| Linksys WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter |
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Model: WGA54G
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 159
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: Game console
Data link protocol: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Lag-free head-to-head or Internet gaming at up to 54 Mbps, without stringing wires
Converts wired-Ethernet-ready game consoles to Wireless-G (draft 802.11g) network connectivity
Works without drivers on PlayStation2, Xbox, and GameCube
Also connects to Wireless-B (802.11b) networks at 11 Mbps
One year limited warranty |
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| Description: |
| The Wireless-G Game Adapter gives any wired Ethernet-equipped game console wireless connection capabilities. The Game Adapter can be used in two different ways. If you have an existing home wireless network and a cable or DSL Internet connection, the Game Adapter lets your PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube attach to the network so you can get into online games without running wires to the game room. Or, use a pair of Game Adapters to form a "cable-less cable" between two game consoles for head-to-head gaming - in the same room, or all the way across the house. It's completely driver-free, so it works on any platform. Since there are no drivers to load, setup is a snap. In some cases, it works right out of the box! If your setup's a little different - just configure the network settings through your PC's web browser, plug it into your game box, and go. The Wireless-G Game Adapter provides lag-free gaming with communication speeds up to 54Mbps when connected to other Wireless-G devices. It can also connect to Wireless-B (802.11b) devices and networks at 11Mbps. Spend your time gaming, not stringing wires, with the Linksys Wireless-G Game Adapter. |
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| User Reviews (159 total): |
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 of Total 8 Pages
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great product, August 5, 2008
By user (ROC, MI)
this is a great product! i bought mine for my ps2 to play in my room and i got it set up in seconds. i also us it on my computer and again in seconds i was on the web. i did not even have download the disk! i dont kno if that was cuz i have an old computer but i dont think so. if u are going to be playing on a game system and u are trying to conect online to a wireles conection with a code or wep encryption on it, it will not conect. must have no code on your conection unles it gives u the choice.
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Worked fine the first 4 months... then stopped., July 24, 2008
By user (CT USA)
I purchased this adapter to use with my Slingbox. It was easy to set up and I was able to get it up and running within minutes after connecting all the cables. The unit worked fine for the first four months, then the power light on the unit would not turn on. I contacted support to order a new power cord, as it was still under warranty. They would not provide the part and told me to go to Radio Shack to purchase a new cord. After dropping another $20 for a new power cord, the unit is working again. I was not at all impressed with Linksys or their customer support. I do not plan to buy from Linksys again.
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Nearly Impossible to Set Up, July 13, 2008
By user (Atlanta, GA)
I am using this gateway to provide my Tivo with an ethernet connection.
With my old Linksys WRT54G router I was able to get this gateway on my network after working with it for about an hour using WPA encryption. It took several attempts, but it finally worked finally worked.
I replaced my old router with a Netgear WNR3500 and was never able to get the gateway onto the network using WPA, even though it presumably supports TPIK and AES (I tried both). I finally got it to work using WEP 128 bit, so will have to make do with that.
I bought the WGA54G to replace an earlier linksys gaming gateway that died unexpectedly but when this one goes, I won't be buying another one. A full blown router with uplink capability or even concealing a cable would be better.
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Seems to work now.. after LONG installation process, July 6, 2008
By user
I've had the thing running for just an hour so can't tell you much about reliability, but from the installation, it does seem flaky. I think part of my installation woes had to do with the flakiness so I wasn't sure if it just wasn't connecting because it didn't feel like it or because I did something wrong. Many people wrote about their installation solutions, which really helped. But I did have to piece together about 3 reviews to help so I'm posting what I did, in case it helps someone else.
BTW, I bought this to use with a network ready printer which did work eventually.
When it wouldn't connect, I did call tech support who totally sucks. The woman on the phone didn't even know what a MAC filter list is. The only thing that was useful that I learned from her is how to get to the web admin page without it being connected to the network. Plug it into your computer. In your LAN settings, give your computer a static IP [192.168.1.111] and for the gateway, use the IP of the adapter [in my case 192.168.1.48 or the default is 192.168.1.250 for the adapter if you haven't done anything with it]. Then you can point your browser to the adapter's IP and use the web admin. After 1 hour, she hung up on me when I demanded to speak to someone who knows what a MAC filter list is! When I called back, the 2nd operator hung up on me too while she was looking for my case file. Maybe I got blacklisted.
Here are the configurations I used that worked.
1) I followed the instructions and ran the setup CD. It could not find the adapter. I power cycled it and then it finally found it. At first I used auto DHCP and that messed up everything. Later I used a static IP for my network [I used 192.168.1.48], make sure the subnet mask is the same as the router [255.255.255.0], and put my router as the gateway [192.168.1.1]. I use a MAC filter list so I couldn't just plug it in and go to the adapter's web management page. But like everyone says, that page really has more options.
2) To get it through the filter, I added its MAC address that is labeled on its sticker, plus that MAC address +1, which when you get on its web admin page later, you'll see that the MAC address on the page is the one on the sticker +1. Thank you RARKM or I never would have figured it out. After this, technically it should be able to connect to the network whenever you plug it in. But it seemed really flaky and would sometimes connect and then drop, or not connect at all. It seemed to connect best if I powered it on without the ethernet connected to anything despite the instructions saying to power on after the ethernet connection.
3) When I could get to the web admin page, disabled cloning mode. I left it on mixed connection mode.
4) For the printer (or item you want to use the adapter with), I gave it a static IP different from the adapter, same subnet mask, and same router IP for the gateway. I also had to add the printer's MAC address to the router's filtering list.
5) At first whenever I connected the adapter to the printer, it would stop working. Finally I gave up. I left the adapter on, not connected to any device so it was just connected to the network by itself. The next morning, I connected it to the printer's ethernet without power cycling anything. And it worked! and has worked since then. But I honestly don't know if I'll be able to get it working again if it ever drops. And even now, even though it's obviously working because I can use the printer, I can't get to the adapter's web admin page. Flaky!
I'm giving it 3 stars because technically it works. And it's working with a printer which it never promised to do.
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excellent buy, June 26, 2008
By user
Honestly, i dont know why people have complained that much about the setup on this product. It took me less than 5 minutes to configure it to my wireless network ( which has wep encryption and everything). all you really need to do is follow the instructions given with the device and you should have no problems at all. It works exactly like it says it does, and could not have been an easier set up at all.
Only downside to this product is that Fry's sells it at exactly the same price, so if you are looking for one... go to Fry's, unless you like paying the same price and waiting a week for it. up to you.
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Game Bridge for X-Box360, June 9, 2008
By user (Bristol, VA)
The Linksys WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter works as advertized.
You MUST read ALL the directions before trying to hookup to your home
wireless network. If you don't, you will more than likely get a "no
connection" when you first try to use it. I tried it out of the box
and it didn't work. Yuck, I read the instructions and somehow it seemed
to work after that :-) Can you imagine that?
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Not A Bad Adapter At All, June 6, 2008
By user (Atlanta, GA)
Have this device for about a month. Was pretty easy to set up and I am not an expert at these things but I do know how to read the directions which by the way were very good. Took me about 20 min to set up via my computer. All I needed was my WEP Passcode and IP address and it worked fine. If you don't have WEP or WAP proction on your wireless network(you should though!!!)then this works right out of the box with no setup which is cool. I give it 4 stars because it can be a little quirky sometimes and I have to restart a few times before it grabs a connection, but not a big deal though, only take a few extra seconds out of my life. Its also not bad looking, I mean it's not some ugly piece of equipment you will want to hide from view. Hope this review helps.
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Worth the hassle, June 5, 2008
By user (SLO)
I, like many others, had huge headaches initially setting up this wireless adapter. I actually had to go to a friend's house and use his computer to set it up because (after a couple of hours and several attempts) Linksys Support said that my wireless router was too old to communicate with this adapter (at least for setup, not for use thereafter). However, after all the hassle of getting the wireless adapter setup, the pay off has been amazing. I haven't had any problems since the initial setup and I have used it to get both my PS3 and Xbox 360 online flawlessly. So it was pain in the butt to set up, but it has ultimately been worth it.
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Do not buy, April 10, 2008
By user
Terrible product, highly unreliable. Save yourselves the headaches of trying to get this to work with your network. It may work sometimes, but out of the blue it won't be able to connect anymore. Judging by Linkys' help forum, the ineffectiveness of this product is widespread.
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Linksys products just don't work, March 30, 2008
By user (Tampa, FL)
For some background, I am a computer programmer by schooling with over 5 years practical programming experience on both Linux and Windows systems and have spent the past 2 years as director of a Network Control Center, so I know quite a bit about computers and networking.
This is my second Linksys product I have purchased in the past year. The first was a Linksys wireless G router. I returned the router twice trying to get the thing to work. Finally I replaced it with a Netgear WGR614 and it worked perfectly right out of the box.
Now I have this wireless G gaming adapter. I would never have purchased another Linksys product after the router incident but Linksys is apparently the only company still making gaming adapters for the market. I have tried 2 of these adapters with no success. The products do not stay properly connected to the router. It will say it is connected but does not communicate at all.
I am officially done with Linksys. Save your $$ and your sanity. Stay away from these terrible products.
UPDATE: I purchased a Netgear WGPS606 to replace this product and find it to be a much better buy. It's cheaper, and includes a 4 port switch so you can connect up to 4 consoles or, alternatively, media center PCs or just a desktop in your den. This device can also function as a print server for up to 2 USB printers. All-in-all, a far superior device with better reliability, all for less money.
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Works just fine, March 29, 2008
By user (USA)
I needed it for online gaming. I haven't used it a lot yet, but it worked just fine the few times I did.
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Used on a DirecTV DVR HR20, March 19, 2008
By user (Denver, NC USA)
I purchased this device to use on my DirecTV HD DVR HR20. It worked flawlessly. I set the device up using my desktop computer (like the instructions directed me to do) and then connected the device to the USB port of the DVR. The DVR recognized the unit and it has been working ever since. The setup was really easy, and it will also work with the XBOX or pretty much any device that needs access to a wireless network. I have been happy with the device thus far.
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Good product - compatibility an issue, March 18, 2008
By user (Louisville, KY)
This product is working great, however, it took 1.5 hours with tech support to set this up to work with a Netgear router. The gentleman was very helpful...there just has to be a better way.
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Does what it's intended to do, March 4, 2008
By user (Denver, CO)
I am using this for DirecTV's OnDemand Beta. Connected it to my DTV HR21 receiver, located it on my home network, updated the router to allow it to connect to the Internet, and I'm done.
Seems stable and works well with to do the downloads.
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Simple solution for wireless printing., March 1, 2008
By user
What do you do when your network capable printer only has an ethernet (RJ-45) port and you can't find a wireless print controller that outputs to anything other than USB?
Plug one of these babies in. Spend a couple of minutes configuring it and then print to your little heart's content.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 becuase the sparse printed documentation makes no mention of the extensive .pdf documentation included on the CD. Configuration is easy once you refer to the .pdf manual, but it would be nice to have the printed setup guide tell you there is more info on the CD.
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Flawless with my Xbox 360 and PS3, February 28, 2008
By user (NY, United States)
I received this product ahead of schedule and was very skeptic about trying this with all these negative reviews. I was very timid with all configuring that had to be done and was hoping i did it right. Its very simple, type the name of your router, your security type, and the password or passkey and thats it. Save your configuration and plug it in and you are connected. This took me a whole 10 minutes or less to get connected. I bought an Y Ethernet adapter which turns one port into 2 and i plugged my PS3(20GB) and Xbox 360 to this single unit and it worked perfectly. This is a life saver since my PS3 didn't have a built in WIFI adapter and i didn't want to buy the dedicated Xbox 360 wireless adapter for 30 dollars more than this unit and it only worked for the Xbox.
Conclusion:
This unit saved me some money and helped get both my systems online without any hassle. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the same boat as i am and is looking to save some money.
If any questions, leave a comment, I'll try to answer.
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DirecTV On Demand Connection, February 25, 2008
By user (Houston, TX)
I bought the Linksys WGA54G to use with my DirecTV receiver so I could access DirecTV On Demand. After one false start I got it configured and it worked like a charm. I was prepared to spend hours on the phone to get it to work, so I was very pleased when the setup only took 10 minutes.
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WARNING!!!, February 22, 2008
By user (Franklin, TN United States)
I can not warn you reading this review strongly enough, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!! I am a computer nerd, really I am. I can now admit it (I have a girlfriend, she likes me cause I can fix her computer). After spending 2 yes TWO, hours on the phone to India I still could not get this to work right. NO Apple support, no one without an accent you have any chance of understanding. And NO CONNECTION!!! Linksys is bad. Really bad. Don't waste time or money. Buy the Apple Express Base Station.
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Just want I was looking for, February 11, 2008
By user
This product works great with my Xbox 360. I have had no problems. After a quick setup it just works. I am very impressed with the range. My router is on the other side of the house and I put the adaptor inside of a book case with no problems. Most of the defaults matched my wireless setup out of the box. I run 128-bit non-broadcast WEP with DHCP. All I needed to program my WEP key and change from Static IP's to DHCP.
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Works for PS3, February 9, 2008
By user (Las Vegas, NV United States)
I was initially hesitant to buy this Linksys gaming adapter due to all the negative feedbacks. I bought it for my son's PS3 and it was an easy setup. I input my existing wireless information and it was up and running. It's been in use since Xmas 2007 and it hasn't given me any problems at all.
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