The most notable feature of the Belkin F5D7230-4 is its integrated Web content filter, which lets you control the browsing activities of others simply and easily. The router is easy to set up, though its Web interface is somewhat inconsistent. As for throughput, it is a middle-of-the-road performer.
Initial Configuration and Documentation
The Belkin setup utility is very intuitive, explicitly describing every step of the configuration process with detailed photos. If a configuration step fails, the system even offers troubleshooting tips. But the graphical screen elements are often misaligned, and the text flows over the bordersa cosmetic flaw that can easily be fixed.
Management and Features
The router's menus have a rather cluttered layout, which could lead to configuration errors. As for features, the parental controls work well; when they're turned on, every Web site request results in a duplicate request to Belkin's site, where it is checked against 2.5 million blacklisted URLs. Another noteworthy feature is a wireless bridge, which lets you connect multiple routers.
Gamers wanting to play over the Internet will be impressed with the more than 100 games defined in its virtual server. This means specific ports for specific games have been preprogrammed into the router and can be turned on, allowing traffic to pass through the firewall. Nonetheless, we wish that the included stateful firewall was more configurable. This would let users create explicit deny and allow rules.