| Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G |
 enlarge
|
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
|
|
|
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| User Reviews (416 total): |
|
It really works, indeed!, December 21, 2006
By Kwok Ng (San Jose, CA United States)
My WiFi router and network camera are in 2 extreme ends of the house. No matter what antenna I used, the network camera only got 29% of the WiFi signal. After I installed the WRE54G, the network camera always gets 90% to 100% WiFi signal. However, 2 things you need to do in order to get the best result.
1) At First, I just plugged it at the wall power outlet. It only increased 20% of the sigal strength. After I put it at the top of a bookshelf, it boosts up to 100%.
2) Don't put it close to the microwave oven. It will be interfered every time the microwave starts.
Before you configure it, you need to
1) turn off your WiFi router's security.
2) make sure there is no device on your network is using 192.168.1.240
Then, the auto-config will work like a champ. Last but not least, restart all devices that need to get the signal from the expander; otherwise, they will still access to the WiFi router.
Don't spend money or effort on those so-called long range antennas, I have tried so many of them. None of them is as good as this expander.
|
worked instantly, December 19, 2006
By D dlC (Houston, Texas United States)
When I first read reviews, I was apprehensive to buy it, but out of desperation I went ahead. I found it very easy to set up. I opened the box, read the instructions and it worked. The only hard part for me was mounting it on the wall because I couldn't find my screw driver. ;-p
|
Works Great, But Must Use Tech Support, December 15, 2006
By Berry Gibson
This product solved a long term problem I had been having with intermittent wireless connection between my modem and PC. Now that it is in place, I have had a flawless connection. However, I did find that I had to resort to calling tech support to complete the initial installation after several failed attempts at using the documentation.
|
Really?, December 15, 2006
By The_Machete (California)
I didn't have any of the problems that the other reviewers seemed to have. I guess the major difference was that I did NOT rely on the dreaded auto-config button. I just popped in the install disk, followed the set-up directions, and that was it! I'm taking away one star simply because this would have been a LOT more useful (at least in my case) if this device also functioned as an Access Point as well. Otherwise, it works fine.
|
Great product!! Works as advertised, December 4, 2006
By William G. Black III
I had read several reviews prior to purchasing this product and I got a little scared about the setup. Here's how I did it.
I disabled wep on the router
Powered on the expander
Pressed the auto config button
Logged into the expander configured wep on the device
Renabled wep.
Works great and pretty simple config.
|
Typical Linksys: works adequately after painful setup, December 4, 2006
By B. Abramson (New Jersey)
My experience was similar to that of many other reviewers. I purchased this product as I have just switched from DSL to cable: the cable modem is in the basement and the wireless signal from my Linksys wireless router now needs a boost to reach the second floor. I followed the instructions for set up and was unsuccessful. I tried direct connection, wireless connection, manual set up, and auto configuration, nothing worked. I tried the Linksys tools downloaded from their web site, no luck.
After several tries I managed to get through to the Linksys help desk and a very patient lady spent 45 minutes walking me through the steps. The major issue was the security on my network. But even with that removed the sequence of steps was complex with devices having to be plugged and unplugged, settings having to be entered and re-entered, connections having to be made and un-made.
Once the device was working it did its job adequately -- I now have an average signal at most points but I had hoped for a strong signal throughout the house.
I am a very experienced user and an IT professional. It should not be this difficult. After all, I was connecting one Linksys device to another and they are advertised as compatible. I have several other Linksys products and my experience with each of those was not dissimilar. The claimed "simple set up" never worked.
|
Performance worth the setup headache, December 4, 2006
By J. PETTY (Florence, ky USA)
Thanks to P. Anderson on the heads-up on connecting directly to the router via ethernet cable on a v3 expander.
After initially purchasing a couple months ago and trying to configure the expander, the network never could pick the expander up. I disabled WEP and
MAC filtering to no avail. After 2 months of heavy travel, finally tried it again this weekend. After reading the review on the ethernet connection I tried it and got in, however still experienced some challenges. One of the problems that Linksys fails to put in their documentation, is that the expanders default channel is 6. I have 12-15 active wireless networks in my neighborhood that software Network Stumbler picks up. With that interference, I set my wireless router to Channel 11, and thus the reason it never could pick up the router to config. After connecting via Ethernet, I could see that and change it quickly.
Once I was able to configure, my signal is pegged all over the house and the network FLIES! Speed is noticeably faster, and the periodic drops have so far ceased. The dramatic and noticeable increase in performance should give this product 5 stars, however Linksys' pathetic lack of documentation and the difficulty in setup dings it, but it's worth working through the hassles.
|
Easy as pie, November 27, 2006
By Jorek (Western US)
I set-up two of these extenders and each time I used the set-up cd. It took less than five minutes to get everything working perfectly. Before installation my basement had no signal at all, now it is excellent with 5 full bars.
|
Works perfect, November 27, 2006
By Jim Bammer (Florida)
I read all the negative and positive reviews for this thing and decided to see for myself how it stacked up. After a 5-10 minute setup, which basically entailed pushing one button, it worked perfectly and increased my downstairs wireless signal from 42% to 100%. Can't get much better than that. I guess to all those tech-heads who couldn't get this thing to work, maybe you should consider switching fields? :P
|
Warning - Vonage Customers, November 27, 2006
By S Meyler (Ridgefield, CT)
If you use Vonage and are using a Linksys wireless router -- beware. Purchasing this range expander (or wireless print servers and other wireless accessories) will result in an unbelieveable waste of time and money. Trust me. 2-6 hours of troubleshooting, 3-4 hours of wait time with both Vonage and Linksys to get to the bottom of it. Here is the short and sweet of it - Vonage runs their own firmware on the routers they package or the routers they commander for their service (i.e. if you read them a MAC number, they are running their own firmware). Their firmware is not in sync with Linksys' versions.
Laymen's terms? Most Linksys products are incompatible with the most recent firmware version running on Vonage controlled routers. What this means is that if you upgrade to a version of firmware that will allow this expander to work, your Vonage service will not work. The reverse is obviously also true. The solution? Ditch Vonage or ditch hopes of an expanded range wireless network unless you want to connect a router in addition to your wireless/phone router.
Don't believe me? Go ahead..See if you can make this work with Vonage service.
Terrible product management by Linksys and terrible product/partnership management by both companies. I will be getting rid of Vonage and going back to AT&T.
|
|
|
Mine works great, November 22, 2006
By jbeldar (Seattle, WA)
I got mine to work in about 30 min following S Huffs directions below (followed exactly). There was only one thing not mentioned that I had to do to get it to work. Once you get into the settings on the range extender to enable WEP and put in the key and passphrase, I had to turn WEP back on on my router before saving the settings on the range extender. Basically just put step 6 before you save settings in step 5, this is what worked for me at any rate.
I've had it for about 4 months now and it has worked as advertised. I gave it 4 stars because set up was still kind of a pain.
From S Huff: The tips that Anthony Taylor left helped me get it working... but I still had some issues. I've added onto his tips from his review below
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-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.
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).
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 that you will be putting in your router or AP in step 6 -- aka same passphrase), save settings again.
5.5 - As soon as you enable WEP on your expander - you will loose your connection to it as it's now setup for WEP and your router isn't - keep this in mind - drove me nuts.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP.
7 - UNPLUG your expander for 10 to 15 seconds and plug it back in -- Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
|
Great way to boost your signal or extend your range, November 22, 2006
By Vivian Lund (Cary, NC USA)
I am using this range expander to allow for wireless access between 2 buildings. The wireless router is inside a building behind 2 cinder block walls, and the range expander is in another building 50ft away located next to a window that offers a line of sight to the first building. Yes, setup was somewhat difficult, but the customer service rep. was able to help me get it running and I did not have to wait at all on hold.
|
What a pain!, November 10, 2006
By Mark (Ann Arbor, MI USA)
I purchased this item after carefully reading all the other reviews. I, like others, cound not get it to work with wireless security turned on. I even tired using the "tricks" described in another review.
To be fair, the product worked fine without wireless security, but I see little point in helping my neighbors tap my internet connection.
I am very disappointed in the product.
|
Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander, November 10, 2006
By M. Tsutsui
It works, but not fantastic (at least in my setting). If you're expecting a dramatic
result, you may want to be careful.
|
its works ok, November 3, 2006
By R. Corbin (Killeen, Texas United States)
it made it possable for me to work on my patio when before i could not
|
Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G, November 3, 2006
By Gary R. Rotenberg (Florham Park, NJ, United States)
This device does not work nearly as well as advertized. It took a long time to set up and program properly with the base unit, it frequently drops the signal, and we have to reboot it. It beats not having a signal repeating component, but it certainly has flaws. The set-up can, if it does not go flawlessly, bring tears to your eyes.
|
Be aware - MAC Address issue!, November 1, 2006
By Marc Stephens
Tried auto config, tried manual setup, no dice. Tried with WEP, tried without. Finally figured it out - if you have MAC Filtering security enabled on your wireless router (which any security savvy homeowner should), you have to enter the WRE54G's MAC address (on the unit's bottom) into your router's filter settings!! Otherwise the router will refuse its connection! Haven't seen this mentioned on any documentation or help sites.
|
Great device -- ROTTEN documentation, October 31, 2006
By a curious layman (Medina, OH, USA)
This device works flawlessly once you get it installed, but the Automatic Setup process did not work for me and there was no useful documentation or trouble shooting guide to get me unstuck. I nearly returned this product before I found a fix (from looking at the other reviews here, I am not alone.)
In my case, the trick was to change the IP address of my router (SMC Barricade G) from its default setting of 192.168.2.1 to what the Lynksys Range Expander expects: 192.168.1.1. After that the Lynksys automatic setup worked as advertised and I was up and running in no time.
According to many of the other reviews posted here, calling tech support may have shortened the duration of my agony. But there are a lot of SMC routers out there... Linksys can do better.
|
WRE54G + XBOX360 = Amazing Performance, October 30, 2006
By robnewport (Los Angeles, Ca United States)
Wow, there is an amzing antenna on this thing, it is worth the hype! However, the instructions are useless and configuring this thing is moderate to advanced, especially when dealing with non-linksys devices. I have a 2wire router and xbox360 which had terrible reception. Here are some pointers for people wanting to extend their router coverage to their XBOX360 wifi:
1. When you get the device, you really have to hold down the button for a long time. The button is kinda flakey, so make sure it is down firmly and the lights are blinking on the front.
2. Contrary to what some people say, the lights don't have to be blue for you to log into the device's website. I held the buttons down for about three minutes and then put the device's ip number in my browser (192.169.1.240) and it came up.
3. The XBOX really complained about two devices having the same SSID. This made autoconfiguration on the XBOX360 impossible. You have to manually configure it. I manually configured all my devices because the computers were totally freaked out at having two SSIDs to DHCP to. I had problems with dropped connections until I plugged in my numbers manually. Here's how:
Set the main IP to something like 192.168.1.20 and the subnet to 255.255.0.0 then look up your DNS on your personal computer and enter the same ones into the xbox360. Finally, put in your router's address into the gateway (it should be something like 192.168.0.1) or a variation on this. This is what made mine work, and I went from half of one bar to a full five bars! This dramatically improved gaming too.
|
Excellent signal boost, once I finally got it configured, October 30, 2006
By Art
As many others have already written, configuring this device can be time consuming (especially if you are the type that prefers "trial and error" over reading the manual). As long as you temporarily disable the security on your router, the "auto-config button" will connect the expander (v3) with a WRT54G router with no problem. Once connected, you can connect to the device's interface via your web browser and configure the security settings (WPA-Pre Shared Key/AES was the winner for me).
My basement was my weak spot. My connection has now increased from intermittent/low to excellent.
|
|
|
| Copyright 2001-2007 WiFiReview.com |
|