What happens if your broadband connection goes down and your business depends on it?
How easily can you hook up and use a dial-up modem for each PC? And what if you can't yet get broadband service but still want a residential gateway, including hardware-based routing and firewall protection?
The D-Link DI-713P Wireless Broadband Router (RRP $898) addresses these problems by adding analogue modem support to the usual list of residential gateway features: two single RJ-45 ports for a WAN (cable or DSL modem) connection, a three-port 10/100 Ethernet switch and a built in print server, support for NAT and DHCP, internal firewalls, various security features including wireless WEP encryption features, and Web browser configuration. The D-Link model also adds an internal 802.11b wireless access point.
What sets this gateway apart is that it also includes a nine-pin serial port for attaching an external analogue modem if broadband isn't available.
Installing the residential gateway is simple. Also, the D-Link start-up brochure is a model of completeness and clarity.
The D-Link model can have both a cable/DSL modem and an analogue modem plugged in at the same time. However, only one can function at a time because both are configured from the same setup screen. If broadband service fails (we simulated this by pulling the power plug), the analogue modem automatically dials your ISP. On our test, the unit worked perfectly.
You may not want to pay for a wired ISP dial-up account if you're already paying for broadband. But if staying connected is essential, this broadband router makes having both a viable option.
D-Link DI-713P Wireless Broadband Router
Company: D-Link Australia
Price: AU$898
Phone: 02 9417 7100
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