Confused about home networking standards? NETGEAR is removing some of the confusion by providing a network device that supports multiple networking technologies. The RP334 Cable/DSL Phoneline Router works in conjunction with a cable or DSL modem for broadband Internet connectivity. As well as Internet access, the router manages Ethernet and HomePNA based networks. The router also contains some unique features that are specific to the home market such as parental control and Internet access scheduling.

RP334 connects to the Internet through a RJ45 10BaseT Ethernet connection to a cable or DSL modem. The router provides three autosensing RJ45 10/100 Ethernet ports and one RJ11 HomePNA 2.0 port for connecting additional computing devices to the network. The RP334 uses Network Address Translation (NAT) and DHCP to supply virtual IP addresses to other computing devices on the network.

The router also contains a HomePNA bridge to transfer data between the HomePNA network and the Ethernet network. The router's dual Ethernet and HomePNA capabilities allow users to transfer files and data between Ethernet or phone line connections. Additional hubs can be added to support up to 253 computing devices. The Ethernet ports have Auto Uplink features to automatically detect a hub connection, so the router can seamlessly handle data coming from the hub without the need for crossover cables.

Security is naturally provided through the NAT functionality, but the router also includes content filtering. Parental monitoring and control is provided to restrict access to Web sites. Email reports and instant alerts keep track of the Web browsing activity across the network. Because the router's management console is Web-based, Netscape Navigator or IE is required for setup and configuration utilities. Access to the Internet from the network can be scheduled from the RP334 management console.

Pricing and Availability

The RP334 Cable/DSL Phoneline Router is currently available for $399 with a 5 year warranty.

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