Hackers beware
The Home Wireless Gateway includes an integrated firewall that uses network address translation (NAT) and an array of defense techniques to protect you against many of the most common attack methods. This is not an industrial-strength firewall, but it should be adequate to protect your network from eavesdroppers. The unit also safeguards data with 40-bit encryption, and it offers VPN (virtual private network) pass-through support for the most common security standards and protocols, including L2TP, PPTP, and IPSec.
A broadband bias
We had only one complaint about the Home Wireless Gateway. Because the unit is targeted at a broadband audience, it doesn't include a modem or an RJ-11 phone jack. If you want to share a wired or wireless dial-up connection, check out Orinoco's RG-1000 Residential Gateway.
A good, long warranty
Kudos to 3Com for backing the Home Wireless Gateway with a lengthy, five-year warranty. Toll-free phone support is fairly convenient for the home user. It's available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT. Also, the 3Com Web site offers a searchable knowledge base, manuals, FAQs, and downloadable firmware upgrades.
3Com's Home Wireless Gateway is an ideal way to share a broadband connection. This Wi-Fi-compliant device is easy to set up and configure, and it requires no software installation. It securely protects your data and even lets you access your office network over a VPN. For the price, it offers a good solution for a busy home's Internet-access and other sharing needs.
Note: Wireless networking products were tested in a controlled environment using two Dell notebook computers. Transfer times may vary depending on your particular home environment and the computers you use choose to network.
What You'll Pay
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