For those of you who like to multi-task and want your devices to multi-task as well, 2Wire has the product for you. The HomePortal 100 is a combination Cable/DSL router and active firewall designed for, of course, the home.

The HomePortal 100 will allow you to share your existing Internet connection with the other members of your family. Multiple computers will be able to access the Internet and other computer applications through HomePNA technology, which uses existing telephone lines and an RJ11 port. The computers are simply connected (using a special port, like the PC Port from 2Wire) to an available phone jack and voila! Everybody's connected to the network at broadband speeds.

Besides HomePNA technology, additional methods of connecting your computers include a RJ-45 10Base T broadband modem interface for cable or DSL, one RJ-45 10BaseT modem for Ethernet networking or to connect to the Wi-Fi (802.11b) integrated access point that comes with the HomePortal 100W version, and USB ports for peripherals.

With all of the security issues of the Web, protection for this home network is a must. To take charge of that, the HomePortal 100 includes firewall security on two levels. To prevent hacking, the computers are protected with Network Address Translation (NAT) and Port Address Translation (PAT) security. On a second level, a Stateful Packet Inspection technology dynamically verifies data streams for integrity and helps defend against Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The HomePortal also supports VPN pass-through, including IPSec, PPTP, PPPoE, and L2TP to connect to a corporate office.

The 2Wire HomePortal 100 has what you need to create a secure network in your home.  And with the HomePortal 100W, you can even create that network wirelessly. The device measures 12 x 10 x 2.5 inches and weighs about 2 lbs.

Pricing and Availability

The HomePortal 100 is currently available for $199. The HomePortal 100W with Wi-Fi is available for $399.

(For access to more than 4,500 other hands-on product reviews on all variety of wired and wireless appliance and consumer devices, go to the iAppliance Web Portal Page. )