NETGEAR FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall 25 by Netgear
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Digital camera reviews of NETGEAR FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall 25
Digital camera Review: Abandon and dump this product
Summary: 1 Stars
We've had this unit for two years now and gone through the numerous software patches. It was an expensive unit to start with but has the features required.
It has proven to be a long term dog and drain on the network. We have a broadband download pipe of 100Mbps in Singapore and with a direct modem connection we achieve regular speeds of 77-80mbps.
When same computer is routed through the FVS124G the internal software of the device kills capacity to a slow 6mpbs which is just unacceptable.
We've tried Netgear support and no luck there so recommendation to other users is save the hassle and buy an appropriate other router.
Regards
Matthew Holden
www.podasia.net
Singapore
Digital camera Review: Bad Router; Netgear Support Forums Closed For Good
Summary: 1 Stars
Retailers are dumping these things at about half price now. Please note the serious problems these routers have.
For others on Amazon who pointed potential shoppers to the Netgear Support Forums...Netgear shut them down. There is now zero public information available on their support site regarding issues or solutions. Horrible reviews followed by a shutdown of their own product forums??? You decide why. Everyone else stay away from these 'bricks'.
Digital camera Review: Barely works
Summary: 2 Stars
If all you want are two Internet connections then this will work fine, even in "load balancing" mode where both connections are used at the same time, or dedicated mode, when one connection is not used unless the first one fails. However, if you need to use any protocol binding (assigning a computer or a program or a protocol like SMTP to go out one specific connection), it simply doesn't work. Research it on the Netgear forums. It's mind boggling how this product got in the market place as Netgear's "ProSafe" line.
Furthermore, as another user has already reported, as of mid-2009, if MSN Messenger or Windows Live Messenger try to connect to the internet, this router locks up (that was GREAT fun to figure out...especially since I don't use either program). I won't say this experience has ruined my Netgear impression, but it's definitely a blemish because this product has been abandoned after a very short life span. Last firmware is 1.1.48 and it doesn't fix the protocol binding issue.
Digital camera Review: Beware...FVS124G + MSN Live Messenger = lockup
Summary: 1 Stars
This router has been a great one up until July 21, 2009 when Microsoft implemented something different on their Live Messenger servers. As of that date, if any machine on your network behind this router attempts to connect to Microsoft using Live Messenger or MSN Messenger, then the FVS124G will lock up. Any connectivity to the Internet will then halt for your entire network until the FVS124G is rebooted through a power recycle.
This is a documented, known issue by both Netgear and Microsoft. Both companies point at each other to solve the problem. Netgear washes its hands of the matter, saying the FVS124G is an End Of Life product that will have no firmware update forthcoming to fix the problem. If you have or buy this unit, your only options are to get the FVS336G newer model (at $299 by the way), or stop all network computers from using any variant of Microsoft's Messenger IM client.
Netgear responsiveness has been to stonewall, which is causing many formerly happy customers to move on elsewhere for being treated so poorly...
Digital camera Review: DO NOT BUY FVS-124G ROUTER YET
Summary: 1 Stars
As of September 16, 2005, Users are experiencing great difficulty keeping this router up and running. No word from Netgear on when firmware fix will be forthcoming but problem appears to be present since at least August 3, 2005. Google "netgear fvs124G hangup" for NETGEAR user forum discussing problems. If you buy dual-DSL for extra reliability, you will be extra disappointed with firmware lockups. I was.