The broadband route: 12 routers tested

Netcomm Cable/DSL Router Family

The Netcomm family of Cable/DSL Routers is somewhat similar to the Linksys range of products, and includes:
• NB3000 Cable/ DSL Wireless Router
• NB3100 Cable/ DSL Firewall Router
• NB3200 Cable/ DSL VPN Router
• NB3300 ADSL Modem Router

All these devices look exactly the same from the front, all sporting the same physical design of a squarish beige box with a blue top piece to make the shape a little more organic. Unfortunately the

Introduction
Belkin Gateway Router
Linksys Router Family
Micronica HiP400
Netcomm Router Family
Netgear VPN Firewall
Netgear Router Gateway
DIY routers
Broadband security
How we tested
Sample Scenario
Specifications
About RMIT Test Labs

raised bump on top makes it impossible to stack the units. All systems offer a simple one-page setup with more advanced features configured separately. Other features include: access control, port forwarding (with a list of common ports), Syslog server, direct DDNS support, and support for single or multiple DMZ machines (multiple WAN IP addresses required for Multi-DMZ). All models include remote administration from any machine.

The NB 3000 Wireless Router supports 802.11b 11Mb Ethernet with 64- and 128-bit WEP. The firmware on the test system had no help menus, and flash upgrades are only available via TFTP.
The NB3100 Cable/DSL Firewall Router provides full advanced firewall protection and packet filtering. It also has the ability to filter Java, ActiveX, and cookies, as well as URL blocking and time-based filters. It also supports up to five IPSec tunnels, which support DES and 3DES, MHA and SHA IKE authentication, and SNMP.

The NB3200 VPN Router supports up to 70 IPSec tunnels, which support DES and 3DES, and MHA and SHA IKE authentication. In fact, the VPN setup is exactly the same as the one on the Linksys VPN Router. In the configuration pages, there is an extra dot after Special Apps menu that takes you to another page with options including the ability to backup and restore configurations, upgrade firmware, view statistics, and manage the logs. This may just be a glitch in the firmware installed on this version. Another feature of the VPN is that it supports SNMP, with the option to supply up to four community strings.

The power adaptor on the VPN router is the same as that for the Firewall Router (12V), but different to the Wireless and ADSL Modem Routers (5V).

The NB3300 ADSL Modem Router is a basic version of the above, without the wireless or security features, but it does provide the huge bonus of having the actual ADSL modem built in. This saves an extra box and another power point, though there is the concern that once the “Next Big Thing” replaces ADSL, it will become redundant. Like the wireless router, the firmware on the test system had no help menus, and flash upgrades are only available via TFTP.

Product: Netcomm NB3000 Cable/DSL Wireless Router

Interoperability:

Futureproofing:

ROI: ½

Service:

Rating: ½

Product: Netcomm NB3100 Cable/DSL Firewall Router

Interoperability:

Futureproofing:

ROI:

Service:

Rating:

Product: Netcomm NB3200 Cable/DSL VPN Router

Interoperability:

Futureproofing:

ROI: ½

Service:

Rating: ½

Product: Netcomm NB3300 ADSL Modem Router

Interoperability:

Futureproofing:

ROI: ½

Service:

Rating:

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