The NETGEAR RM356 56K Modem Router is home office Internet access in a box. Home offices now can connect multiple PCs to the Internet to access e-mail and download information, programs, or games without special phone lines. Up to 4 PCs (with network cards) can directly connect to it to share access to the Internet using one ordinary phone line and one Internet Service Provider account. You can connect the RM356 to NETGEAR Ethernet hubs for unlimited PC connections. With the RM356, NETGEAR brings Internet access to the home business environment, within a home business budget.
1 Good for small office or home networking
This product has been very helpful in our office. We have 6-8 computers connected to the router (and a connected hub) on a 56k connection. It may be a bit slow at times if several people are trying to download large documents at once (which is very rare), but that certainly outweighs the hassle of having to shout across the office to see who's online and wait your turn for the modem phone line. And it outweighs the cost of having a phone line for each computer... the person that said four modems are cheaper than this router might be right, but not for long once you get four monthly phone bills!!! Also, this router has allowed us to network our office so we can share documents and printers. I recommend it!
2 Networking a modem? Kinda silly...
While this piece of hardware works flawlessly--and, as another reviewer notes, is a great way to turn a modem into an Ethernet feed--it's a silly concept to actually network more than 1 computer using a conventional modem as found in the RM356. Once you see this thing in action feeding 4 computers, you understand how silly the concept is... not to mention that 4 56kbps modems are, in fact, cheaper than this 1 unit.
In short, get (or wait for) broadband, make sure your broadband modem is of the ethernet variety, then buy one of the multitude of lower priced switches/minihubs available here and elsewhere if you want to share that connection.
3 A simple must have for SOHO network!
If you use a modem to connect to the Internet or another network at home or in a small office, throw it away and get this device. Even if you have a single PC this device can provide a nailed-up network connection that is on all the time, just like you might see at work.. There is no more clicking on a connection icon and waiting for your PC to dial and handshake. It uses a built-in modem, your POTS (regular phone line), and ISP service. You can configure it to dial-on-demand or configure a nailed-up connection that is on all the time like DSL.
Pitfalls might include that you must have a network card in you PC to use this device. It doesn't work to my knowledge with dialup online service providers like AOL, MSN and those that require you to connect with their proprietary PC software. It's best to keep, or get a local Internet Service Provider that gives you a raw Internet connection. I used mine for years before DSL became available in my area. It's a great product.
