Reviewed: June 19, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith
Manufacturer
MadCatz
Type: Network Router
System: All
Rating: 9.5
Features
MSRP: $79.99
As an ex-Network Administrator I can tell you how intimidating it can be to setup a network, even when you just want to setup and share a broadband Internet connection in your own home. Most broadband providers only provide you with the minimum hardware required to get you online, and while a few do offer “home networking” kits for an extra fee they are usually generic routers with dubious built-in security.
With the increase of broadband Internet and home networking for both PC and game consoles the gaming wizards at Mad Catz saw an obvious opportunity and have provided gamers with one of the most affordable solutions for a safe online gaming experience that can be shared across multiple systems.
The new Online Gaming Starter Kit makes it easy for anyone to expand their existing broadband connection while adding the protection of Firewall Security to protect you from hackers or anyone else trying to snoop around on your home network. Admittedly, the consoles are relatively safe from hackers (for now) but PC’s are extremely vulnerable to outside “attacks”, and your standard broadband Internet connection offers minimal (if any) protection from intruders.
Basically, when you have your computer (or console) connected to the Internet via broadband your system becomes instantly “available” for access by anyone else on the Internet provided they know your hardware’s IP address. Hackers run scanning software that polls the net looking for unprotected systems, but firewall security allows you to block incoming hackers while still connecting to the web or connecting with fellow gamers.
Installation - 9
Installing this kit was a breeze and the only way it could have been easier was if it had been wireless. The kit comes with a compact router – about 4”x6”x1” and two 8-foot lengths of CAT6 network cable, which may or may not be long enough depending on what you are hooking up and how far apart they are. If you are connecting a PS2 and an Xbox to a broadband device in the same room then you should be fine.
The router goes in-line between your existing cable or DSL modem. You connect the modem cable to the input on the router and then connect up to four devices to the LAN outputs using CAT5 or CAT6 cables. Configuring the router is very simple, even if you have no prior networking knowledge. Just use the intuitive web-interface and step-by-step guide and you will quite literally (just like the package proclaims) be online in minutes.
Aesthetics - 10
By function more than design, routers and network hubs are generally locked away in network rooms or wiring closets, so you don’t really care what they look like. The fact that Mad Catz went out of their way to make this particular router even remotely attractive earns them a perfect score in this category. The plastic shell is transparent allowing you to marvel at all the complex circuitry inside the router and there are lights over each receptacle to indicate connection and status.
Chances are you will probably tuck this router behind your entertainment center, but if you do decide to display it prominently it will certainly impress anyone who sees it more than any other router currently on the market.
Durability - 10
Again, it’s a router with no moving parts so there is nothing to really wear out. It’s plastic so you don’t want to step on it or place it somewhere that it can get crushed or broken. The cables all snap snugly into their sockets and feature the easy-access release tabs when you do need to unplug a cable. I would suggest plugging the router into a surge protector just to be safe, but I recommend that for almost any electronic device.
Performance - 10
The router features full supports for 10, 100 and even 1000 Base – T Networks so it’s going to handle anything you can possibly throw at it and perform like a champ while doing so. The router automatically manages the connection speed for all devices to optimize your network efficiency giving you the safest and fastest access to the net and other gamers. Even with two PC’s sharing my PS2 and Xbox connection I was getting stellar performance at all times.
Value - 10
A comparable router is going to cost you anywhere from $80-150 and it probably won’t come with cables and it probably won’t be as friendly to install as this one was. You also get a 5-year warranty, which is practically unheard of. Internet providers will offer you a “home networking solution” and charge you anywhere from $40-80 or even try to lease you a router, but again, you won’t be getting the quality, warranty or support Mad Catz has become famous for.
Overall – 9.5
If you have broadband Internet and aren’t running your connection through a router with a firewall you are asking for trouble. The Mad Catz Online Gaming Starter Kit is first and foremost a great way to add a much-needed level of security to your Internet connection. If you have more than one console or perhaps you want to share your PC broadband with your consoles or network PC’s or any combination of PC’s and consoles then this is the best solution you can buy.
Sure, there are dozens, even hundreds of routers you can get to network your home, but none of them are targeted toward the gaming community. If you are already online or getting ready to take your gaming to the next level then don’t do it without the Online Gaming Starter Kit.