Trumpet FireSock A Cost-Efficient Modem Sharing Solution Forrest Stroud
A Cost-Efficient Modem Sharing Solution
If cost is a major factor in your purchasing decision, FireSock is likely to be the best alternative if you have a network of five or more users. The cost of the client begins at $50 for two users and scales up to $180 for a 20-user license -- only $9 per user!
However, there are several drawbacks that keep FireSock from being more competitive with the likes of MidPoint and WinGate. First, the client supports analog modems only, so if you want to share a leased line, ISDN line, or cable modem you'll need to consider one of the other choices.
FireSock also lacks MidPoint's teaming capabilities -- only one modem can be shared at a time -- so you won't be able to aggregate several modems together to achieve higher 'net speeds.
Aside from these and a few other minor caveats, if you're looking for a low-cost solution for sharing a single analog modem connection over a LAN, Trumpet FireSock definitely merits considerable attention.
Pros: Cost-efficient option for sharing a single modem connection over a LAN
Cons: Lacks some features, especially modem teaming; restricted to analog modems; rather pricey relative to the competition; features somewhat dated and no major updates for several years
