Belkin PlayMax Wireless Modem-Router (F7D4401au)

This Belkin wireless ADSL2+ modem-router would be absolutely awesome -- except it's very unreliable

PC World Australia (online)

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  • Expert Rating

    2.00 / 5

  • User Rating

    2.00 / 5 (of 5 Reviews)

  • Price

    $ 359.00 (AUD)

User Reviews:

rowel

1.0

1

Pros
good for noobs
Cons
support is bad
• • •

if ever you stumble this router, please dont buy it.some features are not really working. i purchased this router for the purpose of their so called offline downloader. it wont work. even if you update the firmware. even if you use 3rd party firmware such as dd-wrt or tomato. it still doesnt work. and btw it only supports below 1terabyte external hdd.

DJSD

4.0

2

Pros
Speed & ease of use
Cons
Offline Downloader ease of use
• • •

Download the updated offline downloader for Vuze and it seems to clean up the problem of the USB HD showing as disconnected.

Mark

4.0

3

Pros
Loads of functionality. Solid as a rock when configured correctly.
Cons
Default settings are not optimal. Need to fix MTU setting to get a stable unit.
• • •

Initially had issues with the web access dropping every day or so. Latest firmware didn't help.

Tracked the issue down to the default MTU size on the WAN/DSL connection.

Set the MTU size correctly for the DSL connection (1478 for PPoA or 1454 for PPoE) and the connection issues go away.
Has worked fine, with no issues, ever since (6 months).

Once configured correctly it's a great unit.

Ozetwo

0.0

4

Pros
Cool Look
Cons
Everything
• • •

Looks great but like most Belkin products is crap. When you realize this you also find out that the 24/7 support is also non-existent. If you got one of these for free you have paid way too much.

Reality Bites

1.0

5

Pros
Good speed when working.
Cons
Intermittant and buggy.
• • •

I liked the Belkin Modem/Routers because of their easy setup. I had installed a new one for a friend and it was really simple and the result was excellent.
So when my trusty linksys threw in the towel, I thought I'd spend the extra money and get a Belkin Playmax. $320+NZD.
I have had a wealth of grief...one minute all is well, the next I'm offline. I run a large home network with 4 TV's, 1 x PC, 1 x lappy and an iphone with media connect, so I also have three additional routers hanging off the Belkin.
The linksys managed all this OK for a while, and then winked out.
The new Belkin was a pig to get setup, despite the easy setup steps, and in the end I had to assign a IP address to my PC manually to get it to run through the belkin (DNS server not working). The setup appeared to be easy, but the playmax just hung and hung. Eventually with the help of Belkin online (who were great) I got things connected and running OK. Speed is definitely better with the Belkin because of the gigabit connectivity on the wired ports...so all good there. But even now...flakey...some days it just stops, and suddenly you are offline again. Change one setting in the modem and you seem to re-connect ok....but I don't think its the setting change thats doing it....not a stable beast.
Heating is also an issue...as pointed out by Hans.
So I agree with the review...a firmware update is needed. It has all the potential, so lets hope we get an update.
Mines been stable for a week or two now...here's hoping.

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