| Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G |
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Model: WRE54G
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 416
Platforms: No Operating System
Operating system: Windows
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Expand your wireless networking coverage to eliminate dead spots
Works with both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks
Supports 64 and 128-bit WEP encryption
Configurable through your networked PC's Web browser or the included Setup Wizard
Compatible with the Linksys WAP54G Access Point, and both the WRT54G and WRT54GS wireless routers |
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| Description: |
| The WRE54G Wireless-G Range Expander increases the effective coverage of your wireless network. Unlike other access points, this wireless expander doesn't require connection by a data cable. Just place it within range of your wireless router and bounce the signals off remote wireless devices. It's perfect for any wireless home or business network that requires wider coverage: Multi-story homes, warehouses, outdoor spaces and more. |
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| User Reviews (416 total): |
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Easy Install, IF you've read the reviews, November 24, 2004
By Brian Hendrickx
Follow the instructions in the October 16, 2004 review by S. Hing. There is also a note I saw somewhere about NOT having Ver.3.x of the firmware for the Linksys Router WRT54G.
I took off one star because of the firmware issue and beacuse it should work out of the box.
I downloaded the firmware from Linksys, but had to "live chat" with them to find out how to download firmware ver 2.x. The web site automatically wants to give you 3.x firmware.
After loading the firmware and following the S. Hing note, it connected and works great. The router is in a corner of the finished cellar and my laptop is on the first floor in the other side of the house. Before installation I had to bring the laptop to the top of the cellar stairs to download email. The laptop now has a strong signal in the office.
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Linksys -- Fix Your Firware or Fix Your Instructions, November 19, 2004
By Tired (Cleveland, Ohio)
Once it is configured, it works. But configuring the device can become a major headache. I own a WRT54G linksys router. Anticipating firmware issues, I updated the firmware in my router. Big mistake! Turns out that the range expander has "stability problems" (to quote Linksys tech support) with all but one version of firmware for the WRT54G. I had to install an old version of the WRT54G firmware that could only be accessed through Linksys' ftp web site. This is bad enough. However, what really has me steamed is the three hours I spent on the phone with Linksys tech support before I was referred to a tech specialist who finally came clean about the firmware problems with their products. Shame, shame Linksys.
Update your online knowledge base with detailed directions for installing the older firmware on the WRT54G--and instruct your tech support people regarding the problem.
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Tough to get working, expands range at speed and stblty cost, November 18, 2004
By pismo10 (Marshfield, MA United States)
Be aware - This device will expand the distance away from the router/AP you can go and that is it. It will not help the problem with loss of speed due to increased distance from the router. You lose connection speed as you get farther from the router/AP as we all know. This device will not help that problem, it will simply expand the range of the speed available where the expander is placed. IF the range expander is placed at the edge of the reception area as recommended in the install guide it will connect to the router/AP at the slow connection speed available in that location and then expand THAT slower speed. It may actually slow down your connection if your laptop is between the expander and the router/AP. You can speed it up by moving the expander closer to the router/AP, it will then expand the connection speed available from THAT new location but this then decreases your overall range. Tradeoff but no perfect solution.
It also took days and many, many phone calls to tech support to get this to work including firmware upgrades to both, endless reconfiguring and trying different settings on both the router and expander. For a day of two the whole network was dead while the linksys guys tried various things/settings. VERY,VERY tough to get going...Not really worth it in the long run.
After a few more days of use I rerate this product with zero stars. I would definitely not buy again and am returning this one. The new problem that I have found is that the expander is very touchy about where you are relative to your router/AP and the laptop. If your laptop is between the router and the expander you will have major problems, constant loss of connectivity, it freaks because there are two equal strength signals. I had to set it up as two different networks and choose manually which one to use at any given location, otherwise it quit working repeatedly. This is ridiculous to say the least. I had to keep moving the expander to the room I was in to get a strong enough signal for it to clearly be dominant and then manually choose which two sources of the same network to use. No this is not a PC problem, the linksys guys confirmed.
Bugs, poor design, compatability problems with itself and the routers/APs it is supposed to support.
Not at all as expected or as needed, more trouble than worth even after I got it configed correctly (which took days on the phone with the linksys guys)
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Poor instructions -- Difficult Configuration -- Not worth it, November 18, 2004
By jeffdream9 (centreville, VA)
I tried one. After much messing around with it -- searching the web for lessons learned -- upgrading firmware on my Linksys WAP -- I did manage to get it working without the WEP turned on. However, by that point I was so disgusted I did not move on to the additional steps to get the WEP turned back on with it. I noticed the "used and returned" bin of my local computer store full of these things the other day.... Now I know why. I was so disgusted I returned mine. I am now using other products (like high gain antena and another WAP) to handle coverage issues. This is a bad product design, with bad instructions. Not worth the trouble. I have many other Linksys devices that work great. This one is just a stinker.
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Works Great ... But read this first ..., November 17, 2004
By The Dalai Lama (Florida)
I have a WRT54G. My wireless computer is some 80+ ft away and gets a signal that swings wildly from 1Mbps to 24 Mbps. At 1Mbps to 12 Mbps the internet connection is bad, slow, and sometimes just won't load bigger internet pages.
The WRE54G was and is the absolute perfect answer for expanding your wireless network coverage area and signal strength.
Now the signal stays between 24 Mbps and usually approaches 54 Mbps (It's perfect). The WRE54G is also located 80 - 100 feet from my WRT54G.
That said ... the WRE54G is only compatible with the original WRT54G firmware of v2.02.7 (using internet explorer type 192.168.1.1 and use no user name and "admin" as password to view) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do Not - upgrade your firmware to v3.01.3 or any other number beginning with 3 !!!!!!!! Doesn't make since but that's the way it is. Cost me an hour on the customer service line.
Also as everyone else says on this board, you must disable WEP security (from the above 192.168.1.1 page) if you have it turned on.
With Linksys you just have to plan on a call to custiomer service. Best to call at like 1am.
Heck, I should have just bought this thing to boost my neighbors internet signal and then canceled my ISP.
Love it.
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Works flawlessly if set up correctly, November 17, 2004
By Norman A. Garrett (Charleston, IL USA)
I used Anthony Taylor's review to set it up and ignored the printed instructions. It worked like a charm the first time and total setup time was about 10 minutes. It changed a PC from only a 50% signal (barely usable with frequent disconnects) to a consistent 100% signal. One feature I like is the multiple AC connectors, letting you plug it in with the standard cord or right into an outlet on the wall (which I chose).
There is a sheet included in the box that tells what firmware version your router needs, so pay attention to that. Also, it claims to be compatible with Linksys devices, but I saw nowhere where it claimed to be compatible with anything else. I use it with a Linksys Wireless-G broadband router (WRT54G) and have no problems. In all, it works for me and does exactly what I needed it to do.
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Pretty Slick, November 6, 2004
By Additude (OBX North Carolina)
I installed from a WRT54GS linksys router. It was pretty easy to get up and running. I disabled WEP security in the router and then did an autoconfig, went back in and set up the WEP on both. Took maybe 15 minutes OOB. However the Red link light always stayed Red. After 4 Linksys techs, one told me the router firmware needed to be at 2.07.1, I had just installed new firmware for the router at 3.14.7...but the firmware downgrade did the trick. Then I used MAC Filtering to isolate my linksys video camera to only be able to use the expander and all is well. The worst part was linksys tech support. I was "left on hold" 3 times and was disconnected 3 times.
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Setup can be simple with this advice, November 4, 2004
By Richard Garcia (Bklyn, NY USA)
Before you begin to configure the Expander you should... make sure you have the latest firware upgrade on AP Router and on your Adapter card. I guess that was a key to my simple install. besides disabling WEP.
A) Reset Router to factory setting without wep make sure you disable it.... if you don't the expander will never install. This can be done by using the using the quick setup installion cd. Once the router is set and you can access it, logon to the the router edit mac filtering there you can add the Expander mac address and save the setting. Once this is completed you can begin to installing the Expander
B) Installing the Expander use the quick setup instructon and follow them as directed. The setup will detect you AP Router and copy the same information and use it to install the Expander. Once that completes your Expander lights should stay blue. save your setting and exit.
C) Now logon to the expander using the IP address given 192.168.1.240 the password is admin. Now you can set WEP on the Expander make sure you use the same setting and keys that your AP Router will be assigned. Now you can save the setting.
D) Now logon to your AP Router and enable wep. Thats all to it.
The key is to disable WEP on the AP Router then install the expander...enable wep on the expander....enable wep on the router. It took me 30mins to figure it out. Linksys should have added it to the documentation. that why I give them a 4 Star rating. Beside that it works great. I was receiving poor signal three rooms away now I have 95%. Not bad for a $100.00.
I will be even better if when they support WAP.
Hope this helps it really simple.I read horror stories about configuring the expander seem simple. Good Luck.
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Great when set up right, October 31, 2004
By Opinion offerer (Lone Star State of Mind)
If at all possible, get this at the same time you're setting up your wireless network. That will give you the chance to make sure you're buying all compatible components from the outset. I recently moved, and the changed setup made the range expander a necessity.
My old setup:
A two bedroom single story apartment where my Netgear wireless router was in the far bedroom from the living room. I had little problem with signal and functionality, unless I went a little further away to the balcony.
My new setup:
A two story house where the router was in upstairs bedroom farthest from the downstairs living room. Signal strength became a real issue when going through the walls and floor.
I got the Linksys router and played around with it some to no avail. I called customer service twice. As some have commented, Linksys customer service seems to have been outsourced to a far away land, which posed problems. My first called left me baffled, and the only good my second call did was to give me the impression that the Expander was not compatible with all routers. With both calls, language was an issue, as it seemed the techs knew enough English to pick out key words in what I was saying and then read the canned solutions associated with those words, but they were not able to answer any specific questions I had, or expand on their canned answers to any degree.
So, with the vague idea that it might be compatibility between the Linksys expander and Netgear router, I went and bought a Linksys wireless router that was specifically mentioned on the Expander's box.
Problem solved. I had it up and running in about 10-15 minutes and have had nary a hiccup since then. Now with my expander tucked away nicely atop some bookshelves downstairs, I have very strong signal strength anywhere in the house.
Summary:
Don't expect in-depth, detailed customer service (unless you're fluent in the other language) and try to set up your network with the expander and compatible components in mind if at all possible.
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Really, really tough to configure but eventually works., October 30, 2004
By Thomas Alison (Hoboken, NJ United States)
I finally got this thing working but it consumed days of my time.
I have a Linksys WRT54G router. The Range Expander is supposed to work out of the box with that router, but this was not the case, even with the latest WRT54G firmware (3.01.3).
Here's what I had to do:
My WRT54G router was originally set to use WPA security. The WRE54G Range Expander does not currently support WPA (allegedly there is a firmware update to fix this but good luck finding it).
I first disabled WPA on my router left my network open. The next thing I did, though optional, was to write down the MAC addresses of all my clients (including the Range Expander - you should see it on the back) and enable MAC filtering in the WRT54G router admin tool to only allow devices with approved MACs on the network. I also assigned my clients a static IP and narrowed the range of DHCP addresses assigned by the router. This isn't required for compatibility with the Range Expander, but is good practice.
I tried using the Auto Config feature of the Range Expander at this point but that didn't work. I next tried to follow the WRE54G setup tutorial at Tom's Networking. Unfortunately that didn't work either.
What I ended up doing was installing alternative open source firmware on my WRT54G router (this is legal because the Linksys firmware is GPL'd). Right now I am using Satori-4.0 v2.0.7 by Sveasoft. Do a search for "satori firmware" and you should be able to find it. [Note: by doing this you will probably not get much support from a Linksys tech hotline - however, you can always do a hard reset on the router to restore the factory settings.]
Next, update the firmware with Satori using the web administration tool on the router and then use the web admin tool to reset the router to factory settings (make a note of your MAC filters, SSID and any other information as it will be lost when you do the factory reset and you will need to re-enter it).
Once the router comes back up find the connection (it will be called "linksys" by default again), and open the admin site (192.168.1.1, password is "admin"). Re-enter any information from your previous setup, but don't enable security yet.
Go to Wireless > WDS. Select "LAN" in the first pulldown, then enter the MAC address of the WRE54G. Then go to Administration > Management and disable Loopback and 802.1x.
Once this is set up, I'd recommend going back to the WRE54G setup guide at Tom's Networking and following the instructions there. In a nutshell, you reset the WRE54G (using a paperclip or something), locate the WRE54G with your wireless configuration utility (Wireless Zero on XP, or Airport on OSX), fire up the WRE54G admin page (192.168.1.240, password "admin" by default), and set Access Point MAC address to be the correct MAC address of your router (you can find it in Status > Wireless in the WRT54G admin site). Then just make sure the channel on the WRE54G is the same as your router and it should work.
Good luck. Now that it's working, it seems to be doing what it's advertised to do.
I'm still in the process of working on securing the whole thing now. Hopefully Linksys will release that firmware upgrade with WPA support, but I may have to settle for WPE for now.
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If you have the time to burn and really need it, October 24, 2004
By annodomini1969 (East Stroudsburg, PA USA)
A little history on me. CCNP/CCDP and a CISSP. I have configured over 125 Aeronet/Cisco/Linksys wireless APs using both GUI and IOS. Let me tell you that this little device is a nightmare with lights. I was shaking it to see if a gremlin would fall out of it.
Some lessons learned. If you are on a different SSID and turn this baby on, your entire network gets hammered. It has a strong signal and will dominate your devices. As was said before, turn your router and other wireless devices off and hit the repeater (extender) direct.
For me, this unit didn't work as promised. Every time I tried to save my WEP configs it blew up and went back to its default SSID and erased my WEP settings. It isn't that it's not configurable, but it's a consideration of how much time do you want to invest in something that should work right out of the box. If it gets configured by luck, meaning, you kept working on it and by magic it just worked. You may be forced to repeat the entire painful install again if it loses its config. I'm not a beta tester, I'm a consumer.
I am sure you can get it to work but I can't see investing the time (in some cases 3-6 hours) needlessly. I get paid to work on these devices and I will not sit home and figure it out on my clock. Linksys (Cisco this week) needs to look into real life usage and not lab scenarios with this device. This is NOT typical of a Linksys product but definitely typical of a Cisco product; which the logo is stamped right on it. If you want me to be a beta tester, my AIM is right above as my nickname.
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Nightmare to setup - - but, nice once it works, October 21, 2004
By Christopher Curry (Los Angeles, CA USA)
This thing IS a nightmare to work with. The documentation is pretty to look at; but there is so much missing. Anthony and others gave some good suggestions here, but I also wanted to add what finally amounted to 3 hours of figuring out how to work with this device and what I had encountered:
- I connected my access point to a Netgear router that had DHCP enabled that could not go into the address that the repeater had required (198.168.1.240). Once I discovered this, I realised that there was no way that I could ever connect into this in its default state -- but, figuring that part out took so many tries and failed attempts at restarting and pushing reconfig buttons that I finally figured it was my router holding back the default IP number.
- Turn WEP off your Access Point while configuring. Print out your keys and configuration, etc and keep them on hand so you can turn it back on later.
- I ended up temporarily removing my router (which connects the Access Point) from the cable modem and just plugging the access point into a very cheap Intel 10mps hub that I had from years ago (maybe ur cable or DSL you can plug direct into the AP, but I could not).
- I UNPLUGGED everything. Then, hooked up the temporary router and the AP. I got into the original access point's admin screens and turned off filtering (MAC address) and the WEP security. This also validated that I could connect to the original access point.
- Now, time to add the repeater -- I pushed the reconfig on the side of the box and also did the 30-sec auto-config pull out while it was plugged in. After a minute or so, I plugged it back in and let pushed the autoconfig again.
- Now, I could get to the default IP address of the repeater. Once I was there, I set it to a hard-coded IP address that my router could handle (for instance, 192.168.0.69); I could also turn on the WEP and its settings and rename the repeater here also.
- Turned off repeater and access point.
- Restarted cable modem, full-blown router (got the cheapo original out of the picture), once that was all setup I turned on the original access point and then the repeater.
Voila! That all works now. It carrys WEP, you can setup the security, SSID, etc and filtering etc back into your original access point if you want.
I met some guy at the BBuy here in LA last night that was confused over these same things. He ended up buying one with me, and I kept thinking that someone had to be really techie to finally figure out the secret of this router rather than an average consumer.
These products are nightmares. Its almost as if the illusions of "ease of use" (in this case, the autoconfig button) create problems when things like WEP security or IP ranges cannot be accomodated -- which I feel is pretty unusual to have such for a modern or newer Internet device.
Otherwise, it works beautifully --- would have been given 5 stars if it wasnt so time consuming to do the work that Linksys should have done in designing this product correctly.
Updated: IMPORTANT ---- If you make it into the admin of the range expander, make sure that everything is on the same subnet -- so, set the IP address to something: 192.168.0.69 THEN, set the GATEWAY back into the original access point on the same subnet: 192.168.0.(your IP of your ACCESS POINT not router) Once I did this, it worked WONDERFULLY!!!!
FURTHER: You may have to change your IP on your configuring computer to the subnet 192.168.1.xxx so you can originally ping the autoconfig extender. Once you do the changes I mention above, then you can switch everything back to the settings of the subnet that you want. This might not be a device for those not very clear on these concepts -- or, if you dont run security, etc. Also, contact Linksys to get the latest firmware to update the extender -- the updated one supports security better.
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Impressed by the range improvement, October 21, 2004
By Knights of the Digital Age (Cow Poke, MO USA)
Had a XP Home notebook and a Xp Home desktop that were using Internet Connection Sharing via Starband(ISP) with Linksys 802.11g adapters in each. Had problems getting connectivity more than 25 feet away so I ordered this Linksys Range Expander and it free me up to surf the internet in every room in the house. I never dropped below 2 green bars in signal strength. I had to uninstall the wireless notebook adapter first before it would work correctly, otherwise I would give this product 5 stars. A config tip if you are not using a router: It saved me time by assigning static IP's to the wireless devices because then I didn't need to wait for IP addresses to be obtain dynamically.
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Simple setup - very quick, October 17, 2004
By S. Hing (Mountain View, CA)
This was very easy to setup, however I based it on using these instructions and ignored everything else that came in the box.
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-Plug in range expander and hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) <and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs.> I did not have to do the unplug but I have left it in for reference.
3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password). Also open up a second window for your router config settings as well.
4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration).
5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again. Here is the only hitch - make sure you edit the security settings so that the WEP settings match your router WEP settings. You may need to jot these down prior to disabling WEP on the router in step 1. Save your WEP settings on the range expander. You may not get a confirmation box back until you have enabled WEP on your router.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
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Buy Netgear Products Instead!!!, October 17, 2004
By N. Alley (Ogden, UT United States)
Don't waste your time or money! I bought the Netgear WGT624 wireless router and I get FULL signal, thats right, 99% signal where I only got 50-60% (if I was lucky) using my "Expanded" Linksys network (with the Linksys high gain antennas too!!!). Learn from my mistakes. After dealing with Linksys, except for some quirky tech support requirements, Netgear is amazing...absolutely amazing.
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Works great -- once you manage to get it configured, October 11, 2004
By Kent (Austin, TX)
In line with many other reviews, the range extender was a major pain to get installed to my network. The reason I purchased the purchased the extender from Linksys (aside from the obvious to boost range) was because it was from Linksys. My G router is also from Linksys and on the compatible list so I figured setup could not possibly be as bad as descibed by others -- I was wrong; they are right.
I followed the directions from Linksys to the letter, including their setup program, quick setup sheet, the manual on the CD, and the one FAQ on their site. I dropped WEP from my network and attempted "naked". All to no avail.
The review by Anthony Taylor is very good; his recommendations for getting things configured are more or less what I ended up going through. The installation program from Linksys is among the prettiest I have ever seen, but it's crap all bells and whistles and would not get my extender to install; maybe you'll have better luck.
For those who are not technical, if you have any problems whatsoever call Linksys. I'm a very technical person and have little patience for these types of things, but still like the challenge and eventually figured out the setup on my own much the same way Anthony did. But if you don't have the time, patience, or experience with networks, do not bother - call Linksys or consider another product.
Having said all of this, once I got the extender to work it does perform exactly as marketed. I'm "green" everywhere in my house with signal strength ranging from 90 to 100%.
Explanation of my rating this a 3... The setup and instructions I would rate a 1. While this is basically a one time event once you get things working, the experience is so bad that I suspect many would throw their arms in the air and return the product. However once the product is up and running I would say that it performs with 5 stars. It's very unfortunate that the set up is so bad because once you get it working it's a champ.
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Definitely not plug-and-play, October 6, 2004
By Kelvin (Walnut, CA USA)
If you can ever figure out how to setup this piece of junk, feel free to buy it. This is the first time I'm extremely disappointed with Linksys product at this level. Knowningly I use WRT54GS for router, and even bought HGA7T for "supposively" stronger signal strength.
I've returned mine to the store. Have you?
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What a PAIN!, October 6, 2004
By A reviewer in Atlanta
Painful, painful, painful. I ordered this, even though I read the bad reviews. After all, I'm a computer professional, well-versed in the little idiosyncracies of software. I have a WRT54G router, which is prominently listed as compatible. Heck, I can work miracles.
I spent 5 hours configuring this. I didn't call the 800 number after all the comments I'd read about it. Bottom line, the online documentation (yeah, nothing in the stuff that comes with it) indicates the minimum version of firmware for your WRT54G should be 2.02.2. WRONG!! It must BE EXACTLY version 2.02.2. I was initially on a 1. version, so I wasted a lot of time before I went to their website looking for upgrades to the WRE firmware, which is where they indicate the minimum version required. I upgraded to version 2.04.4 and the thing still wouldn't configure. I tried everything under the sun. As a last resort, I went to the LinkSys FTP site (ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/network) and downloaded the 2.02.2 version. Loaded it, pressed the autoconfigure button on the WRE and presto - it connected.
I still had to follow the rest of the suggestions you find here, and found one more to suggest. I use a WPC54G adapter card in my laptop. The encryption for the passphrase for the 3 products (WPC54G, WRT54G & WRE54G) is different. Instead, I had to cut & paste the hex codes from one to another.
Still, I'm now connecting from the other end of my house with 128-bit encryption activated. Yes, it seems to be slower than when I connect directly to the WRT. But I'm on my couch drinking a Coke & watching TV, so I can afford to wait a little longer.
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Deception, October 5, 2004
By t900 (Norfolk, CT USA)
A total pile of junk! When I got it working it cuts my speed by over 1/2...... give me a break. The reviews were correct. Save your money and get a WAP54G. It works great and won't bring your network speeds down to nothing. The manufacture doesn't play fair in that they don't clearly tell you that speeds will be cut in 1/2 or more. Who needs to do that with a WYFI?
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AGREE- DO NOT BUY THIS, October 5, 2004
By Robert Kaimowitz (New York, NY)
I am a systems designer and I couldn't get this piece of cr&p to work. I have several other Linksys products that have worked great for years. Don;t even bother with this - I have had the same troubles as the folks who have the red light blinking.
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