Strengths: printer usb for network use, wifi

Weaknesses: instability of wifi and printer

Summary: The wifi signal invariably drops off every few weeks or so unexplicably. It may have been working fine an hour ago surfing off the laptop in the next room, and then when you come back later it's down. Easy fix sometimes, unplug and replug power to the router otherwise, need to reboot cable internet box first. This is a permanent hassle. The printer configuration doesn't stick either. The printer will work fine for weeks then, suddenly be gone. It's work plugged into a host pc but the router has lost it. Solution, eliminate the printer and reinstall, and it works again for all network machines. Another pain in the derriere. When it works, it's a good router for mixed network of hard cabled and wifi with printer services, without needing to leave any PC permanently on as with printer through a host.

Strengths: Decent price for a router/print server combo.

Weaknesses: Router signal not always stable. Never able to set up print server. Crap tech support hours.

Summary: I owned this router for approximately 2 months, and had purchased it originally because of the built-in print server. Unfortunately when I installed it, it wasn't as easy as it looked. There were times when it had a lot of difficulty talking to my wireless card on my laptop, wherein I would have to release/renew the ipconfig. I never did figure out what was causing that. As for the print server, I never could determine how to get the damn thing set up at all. It also was completely incompatible with my Belkin network adapter for my desktop. In the end I yanked this one and wound up purchasing something else that met my needs and was more reliable.

Strengths: Wired router works okay.

Weaknesses: Randomly disconnects from Internet. Wireless performance is poor. Locked up after a week or two and had to be unplugged to reset it.

Summary: Originally bought this to use with a USR5432 bridge unit. Could never get the two to work together. Contacted USR tech support three times and just got canned answers that were useless (they didn't read my requests at all). My second and third contact efforts even said "your canned answers are not helping" so they sent more back. By the time I gave up on their tech support, return period had passed so bridge unit is now a paperweight/doorstop.Tried to get router to work with wired and wireless connections. Wired portion worked okay when unit was online. Wireless would drop a lot and wouldn't know how to respond if the computer went to standby. Because of wired and wireless problem, I had to hard reset unit multiple times each month because it would lock up. All efforts to make unit perform reliably failed. Replaced router with old NetGear WGR614 and all my problems went away. Last USR product I'll ever buy.

Strengths: Management software is extra-simple and well written, so easy to understand, on-line doc is excellent and easy to read.Wireless signal strength is excellent. Printer server integrated.

Weaknesses: None so far.

Summary: Opened the box, followed the quick start guide, configured router, wpa security etc. Ten minutes later everything was up and running. Could have been seven minutes but my cable modem needed re-boot because for some reason connections (both wired and wi-fi) did not work immediately: after pinging and doing the usual checks lucky me it came to my mind that a reboot of cable modem is always a wise move in these cases. Bang, it worked. Printer (epson cx3650) took two minutes on each pc. Just a dream. Worked flawlessly so far (1 week) signal strength is constantly high, no need to reboot or other. Can connect from about 20 meters, through 1 floor and 3 walls, printer works perfectly. I am so happy with the purchase and I want to thank all people that reviewed this router here because I bought it after reading their positive comments.

Strengths: Integrated Print Server,Good Signal Strength, Looks Good,Price

Weaknesses: Nothing Major so far

Summary: My D-Link 713-P died after many years of service (all 4 LAN ports gone at once), and I needed a replacement for the home network. Fry's Airlink 54g MIMO router was on sale for $29, but without the print server which would have been at least $40 more, so I saw the USR 5461 on the shelf for $49 and checked the on-line reviews - even found a $20 rebate at the USR site.Installation took 10 minutes (very easy) for the basics, and adding the printer (Samsung ML1210) worked easily when following the instructions on the USR web site. OK, you can't change the printer name - but no big deal since I am only sharing one laser printer.Signal strength was much better in remote corners of the house than with my old D-Link, and I am only using the old Cisco and D-Link 802.11b cards so far. Haven't tested speed or ultimate range yet, but the unit runs cool and has been stable so far. This is a great router and a great price (esp after rebate) if you want to connect 1 printer to the network. A MIMO router with separate print server might be better if you want more range, speed and need to connect more printers, but the 5461 does the job for most basic users.

Strengths: price

Weaknesses: unstable, unreliable under p2p loads

Summary: I am an avid file sharer and tend to leave my system[s] connected 24/7 to upload my library with winmx and bittorrent. My cable upload bandwidth is usually maxed at about 500 kbps, with upwards of 300 connections, with a few dozen active at any one time. I never used wifi before nor worked with setting up a LAN.. so this was an experience. I got an HP laptop with built-in wifi, so decided to get a wifi router for it. I connected one of my desktops to it via an ethernet cable for setup and admin purposes. This happened to be the computer I run both torrents and winmx on. I noticed that I would lose DNS after a period. at times i could not even reach the router through my browser at the IP http://192.168.2.1/ - no dns involved. On googlong this model, I found that others were experiencing sumular problems. One theorized that overheating may be part of the problem, so he added a heatsink and cut larger ventilation holes in the case and reported that this cured his problem. While I have had this up only a week, I have not been able to keep the router running for even 24 hours without having to reboot it. When i first reported this issue to USR support, they suggested reducing the number of connections. Well, sorry but my main use of the internet is to share my files. When I explained this, they replied: "The USR5461 was designed to be a home user / small business router, not a constant file server. The USR5461 router only has 8MB of RAM in it. Peer to peer connections open a lot of connections that require a lot of memory in the router. From what you are trying to do, you would need a minimum of a USR8200 business class router (with 64MB RAM and a processor that is twice as fast). Who knows, you may even need a high-capacity Cisco router." A cisco for p2p? come on now! My ISP offers home cable service at speeds over 3 times what I am currently using. What would I need if I decided to get their premium service with 1-1.5 mbps UpLoad bandwidth? I really don't need this system to be connected through the router as I can connect it directly thru the switch hub off of the cable modem, but thought I'd pass this along. This model has not been reviewed/tested yet by Tomshardware and therefore not included in the models they tested for p2p throughput. My experience though shows that their limited speed testing is an inadequate criteria. Long term load testing is needed to give a meaningful opinion, to reveal problems like this. I noted that when the DNS function failed, and some browser function ipmaired, my torrents were still maxing out my UL bandwidth. This was probably due to the fact that after initial connection, DNS was irrelevant. It doesn't take much to reboot the router, but when it locks up while unattended, ongoing tasks may fail. there are certainly lots of good features about this router according to the press releases and some of the reviews. As a network/wifi virgin, I like what I have seen other than this problem, but others have sung the praises so I won't be redundant. Support responce was quite prompts, but I have heard the 'this is not meant for 'real work' excuse a little too often. If they can't/won't fix this and it is a known issue, they should post that fact upfront.. They seem to indicate it is related to the limited memory. Seems that could be flushed periodically. I am not sure if they were referring to the 8mb internal processor memory or the 64mb chip. but i note that there is an unpopulated space for another 64mb chip on the existing circuit board design. See also: Subject: Wireless router seems to lose DNS http://www.computing.net/networking/wwwboard/forum/29191.html USR5461 can't connect to Internet after few days ?? http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,16752099 [NOTE: cured by heatsink and adding holes in the case] USR5461 Drops WAN Whenever Config Changes http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,16518181~mode=flat

Strengths: Price is right, print server included, does what it is supposed to

Weaknesses: None

Summary: How can you go wrong for $20 or less after rebate when it works as advertised is easy to set-up (use the install instructions on the CD, not the pamphlet in the box), it includes a print server, and works like it should. For the average, every day user who wants to have more than one computer connected at home, don't spend more money on a different G router. This one works like a champ all over my 2400 sq ft house!

Strengths: Admin setup is very clear to follow. Wireless range is very good

Weaknesses: Stopped switching the internet to my LAN

Summary: I always found US Robotics to be a good network device manufacturer. Their modems in the 90s I never had issues with. This router, at first, is a good router. Easy setup with WPA2, connected laptops (One mac, one dell) without issue.However, for inexplicable reason, the machine just stops switching the internet. None of the machines on LAN were able to get to world wide web. They would talk to each other fine, but not internet.Upgrading firmware did not solve the problem. Have sent this back for replacement. Would be disappointed if USR's quality I remember last decade has been lost.

Strengths: * Price performance.* Built-in USB print server when it works.* Easy set up.* Good wireless range.* Good wireless firewall security.* MAC filtering.* Informative set up screens.

Weaknesses: * Print server doesn't work consistently.* No MAC-based static IP assignment.* No DDNS configurability.

Summary: BOTTOM LINE: If the print server worked consistently, I'd give this product a perfect score. But the print server is very unreliable and frequently has to be reset by rebooting the router. If you can live with that, then it's a pretty good value for tolerant homes (and perhaps very small offices). It lacks a few advanced routing features that most people would never use. However, it more than compensates by integrating a USB print-server, which many more people will find extremely useful-- when it works! . DETAILS: I've used several wireless routers (from D-link and Linksys) over the years. As a WIRELESS ROUTER, this is as good as (or better than) any of them. But as a PRINT SERVER, it stinks. About 5% of the print jobs fail and then clog up the print server so that no other printing can be done until you reboot the router. (You can't even delete the offending print job from the WindowsXP printer screen.) If you reboot the router and resubmit the print job, it might work fine. I can find no reason for the failures. The problem occurs on both of my USR-5461 routers (one home and one office), both of my printers, and all of my PCs. Sometimes the printer even dies (can't be powered on) and needs to be unplugged/replugged. I've updated the router to the latest firmware, and I tried the manual fixes found on the USRobotics website, but nothing fixed the print server problems. I've stopped using it as a print server at home because it's too difficult for my wife to logon to the router and do a soft reboot. . It was a breeze to set up, including setting up the print-server to work with two different models of Canon printers (at home office). . The wireless range is at least as good, and probably a bit better, than any wireless router that I've owned. . I have not experienced any dropped connections like others complain about in these reviews. And while it's true that it can be a bit difficult to set up wireless encryption if you have some laptops or PC with older cards (like at my house), the same holds true of any wireless router that I've used. Older cards don't support the newer WPA encryption so you have to manually set everything to use the older WEP encryption. If you have all newer WPA-capable cards in your client PCs (like at my office), it's really easy to set up wireless security. . I didn't even load the setup CD and I was able to get it up and running in just a few minutes. I was able to quickly get the print server working (with my Canon printer) by simply following the instructions on the USRobotics website (which you can link to directly from the router's internal set up screens). The router's setup screens are very different from every router that I've ever seen because most of the settings have about a paragraph of explanations (for novices) next to the setting box. Many novices will find this extremely helpful. Most routers that I've owned have more of a spreadsheet interface which requires you to consult the manual or a separate help screen to learn about a particular setting (if for example you don't know what a "DHCP range" is). . This router has a few other negatives. It's true that you can't assign a fixed IP address to a specific MAC address. But that's not something that most users need to do, and you can workaround the issue by not using DHCP on that client PC. Besides, with Windows XP, you can still access other PCs on the network by using the computer's name, rather than its IP address. There are also no DDNS settings like those found on my D-link router. (Then again, I never understood what they were for anyway!) On the other hand, it has some nice features that I haven't seen on my other wireless routers, like bridge mode, and one-touch automatic firmware update retrieval installation. And it still has a bunch of advanced features that I'll probably never use. . For those people who have complained about the connection dropping, I might suggest making sure that you set the router to maintain the WAN connection open (Internet screen) and set the router to provide infinite leases to the LAN clients on the LAN/DHCP settings screen. I've had no problems. . Some people have complained about not being able to change the printer name. But I think that's basically a limitation of Windows, not the router. I've never been able to change the name of a networked router with any print server. I think most homes can live with that. Whether or not you can live with constant print server failures is another issue.

Strengths: inexpensive, dependable, easy to set up, fast, has a great print server

Weaknesses: None

Summary: Looking for a fast, cheap, rugged router for your home? Look no further. I've had this router for six months, and it rocks. It's my first router, and it does everyhting I want - it works all over my house at 54 mbps, it prints to an HP multifunction printer, it was easy to set up, and cost next to nothing to purchase. It's dependable 24x7. The manual is sparse, but hey you don't need much, since it's so easy to set up. And the US Robotics website has PLENTY of support materials. There really is no reason to waste your money on a more expensive router, since this baby does everything you want and need for home use. And it looks cool.

Strengths: Stable. Print server, good signal strength

Weaknesses: Print server won't work with many MFC, but not many do

Summary: Great little product that has not let me down. This is a major upgrade to the Microsoft router that I was using. Never have to reboot or restore settings from back-up. In fact since this router has been up I haven't done a thing to it. Now that is dependable.

Strengths: money-outlay/features ratio

Weaknesses: No DCHP/static MAC specificationConnection dropped every 48-36 hours

Summary: My advice to ?newbies? on getting the print server working:Despite what ATAR ("How to install printer server") suggests above, for win (XP, 2k, etc) you do NOT really need to first directly connect your PC printer through USB port (without the router) and install the driver that way. Instead pinters "add printer" network, specify a URL as: htttp://192.168.2.1/printer/My_Printers:, select your printer driver from Windows/Bill Gates' list. Now...it is likely that Bill Gates' list does not have your exact (shiny new) printer model (and even if it did, the driver would be reduced features "lite"). Don?t worry, proceed with ?wizard? to end of install. THEN, install from the .exe file (or whatever) that is part of your (shiny new) printer CD / downloaded driver (i.e. the REAL latest driver) and at the various options (this depends on your printer) try to specify ?network? and use as many custom options as possible to turn off printer ?monitors? etc (remember the printer cannot talk back to the pc, the pc cannot do a status check etc). The driver will unsuccessfully) look for network printers in ?my networks? or whatever, but will also find htttp://192.168.2.1/printer/My_Printers: listed amongst the COM?s, LPT's and USB?s somewhere. Click this, obviously, and finish install. This should work! (Using this technique also allows your own name and USR?s suggested "My_Printer" name thankfully is therefore deeply buried and not visible for each print command!)For my wife's Mac ibook things were trickier but we are now running. Install any old printer name as "generic" and using the alt key on the mac, add printer, click on advanced at base of the dropdown and there you can specify htttp://192.168.2.1/printer/My_Printers:

Strengths: Can be had after rebate for really low price.

Weaknesses: Internet disconnects weekly, print server functionality has never worked, can't assign static IPs to specified MAC addresses, and no loopback functionality.

Summary: Got this router to enable wireless printer sharing on numerous wired and wireless computers that would connect to it. Instead, I have never been able to get the complicated print server to work. About once a week all connected devices lose their route to the internet and the only consistent fix is to power-cycle the router and then go to each connected machine and refresh their IPs. This would be fine for someone who only intermittently used a laptop wirelessly on this router, but if you're connecting any boxes that are supposed to be always-on and always have a net connection, forget it. I called customer service to learn that you can't tell the DHCP server to always assign a certain IP to a certain MAC address, and their only fix was to get the computer to have the desired address once and then tell the client machine not to use DHCP, but instead to use the desired static IP. That's not convenient. Also, if you are wirelessly connected through this router and want to reach another connected computer you cannot do this through its WAN address, i.e., this router does not support "loopback". So, this router lacks features that are standard on routers by the other major manufacturers. I'm shopping for a new router now and plan to use this one as a paperweight.

Strengths: Almost doubled my Internet speed

Weaknesses: Have mind of its own with Internet connection

Summary: I upgrade my Netgear Wireless Router WGR614 with this little silver fellow due to its printer server feature. With my old router I got 6Mbps download from Comcast cable modem. With this USR router I am getting 11Mbps download speed which is unreal. Since I used the same website to check the speed for my 2 routers and I experienced noticeable speed increase. I won't bother to validate if the numbers are real. This router is the best I used so far. Ironically it is the cheapest ($15 AR from Compusa) I have paid for a router. Nothing is perfect, this router sometimes disconnects from Internet and reconnects in a few minutes. It is so smart that it has its own brain. :-)

Strengths: Cheap after 3 rebates ($25 after), easy set up, robust, works flawlessly, easy to upgrade firmware.

Weaknesses: None.

Summary: Just as my old Belkin Pre-N wireless router was causing me un-ending headaches, I found this awesome deal from the friendly local computer shop. I had to drive 1 hour roundtrip to get it, but well worth it. Heck, I did not even know that US Robotics is still around. The last product I bought from them was my 14.4k modem years years ago. The set up was straight forward and in plain English, mostly. Great for us non-IT guys. I set up the WEP-AES security within minutes and it worked like a charm. I can't not verify the supposely extended range and speed. It is very good, anywhere within my household and yard.The printer server is a nice FREE addition. There is no instruction on how to do so in the paper manual. But once you pop in the CD-ROM, everything, including extened trouble-shooting and FAQ section are in there. Set up was a breeze as well. However, here comes the bad. I have 2 PC's connected to it wirelessly: one desktop and one notebook. I sat up the desktop, it worked and printed wirelessly just fine. I then sat up the notebook and it worked fine too. Then 5 minutes later, when I tried to print from desktop again, error message. I can not even open the property section of the "Printer on 192.168.***".I am now contacting the tech support for this matter. Will update if resolved or not.Update: resolved. As it turned out, my wireless PCI adapter card driver is out of date. I updated it to the latest and now it works prefectly. Good deal.