3COM offers several routers for broadband wireless networking -including their 3COM® OfficeConnect line of Cable/DSL routers, IEEE 802.11x standards based Firewall Routers, as well as a few tiny ones that not only include routing capability, but also a firewall, and an AP -e.g. 3COM OfficeConnect Travel Routers.

We have listed below some of the popular 3COM routers, and summarized/outlined their salient features.

3COM® OFFICECONNECT 11G Cable/DSL Router:

• Ethernet Ports: 4
  
• Wireless Standards Supported: 802.11b, 802.11g
  
• Ethernet:10/100mbit
  
• WAN Connectivity: ADSL
  
• Manufacturer's Product #: 3CRWE554G72TU-US
  
• Product Summary : This ADSL router offers an excellent choice if you wish to replace your run-of-the-mill (Often Telco provided) ADSL modem, and add routing capability needed to share your ADSL uplink across your home or office local area network.

3Com® OfficeConnect Wireless 108Mbps IEEE 802.11g Cable/DSL Router:

• Ethernet Ports: 4 auto-sensing 10 BASE-T/100BASE-TX ports
  
• Wireless Standards Supported: 802.11g
  
• Ethernet:10/100mbit
  
• WAN Connectivity: ADSL
  
• Manufacturer's Product #: 3CRWER200-75
  
• Product Summary: This high-speed/affordable 3COM router allows you to share your Cable/DSL WAN uplink with a total of up to 253 (64 wireless) users. It allows Wireless LAN users to connect at speeds of up to 108Mbps if they are located within 400 feet. Being backward-compatible with 802.11b (i.e. Wi-Fi certified), it works with other Wi-Fi compatible wireless networking equipment. Also supports advanced security features such as firewall, IP routing (including RIP 1 and 2), static routes, URL/Keyword based filtering, allow/deny ACLs, 128-bit WiFi Protected Access and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA/WPA2), TKIP/AES, and native support for 40/64/128-bit WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) encryption.

3Com® OfficeConnect ADSL Wireless 11g Firewall Router:

• Ethernet Ports: 4 Port Switch
  
• Wireless Standards Supported: 802.11b, 802.11g
  
• Ethernet:10/100mbit
  
• WAN Connectivity: ADSL
  
• Manufacturer's Product #: 3CRWDR100U-72-US
  
• Product Summary:
  This router combines several things -an ADSL modem, a Router, an 802.11g wireless access point, and a 4-port switch. It allows you to share your ADSL connection with up to 253 (128 wireless) users on your network. This 802.11g router is not only backward-compatible with wi-fi (802.11b) wireless LAN devices, it also supports Wireless Distribution System (WDS). Also included is support for 256-bit WPA encryption, and of course, support for the older (40/64 & 128-bit) WEP encryption keys. Firewall is quite capable considering it implements stateful packet inspection, and allows hacker pattern detection, and URL based filtering, etc.

3Com® OfficeConnect® Wireless 54Mbps 11g Travel Router:

• Ethernet Ports:
  
• Wireless Standards Supported: 802.11b, 802.11g
  
• Ethernet:10/100mbit
  
• WAN Connectivity: ADSL
  
• Manufacturer's Product #: 3CRTRV10075-US
  
• Product Summary: This handy little travel router from 3COM allows you to create your own private wireless hot spot, and thereby allows you to securely share a broadband Internet connection among your wireless-enabled clients/devices. While it is capable of 802.11g speeds (up to 54Mbps), it is also backward compatible with Wi-Fi to allow your legacy clients to connect/fall-back to it using 802.11b network speeds. It can be set up to function as a Router, an Access Point (AP) or simply as a Client. While operating in AP/Router mode, it is capable of supporting up to 16 wireless clients/users. While operating in Router mode, it can be sued to establish a Virtual Private Network (a VPN) tunnel. For added security, it includes supports for Advanced Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) as well as for the good old Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption keys. It packs all of the aforementioned features in a case that is almost as small as a deck of cards.

Caution: If you are going to be using any of these multifunction Wireless Networking Devices from 3COM (especially the Travel Router) in Access Point (AP) mode, we suggest you be mindful of the possibility that your AP may unexpectedly or accidentally join (associate with) other/unknown WLANs that may be in its vicinity; and possibly show up on someone else's wireless networks as a rogue AP.