Customer Reviews

Belkin Wireless Share Router (F7D3302)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Wow, I thought I was having problems with my Cisco-Linksys. This Belkin was awful. Speeds off the router were horrific -- consistently 0.33mbps. (Plugged directly into the modem by ethernet I was getting 7mbps). The range of this router is not particularly good either and the supplied software is infuriating. When I changed the name of the network through the router manager, it didn't seem to register with all the software. The router understood and was properly renamed, but the manager didn't figure it out and it kept notifying me that the network had changed names and it was connecting me to the new one (though it was already connected...). Also, it took three tries to update the router's firmware and when it was finally installed the router manager software on my computer was no longer in sync with the router. The Belkin router manager would continually bug me that I was not connected to the internet and yet, I was. Trash it.

Based on the specifications, this router is feature rich. However, I found that with the exception of printer activity, it was a horror story. With no PC/Laptop on, it would go to sleep. When trying to wake up it performed as if it was totally confused, sending fix it messages, requests to reboot and waking up all at the same time. Additionally,I found myself rebooting the router about twice a day. On and On. Thoroughly disgusted.

This is the easiest router I've ever connected and I've connected several both wired and wireless. 3 easy steps as it says on the box, connect the router to the modem, plug in the router, insert the CD and the CD does the rest and it worked the first time around. Not one issue. Ditto with connecting the printer, plug in the USB cable from the printer, it detects a printer and asks if you want to connect it and that's it. Printer worked first time from my laptop over Wi-Fi and I have an old printer, a Canon MP830 which is 4 years old, and still no issues. If your printer driver isn't installed it will tell you so you can install it then it will finish connecting. Incredible, I didn't believe the hype on the product info but for me it worked as promised.

I got this router to replace an old D-link that finally broke. According to the box, this router has "great" coverage for ANY size home. Well, the router is down the hall and my computer is in the bedroom. At no more than 8 yards away, my desktop computer can't consistently pick up a signal from this router. I get "very low" signal strength for 5 or 10 minutes at a time, then "no wireless networks in range". I also dislike the setup software; it took me through steps to enter the SSIN and pass, and would alternately say that the name or password was incorrect (they weren't; and as soon as it verified one, it would switch to saying the other was wrong). Eventually the setup utility suggested i call Belkin customer support. Customer support was fairly helpful (not great) for the setup issues, if you can handle a heavy Indian accent. I was amused that the first thing the tech on the phone said to do was close the Belkin setup software and not use it. I've been nothing but frustrated with this router. I was expecting it to be at least as good as my cheap, 7-year old router, but no luck.

I purchased this router to replace an aging D-Link that has been my gateway router for over three years. I have to say that a lot has changed in router setup software in three years. Belkin did a great job on the default setup of this router and it comes out of the box ready to go for wired and wireless networking needs. You plug it in to the modem, plug in the router, plug in your ethernet cable(s) and install the supplied CD. I easily installed the software, and changed the default SSID and default network password. The software found (automatically) two software updates which I downloaded and installed without incident. Thru the router interface I also found a firmware update that was also painless to update. Once all of the software was updated and all of my equipment was restarted this router has been rock steady and much faster than my D-Link. My home has a mixture of Windows PC, Apple, HP and Sony equipment that's networked.

I'm really not sure why so many people are complaining about this router. I can't imagine that Belkin has a hardware quality issue, or a software quality issue for that matter given my flawless experience. Having worked in the internet industry for 15 years my only conclusion is that a bunch of novice's have purchased this router and tried to change the advanced settings. This is the usual culprit when you start investigating a bad customer experience when networking is involved.

I highly reccomend this router to anyone who wants Gig E wired and B/G/N wireless plus the ability to hang two USB drives off of the router as a shared network drive. Its simple to install, simple to configure, and rock steady!

I wish I had read the reviews before buying this-- because it has been nothing but a headache. I have to reset the router and re-enter my password every day. When it actually does connect, it's okay-- but as soon as I shut the computer down and restart, it starts having problems again.

Don't waste your money on this router!

Disclaimer: This router was not used as intended out of the box. Items arrived quickly from Amazon... Kudos to them. Unpacked the two routers and quickly flashed new firmware from DD-WRT (do your research on how to do). Configured one router to be the normal base, and another to be a bridge. Bandwidth between the two are awesome, and all my devices talk to each other... can't ask any more than that. Was almost plug and play.

DO NOT BUY THIS ROUTER. It will give you nothing but grief. I bought it last month, and it has been a nightmare. It disconnects ALL the time, you can't get it reconnected without a call to Belkin support (which I've done multiple times, so please Belkin, DON'T leave me a "we're sorry, call support" reply, I don't want to hear it, because I don't want to talk to some guy in India I can't understand YET again. It sends out multiple network signals, it claims that it's off when it on, and off when it's on. You need to type in information to install it from the router information card under the device that's printed so small you need magnifying glasses to read it. It took just that to realize that there was a period in the information I had to input (who the heck can see a period in 4 point Helvetica type, Belkin?) If you actually get that far, get ready for more fun, because the installation is less than stellar, to be nice about it, and takes forever, if you actually can get it to work. If you do get it to work, the bells and whistles (like the "self-healing" feature) will jack it all up, and you'll be back to square one, trying to install over and over again.

If you do have to call Belkin tech support (which you will, I promise), be ready to try to understand Indian guys with accents thicker than bubble gum. The second time I called, the guy not only was impossible to understand, but left me totally without any connection at all (I had a connection to one device, but not the other-- when I finished with him, I had no connection at all).

This router has irked me beyond description, and I can't return it because I thought I would stick it out and try to make it work, or at the very least Belkin would step up and write a driver that worked, but noooooooo. Today, I installed my old Belkin router back, with no hassle in less than 5 minutes, and it's working fine. But sorry, Belkin, you got my money for the last time. Stop selling junk that you KNOW doesn't work.

I have 2 of these in 2 different locations and they both have the same problems. They randomly knock you off and then won't let you log back on for like 5 minutes. They have issues with multiple laptops and/or cell phones connecting to them. When you log more than 1 item onto it you get booted. I really hate this wireless router. I am ordering other routers and when I get them taking these pieces of crap straight back.

I have had this router for over 8 weeks and stil have trouble with it. I purchased the router because I was attracted to all of the features but it is impossible to get the thing to work. I have called Tech support and have spent hours attempting to setup my wireless network. I have had linksys routers for years and never had much trougble. If I still had the packaging and receipt I would exhange it for another brand. I will never buy another Belkin router ever, they are simply not worth the trouble.