4-Port Cable/DSL Web Safe Router with 10/100 Mbps Switch
Securely extend your broadband Internet connection to all your computers with the Netgear RP614NA Web Safe Router gateway. Each user can instantly benefit from high-speed Web access, file sharing, video streaming, head-to-head Internet gameplay, and MP3 downloading. This 4-port Internet gateway provides state-of-the-art filtering and controls that allow parents to limit URL access and monitor Internet activities, while firewall protection secures your computers and network against hackers. Setup couldn't be easier--the Smart Setup wizard automatically detects your Internet connection type and the animated Installation Assistant and onscreen help guide you through each step. The Web Safe Router is sleekly designed and is compatible with all Ethernet cable and DSL modems and with all Internet service providers.
With the Web Safe Router you can enjoy ultrafast Web surfing from the start. Share your broadband Internet connection, files, and printers with up to 253 computers. It works with Windows, Macintosh, or even Linux computers. Instantly distribute MP3s, digital movies, and photos. Port-forwarding controls make it simple to communicate using multimedia applications (such as NetMeeting), host Web services, and play Internet games.
Establish content filtering by Web address, keyword, or by time-of-day usage limits for your children. You can also choose to receive e-mailed reports of browsing activities and optional real-time e-mail alerts. A NAT (Network Address Translation) firewall with VPN (virtual private network) pass-through protects against Internet attacks, but allows you secure access. Auto partitioning on each port protects each computer from damaged network connections. A free, one-year subscription to Freedom security and privacy software blocks ads and prevents personal information from being sent over the Internet (for up to eight Windows-based computers).
Four ultrafast 10/100 Mbps LAN ports automatically detect computer speed to optimize network performance (up to 200 Mbps with full duplex) at a distance of 100 meters (328 feet). With double the memory and a 50 percent faster CPU than many popular routers, the Web Safe Router gateway is well-equipped to distribute large-file multimedia presentations in no time.
Even without networking experience, this gateway is easy for anyone to set up and use. The Smart Setup wizard automatically detects your Internet connection type and the animated Install Assistant guides you through each step. Status lights make it easy to observe network activity. A space-saving vertical stand and a free network cable are included.
The Netgear RP614NA comes with a three-year limited warranty.
1 P.O.S.
i've had this thing for 3 weeks.
i hate it.
it must die.
If you are a non-major computing person/techi/hobbiest/hacker/etc. and need a DLS or Cable router, this will probably work for you, if you do not get the overheating or random connection drop issue.
For the rest of the computer literate world, do not buy this. I have SBC Yahoo! DSL which uses PPPoE. The thing works with my ISP, but not with me. I want to run a HTTP server (Apache) and in order to do so i need port 80 accessable to the internet from my Server. I tried everything, i spent 2, 12 hour periods hacking the sh*t out of what the problem could be. Nothing. And now i guess it overheated and didnt want to give any computer an IP addy other than 192.168.0.3, even though no setting were changed when the problem popped up.
So i give it 1 star becuase it has a nice case, that's about it.
I'm going to D-Link or LinkSys.
2 Great product
With its compact size it takes up little space. Very easy to install and use, was up in as little as 10 mintes. Has 4 ports to hook computers, X-box/PS2, printers or other things into. I am very please with this product but dont count on Netgear to help much if you need them.
3 Good start, horrible rest on...
I thought i was getting a bargain when i was purchasing this with SPI and NAT firewall for this price. Well it sounded too good to be true, which it was.
At first it was flawless, had some bad ports that wouldnt open, than was losing the DHCP lease even after i assigned it my mac adress on the comcast account. On top of that, it will drop the lease every 1-2 days, which it shouldnt with MY MAC Address, and a power cycle every time. I hate power-cycling everytime i want it to work properly for another 1-2 days in order to repeat.
I shoud of and now am going to push out the extra cash for a Linksys, which none of my friends or family have problems with, wireless or wired.
It was good while it lasted though.
4 RP614v3 is a Bust
After 2 weeks of tech support from my ISP, Netgear, Best Data and Motorola, Netgears final response was "Try exchanging Version 3 for a Version 2 model." Are you kidding me. First, I was told by Netgear to exchange the initial router(Which I bought to replace an old Netgear RP114 router), Amazon.com was Great in easily doing so in less than a week. Yet, the new router still would not dynamically connect. Next, Netgear, after another 2 hour phone call with tech support suggested that it wasn't compatible with my Best Data CMX110 cable modem. So, I bought a new Motorola SB5100 modem. Still no joy with the RP614v3. Now Netgear is suggesting replacing the V3 with a V2, I think not, I'm going to look at D-Link and Linksys. I hope this is enough to convince you not to purchase the RP614v3, I can't speak to any other versions.
5 Plug & Surf!
We used this router to create our small home network to share the external hard drive, printer and, of course, broadband connection. Cable modem into one port, up to four other Ethernet connections in the other ports and off you go. It's almost like plug & play. Only after the initial setup the Internet connection dropped a couple of times (self-configuration?), but since then everything works like a charm.
6 Incredibly Dumbed Down
If you know anything about routers, do not buy this one - it will drive you nuts. First, tech support will refuse to give you the simplest of information (the router IP address) without first registering your product online. If you have a complicated network setup, this can be a nightmare having to connect a computer directly to the router to optain a DHCP lease, get the IP address, then put it back into your existing setup.
There is no documentation that comes with the router. The CD contains some pathetically dumbed down garbage, but mostly just useless diagrams.
The router also utilizes what has to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen - a setup wizard with no option to skip or go directly to advanced setup. This setup wizard will check for an internet connection and fail out if none is detected. In other words, unless you're connected to the internet when setting up the router, you can't even SET UP the damn thing.
In my opinion, something as mind-blowingly stupid is that is a severe product defect. It was returned within an hour of purchase.
7 Works pretty well... now.
This router seems to work pretty well. Throughput is good and setup via the web interface is simple and has many options if you want to use them. I did have a major problem with this unit; after several weeks of operation, it would randomly quit working and would require cycling the power a few times a day to restore operation. I was ready to toss it in the trash and replace it with something else when, as a last resort, I pushed the "default reset" button on the rear panel, next to the power connector. This dumps all the configuration settings, requiring them to be re-entered; but in my case, doing so restored normal operation - I haven't had to cycle the power in weeks.
8 Easy and reliable - and NO WIRELESS!
I've set up dozens of these things, for work and for friends. This is the model I recommend to friends who ask me what to get.
Setup for cable modem (ComCast) was almost mindless. Setup for DSL took about a minute more, because you need to have your DSL username and password handy.
I won't go into detail about the success of which applications run. So far, the only real difficulty might be with games like Q3A. I'm not entirely convinced the problem is on my side, because my frag buddy is using a Linux/IPChains router, and he always has to spend 30 minutes editing his firewall table before we can get any games to work. Zing :P
I also recommend this because _it does not have wireless_. That may sound odd. The standard arguement is "hey, the wireless version only costs a few dollars more. I should buy it now, even if I have no use for wireless, because I might go wireless in the future".
For me, a network security engineer, this arguement falls flat on its face. Most home networking devices have wireless turned on by default, broadcast the SSID by default, and by default they do not enable WEP. People won't know to turn it off until they need it. And this rant is directed at networking vendors - turn it off. Educate your users on security.
It's easy to add wiress if and when you want it...
9 RP614v2 totally rocks, just don't use netgear NIC with it!
This router is just like the RP614NA and it was so easy to install. I've got 2 pcs and a laptop running with my toshiba cable modem - all plugged in and running like a champ. Of problems I've had, they seem to have come from once in a blue moon having to reset my modem and NOT the router. The router configuration itself was a breeze - I let it find my internet connection without a problem. Setting up so that only your pcs are allowed on your network is simple - tell the router the your pc's id's and there you go. It wasn't even 10 minutes to set up everything I wanted running on the network.
I've had it over a year now and I can say without a doubt it works great. Only complaint I do have isn't with the router but Netgear's basic 10/100 network card(FA311 TX 10/100). DON'T USE THIS NETGEAR NIC WITH THIS ROUTER - your pc will either freeze or reboot as soon as it hits the router. I ended up using an old 3COM Soho card on my pc (the others on my network already had 3COM). 3COM works like a champ. This router was recommended by my spouse's coworker and it was definitely a great experience as my first router.
10 RP614 Router
The router works flawlessly, no disconnects or anything. I hust typed in the DSL username and password AT&T gave me and I was on the internet as soon as it connected (within 5 seconds.) I use it with three computers, a new AMD Athlon XP machine I just had built, a toshiba laptop with an Xircom ethernet card and an old Pentium-233. The only reason I give it four stars was that the frames based configuration was a little hard to use on the Pentium-233 due to the fact that it has a not so nice video card, but this was not a problem. DO I RECOMMEND THIS ROUTER: YES
11 Very unstable
This router WILL freeze if you use it for then just checking emails and browsing sites. If you have a network of at least computers (which is why you would buy a router) then it will freeze untill you restart it. I am a "heavy" user and some times have more then 1 download going and it constantly quits on me. You have to unplug and it plug it back in. Some times I have to do it 10-20 times a day which is extremely annoying. I can not imagine you can possible plug in 256 PCs (maximum load stated in their specs) to this router if it quits working with only 2. I would not recommend this router to anyone. I am selling mine. Anyone interested? :)
12 Very Unstable
I've had this router for about 5 months and I am very unhappy with it. Every 2 or so days, it will just disconnect on me and not work. It also disconnects on a regular basis and almost every day, I have to unplug it and plug it back in. It was eventually very tiring after a while and I finally ordered a new one, today (on Amazon.com). If possible, please stay away from this router and choose something else!
13 Unreliable and Unfixable
I have tried for the last 5 months to get Netgear to resolve a problem with the RP614 that I have but to no avail. The unit quits working randomly and requires power cycling it to get it to work again. Every response has been inane, either Netgear doesn't have a clue, doesn't know how to find the problem or simply doesn't care. And the problem has nothing to do with loads as it occurs with one computer on the network. I've also run every type of scan of my computer to be sure it is not a virus, etc and my computer is clean so the problem is with the router. I have a very simple system so the problem is not in the configuration. Now Netgear will not even respond to my support request email, they now required me to register and log the case in as new! I strongly suggest going with LinkSys and that is what I am switching to. This has to be one of the worst customer service experiences I've had.
14 Worst router ever
I dislike netgear for several problems:
1. It doesn't allow me to access yahoo or hotmail for weird reason.
2. Bad customer service.
3. Hard to configure.
15 Netgear does not stand behind thier products.
I bought this router in Oct. 2003,I've had it for 7 months and was very happy with the performance, the durability is another thing altogether. I tried to unplug the router to reset it and the adapter was literally stuck in the female socket so I pulled on it rather hard to get it out and it finally let loose. When I plugged it back in I had no power until I pushed the plug very hard back into the female socket and then if I bumped it I had no power again. Obviously a faulty part but when I called support I was informed that it was my fault that it was not working correctly, I should have taken it back to my hardware vendor and had them pull the plug out so therefore I cannot return it as faulty. I told the woman that I was very dissapointed and would never buy another Netgear product again and she told me that "That is your choice sir, have a good day." I have never been treated like this by a reputable company before in my life. Be very careful when buying this or any other Netgear product. TERRIBLE SUPPORT AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS! Don't belive me? You will when you try to resolve a problem with this router...fair warning.
16 I love it!!!! SO EASY!
I purchases a Linksys router, because I happen to have 5 laptops and two PCs. I got tired of switching cords. Well, it works like a charm, thought it was a pain to install and set up. EXCEPT, I could not download updates from Microsoft, I could not use Outlook Express with any hotmail accounts, I could not post messages in MSN groups. Well I do these things dozens of times a day. They help people responded with all sorts of stuff to do, but it NEVER WORKED. I needed to access those things, so after a period I GAVE UP.
I ordered Netgear and WOW. In a matter of 5 minutes I had all all my computers on line at once, they accessed Microsoft update, they used Outlook no probs, and I was able to post in MSN. So real installation to speak of, not settings ISPs, nothing. Plugged it in and go...
Boy, this is the way it SHOULD BE. I recommend Netgear over Linksys anytime!
17 I use my RP614v2 for a paperweight...
Largely on the strength of the reviews here at Amazon I bought the Netgear RP614NA over a month ago to replace an XSense XRouter Pro. The XRouter had provided excellent service since I bought it several years ago, but had crashed a couple of times recently under reproducible but immaterial circumstances. I upgraded the firmware (first time since I bought it) and hadn't had any more problems with it, but thought that technology moves on and it was time to get a new router. Thus the Netgear purchase. Right after I installed it my wife complained that it was slower than the old one, but I thought it was her imagination (it was a site that she browses which had caused the XRouter crashes). Then I started having the Netgear lose connection to my cable modem. Power cycling it or resetting it would restore the connection but that wasn't an acceptable solution. I was told by Netgear to upgrade the firmware (from 5.13) to 5.14RC1 and did. The connection stayed up for a few days and then went down again and I couldn't get it back. I went back to my XRouter to email Netgear and noticed much improved performance, thereby proving that my wife isn't always wrong. At that point I lost all interest in using the Netgear, despite the new instructions from their tech support. It simply wasn't worth the trouble to get a router working which at its best wasn't as good as what I had before. So now I'm happily enjoying my XRouter Pro and the Netgear is a paperweight. It gets two stars only because it didn't erupt into flame.
18 Great Router
We have about over 10 internet computers, so I established the DSL network with router, switches, and hubs via ethernet. I have been using Linksys BEFSR81 router. It created alot of problems like traffic control (Qos) did not doing a good job to bring a nice fast traffic. It is slow and sometimes the whole system collapse. I ended up to buy Netgear Router RP614. It runs great without a problem. The network traffic is fast and smooth. I would suggest everyone to buy this Netgear RP614 rather than Linksys router. I still use Linksys Etherfast switch or hub with this Netgear router. It works great. I think Linksys have a long way to make the router very effectively. Linksys is great with adapter card or switch or hub, but not the router as Linksys is not doing a good job to make the router as a reliable device. That is my opinion based on my experience. Thank you.
19 Great product! Easy Setup and Install
I bought this router to setup a network between my two home computers and it was a snap. Once I got the network cards installed and working the router hooked it all together with ease. I highly recommend this one!!!
20 Netgear RP614NA 4-Port Cable/DSL Router
Not being a computer geek, I figured I'd have a few problems getting this hooked up and working properly. NOT at all with in 15 minutes it was all up and running. My only complaint is that it was missing the stand. For those who dont know it all about computers but have a need for a router, I would recommend this one for you.
21 Easy, perfect, best ever.
Rarely have I found a router that works this well, and is this easy to put to work. This is TRUE plug and play. Absolutely flawless. Highly recommended.
22 Excellent buy
Please with my purchase, everything arrived nicely packed, and it works great.
23 Could not be easier.
I am as computer challenged as one can get. I mean, I can USE the computer and software, but I am NOT a computer tech (I.T.) Yet this was soooo easy to do.
It is fast too. Open box, plugs in where needed, done. That easy folks.
24 Easy to install? hard to use?
I was not impressed by this product and returned it the next day. The set up wizard didn't do any thing but show you where to plug in the cords...duh? The first computer that went in allowed me to access the router but not the internet. The instructions said to re boot and unplug power on the modem and router which I did. After that I was able to get to the internet but not the router. The second computer wouldn't access the internet either. After about 2 hours of this "run in circles" routine; I put the Linksys router back in and placed the Netgear back in the box.
Re booting constantly is not a good network/routing system.
25 Many problems
I have had nothing but trouble with this device since I purchased it. The problem that finally forced me to get rid of it was a tendancy to drop sessions. I used this device with both DHCP (where the router gets a dynamic IP from your DSL provider) and static IP services. In both cases it refused to hold a session open longer than a few minutes, leading to dropped ssh (terminal) sessions and delays in web surfing. The setting in the administrative interface that was supposed to stop this behavior (as if it would ever be desirable!) had no effect whatsoever. Other problems I experienced: the administrative interface is confusing and offers very limited configuration options. Some of the features (such as the "connected devices" list) did not work at all. NetGear tech support is impossible to get ahold of (you just sit on hold forever), and upgrading the firmware is difficult. I also had problems with the internal DHCP (server), although I was able to get around that problem by manually configuring my computers. I cannot recommend this product to anyone. I wound up replacing my NetGear router with an old PC running OpenBSD. Setting it up involved jumping through some hoops but it has done an excellent job and I wish I had done it a long time ago.
26 Bad Luck with VPN/PPTP
I thought this model would continue NetGear's solid engineering history with PPTP... WRONG.
The router continually drops VPN sessions, apparently as a function of how long since its last reboot. I experienced dropouts as short as 30 seconds, although typical was 5 minutes.
This apparently carries over to streaming audio, although it takes longer for disconnects to occur (typically an hour or so).
I fell back to my old NetGear FR314 and have regained my solid connections.
The 614 is adequate for casual web browsing, and is indeed an easy setup, but I'd avoid it for and PPTP/IPSec connections that are critical to you.
27 Horrible Appliance.
I previously had used low end Pentium III 800 computer to handle firewall and network sharing for my Road Runner cable modem. For the past week, this router has continuously bottle necked and been unresponsive when I've tried to connect to it to view settings. I lose all connectivity for all of my computers. I have to unplug the device and plug it back in to free it up and allow my internet phone service (Vonage) and my other PCs back onto the internet. Not very good for high end home users. Severely disappointed in an otherwise faithful Netgear buyer.
28 Great Router
I purchased this router and have been using it daily for over 6 months. I've never had a problem with it; it has performed flawlessly from day 1. I really liked the ease of setup, and the security it offers. My PC is well-protected against internet hacks as well. I ran the Norton.com scanning program against it, and without any specific prior setup on my part, it came through with flying colors.
My only gripe about it is the silly software they bundled with it. The router is configurable through a web page, so you don't need this software at all. Good thing, since it's practically useless on an XP machine, where people switch users instead of logging off/on. The software offers ad blocking, anti-virus, parental control, a personal firewall, cookie mgmt, and a form filler, (some options were additional $$$, such as AV). You're better off with google's ad blocker, and the software's nearly constant whining about the lack of a clean shutdown and the resulting corruption of its config file made me shut it down for good. It offered no justification for continued use, since other products do all the things it wants to, only they actually work well.
29 I have had nothing but problems using this router
I originally bought this product to replace a SMC 7004ABR Barricade Router. My reason's for choosing the Netgear were, (1) Support for UPnP, (2) Price, (3) Esthetics, I consider basic product functionality to be a given. Unfortunately this is simply not true. Using a P2P application like DC++, Direct Connect, Emule, and yes even Bit Torrent forces the router to freeze. This results in your entire home network losing connectivity. The only solution is to reset the router. My SMC 7004ABR almost never needed a reset. For casual users the Netgear router is a reasonable value, however, for those that find themselves always downloading something, this product is very poor value. Fortunately, SMC has released an updated firmware that supports UPnP, and as of yesterday I was able to download my first but torrent file! The Netgear does make an expensive - though all be it attractive paper weight.
30 great tech support
The setup procedure is pretty simple, I had no problem to hook it up with my desktop, but had a hard time to configure the laptop. Called 24x7 support, tech guys walked me through to fix the ethernet adaper problem. My home network finally got setup. Great product, great tech support...
31 Great choice for the money
I purchased this router for home use, to connect my Roadrunner cable access to two computers (one Windows 98 and one Windows ME). Although I experienced some difficulty in connecting the Windows 98 computer, this was due to a problem with the computer, not the router. Nevertheless, I contacted Netgear's customer support which I found to be very helpful. Aside from the computer problem, the hookup of the router could not have been easier. Very reliable and easy to hook up/use, and at a great price. The included ethernet cable is a nice bonus.
32 Drops Connections
I was in the market to upgrade my Netgear RP114 router that I've had nearly two years (it works great, providing consistent service 24/7). I was so happy with how easy the RP114 had been to configure and use that I decided to go for another Netgear. I read some good reviews and decided to go for the Netgear RP614v2, which I ordered from Amazon.com. The price was great and they had the router to me in two days (it shipped from a Dallas suburb and I live in Dallas). The product was attractive compared to the old router and I really liked the stand that came with it which you can use to set the router upright, allowing for more space on my crowded desktop.
Sadly to say, that was the good part of the experience. When I went to set up the router, the wizard stated that when properly configured the test button would cause the Netgear homepage to come up. I input the necessary info and hit the test button - nothing. I kept changing entries for 45 minutes before I decided to input the information as I did the first time, save it and exit the router, reboot the network and try accessing the Internet through Internet Explorer. Low and behold, up came my homepage!
The router ran well for several hours, then began dropping the connection. At first I thought it might be problems with my ISP, but finally I gave in and reinstalled my old router. I was immediately able to access the Internet! I reviewed all my settings in the old router, then reinstalled the RP614v2 again. This time I never could get Internet access. I had to pull the router again and replace it with the RP114, which immediately gave me access to the Internet. At this point I contacted Amazon about returning the RP614, boxed it up, and it's on the way back for a refund.
33 Works great for me!
I had another router by Gigafast that kept loosing my connection so I finally broke down and bought this one. It was a breeze to set-up and worked right out of the box. I just did a firmware update as well and it was simple too. I have Roadrunner cable modem service and am using it with 3 computers, 2 Windows XP (1 pro and 1 home version) and Windows 98, it works fine with them all. I also like that it comes with a stand and ethernet cable as well, all very cool. I don't think you can go wrong with this one!
34 Very unstable router
The RP614 would be a nice router if it could just stay running. Unfortunately if you put any kind of load on it, the router dies. Picture a situation where you're halfway across the world and you need to access your home PC - but your router crashes and there is no way to remotely reboot it. That's what you'll get with the RP614. You may think "I don't put much load on my router" but you can crash it just by running a peer to peer application, or doing a few simultaneous downloads, or even using a couple computers at the same time. Netgear advertises that this shares a connection for 254 computers, but if you try to use more than one of those at a time the router will probably die.
Netgear releases firmware after firmware without acknowledging this problem. It still happens, and I have heard it may be a heat issue, which means that no firmware in the world will solve it.
Another drawback of this router is the recent NTP server problem - it turns out that Netgear wrote a very bad implementation of network time protocol, which caused thousands of routers around the world to perform a 'denial of service' attack on a poor time server at the University of Wisconsin. This issue has since been fixed but it is an example of Netgear's history of problems with the RP614.
35 major flaws
As other reviewers have noted, the router is very easy to set up. However, it has two major flaws which would keep me from recommend this unit:
1. The router randomly locks up several times a week. It requires a power off then on in order to start working again.
2. The router times out idle TCP session after a few minutes, and there is no way to disable or change this timeout. After the timeout the connection is dropped and has to be re-established. This is a *major* annoyance for people like me who use ssh or telnet to log into outside machines, but it can also cause problems with chat clients or other network applications if you are idle for a few minutes. This behavior has been confirmed by Netgear tech support, and they don't have a solution.
Between these two flaws, I recommend against buying this unit. Netgear's previous generation product (RP314) was rock solid, it's sad to see Netgear go so far downhill.
36 It cant get any better
Better than linksys. Easy to install, plus it comes with the cat5 cable.
37 The RP614 4-port router was a disappointment, returned it.
I have several other Netgear products and have liked them, however the RP614 4-port router was a disappointment. The RP614 would freeze periodically, requiring me to unplug it and plug it back in. I would loose my DSL connection 3 - 4 times a day. I have returned it.
I replaced it with another brand of port router and have not had a problem since I started using it over 4 days ago.
I hope that Netgear will look closely at the quality of this product.
38 Great router
Just picked this unit up and I love it. Easy to setup and configure and runs like a dream. For the price this is a great router and as with all Netgear products, quality is very good.
39 Easy as they come.
I knew nothing about setting up a network in my home. With this router is was a simple as running some wire and making a few easy conections. My only sticking spot was configuring Windows XP to use the network. From what I have read and from what I have seen out of this product, you can't go wrong.
40 Tight Little Unit
Finally bought one of my own after using this to setup shared ISP connections for my church and for a friend. TOO EASY! Up and running with a minimal amount of time - and no, it doesn't tell you how to do your own peer to peer network. You need to know how to configure file sharing in your system OS to do that. This little switched router does all it's required to do, and does it very well!
41 Good SOHO router.
Good little router. Perfect for a handful of computers and a couple of video game consoles.
42 EASY
It took longer to open the box than to get it working! All I had to do was move the cable from the pc from the DSL modem to port 1 on the router and hook the cable from the router to the DSL modem. Piece of cake! Didn't even have to set up the router because the default settings made it work right out of the box!
43 You get what you pay for
I purchased this unit because I had good experience with Netgear before they sold to Nortel. I was not happy with this product. My DSL connection seemed slightly sluggish compared to connecting directly to the DSL modem. I returned it and purchased the Linksys BEF41SX. I did not notice the subtle sluggishness. (I have a review under that product noting why this might be. It also comes with a firewall built into the router. And VPN endpoint.) However, for the price it's not so bad. I got it working quickly.
44 4 Port means 4 ports plus 1 uplink (actual 5 ports)
Got my Router, I already had all the wires laid out, first of all I was releaved to see that 4 port meant 4 ports plus an uplink, unlike old netgear hubs where 4 ports meant 3 plus uplink. Anyhow plugged it in, was about to put the cd in to run whatever software I needed and noticed that it was already running by itself. I have'nt tried running any of the fancy port forwarding stuff, unfortunately I still cant do file trasnfers with MSN messenger or windows messenger for XP (nor the fancy videos) I tried everything, I hope Microsoft fixes that. One feature I wish the router had was distributing bandwidth because now I got one person who runs p2p Kazaa and drains the life out of the rest of us. Overall no problems with the router itself. got it for 39.99 but still waiting for the rebate mail. Oh well, time will tell
45 Great router at any price
While I had some problem configuring the unit it was not the fault of Netgear but the technician who hooked up my cable modem a few days earlier. He disabled my ethernet card so he could use a USB modem configuration and therefore made the installation far more dificult than it should have been. Once the cable tech service guy got that sorted out and we reconfigured the card (uninstall and allow Windows to reinstall) everything was and is perfect. The router replaced a Netgear hub and life is as it should be. I had originally bought the hub to save the money thinking that I would never use a highspeed access but that was a false economy. The hub was great but this is the way networks should work. If I had had a router in place at the outset, the hookup would have been painless. I highly recommend the unit.
46 Makes a nice coaster
I bought this unit with high hopes of sharing my cable modem connection with my wife but after a month, it still sits idle and useless. I have tried multiple times to get the thing to work, carefully following the instructions and consulting the Netgear Web site for help, to no avail. I'm using a new AMD PC with Win XP, lastest service pack, MS IE 6.0.28, and I use Comcast as an ISP...all to say I have a rather garden-variety set-up. One additional word of caution, if you play on-line games, this device may degrade performance.
47 Greatest Wired Router under $100
This is the fastest router you can buy fro the price. The only downside, like almost any router under $100 is that it has a [junky] NAT firewall built in that doesn't allow some types of direct connections like AIM file transfer and direct connect. But, if you need the fastest wired router under $100...this is your choice. I've tested about 10 different routers and this smokes them all. Make sure to head over to netgear.com and get the lastest firmware for it as soon as you start using it because the new firmware makes it even faster and resolves response time issues that may occur in the older versions.
48 Worked Without A Hitch
Setting up the Netgear router to share our DSL line was terribly easy. The directions are clear and set-up is quick and simple. It includes a CAT5 cable and a little vertical mount which makes the router look very slick. You don't have to install any software or drivers; there is just a simple test procedure which takes a couple of minutes. The Netgear physically behaves like a server, and it has some solid security features. Also, installing the router actually solved problems that we originally had with the DSL modem, and it has behaved itself nicely since we set up the network. Accessing the router's features is simple- you log onto the Netgear by typing "192.168.0.1" in your browser window. Configuration is simple and straightforward. The RP614NA is a fine product and reasonably priced.
49 doesn't work with mediacom service
Spent an hour talking to tech help at mediacom. Then the guy went and looked up some stuff on the router and found out that the router does not work with mediacom service.
50 EXCELLENT product!
VERY easy to install. I had my PC & Xbox up and running with my DSL connection in under 5 minutes. I HIGHLY recommend this product. Netgear continues with their excellent reputation for making quality products. Also the router looks very cool, and comes with a stand to hold it sideways and take up less space.
51 Good router if well versed in networking....
My first comment would be "not for beginners in networking!!" I guess this router is a snap to set up if your broadband server is also set up just right. Needless to say, calls to all customer supports was needed to get my computer and my sons x-box to use the router. The setup wizard is a snap if no manual entries need to be used, but look out if they are needed and you are new to networking. You may need to: upgrade the firmware on the router, manually enter MTU settings (for the x-box), manually enter your computers MAC address (do you know your computers MAC address? your servers MAC address?), is your server static or dynamic??...etc. It became a day long, setup-new-hardware agony that I had thought I had outgrown long ago with my first of many computer building projects. (this was my first router) This router works fine when set up properly and is a cute design. Tech support seems available most times....but if you don't know a MTU from a DNS...you may want to shop around for a more "automatic" router...unless of course you want to get an education in networking the hard way. Better yet, call your broadband supplier first and see if they have a list of routers that are "happy" with your server's configuration from the start. The two star rating is mainly for the setup headaches. I have very little patience for it anymore.
52 Easy set up and good features, industry reviews
I looked this one up on industry magazines and they give the unit good reviews.
This is the only router I've owned for sharing my CATV broadband connection. Still, the setup could not have been simpler. Power the unit up, hookup the cables, point your browser to a particular URL (it's a number) and you can configure the router. The router has Network Address Translation (NAT) so I've drastically reduced hits on the ZoneAlarm firewall.
The unit is small and has a secure base to set it up vertically so I've been able to set this unit next to the Terayon Cable Modem which also goes vertical.
If you are going to share up a few wired network hookups for computers this device will do just fine. (Four connections max).
53 good product...easy setup no hassles
This router is awesome. Easy to setup. After reboot it found everything on my network....2 pcs, an apple airport, and my ps2. I didnt have to setup port forwarding on the ps2 to play tony hawk pro skater 4 online. I am by no means a network monkey but if you want an easy to use router that looks like a can of sardines you cant wrong with this product.
54 Very easy and so far reliable
I just got it and it took me 2 minutes to get it up ad working with 2 computer connected to it (Windows 2000 and Linux Mandrake). I'm a network consultant and it is dummy proved. It actually improved the speed of my network connection because my ISP runs a lot of test and the traffic on my public network segment is very high. The RP614 is just handling all the outside traffic, releasing my network card and my computer. I recommend it.
55 better than a linksys...
that's for sure. i've been through two linksys standard four-port cable/dsl routers that decided to stop working. rather than buy a third (i don't care how highly rated they are anymore), i did some quick and dirty research and found this one by netgear, at around [$$$]less. bearing in mind that i'm a bit of a tech geek, installation was completely painless, and i was up and runing after a few minutes and a restart. however, i'm using it for its most basic purposes and i haven't checked out any of its features. but it does what its supposed to do. i've had to reset it a few times in conjunction with my modem, but that could have to do with my ISP as much as the router itself. the unit is light, attractive, and compact, and is easily hidden away on your desk or computer cart. if you're looking for a basic router to split your connection and share files, then you've got nothing to lose with this one.
56 Great Low Priced Router, Easy setup
I picked this router up after doing some research on customer reviews on different brands/models. I was deciding between this RP614NA and the FR114P (also Netgear). I finally decided on this one after it ended up in my Amazon gold box with an additional discount. The router setup took about 20 minutes for 2 PC's sharing AT&T Broadband Cable. (One XP and one Win 98SE). Another 10 min and I had the network up and going (file/printer sharing). Probably would have went even quicker if I had more networking experience. As far as speed, I haven't noticed any drop by adding the router. The bandwidth test on CNet comes up about the same depending on the amount of traffic. I have not used the port forwarding or content filtering features, yet, so I can't comment on that. The only thing I wish it had is the DoS and SPI security features of the FR114P. However for half the price, I can't really complain. If you are looking for an inexpensive router with basic features and easy setup, I would definitely recommend the RP614 based on my experience. If you want the additional security features and internal print server, you might check out the FR114P.
57 The best Router!!!
I consider myself to be pretty computer literate so when I had trouble routing dsl to my two computers I became very frustrated. After spending countless hours trying to install two other routers (linksys, d-link) I was about to give up. Then I read a review of the netgear and thought I would give it a try. Within minutes of opening the package I had both of my computers online and surfing the web. The installation was flawless and I couldn't believe it only took minutes to install when I had worked for hours with the other routers that I tried. This router also works well with macintosh and can rout computers with different operating systems (xp, 98, etc.) Don't waste time with other routers--this one is the best hands down.
58 Outstanding!
Ditto to every 5 star review! This router does it all, and starts doing it within 10 minutes of taking it out of the box. I wish all hardware were this easy to set up.
59 It doesn?t get much easier than this
I've had this router for about 3 months now and I haven't had a problem yet! It comes with setup instructions for just about every type of Cable/DSL configuration there is. Setup took about five minuets. Although it's not required Netgear has a firmware update that allows for remote administration along with other additions. This is a great router for Newbie's and Advanced users alike.
60 Easy to install and configure, worth the price paid
I tried setting up a Linux firewall awhile ago, and it's not easy. When a family member got cable modem, I figured I'd try this setup for them, and see the differences. All I can say is, it's a breeze to setup and configure, and as a defense against attacks it's more than adequate for the home user. I ran a few security tests against it, and it passed with flying colors. Do yourself a favor - save yourself some system resources (ie - don't install personal firewall software) and use a hardware solution. Nice job, Netgear!
61 This fish can like router itå's just Perfet!!
I Recently get this little gadget, at firts I was no sure about
the purchase becouse thereå's some Linksys very good options, Even after itå's arrival. I was so soprised about the litlle fish can like router.... but it works like a truly Plug and Play device!!!(and itå's a router), I conect my pentium IV based machine with Windows XP Home edition and my old pentium MMX 200Mhz with MS WINDOWS 95 and both worked from the start!!, well no technical bla bla, at the end itå's true that itå's not a state of the art device but for home aplications itå's just perfect.
(Ah!, and works nice with PS2 network device too!!)
62 Great Router..
While I only had this router for a few days, I must say I am very impressed with it. I hooked it up to the network, set my computers to DHCP (W2K, XP, Win98, Linux) and everything worked. Didn't have to enter any configuration data (which was very cool!)
The web-based interface is nicely laid out and provides ample on-screen information to help with most tasks. The router supports domain blocking (based on domain name or keywords as well as time of day/week), logging, ability to email alerts, port forwarding (ie run a web server/ftp server inside your network), Dynamic DNS interface, and much more..
Easy to use, easy to setup, easy to configure...
63 This can of sardines is GREAT
Aight...this thing is jst AWESOME. 10 min and i'm up and running. Much better than the Linksys ones I used before, which require waaaay too much effort and are jst plain ugly. With this one, i plugged the cables in (my and my sister's comps) and then restart them, went to WinXP Network wizard, restart, boom. I'm up and running. My sister was more than happy. The can of Sardines is the best wired router I have used. It's worth the money, especially at this low price.
64 easy, fast , dependable router!! here it is!!
this router after reading all other reviews lived up to all of the reviews and then some!very easy to set up and dependable.no trouble at all to set up , just plugged cables in and restarted and i was up and running! no other steps to get up and running! no problems with getting online or getting knocked off, both computers i hooked up run well! dont waste your money on others, just go ahead and buy this one! you wont be sorry!!
65 not bad, but could be better...
I ordered mine after some exhaustive Internet research on all the other routers in the same price range on the market today.
Two weeks later, mine allows me to share cable internet but not share files and printer between our two PCs. In fact there is NOTHING in the otherwise excellent documentation and setup help manual & CD ROM that even touches upon this aspect of the router. Therefore one is left with the unenviable task of trying to figure it out through Windows' [bad] Help files.
Methinks the reviewer who said he had this router up and running 3 minutes out of the box must be either: 1. already a techno-geek well versed in the black arts of PC-land, or 2. working for Netgear!
Lastly, the included "Freedom" Internet Security software is basically useless. You're much better off with Norton's Internet Security or even ZoneAlarm.
Sadly though, compared with other similarly priced routers, the RP614NA actually shines!
66 Wow, I can't believe it was that easy!
I'm very surprised with the ease-of-use capability with this cute little router. Performance is amazing, with better specs than most routers. And the looks are perfect for the home, it looks like a sardine can with easy-to-read light indicators.
I tried this router with my PC, XBox, and Dreamcast (yes, I will always love this console no matter what people say), and they work perfectly online. Once I receive the PS2 Network Adaptor, then I will test it as well, but I don't foresee any problems. You also get a vertical stand, a straight network cable, and free privacy software.
This router is a nice package and it actually works! I've heard problems with Linksys, SMC, and D-Link (and believe me, I've researched long and hard for the perfect router), but Netgear has instantly won my rave for the company and its products. For the price and performance, the RP614 router is a best buy recommendation.
67 Excellent router
Purchased this router through Amazon on a Saturday and got on Tuesday. At the time I bought this router there was a [$$] rebate promotion going on so I was able to get this at a very good price. I had thought about getting a Linksys router but had read about so many problems people were having with it, such as, unable to configure, humming noises coming form the unit, poor customer service, and only a 1-year warranty! I hooked up this Netgear RP614 to my PCs, one using Windows 98se, the other with Windows XP Pro, and didn't even have to use to setup wizard, they were configured and running right after I rebooted them. Now all I have to do is install my access point to this router and I will be able to roam throughout my house checking email and viewing webpages once I get new PDA with Wi-Fi wireless. This has to be one of the easiest add ons I have ever installed on my system. I highly recommend this router for anyone that wants a non-problematic install. And Netgear offers a 3-year warranty, too!
68 EASY.. POWERFUL.. EXCELLENT VALUE
If you don't want to plunk down $$$ for a NetScreen firewall appliance, and the NetGear FVS318 is too much VPN... the the 614 is for you..
WARNING: you have to be severely clueless for this not to work for you...
NetGear makes SOLID gear. If you need VPN site-site then step up one model set. If not, buy this and be
TOTALLY SATISFIED.
69 Almost too easy to use
This has to be one of the easiest and most successful peripherals I have ever hooked up. The set-up took only a few minutes per computer, and I now have three machines (each on a different version of Windows: 95, 98, and XP) running smoothly as a network. All computer experiences should be this easy!
70 No problems - yet
Got the router and set it up. The set up was easy and the instructions were very simple. Three days after the initial set-up my connection was lost. I could get connected by directly connecting with the modem, but not with the router. I was about to return the router. I then went into the router set-up (http://192.168.0.1 it is all in the instruction book) and told the router to use my network card MAC address. Everything worked again.
It seems that cable companies scan thier network. If the MAC address associated with your account changes, they cut you off. Lucky that this router can read my NIC mac address and then create an alias.
71 Could Not Get RP614NA to Renew IP Address
Unfortunately, I did not have much luck with this router. It seemed to work fine until the IP address dynamically assigned by the ISP (RoadRunner) expired. The router was being assigned an IP address with a 1 day lease using DHCP. After the lease expired, I would have to re-boot the router.
I also could not get the port forwarding to work.
These problems could have been user error, but I worked with NG tech support and we could not resolve the issue.
I returned it and purchased a Linksys BEFSR41 and it has worked great.
72 great router, set up couldn't be simpler
A great router and set up took less than 5 minutes. It was easy to set up and I never lost connectivity during setup. No changes were necessary to my TCP/IP setting on my iMac. I couldn't be happier.
73 great router, set up couldn't be simpler
A great router and set up took less than 5 minutes. It was easy to set up and I never lost connectivity during setup. No changes were necessary to my TCP/IP setting on my iMac. I couldn't be happier.
74 Hook up and Go
I was a little nervous about a home network. Besides sharing my internet connection, I need to be able to use it to telecommute using my company's VPN. I cabled it up and it worked. I've started with my main PC and a docking station for my laptop from work for now. I have a couple of Homeplug bridges to hook up so I can move around the house with the laptop, but I need to get a cross-over CAT-5 cable first. I didn't even have to put the CD in!
75 Three minutes out of the box and working
I don't know how much easier it could have been: router arrives, unpack router, plug into my cable modem (have AT&T cable Internet) my four computers at home (2 Windows PCs, 2 Macs--one running OS 9 and one OS X), reboot everybody: boom, done.
Since I was converting from a "home network" through AT&T, where they give you extra IP addresses at the exhorbitant [edit $] each per month, my computers were all already configured to obtain IP addresses automatically via DHCP. Thus, in my case, it wasn't even necessary to read the instructions to this Netgear router. For you, it may take 5 minutes instead of 3 like me, but overall a simple, painless--and above all, affordable--experience.
Recommended for price, ease of use and setup.
76 So far so good
Received my Netgear RP614 DSL router an hour ago and it's up and running with one win98 pc connected so far. No problems with installation that couldn't have been avoided if I'd read all of the directions instead of guessing on some things. Hopefully installing the other 2 pcs won't be a problem. I even have the firewall software up and running and have some apps configured to run so far.
77 Great ROUTER!!!
I was able to hook up my three computers to my cable modem in about 10 minutes. One of the three computers was a mac, and the other two were pc's--no problems were encountered and the interface was seemless. This is a very nice router which was simple to install!
