Compex NetPassage 16 Review

The NetPassage 16's ethernet routing support is similar to every other home router available. It's designed around a DHCP or PPPoE cable or DSL connection and has four 10/100 switched ports that give internet access to DHCP clients on the network. One interesting feature of the NP16 is it's ability to link up with a serial-based 56K modem to allow for redundancy in case of broadband failure. This means that if your cable connection goes out, the NP16 will automatically establish a dial-up connection to the 'net on a 56K modem, provided you supply the modem and the subsequent internet account of course. This is a neat idea, but I seriously doubt it's usefulness. How many people have both a broadband connection and a dial-up account? Not many. The added cost of implementing this feature outweighs it's usefulness to most users.