| Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router |
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Model: WRT54G
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 1447
Platforms: Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, Windows
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
All-in-one Internet-sharing router, 4-port switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) access point
Wireless data rates up to 54 Mbps--5 times faster than 802.11b
Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G clients
Interoperates with 802.11b clients at 11 Mbps
Advanced wireless security with 128-bit WEP encryption, MAC, or IP address filtering |
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| Description: |
| LINKSYS WRT54G - Wireless-G is the emerging 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B ( 802.11b ) products found in homes, businesses and public wireless hotspots around the country. The best part is, since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices talk to existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment. Operates as a DHCP Server NAT technology to protect against Internet intruders Supports VPN pass-through Easy configuration with web browser based configuration utility |
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| User Reviews (1447 total): |
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Solid Wireless g router, but its still wireless, December 8, 2007
By justin_v (USA)
I've owned this router for a couple years now, it is a solid wireless router with easy interface etc. But ALL wireless routers are very poor for network data transfer. Expecting 54mbps? Don't count on it. Properly secured with WPA2 encryption my transfer rates are barely getting up to 5Mbps, yes 5. I get 5Mbps internet and this router (WPA2 remember) get's a top consistent transfer to my laptop (wireless 802.11g card built in) around 4.5Mbps. Not even my internet speed. 54Mbps is optimal, without any security. In the real world, 802.11g isn't for much more than internet sharing and music streaming. I drop off two stars for this as I would any 802.11g product that advertises "multimedia" streaming. Always will wired be the preferred solution. I pull full 1Gbps off my Linksys SD2008 switch, wireless n, when standardized won't even touch a quarter of that in real world use. This review is for anyone who looked at the product and said "wow, 54mbps is good enough for the video I want to stream" etc.; well, it won't be if you are a wall away and secured. (Of course, this is, unless you plan on streaming content so low in quality you watch it thinking you need glasses). But in the end, this is my personal experience, WPA2, no SSID broadcast, and 15ft + 1 wall/door (simple sheetrock-2x4-sheetrock) yields <5Mbps. I end up transferring gigabytes of datafiles and streaming DVD quality video, wired (my internet too if I want my full pipe).
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Caveat for Mac users, December 8, 2007
By JDD (Atlanta, GA)
This linksys router comes with absolutely NO instructions or software for macintosh users. You're pretty much on your own for setting it up. Fortunately you can do a google search and find some good info on the web to help, but even then it's not a simple thing. The router seems to work fine once you manage to get it configured correctly, but the set-up can be a *itch for those who don't know much about networking.
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Great item!, December 7, 2007
By Ms. Kiny (Homestead, Florida)
The Linksys Wireless Router is a very good product I haven't had any major problems or been kicked off the internet like some reviews have stated. This product is simple to install. If you don't know much about computers and technology then this is the router for you I did it myself!
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best value., December 6, 2007
By Neetcha (Columbus, OH)
I bought this router for my 2200 sq ft house thinking that I would only be able to get a signal in adjacent rooms, but to my surprise every corner of my house gets reception. I am pleased with the speed and would recommend this to anyone with a need for basic wireless internet use in their home.
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Upgrade was smooth and easy, December 5, 2007
By J. Martin
I recently moved my office from one room to another. Unfortunately, there was no cable outlet in the new room and two walls were concrete exterior walls - difficult to add a new cable outlet and wiring. I currently had a Linksys router and wireless access point (WAP) so I thought I might just go wireless in my new office. I was concerned about performance however, and research didn't really make me feel any better. I read it would hurt performance and it wouldn't.
After years of successful use of my Linksys router and WAP, I decided to upgrade my network as my old setup was 802.llb, and used - what I understand now, to be not as secure as I thought - WEP security. 802.11n seemed to be too new and buggy so I went with the proven 802.11g technology. I needed a $49 router and two new computer adapters - also about the same price. I replaced my router and WAP with a single component (Linksys Wireless-G WRT54G).
The software wizard (Easy Link Advisor) walked you through installation step-by-step and was really quite simple to setup. I'd say even a novice could do it. The one thing I really did not like is that it said it would use the settings from my old router (it remains attached during the first part of installation). Here's why. Once the installation was complete, I went to another computer and searched for available networks. It found one unsecure network - mine! My old setup was secure. I have no idea why it did not use the settings as it said it would. But I had to manually add security - easy using the wizard. Still, had I not figured this out, my network would have remained exposed.
Once in my new office, performance seemed just fine. I use VPN, Limewire downloads, etc. No gaming though. Although, it could be because I'm on a more recent version - 802.llg - that compensates. I use a WMP54GS PCI adapter, that really stinks. But that's not part of the review.
Pro
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* Proven technology/product (mostly)
* Easy installation
* No noticable performance loss
Con
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* Default setup was unsecure
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Lousy, December 3, 2007
By EJB (Cedar Rapids, IA)
I use this for a few days and put it on the shelf . It is really very very very slow. Bought a Dynex for five dollars less that is as fast as direct connection.
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defective, December 1, 2007
By Barbara Poti computer lover (Watkinsville,Ga USA)
I recieved this and spent 2 hours trying to install it. Finally called a pro who after an hour decided it was defective and it cost me $50 just to try this router out.Very unhappy about that.
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It works great!! For a while....., November 28, 2007
By Bibliovideophile (Montana, USA)
I've had three of these Linksys WRT54G Wireless Routers. Why three? Well, with each one, they work absolutely fantastic...for about 2 months and then seem to become, for a lack of better word, "stymied". It's almost as thought they can only process data for awhile then stop. Obviously I'm not a computer expert, but I've contacted Linksys technical support several dozen times (not kidding - I've written them all down). So, they have sent me two replacment routers. I know the router is the problem because if I connect my computer directly to my cable modem, it works fine. With the Linksys router, it just stops connecting from time to time randomly. I have a Linksys WIRED router from the past, and it works just fine - and always, so I thought the wireless one would work well, but this is not the case. If you are considering purchasing this router, I highly, highly suggest you consider a Belkin instead.
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Excellent product, but mind your telephone set and wall thickness...!, November 26, 2007
By El Beatle (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
I bought this unit with high expectations and it's really a good product.
My only warning for other customers is to acknowledge, before you buy, that if you own a wireless phone that works in the 2.4 GHz band, you'll have this product interfering your conversations, or when the phone rings, your internet connection interrupted.
Some blogs mention that separating the phone and router units helps minimize the issue, and this has worked in my case (I own a Panasonic wireless phone), but this has not always solved other users issues.
One thing that truly surprised me is signal strength in my 50 year building. My flat has 90 sqare meters (around 1000 sqare feet), and walls are thick and build in noble materials (according to the construction of the time). Turns out that signal is lost significantly when you notice that 2 or 3 walls are blocking the signal's way.
Anyway, I'm satisfied with it, as I now can use my laptop or Palm anywhere around the house.
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Love This! Easy to Set Up!, November 24, 2007
By S. Turell (CA United States)
Before installing this wireless router, I went on the web and read a lot about wireless networks, security, etc. Although I'm fairly computer savvy, much of the technical stuff was over my head, so I decided to just dive in. The box comes with a big red label that warns not to disconnect anything, DON'T DO ANYTHING to your existing setup, just put the installation CD in the drive and follow instructions. So that's what I did.
Could not have been easier. Hit "Add a computer" to install my laptop once the desktop was up and running. I later installed a Roku soundbridge (also highly recommended) and the wireless software recognized it and asked if I wanted to add it to my devices. Said yes, and there it was.
The router did briefly disappear at one point and the software guided me through some troubleshooting steps, which didn't help. Rebooting solved whatever issue there was.
Only word of warning is to choose a password for the router that includes at least 8 characters. I don't think they told you that in the instructions, or I didn't notice, and my laptop and the Roku soundbridge wouldn't recognize anything with fewer characters and kept telling me the format was incorrect. Changing the password wasn't that big a hassle.
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Everything I wanted, November 22, 2007
By lisamex (Mexico)
This router is great. It's everything I wanted. I use it for routing a satellite modem to four different houses on the same property. I have a Mac Book, and I did nothing but plug the thing in, hook up all the connections, and I was good to go. No CD, no grief, no tech support, the Mac and router worked together and it took minutes.
Go for it!
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Awesome, November 21, 2007
By M. Mcgough (Fort Worth, Texas)
Linksys pulls through after my d-link falls short. So good that I bought one for my parents.
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No RP-TNC connector, November 20, 2007
By Jenesais (Warwick, RI USA)
The WRT54G is still a solid wireless router, but Linksys seriously damaged its value by removing the RP-TNC antenna connectors from new units. The WRT54GL still has these connectors, making it easy to replace the standard antennas with stronger units, and increase the range of the router. Get the WRT54GL instead.
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Easy as can be, November 15, 2007
By BB Girl
I was looking for a router to set up my laptop for the high speed internet we just got and knew absolutely nothing about equipment, how to set up - absolutely nothing. My husband told me we would probably have to have my brother-in-law come over to help us out because we were so clueless. After doing some research on the internet and talking to some sales people at a computer store in town I bought this product. The first thing it tells you on the box is not to disconnect any of the equipment and to put in the CD first. It then takes you through a process that is so easy that if I can do it anyone can. It even shows you little animated movies on what cables to connect to the equipment and where they should go. The whole process took me about 15 minutes and my wireless was up and running. I couldn't believe it! My husband was out of town and I had to call him and tell him - I was that excited. I am able to take my laptop up to my bedroom which is on the second floor and have never lost a connection. This system is a quick and easy set-up that I would recommend to anyone.
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Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router, November 14, 2007
By Mike O. (Fairport, NY USA)
I like this router because it has a very straight forward install CD that makes novices like me get started right out of the box. The range is perfect for a standard home. One thing I didn't consider, when looking for one, was the fact that this unit is a (4)channel ethernet wired router as well. This may be a common feature but I'm glad this one has it, otherwise I'd be feelin' stupid.
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Never Again, Linksys, November 13, 2007
By Erin B. Timberlake
Never purchase this product. It lasted a good six months with only about ten times i had to reset it and sigh before it crashed the first time. After a thirty minute ordeal where I had to read the serial number no less then four times then get shafted to a supervisor - to get my IP Adress renewed! - only a few months later it goes down and bam, they say it's faulty and send it back.
Well gee willikers, that'd be great if I still had my original reciept. Due to moving, I was unable to keep my hands on some of that stuff and it is lost. So, no repaired router for me.
Customer service there sucks and the product makes me cringe. Stay away.
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Excellent product, November 13, 2007
By Ruben Guevara
Truely it is an excellent product, easy to install and to configurate. I recommend 100%
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DON'T BUY THIS! (You've been warned), November 12, 2007
By voip_user42 (San Francisco, CA)
If you have any desire to run VoIP, then don't buy this unless Vonage is your only choice. There is no way to unlock this box, or to use a more open VoIP provider. This box is a rip-off. Don't buy this.
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Good Router, November 12, 2007
By Jack R. Waters
I have installed three of these in the past Year. With the new installation CD that came with the last two units it is a snap to set up a network and get on line. The price is right and you will have to work hard to mess it up. The range is good and it works with no problems. Can't expect much more for 50 dollars.
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SOOO easy to set up!, November 11, 2007
By Laura (Texas)
For people who don't have or need to have much esperience with home networking this is PERFECT.
This was SO EASY to install. The latest software they have does all of it for you. (I had bought one of these a few years back, with XP as well and it was more complicated. So its nice to see they have made the user friendly improvements.)
I have a new laptop with VISTA. I had wondered how THAT was going to go as I have heard so many horror stories about compatibility. But it was absolutely NO Problem. Even if you use Norton as your firewall (vs. Microsoft).
I was also able to install an HP printer adapter upgrade and that was easy to do as well.
I don't need to know all that networking "stuff" I just want mobility and convenience...let the application figure it out!! and it did!!
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