Trendnet firewall router

Many have recommended using a hardware router as a firewall for protecting a PC system. Would this one selling for $19.99 after rebate provide a suitable firewall for a windows PC?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0243560

 

I sure looks as if it would do what you are wanting one for.

 

Thanks for the reply. I wonder why all (or nearly all of them) are wireless? I know that many users link different PCs throughout a building so getting access through a common point is desirable. But I have rarely found a hard wired router. I guess manufacturers don't make them that often (or at least they are rarely listed in sales ads).

 

At least with the wireless routers you can turn the wireless off if not needed.

 

Even the routers that advertise as wireless, will still have ports for direct wired connection.

Looking, for example, at the "TRENDnet 300Mbps Wireless N-Draft Firewall Router" this, if you look at the specs will show "4 x 10/100Mbps Auto-MDIX LAN Port and 1 x 10/100Mbps WAN Port (Internet)".
The 4 x 10/100 are the hard wire connections for the LAN

 

Considering everything is going wireless, most likely the "wired" router will be going to the way side, at some point. As bigc73542 had mentioned, I would just get a wireless router and then disable the wireless part if you don't need it.

 

I do not think they will be able to completely remove a hard wired LAN connection, this is needed for initial setup and for any future bios upgrades.

 

Really cheap routers often have nasty firmware. I would get a Linksys WRT54GL, which is good out of the box, or can run Tomato or DD-WRT firmware. They cost about $60. Buffalo used to be the best deal, but they are no longer available in the US due to a patent dispute, unless you can find one left over somewhere.

 

In my corporate environment, all LAN connections are hard wired. There are no wireless connections for any of the PCs. Security is probably one reason as well as allowing for easier updates.

The router that Stem makes a reference to appears to require that you set up rules just like a software firewall or are they pre-set?