it actually works well, gets about 90% of PIA bugs
595154
it actually works well, gets about 90% of PIA bugs but the bulbs and starters need to be replaced every year
for about $50...

that's $50 yearly for a $100 unit...I now buy them from goodwill stores as people don't get new bulbs when they die cheap ($10-15)
955285
I was quite skeptic in purchasing this router after reading the reviews.  I had limited time before an international trip and so had no choice but to go ahead and buy it.  Fortunately, the router has delivered.  I've had no issues.  The folks at Vonage were excellent in walking me through the setup.  I've used this in the US, Europe and Asia, without any problem thus far (purchased in July 2007).  I do have a few observations, which should be fixed in the next version but are not show-stoppers.  (a) As someone has already observed, the router does tend to be on the warmer side, (b) The LED lights are over-bright - a personal opinion, (c) the Linksys router didn't come with a stand or rubber feet to keep it steady - this can be aggravating.  Tech support at Linksys had no clue what to do about it.  They have asked me to contact Customer Service at Linksys, and I still have to do that.  That's the reason for 4 and not 5 stars.  I'm using Vista and XP notebooks/desktops, and I'm a normal business user who needs the stuff to work.  I don't have the technical expertise or need to go in and change various protocols.  So I can't judge from a smart techie perspective.  This is my personal experience, and I don't question the issues that others have encountered.
639797
Bought this a while back and have been very satisfied (easy to do after power cycling my horrible Linksys 3 times a day for months!).  I have not had to power cycle this ONCE since I bought it -- it just keeps chugging along.  I haven't pushed the signal strength much (seems to be a common complaint).  My one issue is a few times a day the signal seems to drop from 11 MBps to 1 MBps, and the 1 MBps signal generally does not communicate with my laptop well - so I end up going to the little signal app on the toolbar (Prism), click "Rescan" and everything is up and running just fine again.  This takes all of 4 seconds, so it's not been an issue.  I'm using a built-in wi-fi on my laptop, so it could be a communication issue with that.  Also, it seems to talk with the my DSL modem just fine.
3367950
I bought this modem in December. It arrive on December 6th. I called Timewarner and gave them my mac address first before plugging in modem.
Once TimeWarner has your mac address registered, I plugged in the coax and its as good to go. About three weeks later, the wifi stopped working. I have another linksys access point hooked up to the Zoom Modem/Router and the Linksys access point wifi was working. The logical conclusion is since my extra access point was working with "internet access", the modem itself was good. I hooked up an ethernet also directly to the modem and I was able to browse the internet. Again, more proof that the internet is good, but the wifi on the zoom modem was not working. I logged into the unit and went to wifi page and changed my the bandwidth from 40Mhz to 20Mhz and made sure the channel interference level was acceptable. It actually was on the severe level (channel 1) at the moment. I changed that to 11 and all was good. The wifi on the modem was working again. I give this modem 4 stars although it may deserver a 3 star. Hopefully I don't have to change any settings again for this modem, because it should automatically work for many months without intervention. I will report back in a few months to see if it is still running without any kind of intervention on my part. Overall, the modem is excellent in performance and I have experienced no other issues. FYI - Zoom actually recommends changing the bandwidth from 40Mhz to 20Mhz if you experience any wifi issues. Essentially, this bug is well documented.
3779722
I bought this about a week ago and still haven't decided if I'm keeping it (it's really great, when it works properly).  So far I haven't been able to go for one day without having to plug in another keyboard / mouse for when I can't reconnect the diNovo.

Let me recount the fun I've had with this:

I took it out of the package and was pleasantly surprised with how it looked and how it was packed; all scratchable surfaces were nicely protected with pronottective plastic backing.  I plugged in the hub and used the keyboard with a wired mouse while the included mouse was charging (took about 4 hours).  It worked fine without any drivers (except the media pad obviously didn't do anything fancy).

Then the mouse finished charging. It too worked without the drivers.  Then I installed the drivers, and the fun began.

During the install I was prompted to update (and an insert in the package said it was very important to do so).  After rebooting, I was greeted with a crash while the software finished setting up the hardware; this left the keyboard and mouse unusable; I used another kb/mouse to uninstall the drivers and tried again.  To make a very long story short, I started at 10 PM and finished at 6 AM, installed a half dozen times on two different computers, and finally got it working.  During the post-install (after rebooting) a firmware upgrade is applied (this is what kept crashing); I suspect it stupidly hard-codes c:\program files\ because on another installation on the same machine (which also happened to use d:\program files) it kept crashing, but on another machine with c:\program files the firmware upgrade was successful (and then it didn't need to do it again, so it worked on the original machine).

Often all three pieces (kb/mouse/mediapad) lose their setpoint detection and stop doing their special functions (e.g. F-lock/media keys, cruise control and tilt scrolling, and the media display stops updating).  I can reconnect the devices and then they work properly again.  Sometimes they don't reconnect and then I can't do anything because I lack a keyboard or mouse (and often when trying to reconnect, setpoint causes winamp and explorer to hang).  I have found that restarting setpoint also redetects the devices sometimes.

Long story short, the software is a mess, be wary.
533587
Hardware seems to perform well enough. Although I've found that I frequently have to reboot it to let me access my work's content (through a VPN) .  Rebooting the VPN doesn't work... but rebooting the router allows corporate data to flow again.

The UI portal is primitive in functionality and design / style compared to other vendors (eg ASUS, DLink).

But I'm willing to put up with the shortcomings given the price.  Maybe I'll get lucky and there will be some improvements through firmware upgrades (of which there are none, as of Jan 2017).
2371400
My laptop was having trouble connecting to the router in my house. My connection would drop regularly and I thought there was something wrong with my laptop or my router, but the problem was happening in many different locations. I found this on Amazon for a really decent price and decided to give it a shot rather than spend a lot more money getting something else fixed. Turns out it fixed my problem entirely.

My laptop now keeps a connection. The only downside I have found is that sometimes when streaming HD content it is a bit sluggish.
3806035
Though there were problems with the initial firmware (mostly stutters), I've had success with the past few releases. While the Chromecast is undeniably cheap, the Airtame has options for video and color profiles I really need for casting desktops and high-quality presentations. The team has been transparent, the beta release program is easy to get into, and for the quality of the broadcasts it's been a good return on the investment.

I'm giving it 5/5 stars because at least on my network and my machines, it's worked far past any Chromecast hacks I've tried. For sharing screens or casting certain videos, it's been invaluable.
4877535
I had high hopes for this router. Even though I'm up to date on firmware the WPS page via the GUI from the preloaded software does not work at all. It also makes noise - not terrible --- just sounds like a hard drive being accessed. The network device sharing feature is EXCELLENT and I've used it with multiple drives with no problems across all kinds of operating systems - and the streaming in my house has improved significantly since I installed this. I haven't tried DDWRT yet because a friend has said that is buggy as well. Hopefully as software/firmware updates come out these little issues will improve. Overall, I'm satisfied, but as a network engineer I expected more reliability out of the box.
344223
I picked this up after returning the equivalent Linksys product because that router wouldn't play nice with my girlfriend's ancient cable modem.  The MR814(v2) installed without a hitch -- I did have to unplug the cable modem and let it reset before I could get the router to pick up a DHCP address, but it's been smooth sailing since then.  I like its web interface more than the one on the Linksys router -- there are fewer screens to navigate, and it has an autodetection mode for quick setup.  It works great -- as long as you're on wires.
I'm having the same problem that some other reviewers are seeing -- the wireless connection occasionally drops out whenever it's being used, causing annoying messages to pop up in Windows XP, and generally making web surfing unresponsive.  I'm sure it would interfere with FTP, etc. as well.  I've also had it "lock up" once -- my computer (a Dell Inspiron 600m with the Intel Centrino 802.11b card) disconnected from the router, and although it still showed up in the list of available networks, it wouldn't reconnect (the wired network continued functioning flawlessly, though).  Resetting the router fixed it, and it hasn't happened again.  When it works, though, it's fast.  Range seems okay (though the Linksys was better with its dual antennas) -- I did have to try a few different channels to get one with a stable signal throughout the house.
I'm still trying to figure out if maybe there's something causing interference nearby, and I haven't spoken to Netgear's tech support yet either, so I'm still hoping this can be resolved.  I did upgrade the firmware, which didn't help.
In short, when it works, it's good, but it seems a little flaky when used with non-Netgear hardware.  It does *work*, though, which is more than I could say about the Linksys router.
UPDATE:
I found some more information on what was wrong, and seem to have fixed my problem.  The issue is apparently that the Intel Centrino wireless card (the Intel PRO/2100) has power management features that do not work properly with this router.  The recommended workaround was to disable the power management (by setting it to "manual" and then putting the slider to "maximum performance" in the Intel configuration utility).  That helped a little, but it was still not quite right.  However, Netgear released a new beta firmware for this router on October 15th, and after installing that and updated drivers for the wireless card, it seems to be working fine now.  The router still says it has firmware from July (when the last official one was put out), but I'm sure it loaded the new file, and it works.  I'm not sure why it took this long for them to fix it (this is one of the most common 802.11b wireless solutions), but I'm happy that it works correctly now.
252402
My biggest concerns with the product is that:
-it doesn't support vpns
-it only has one Ethernet Out port
-it doesn't have a web GUI
-you can't edit portforwarding rules or nickname them once they are created
Beyond that though, it has been a great experience. While it tooks some time to figure out where things were within the app, it is pretty straightforward and quick to work with once you have it down. The range and throughput is far better than my previous N routers and I keep it on top of the desk as opposed to the previous router location on the floor below my desk. The switch I had to buy in conjunction with it now takes that spot.
473584
I bought this SRX5308 to replace an old FVX538 v1 router, and after a couple months I can say that I am pleased with the stability of this device. The SRX5308 can handle loads more simultaneous connections (200K+), and that connection limitation was causing hanging on the FVX538 as the device is used as a firewall & NAT router for a dozen servers in a datacenter. The SRX5308 has not needed a reboot once in 2 months, which says much since I have gone through 2 Linksys (RV042, RV082) and one other Netgear (FVX538) router previously as those were hanging every other day or more often.

The web-based management interface works well and I am mainly using the firewall services and NAT functionality, so I can't comment on the VPN or load balancing functionality.

I would just give 4 stars, but when I contacted Netgear for support (apparently there is 90 days free support) they were very responsive and promised a fix for my needs (more WAN secondary IPs supported) in the next firmware update. The hardware has lifetime warranty, and I have no doubt Netgear will honor this as they have promptly replaced other units that I have sent in.
1060314
I bought the whole deal - 2 wireless Neatgear MA 521 PC cards for our 2 laptops and the FM114P.
I am quite pleased, so far, with how it works (granted I've only been using it for a week).
The cards were the easiest thing to deal with.  No problems there.
BUT - if you're using Windows XP, be prepared to figure out any problems by yourself. The support staff, via the web, could only quote the manual for me.
HINT: if you are using the FM114P with Windows XP, DISABLE the XP firewall in the Network settings. Your computer won't be able to find the Printer Port on the FM114P, otherwise.
You're not going to need that Firwewall, anyway. The router IS a firwewall. I used to get upwards of 30-40 potentially harmful inbound events registered on my Personal Firewall software before using the Neatgear router. Now, I'm surprised if I see 3 to 5 (even with XP's Firewall shut off).
3516723
My 3 month old Cisco RV042G was having problems of locking up when using the VPN and I heard that it was a firmware error that Cisco wasn't willing to acknowledge or fix. Someone in the comments suggested this Asus as the best fix available so I bought it to support around 60 users. It works like a charm! Very stable and easy to set up on the VPN, powerful and fast and easy to administer. Wireless capabilities are also outstanding. It will give you the distance and reliable performance even if you're a 150' away. I have another one of these servicing a 50,000 sqft manufacturing plant and everyone gets great, reliable service now on their phones, barcode scanners, etc.
2491792
I had a couple different issues on two different computers and operating systems.  The HP SmartFriend technician was able to resolve them quickly and effectively.  They were both fairly minor issues, but things I had wrestled with and tried to fix without success for quite some time.

First was a Windows 10 laptop that required me to sign in with user name and password every time.  Since I am the only one who uses the computer, this was irritating and unnecessary.  I tried to change it and did succeed in getting to sign in locally (so I didn't have to connect with my Microsoft account every time), but couldn't get it to bypass the sign-in altogether.  Even more frustrating was that while trying to fix this, I had somehow caused it to now require that both my user name and password be typed in every time (it wouldn't remember the correct user name).

It took several minutes to get the SmartFriend account set up with routine information such as name, address, email, phone number, and so forth.  Since I already shop with HP, I wasn't concerned about their having access to all this information, and it was nothing more than a local repair shop or Geek Squad would have wanted.  The technician was friendly and upbeat while setting things up and working on the issue.  He remoted into my computer and took control of it; I'm a teleworker so this is a process I'm pretty familiar with but it might be a little startling to a first-time user.  Again, it's nothing more than you would need to trust any other technician with, though.  Within a few minutes, the issue was resolved and I can now bypass that daily irritation.

The second issue was a Windows 7 desktop machine that would no longer install Windows updates.  The technician assured me that they can work on any Windows OS, even back into the '90s (and apparently they do get calls from people still running even Windows 95).  The technician was very nice and very knowledgeable (and, by the way, clearly spoke English as his first language, so we didn't encounter any communication problems).

Overall, I found the HP SmartFriend just as effective as using local computer support and a whole lot more convenient.  They are able to work on a variety of devices (any brand, including Apple) and operating systems, and also can assist with hardware setup, such as printers.  An HP SmartFriend card would make a great gift for any user who needs occasional help with their computer, and it would be a very nice add-on for a gift of a computer or printer this Christmas.

One important thing to note:  As advertised, the coverage lasts for one month from the time the card is first activated.  However, the card itself EXPIRES AFTER 6 MONTHS, so it must be activated within 6 months from the time it is purchased.
4128375
Just bought two 2-packs of these for nanny cams.  The wi-fi setup failed at first, but I got it to work via apps on both an ipad Air2 and a Galaxy Samsung 5S.  The pro app on my phone is a battery hog, but it works pretty well so far
3938070
To start with, I'm a Linux user and care not a whit for the software that came pre-installed on this stick.

This device has acted as my primary key fob now for a year or so.  It has worked well and been very durable in the harsh environment of my pocket.  The rubberized cover prevents most dust from getting to the USB plug itself, and the rest of the casing is sturdy.

Additionally the write protect switch allows me to feel safe sticking this thing into computers I don't consider terribly secure as I know that no software will be able to randomly install itself on it.

I haven't run any serious speed tests or anything like that, but it hasn't been so slow that I've really noticed.

My main complaint is a complaint that I have with all USB sticks, and that's that FAT32 is a horrible filesystem for these things.  Its only virtue is that practically every computer in existence can read it.  Otherwise it's slow, and requires complicated wear leveling software in the USB stick itself in order to avoid wearing out the stick in short order.  It also is badly designed for removing the stick while data is still cached.

Stick manufacturers should stop implementing weird complex internal wear leveling algorithms designed to make FAT32 work well and instead band together and fund Open Source projects like LogFS ([...]) and get them ported to Windows and OS X and stuff drivers for those OSes in a little FAT partition on the stick.