Review on D Link 10BaseT 100BaseTX Broadband Gateway by Stephen Burgstaller

I was thrilled when I first installed my DI-704P last summer. Sharing an internet connection is very easy and the print server was a great feature. However, I soon found that Windows (98, 2000 and XP) often crashes when I try to print to one of my Canon printers (BJC-2100 and S750) via the print server. I had to reconfigure Windows to print directly to the printer, which causes the program doing the printing to hang before the print is complete. Even with this setting, the print job often fails and requires a restart of the PC. I've had better luck turning off the printer RIGHT before sending the print job, but it's not necessary. The firewall has been having problems recently after I updated the firmware to version 2.70. I use Lotus Notes and an IBM AS400 client emulator to access my company's VPN from home. Both programs worked flawlessly with the DI-704P until recently. Now I have to physically bypass the router by reconnecting the ethernet cables to connect to the VPN. I tried setting up a DMZ (which supposedly bypasses the firewall for a computer) but found that if I set a static IP for the computer (as required by the DMZ) I can't access the internet. The firewall settings are VERY spartan and some seem completely ineffective even after multiple restarts of the firewall and all client PCs. Overall, the software for controlling the DI-704P is severely lacking. Technical support is limited (almost non-existent), but that's okay these days. Their website offers a firmware download and FAQ section with very little meaningful information. I have configured several SMC and Netgear routers for my customers and am currently planning to replace this DI-704 with an SMC "SMC7008BR Cable/DSL". Router with 8-port switch” (Revain has a great price!). My recommendation? Bah - skip this product and look for similar products from SMC or NETGEAR.