and does anybody have any recommendations as far as features,brands,models etc? I'v looked at Newegg and only succeeded in further confustigating myself. 
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I assume they "hand you ethernet" in the form of some sort of modem? (Fiber to ethernet?) Or do they make you go buy yourself somesort of fiber nic for your computer? Obviously you can go down to your nearest bestbuy or staples or whatever and get yourself a cheap linksys. However if it was me, I would look on ebay for a nice used cisco 1700 or 2600 series router with at least one onboard FastEthernet port and one Ethernet WIC. More pricey but you get to learn cisco!  ... and im sure there are a few here that can get you the latest IOS if you were to need it.....  Buck |
Sonicwall is far superior to Cisco, see if you can find a used one of those if you have the cash. If you are looking to do cheap, get a pre-version 4 Linksys WRT54G router and flash it with the open source DD-WRT firmware. |
Nope,no modem supplied either. They plug right into the NIC. Its fiber to ethernet and my NIC is an intel pro 1000. Though I wanted to go cheap of course,I read quite a few of the WRT54G reviews at Newegg and as I don't like buying frustration  I think I'd be better off in the long run to take a look at the Sonicwall TZ 150. So far the used I'v looked at on Ebay are begging almost new prices and more. One new for $300 and NEs got them for $239! I'll shop around for a new one.Thanks! |
The bad reviews you are reading are for the version 5 WRT54Gs. On the older ones, with a simple software fix, you can give it the features of some $600 routers. You wont get an older revision buying new though, you would have to get one used (look at the bottom for the version number). That said, I run a 25 node SonicWALL TZ-170 Wireless at home. Best you can buy. |
Agreed. I manage 63 of them (TZ to Pro series) and they are phenomenal. Reliability, features, flexibility and ease of use are second to none. Disclaimer: there are some very high end options that Cisco obviously provides more appropriate options for but the vast majority will never deal with that. ETA: Never post with one of your team leaders over your shoulder... I oversee a program that has 63 SonicWalls that are EXPERTLY managed by exceptionally skilled individuals. 
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Linksys. Easy to setup. Gets the job done for a home user. -d |