So the Linksys router went back to the store yesterday, and I decided to replace it with the new Microsoft MN-700. It supports 802.11g and WPA, net of Best Buy’s rebates costs only $20 more than the Linksys, and provides the perverse pleasure of replacing a Linux-based device that crashed constantly with one running Windows CE.
The MN-700 is hardly without flaws — besides the shortcomings common to most low-end routers, Microsoft’s offering lacks a way to list connected MAC addresses, breaks active FTP despite listing Stateful Packet Inspection as a feature, the “Broadband Networking Utility” failed to configure the router from my PC (upside: it restored my original TCP/IP settings), and the web-based configuration is noticeably slow.
However, on the basis of the printed instruction manual alone, I would have to recommend Microsoft’s networking products over Linksys or D-Link to anyone that thinks CAT5 has something to do with hurricanes. Microsoft’s technical writers have produced a manual that clearly and concisely demonstrates how to accomplish specific tasks without wasting time explaining every arcane configuration option. I am confident that my mother could buy an MN-700 and have a reasonably secure home network running within a half-hour without creating the Microsoft equivalent of “Linksys, Channel 6, No WEP.”
You know, I find it rather hilarious that the “ads by google” are all for Linksys routers, since these last two posts are both describing how much you dislike it.
Seems to me that google needs to raise the IQ of their ad servers.
Andy
I’ve been fighting wireless for the last 3 weeks.
I moved into a new house, and my only option was wireless. I’ve got an old Linksys WAP11 that has done fairly well.
First I tried the Linksys USB adapters. Connection dropouts all over the place, even at 100% signal strength.
Then I tried their wireless PCI card. Same deal.
Then I tried the Microsoft MN-730 PCI cards. Rock solid.
Then I had a Linksys PCMCIA card freak, so I decided to try the MN-820 kit (mn-700+mn-720)
The MN-700 I got was pretty much crap.
Everything connected fine, but in Access Point mode, it wouldn’t pass DHCP requests from wireless cards to a DHCP server more than once per card, until I rebooted the MN-700. That went back this evening. If I reassociated the cards with the old WAP, DHCP kicked right in. Lather, rinse, repeat on 4 different machines.
I think most consumer wireless is junk, esp. for people who know more than that average computer user.
Cant use active FTP over NAT must use passive.
Packet inspection has nothing to do with active http://FTP.
I have owned the MN-700 Base station and had it running for about 6 months and I like it much better than any other network solution I have implemented. The Network Administration was a bit slow until I configured it beyond default settings, but is satisfactory at this time. I have rock solid performance and believe me…between my wife, my son and myself there is plenty of traffic!
I don’t know about YOUR MN-700, but my Network Utility is NOT web based as the article or first post says.