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When we set out our requirements for this group test we were surprised at the number of vendors who had yet to deliver an all-in-one solution that supported 802.11g wireless operations. Of those contacted Bintec, Buffalo Technology, Efficient Networks and Thomson had yet to deliver a product that supported this. D-Link declined to participate and Westell supplied its 2410 router but it was found not to support 802.11g so was dropped from the group test. Even so, a glance through this group test shows there are plenty of choices available and a wide range of prices to suit all pockets.

With the target market comprising home users, SOHO (small office/home office) and small businesses we considered installation and ease of use critical factors. These users are unlikely to have access to knowledgeable support staff so will want a solution that requires a minimum of configuration. This is particularly true for the security aspect and the term ‘plug and protect’ is never more relevant than at this level. We were please to see all products that provided an SPI firewall defaulted to passing outbound traffic but blocking all unsolicited inbound traffic. Only Solwise didn’t support this but at least its NAT (network address translation) feature will hide your LAN users behind the WAN IP address.

Wireless networks are rarely out of the news thanks to security concerns and we had expected all to offer WPA (WiFi Protected Access) which provides tougher 256bit encryption but even here ZyXEL and Solwise have yet to implement support for this standard. We felt that WPA-PSK which uses a pre-shared key was of more value although it is possible to set up a RADIUS server in Windows Server products. Wireless performance is also an issue and we were surprised at the variation in transfer rates across a number of products.

Other features well worth having are tools for controlling wireless access and Internet use for LAN clients along with web site URL blocks. Beyond these basic requirements the choice is yours with a range of DMZ options, virtual servers and even VLANs available from Draytek. Some businesses will see the value of the backup ISDN link offered by ZyXEL and you can also opt for full support for VPNs and we were impressed that Corega managed to include this feature at such a low price.

Recommended – Design is not its forte but the BAR-AWLA-54 from Corega has versatility as its middle name. It combines good performance and security features, brings them together in an intuitive remote management interface and still comes in at only £117.50. More impressive are the VPN features making it a good choice for businesses on a tight budget that want secure links with other sites and mobile users.

Editor’s Choice – This little gem from Belkin is an ideal choice for users that want a complete, hassle-free Internet and wireless solution for the home or small business. The ADSL Modem with built-in wireless router has all the wired and wireless security features you need, plenty of access controls and is a cinch to install and configure. Wireless performance was particularly good and you simply can’t argue with a price tag that beats everything else out of sight.

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