DIY routers
If you have an old PC lying around, you can turn it into a powerful Internet gateway/firewall/router using the free software Smoothwall. It runs on Linux, but is designed to be extremely easy to administer (using a Web interface).
Because it uses Linux, you do not need a license of Microsoft Windows (or worry about the security vulnerabilities that Windows has).
Installation is remarkably simple: download the CD image, burn it and use it to boot up the computer. Protocol support includes PPPoE, which is used by most all ADSL providers. You can get Smoothwall here: www.smoothwall.org.
Setting up Smoothwall to work with BigPond Broadband Cable is a bit trickier than ADSL; fortunately, Lucien Wells has written a comprehensive setup guide which details the process clearly. You can find it on the Whirlpool Web site at this URL: www.wpool.com/smoothwall/.
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