What is a router?
Broadband Internet - via cable or ADSL - delivers improved communication at a lower cost:
- it is as much as 100 times faster than dial-up
- it is relatively cheap to deploy
- it provides "always on " Internet access
- when more than one PC accesses email or the Internet more than once or twice a day, it is cheaper to run than dial-up.
Routers allow homes or offices to share a single broadband Internet connection among all users. With a router, users who've had separate dial-up connections will now enjoy the all benefits of a Local Area Network (LAN).
Choosing a router
NetComm's range of Routers are great value for money and are pre-configured to accept all major Australian ISPs.
All NetComm routers feature:
- easy installation (one-page set ups for Telstra, Optus and most ADSL providers)
- built-in DHCP server, which automatically allocates internal IP addresses to computers as they log on, saving configuration headaches and creating a firewall against hackers;
- 4-port 10/100 switch to create a small LAN - or augment an existing one - instantly.
Types of routers
In addition to the above features, routers can offer one or more of a range of useful benefits.
ADSL Modem Routers
Some routers have a built-in ADSL Modem. If you do not have an ADSL Modem, this router saves you having to get one.
Firewall routers
Most routers feature a passive NAT firewall, but some routers offer more sophisticated protection in the form of an active SPI firewall.
Wireless routers
Wireless routers allow wired or wireless LAN users to access the Internet.
Combo and All-in-One routers
Some routers have most or all of the above features built in. Combo routers will have most of the above features – usually excluding the ADSL Modem – while all-in-one routers will have all of the above features, including the.
VPN routers
With a router that supports a Virtual Private Network (VPN), remote users can access the company or home LAN via the Internet.
Find out more
Want to find out more or need to know something specific? Send an enquiry to NetComm about Routers now.
