| 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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Super Easy!!, September 14, 2007
By raowen (Knoxville, TN USA)
This was by far easier to set-up than the Hawking wireless repeater. If you are using WEP, make sure and turn it off before starting the set-up.
Easiest thing is to:
* turn off WEP,
* hold down the auto-config button, wait till you see all blue lights.
* Log into the Expander, turn on WEP..
* log into the Wireless router, Turn WEP back on (make sure and use the same settings as the expander)
* unplug the expander, wait 10 seconds or so, plug it back in..
* get all blue lights and you're done!!
Simple, only took me a few minutes to get it going!
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Worked great right out of the box, September 10, 2007
By A. Frowine
This Range Expander works perfectly and was easy to install. After I initially installed the software I plugged the Expander unit into a wall outlet close to my Linksys WRT54GS Wireless router and pressed the auto configure button on the side of the Expander unit. It took a few seconds for it to locate the network then both of the blue lights on the front Expander unit lit up. I then took the Expander unit to my home office which is located in a separate bilding over 150' from the room where I have my computer and wireless router. I plugged it in a wall outlet and within a few seconds it automatically cycled to find the network connection. Without the Expander I could not use the internet in my office, after installing the Expander I have 5 bar service. I also move the Expander unit ocassionly to another remote part of my house when I take my laptop there and it does the same thing. It works great for me with very little efffort. I highly recommend it.
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Great When It Works, But Mostly Doesn't, September 8, 2007
By Lance Cleveland (Charleston SC)
The good part is that it does extend your network "reach" after you jump through the hoops configuring it for your wireless network.
The bad part is that it often needs to be rebooted. Sometimes I have to reboot just so my wireless devices can "see" the extender. If they don't see the extender they try to connect to the primary router which is usually too far away and low (if any) signal strength (that's why you are looking at buying this thing in the first place).
For the times when my devices DO connect to the extender, it seems to work find for about 8 hours or so. That sounds like a lot, but after running for 8 hours the throughput is horrible. Pages load slow, some services can't be found, and other assorted problems start to appear. Unplug the extender and plug it back in... 3 minutes later everything is "good as new". For another 8 hours.
That really sucks. That means I have to unplug/plug-in the extender in the morning to check email before work, again when I get home from work, and again in the evening if I'm online before bed. What a huge PAIN.
Mine is going back to the store & I'm going to buy a different brand. Not sure what yet, but definitely not another poorly built Linksys product. This is the third Linksys product in 3 years that I've purchased, each time with lower build quality than the last. Guess I need to find a new reliable brand now that Cisco bastardized Linksys into a cheaply-made low-end consumer throwaway product.
Spend the extra $20-30 and get a different range extender / wireless repeater.
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Listen to what others tell you in their reviews...., September 8, 2007
By Herb980 (Union, Ct.)
I've had this product for about two months and it has worked perfectly so far. I knew I was in for a difficult installation by reading the reviews. So, I printed out the most knowledgeable ones (especially Joe81) and used other people's experiences to guide me. The directions and installation disk were pretty much useless so I threw them out. I connected the extender directly to my router with the enclosed connector. I disabled security on my router (important). Then I used the autoconfig process and held the button down a good long time for setup (thanks Joe). (2 blue lights!) I configured compatible (same as router)security on my extender and then turned security back on in the router. Then I placed the extender close to the limit of the wireless signal (not half way between) and voila! It is working perfectly. Listen and learn from those that have gone on before you and you'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration!!
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WRE54G doubled download speed on wireless laptop, August 31, 2007
By T. G. Conley (Central FL USA)
First, like just about everyone else I did have some minor setup problems, which I'll describe below. However, my total setup time was under 20 minutes and the WRE54G repeater works very well for me.
I use a laptop in my bedroom, which is at the opposite end of the house from where I have my WRT54G router set up. Average file-transfer speeds, using the speed tests at DSL Reports, were around 2400 kb/s download and 300 kb/s upload before adding the repeater. After adding it I ran 5 speed tests which averaged 5100 kb/s download and 410 kb/s upload, double what I was getting without the repeater. This compares well with the 5950 kb/s download and 435 kb/s upload averages I get with the PC I have hardwired directly to the router. And yes, these values are correct. I have BellSouth's Xtreme 6.0 DSL service, which really does deliver the 6000 kb/s download speeds it promises.
The problem I ran into was that I could not access the WRE54G's setup screen using the default IP address (192.168.1.240) after turning the router's WEP encryption back on. A network audit using the Vista netsh command (see below) showed 2 SSIDs with the same name, one with encryption (my router) and one without (the repeater). I hardwired the repeater to the router using the included LAN cable, accessed the repeater's setup page using the default IP address, and manually set encryption on the repeater. This fixed the problem. I could now access the repeater's setup page wirelessly, and netsh showed a single SSID with 2 BSSIDs and encryption enabled.
For those running Windows Vista and unfamiliar with the netsh command, you run it in a Command Prompt (a DOS window to us old guys!). Open a Command Prompt (found under Programs/Accessories) and enter "netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid" without the quotes, of course.
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Doesn't work, August 29, 2007
By docdiver (White Plains, NY)
Despite many hours trying all of the internet suggestions, and speaking with the Linksys support (including paying for additional support), I could not get this device to work with my existing Linksys components. Although it is backward compatible, after about 2 hours the Linksys rep said that I should replace all of my "B" standard components, even though all work fine. I ignored this expensive advice and have returned the useless Range Expander. If I do change components I will consider a brand other than Linksys.
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Be prepared to struggle, August 27, 2007
By D. Gross (Olney, Md United States)
When the range expander works it is great. Setting it up can be another story though. I have had it for about two years and each time I have made a change to my wireless setup it takes me a couple of days to get the expander working again. Part of my problem is that I know a little bit too much about this stuff (read complete novice who gets lucky occasionally). The last adventure was a couple of weeks ago when I attempted to change the level of encryption on the network. I finally discovered that the Linksys web site has a pretty useful download to help with setup (called Lynksys Easylink Advisor). It saved me and I finally got the thing working again, although I still don't really know what I did to fix it. Bottom line is that you should expect to struggle a little when setting it up.
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good product, August 16, 2007
By Scott Siemonsma (Sioux Falls, SD)
It is kinda difficult to set up with security but without security its a piece of cake!!!
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Great for overcoming interference issue on Wireless-N network, August 13, 2007
By cdck (Mohnton, PA United States)
My wireless-N network included a Linksys router in an office in an outbuilding and several computers inside of a 250-year-old log cabin. The wire mesh in the chinking between the 12" thick logs blocked all but very minimal Wireless-N connectivity. This expander now sits inside a window facing the outbuilding, and there is no place inside the cabin that cannot get access with an Excellent rating.
The one negative is that the instructions for setup were unclear when it came to enabling security on the network. The autoconfigure button worked great for the basic setup, but you have to disable your network's security to add the range expander, and the instructions don't tell you how to go about turning it back on.
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Not As Bad As The Others Say, August 11, 2007
By Smokey (San Jose, California)
I just got this in mail today. My wireless computer upstairs got at the best an low connection. Most time my signal would get dropped and sometimes the only fix was a restart. Ive spent a lot of waisted time over last two years. So I was skeptical of another wireless device improving my connection. Strange too, because I can open my bedroom door and see my router. But something happens with signals going up I guess. I now have an excellent signal since I connected this device. The device is only 6-7 feet away but it works great so far.
THe downfall is the set up. I spent hour with the CD included and directions. Doesnt work.... you need to go into linksys for this device and change the settings. IF you can find the IP address for this device that will help then go to linsys page name is blank and password is admin.
Fix your SSID and channel close down and save. Start again make sure it saved and then go set security. It worked smoothly. Took and hour with india girl that spoke lil english but it works. If new to computer stuff, just start with calling tech support and you will save a lot of grief...
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another great device, more poor documentation., August 6, 2007
By Seasoned PC User
As with other Linksys equipment I own and use, the expander works great, but don't rely on the install documentation or wizard to get you where you want to go. Search on-line with "linksys wre54g install". You'll find step-by-step instruction written by an end-user.
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Doesn't play nice with other brands, August 3, 2007
By Paula N. Dranger (Valparaiso, IN USA)
I own a Netgear wireless router, and Linksys happily informed me that it the range expander could not work as a repeater with that access point. I would have loved this product otherwise: easy to setup and useful. Call Linksys first and ask them if it will be compatible with your router.
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A major PAIN to install, July 31, 2007
By Biologist & DJ (Orange, CA United States)
I like the idea of this product, but it is just not executed well. I consider myself intermediate/advanced in home computing/networking and I had the hardest time getting this to work. I did have to directly plug it in to my existing wireless router to configure it and it seemed to do the trick. I would skip over the auto detect as it never seemed to work/stick. Hopefully something better will come along... :/
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Setup is not for the faint of heart, July 24, 2007
By Peter Muller
Don't think that setup will necessarily be as easy as Linksys states. The setup software did not work and, because I had a secure network, neither would the auto setup. I turned off the encryption on the router, still no go. Finally used the included cable to link directly to my Linksys WRT54GS router. Setup then went smoothly. Relocated the Expander to the desired location, turned it on, it linked flawlessly. Provides a strong signal and works well. My rating is based on performance, not setup, which I would give a 2.
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Pretty much useless with DD-WRT, July 19, 2007
By Riding the bleeding edge. (Chicago, IL)
I was trying to use this device as a simple (albeit not in-expensive) way to extend the range of a Linksys WRT54G router running the DD-WRT firmware. After spending many hours trying configurations and reading forum after forum I was never able to get this device to route traffic. I had no trouble getting the WRE54G and WRT54G to see each other but when my laptop was associated with the WRE54G I couldn't successfully route any traffic.
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Better to add another router, July 11, 2007
By J. Myers
A nice idea but a waste of money and time. The WRT54g routers can be configured to act as a repeater (what this does) much easier than this device, you get a broader coverage with the dual antennas, and the router is actually less expensive than the "range expander."
This device is all about marketing and people pay the price for it. Just get a second wrt54g, go into the settings, and choose "Wireless Repeater" in the AP mode screen. The one caveat is to make sure the router has at least v.3.04 firmware.
I've done this for our office and it works exactly as it should across a very large building and two floors.
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Good, but a pain to set up, July 8, 2007
By Peter S. Angrave
After spending over 2 hours on the 'phone with Indian technical support (which I also had to do when setting up my G router last year), I moved the extender to my downstairs office - approx. 30 feet from the router. My signal was boosted from a miserly 11 mpbs (and that's on a good day) to anywhere from 24 - 54 mpbs. Now I know that my DSL doesn't come in that fast, but I can say, without a doubt, that the extender works. You just have to persevere...
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It does the job, June 29, 2007
By Cleany (Milwaukkee, WI)
I had to set it up manually instead of auto config which is ok if you know what you are doing, but probably very confusing to the average person.
if you want it to auto configure, you have to disable wep, wpa, etc then do the auto config, then reenable. I thought it would be easier just to manually configure it instead.
It seems to do a fairly decent job of extending range though not as much as I hoped or wanted. I have two areas I wanted better signal and I can't seem to place it in an area where it improve both areas at the same time, so I move it 15 ft one direction or the other depending on what area I want to use. There is a major throughput difference when I do this. All of this is going on within a 35 ft radius so I was not expecting to have to move it area just to cover two areas in such a small radius.
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Great product!, June 27, 2007
By PharmacyRx (Tennessee)
I have NO computer expertise and I installed this product in 10 minutes to a secured wireless network by following the directions on the CD and brochure. The key to easy installation is READING the directions. No connection issues, no problems. I would recommend this to others.
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Go manual, Luke!, June 25, 2007
By Two Dogs (Montgomery, AL)
The WRE 54G has a great receiver that pulls in everything in the neighborhood and tels you what channel they're on (so you can change your router to a quiet channel). After having my third NETGEAR WGX102 burn out, I decided to try Linksys. Initial auto setup did not work as advertised, but by going to the manual option in the setup wizard and selecting the right router, it really came alive and works great!
- Two Dogs
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