Ron Schenone

ZoneAlarm Secure Wireless Router Z100G – Is It Worth The Price?

Posted by on Mar 19, 2007 | 34 Comments

ZoneAlarm which makes the popular ZoneAlarm firewall software, now also has its own brand of router called the Z110G. When I first saw the router and the $149.95 price tag, my first thoughts were that this unit seems a little pricey. But after doing some research the ZoneAlarm router may actually be a bargain. Let me explain.

The Z100G router is a wireless unit with a extended range that ZoneAlarm states will cover 984 ft. indoors and 3,280 ft. outdoors which is impressive in itself and also offer 108 Mbps network speed. Though one should be aware that most laptop systems usually only support 54Mbps unless a faster network card is added. But none the less, 54Mbps is respectable and is the speed I currently use on my network which works well.

But the Z100G also is a USB print server. This means that you can print from any wireless desktop or laptop directly to the printer. Nice touch. Plus the router has its own built in anti-virus protections and comes with a year’s worth of updates included in the package and also web filtering, parental controls and secure remote access.

I had my first experience with the Z100G last Wednesday afternoon. My chiropractor had recently bought a new home and had asked if I would be interested in setting up a home network for him and his family. I sure would be, so we negotiated a deal for X amount of adjustments for my setting up his network. :-)

On Wednesday afternoon I arrived at his house and he presented me with the ZoneAlarm router. I didn’t even know they made one, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. And knowing that the basics of wireless routers were the same, I felt confident I was up to the challenge of working with a new product. Included in the kit was the typical quick setup guide which was easy to follow and the router uses the same setup procedure through a web browser like most routers do. I hard wired up my lappy to the router and used the setup wizard which auto configured the settings for me to the cable modem. And in less than two hours I had 2 laptops and one desktop up and running. Oh, and two printers thrown in for good measure. Everything worked perfectly.
Last July I had purchased a D-Link wireless router + a separate print server and at the time the units cost me about $160. So the ZoneAlarm system is priced fairly. And the added features I think make this unit a very impressive piece of hardware. Only downside I can see is that you currently can only purchase the router directly from ZoneAlarm. On the flip side they offer free S&H for the product.

Overall I would recommend this unit to anyone who is considering a router/print server wireless router.

[tags]router, wireless, zonealarm, print server, [/tags]

  • http://liberty.server.md/debt-consolidation Liberty

    I use this soft and its pretty cool! suggested!

  • Don Naphen

    Ron, thanks for that excellent review on the ZoneAlarm’s Z100G router. Based on your experience and comments, I opted to purchase one, as it had been in the works for awhile, but just didn’t know which brand to choose. I was NOT disappointed. The manual was clear-cut and easy to follow. Once my pc was configured (very easy), I then set up the network on my son’s new Gateway laptop with Vista Home Premium OS installed. Again, a no-brainer.

    Now he’s a bit more mobile than the hard-wired Hub I was using, and with the hardware firewall, it’s an added level of security for me. One added plus: Free shipping (via UPS Ground) during the intro period. Looks like ZoneAlarm got it right.

    Only thing that wouldn’t work was when I tried using the USB port on the router to network my HP PhotoSmart 7960 printer. Just wouldn’t work, so back to the direct hookup on the pc. No big deal, but it would be an added plus to the setup.

    Thanks again for your detailed review Ron.

    Don Naphen

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Don,
    I’m glad you found the ZA router easy to use. And have you looked at this article from HP concerning your printer? I’d try the suggestions, by first setting up the printer hard wired. Then try it wireless.

    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00808551&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=305383&rule=7544&lang=en

    However, HP printers on a network are sometimes just quarky. I have two. One LaserJet – works perfect and one HP all-in-one, which can be a pain in the butt! :-)

    Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to respond and let us know how the setup went.

    All the best, Ron

  • Don Naphen

    I checked out that url you included Ron, but decided to just let sleeping dogs lie, at least for awhile. I also “discovered” that the 4 ports in the back of the router can be used for hard-wired hookups, so my son’s older Dell laptop is still alive & well and still on the air for other things.

    Dollar for dollar, this has to be one of the best routers on the market Ron. PC Mag also had high marks for it back in Nov 06 when they did an article on it.

    Getting back to the HP printer … might be an OS conflict, as my son’s laptop is running Vista Home Premium, and I’m running XP Pro on the desktop, so there might be a conflict (??). Something to dig into when I have another dead afternoon to hash things out. No one ever said it was easy!

    Best wishes and a Happy Easter

    Don

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Don,
    On the Vista machine, turn off the firewall then configuring the printer,once the printer is setup, turn the firewall back on. The firewall should detect the printer and allow the connection. Hopefully. :-)

    Have a great Easter and enjoy the holiday.

    Best regards, Ron

  • Mr.Vivian Allen

    HEY RON, I FOLLOWED ZA ROUTER FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THEY TALKED ABOUT IT,WAS VERY IMPRESSED AND BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIST TO BE SHIPPED.
    I THINK IT IS THE FIRST ROUTER ON THE MARKET TO INCLUDE REAL SECURITY,FIREWALL ETC,I ALSO USE ZONE ALARM 7.0 ON MY DESK TOP FOR ADDED SECURITY WORKS PERFECT TOGATHER.
    THANKS
    VIVIAN

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Vivian,
    Thanks for letting us know. The ZA router is a winner and I highly recommend it as well.
    Regards, Ron

  • Franklin Keller

    Can any one comment on the cited range of this router? Checkpoint says approx 1000 ft indoors and 3000 ft outdoors.

    I need to buy a range extender anyway so I was thinking of instead going for this router to get better range better security and a print server.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Franklin,
    I have a few recommendations. Ranges on all routers are based on the absolute best conditions, which rarely do SOHO meet. We all have some kind of limitations in our homes that may prevent the router from providing maximum range.
    I would contact customer support by email and inquire about their return policy. My thinking is if you did purchase the unit and it didn’t meet your expectations because of limited range, how much of a hassle is it going to be to get your money refunded?
    http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/support/support.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en
    Hope this helps, Ron

  • Don Naphen

    Some interesting observations with regards to actual range here Ron. As a licensed ham radio op (not active now), it’s almost impossible to predict the actual range of any rf device without knowing the environment it’s placed in. These devices operate in the UHF (ultra-high-frequency) part of the spectrum. At these frequencies, signals bounce off and around objects rather than passing thru them, so the placement of the device is rather critical.

    The average home is not that much of a problem, BUT if the device is located in a finished “game room” in ones basement, then the range is definitely limited, as the signal is bouncing around all sorts of plumbing, electrical wiring, etc. to find its way to the receiving unit(s).

    Also, other rf devices present (cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.) may cause conflicts if the’re close in frequency to the router. Lot’s of “junk” in the airwaves these days, and they can cause havoc with each other!

    Hope this helps those who may otherwise condemn or discourage this great product.

    Don

  • Don Naphen

    One other factor in the range capabilities Ron … if one lives in a very old house, the walls were real plaster, applied over a very tight meshed screening material. This meshed screen is a STOP SIGN to radio signals! I know, ‘cuz I live in one! LOL!

    Don

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Don,
    Thanks for the information. I’m going to pass this on to a friend of mine who is having reception problems in a older house. I think it may have plastered walls. Thanks for the tip. :-)

    Ron

  • Don Naphen

    Looks like a few others made the plunge to ZoneAlarms Z100G router Ron. Oh, hope your friend in the “old house” had good luck with the signals! I haven’t experienced any problems at all, but the router is in close proximity to the receiving pc.

    One note of interest … I get a weekly report (via email) showing all activity that was blocked and the offending IP addresses. That’s a nice touch for sure. I can also go to the host site and check (in real time) any and all activity on my network. This is an especially useful feature for anyone with young kids that spend countless hours in their room behind closed doors! LOL.

    Best wishes,
    Don

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Don,
    I’m glad to hear that the ZA router is working well for you. Thanks for the info. about the reports and all. Nice touch.
    I hope you have a great weekend.
    Take care, Ron

  • JessiFay

    I read with interest the discussion regarding range and interference.

    Hopefully someone can help me understand a couple of things.

    First — I never hear anyone mention how the range is when used in separate buildings. I’m sure I’m not the only person with a garage separate from my home. Although, setting up in the garage is later. My priority is my mother. She is moving onto my property (in her own place) but still on the same property. She is always wanting me to do something on her computer, and then I can’t ever get away, I’m hoping if we are networked I can just go in and fixed it for her from my house, and then I won’t get trapped for hours. Not to mention be able to work without her standing over me talking to me non-stop. How are you supposed to read and concentrate to fix something like that?

    My plan was to set up the router in my home near a window closest to her, and to setup her computer inside her house as close as it can get to me. Unfortunately, the garage is between us.

    We are in a rural area, so we don’t have the same “congestion” on the airwaves that you would in a city, so hopefully that helps.

    The “Road Frontage” of my property is not very wide, it is only 400 Ft wide from property line to property line, and we have the 3 buildings evenly spaced inside.I figure it is something like this…
    __________ _____ _________
    –70 Ft — Mom 60 —70 Ft—G 25–55Ft– Me 60Ft –60 Ft–
    ——— —- ——–

    That is how is basically laid out… Is that going to be too far? Do I need to get an extender and put it in the Garage / Shop? The only concern I have with that option is the fact that the Shop is made of metal. I’m afraid an extender inside would be pointless.

    Any help would be appreciated!!! Thank you…

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello JessiFay,
    I posted your request in a new article located here.
    http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/2007/07/01/wi-fi-antennas-reader-needs-our-help
    Hopefully someone will be able to provide the information you need.
    If anyone has any comments please post them at the link above so we can share them with everyone.
    Thanks, Ron

  • Howard

    Has anyone used the VPN features on this router? What were your experiences?

  • Robert McClelland

    Hi Ron I got my ZA router :) I won threw raffie thew beta testing it. So far I love it But I haven’t actived my router for virus and firewall yet. Should I I was thinking about it. Does this mean you don’t need virus scanner and firewall software anymore? I been having issues with range from my room down stairs to upstaris where the router is. I have alot heater ducking in my room. I just got 9DBI gain ant 15inches for 30 bucks I’m hoping that would stop droping from my room. I’d can’t belive that came with small ant lol should big as wireless Linksys pci card with that has big ant but in my room sometimes singal goes down to low to good and very good. So that why I’m hoping put those 15inch Linksys ant 9dbi I will have soon to my za router. Right now my connection speed is 384kb/384kb :) I’d been on dailup for ten years so far it’s been a month I love wireless never going back.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Bob,
    Your router is a hardware firewall using NAT. Get an anti-virus program right away. AVG Free is highly recommended.
    http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-products/us/frt/0?prd=aff
    Hope this helps.
    Ron

  • Robert McClelland

    Well It same one you ZoneAlarm Secure Wireless Router Z110G buit in anti-virus and hardware firewall I’m useing avast anti-virus right now I’m just wondering if I should Actived since it’s free for a year :) That way I don’t have to worry about darn software firewall that eat up alot of ram lol.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Bob,
    Oops! LOL
    I think Avast will offer you great protection.
    I can’t advise on ZA’s product since I haven’t used it before
    I did find this:
    http://www.download.com/3000-2239_4-10706635.html.
    Read the reviews and see what you think.
    Ron

  • Greg

    Is there a conflict between the router’s anti-virus and a software anti-virus running on your PC?

  • Pip D W

    Hi all. Great info. Hoever could someone advise about a modem for use with the ZA router or….

    Thanx

  • http://syhburj.talktalk.net Jeffrey Rushby

    Hi Ron just read you review on the z110g and all firther comments as I am thinking of buying one. However Zone alarm support haven’t heard of a z110g so is this a missprint and it is actually a z100g.
    cheers jeff

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks for the correction Jeff. :-)

  • Toyocoro

    Couple of things: The ZoneAlarm has stateful packet inspection (SPI) – it inspects internet traffic for malware, and it is owned by Checkpoint Software which has most of the Fortune 500 cos as its client. So the malware protection on this device is enterprise class. You can also have sites blocked at the router level. The subscriptions are worth it. I have used the Safe@office router at a small business, which what the z100g is based on, and it worked like a charm.

  • RC-DC

    Noob question here…with a hardware firewall router, do you still need ZA software firewall on your non-wireless PC? Assuming no.

    But, I assume the answer is yes if you have a wireless laptop or PC. I’d just like to get rid of a piece of software if I had the functionality build into the router.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello RC-DC,
    I recommend you use both a software and hardware firewall for both types of connections. Just my 2 cents.

  • Jim

    Hi, I have an old house with the plaster and mesh, which doesn’t allow me to get much of a wireless connection in my basement. Do you know of a range extender that would work with my z100g. Thanks

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone
  • Don Naphen

    Wow! Ron, I can’t believe this thread is still going strong after 2 years. Alluding to “RC-DC”: every wireless pc on the router is protected with the hardware firewall built into it. As you know, each pc on the LAN has to do a one-time only password logon. It’s well documented in various publications that running more than one firewall can cause conflicts. Again, each and every pc connected within the LAN is protected, as ALL are running through it, even the main unit operated by the Administrator. Hope that answers your question.

    Back in “the old days” (before routers), a HUB was the norm. It was nothing more than a splitter, allowing for multiple connections. It offered no protection to ones LAN, so each pc connected had to have protection via individual software firewalls, AV, etc. Software firewalls have come a long way to be sure, but a good hardware firewall is vastly superior in the way it protects.

    HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Don,
    Happy Easter to you and yours as well.

  • Jay

    Can some one tell me with Z100G wireless router, which subscriptions are free and which subscriptions are for a fee or cost and the amount per each subscription.

  • Brent

    The WLAN on mine does not work properly, (the wired, LAN, connection works). When you ping the router from wireless PCs’ it frequently drops packets. The Receive Error rate is over 20% of the frames. I believe the support, (from SofaWare) is lousy and they won’t be able to fix the problem. ZoneAlarm won’t give a refund after 30 days and since I don’t think SofaWare can fix it I went out and bought a Netgear modem that works great. My comment is don’t risk what I went through and DON’T BUY THIS PRODUCT!