Connectivity hardware maker Asante has added a new addition to its line of cable modem and DSL routers — it’s called the FriendlyNET FR3004C. The unit is similar in design than the FR3004 model, but it incorporates a backup modem port as well, providing an added layer of redundancy in case the primary Internet connection fails.
The FR3004C supports up to a v.90 56K analog modem, which could conceivably be configured to dial out to an ISP in the event of a cable modem or DSL failure. It also sports a 4 port 10/100 Fast Ethernet switch.
The FR3004C enables up to 253 users to share a single cable modem or DSL connection. The new router incorporates a firewall with network address translation (NAT), to prevent unauthorized access to the network behind the router by making the user’s network appear as a single IP address. The unit includes access control for up to three separate groups (based on TCP and UDP ports).
The FR3004C should be available immediately. Asante said the estimated street price of the FR3004C is US$159, the same as its modem port-deprived predecessor.