| Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router |
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Model: WRT54G
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 1702
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: Windows XP Professional Edition
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 (1702 total): |
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Works like a champ, set up (manually) and going in <30mins, May 20, 2006
By Jay F. (Detroit, MI)
I replaced my Netgear 802.11g router with this Linksys WRT54G, because the Netgear gets so hot that at times I'm afraid it will melt... Also, its wired ports are so touchy that even breathing on them causes a wired PC to lose its network connection.
I plugged my PC into the new Linksys, in order to configure it while the existing router was still in place, providing service to my laptop. I connected to the router's administration web page and easily found all the settings I wanted, got the thing set up just how I wanted, then swapped out my Netgear for this one. Right out of the chute, connected perfectly and remained stable. The router has been in place for about a week now, and I have not had a single hiccup.
The router is a top performer in my book, though I gave it only 4 stars because it seems to be limited in the number of ports it can forward to other devices. I feel I should be able to have as many as I want, and am only given maybe 10-12.
I chose to disable the "Easy Secure Setup" function, mostly because I didn't feel like seeing its orange light on all the time, and also because I will never use this feature. There is no reason to use the supplied software CD either, if you know how to set the router up.
Overall... Love this router... Enjoy!
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Drops connection every 10 min. Firmware upgrades do not fix. AVOID, May 19, 2006
By Dan (Minneapolis, MN USA)
I've used serveral Linksys products in the past, this will be the last one. I've always been big on their reliability but that has gone out the window with the WRT54G v 5.
Me: I've worked in IT for 3 years and have quite a bit of network troubleshooting experience in a company with 80 offices and 1200 + users. The setup software is very user friendly, IMO an average computer user should be able to set it up with no problem - as was the case with their previous products.
The problem is the connection drops every 10-20 minutes. Sometimes only the WAN (connection from router-(modem)-world) drops, most of the time the LAN drops too- both from my laptop (wireless) as well as from my PC (ethernet). Tried switching ports, cables, etc., still same problem - couldn't even ping the gateway. Can't release/renew IP, not even disable/enable NIC - to fix it you have to reboot the router (AND sometimes disable/enable NIC to get connection back!). Then, 10 minutes later, same thing.
I upgraded to firmware v 1.00.6, which was supposed to fix some stability problems, still no go. Reset to defaults, etc., nothing fixes it. I'd try using my old router and configuring this just as a wireless access point, that doesn't appear to be an option.
I've already ordered a refurbed, older [different brand] wireless router to replace this paperweight. I used to be a big Linksys fanboy, I do not plan on buying any of their products after this thing.
Save your money.
Do not buy this product. Buy from a different manufacturer.
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Easy to install and Configure, May 17, 2006
By Steve Franc (Somerset, WI)
From reading some of the reviews, I thought I would have a hard time configuring this router. But, all I really did to get on the network was connect everything, power up and I was on the internet after registering my new mac address. Although I had not configured the router according to my specs, I just put the ip of the router in the browser, entered the default password, then made the config changes I wanted to make. I modified the dhcp scope, enabled Mac filtering, disabled broadcasting of the ssid and enabled WPA. These steps were completed with no problems at all.
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Tough time at setup, but then wonderful..., May 15, 2006
By Alay (Santa Clara, CA United States)
Overall this is nice product. If setup procedure would have been straightforward and if it would have started to work as prescribed in the start up CD, I would have given it 5 stars. For those, who are planning to purchase the product of this catagory, I would recommend go ahead with it, but DO NOT FOLLOW the procedure prescribed in CD for wireless connectivity. It would me MUCH simpler to just call Linksys Customer Care (You may need to call twise at toll free number(s)) and product will meet your expectations of wireless router...
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Load the newest Firmware!, May 8, 2006
By gulogulo1970 (Big Tex Baby!)
I've had this router for a while(6 months) now and hated it until just recently. It would drop the signal every 10 minutes or so. When I loaded the new updated firmware from the Linksys web site my problems diappeared.
Do yourself a favor find the new firmware as soon as you set it up it will tranfer much faster and I have yet to have a dropped connection.
Inital set-up of this router is very difficult with their vague instructions. But right now I'm pretty happy. Good Luck!
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Terrible experience! Really frustrating., May 7, 2006
By A. Summers (Hayward, CA United States)
I went through two of these units. I set up the first one and it worked for about a month. It then failed and no amount of tech support would revive it, so I had it replaced under warranty. The second unit worked a while, but soon after the warranty period expired, it started to flake out frequently.
After that, I had a lot of problems with it. The wireless connection dropped often. Tech support could usually get it going again, and eventually I learned some of the tricks they gave me for resuscitating it: ipconfig through the command window, changing the wireless channel, etc.
I had it for well over a year and it flaked out on me often. Even when it worked, its range didn't impress me. I couldn't move one room away from the router and maintain the wireless connection through a single wall at a distance of around 30 feet. Linksys tech support isn't too bad, and they tried to help, but the product is just dismal.
Over time the rate of problems increased. I noticed that any time my laptop detected multiple wireless signals, my wireless connection would fail. I thought this might be a problem with the laptop, but we also have a PDA with wireless capability, and the Linksys wireless connection would drop the PDA at the same times.
Eventually when I tried to update the firmware, my computer crashed, and the router went completely dead. It didn't even work as a physical router after that.
Later a friend gave me a Linksys Compact Wireless-G router that had the very same problem with its wireless signal dropping whenever there were other wireless signals in the area. Changing channels and settings did nothing to help the problem. It only worked when I gave it to my parents, who live in a remote area where no other wireless signals can interfere with the Linksys wireless.
Recently I tried to revive this older WRT54G model again by restoring the factory defaults and then updating the firmware. It still doesn't work. This last problem may not be the fault of Linksys; they do warn that if the computer stops during a firmware update, the router may die.
But the wireless never worked well, and that is the fault of Linksys. I've given Linksys plenty of chances but it has been a disappointment every time. If you live in an apartment building or in a dense neighborhood, avoid Linksys, or prepare to have big problems with your wireless connection as soon as one of your neighbors turns on a wireless device of his own.
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Unstable, Poor Range, Drops Connections, May 5, 2006
By A music fan
There are three questions I dreadfully expect my child to ask me once it grows up a bit:
1. Why do people kill each other?
2. Who watches David Letterman?
3. What makes people buy Linksys products?
I know, I'm guilty of it too; I've owned three Linksys products, all of them failed one way or the other, but for some reason I kept coming back, faithfully believing in the brand. The WRT54G ver. 5 that I got turned out to be not much different in terms of quality and dependability.
Linksys stuff has its appeal in that if it works, it works decently, this is why the lucky ones give it good reviews, but if you went through many of Linksys failures, you know what I'm talking about. First, the number one problem with WRT is that as a DHCP client it is extremely slow and dreamy - this is why most people experience "Internet could not be found" message during the installation - just give it a few minutes. Sometimes, the router locked up, and I couldn't even access its config page. The people who have experience Internet disconnects with DSL modems in full, non-bridged mode, may need to check the DHCP lease time of their modem, since as I've said, Linksys is slow when it comes to DHCP.
I also wasn't impressed with it's two (!) big antennas - on the opposite side of my modest two-bedroom apartment I could barely get a connection from the laptop, no matter what channel I chose, time of day, or star alignment. The desktop just a room (mere feet and a dry wall) away from the router could get only 78%-85% signal, and the bars were constantly fluctuating, as if there was something wrong with the transmitter.
In the end, after confirming my experiences from other users on the Net, I went back to Fry's and gave it back. I now have a U.S. Robotics MAXg router, which took me 5 mins to set up, and works like a Toyota - no suprises, just does what it supposes to. I downtuned its antenna power to 25% and I still get a decent reception everywhere around the apartment.
So, if you value reliability and do not like surprises, do not buy Linksys.
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Bought because of reviews, May 4, 2006
By I like gadjets. Have a lot (Nipinnawassee, Ca.)
My review Before. Fed Ex dropped of units at noon. 9:15 PM and whole thing DOES NOT WORK. Very very very angry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My review After. ***** Tech support (I recommend online chat with a tech) is required to configure the router to be a pass through hub because my ISPs DSL modem router configuration conflicts with Linksys router. My brain was melting. Still don't know exactly what we, he did but IT WORKS. Linksys system 5 stars! Now I'm VERY happy. The online chat person was VERY patient and gets 5 stars. Nerd, out...
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thanks for your reviews, here is mine, April 30, 2006
By jmw
recently decided to replace my dlink 604 with a wireless router- since the dlink 604 worked so well and was so easy to setup i thought i would get the dlink wireless router, but the reviews on the dlink wireless were pretty bad- so i started looking at linksys and belkin- the reviews for belkin were good, but there was a constant complaint about their tech support, with the advent of outsourcing tech support is pretty bad in general, but the belkin seems to be the worst of the bad per the reviews i read- so that left linksys, there was a mixed bag of reviews on the WRT54G/S, and what about speed booster? well linksys email support claimed that you still get better performance with speedbooster even when the client device does not have speed booster card, i couldnt concieve how this could be so i just went with the WRT54G- before i started the install i changed the gateway ip setting on the pc to be the ip address for the linksys router, then started the install with the install cd as instructed, it walks you through the correct way to connect and disconnect modem, pc, router..., but then it "inspected my pc settings" and got stuck in a loop, kept going back to "enter pw" win, and i got a popup about lan connection problem- remembering how some reviews said to skip the cd i just exited and launched IE, and was connected- then i just changed the gateway ip on my other 2 pcs and connected- so at least the wired part of my network upgrade went ok- now on to wireless
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Impressions of a non-expert..., April 26, 2006
By Dr Lilith (Phoenix, AZ)
I am writing this review for those of you who know little or nothing about all the technical aspects of setting up a home wireless network. I do not know all the pros and cons of the various alternatives; I just know what works for me. So this is simply about my experience with this product.
A friend of mine (a professional tech geek) offered to set it up for me during a weekend visit, but the router did not arrive in time for him to help me with it. When I had originally looked at routers at a local electronics store, they had offered to set up the router and the network for me for about $100-120. My friend kept telling me that I should just try it myself because it was so "easy" to do (for him, maybe).
Well, I did it! I followed the instructions (carefully) that came with the router, and I was able to set up the network and to make it secure. And best of all: it works! It has been up and running for several months now, and we have had no trouble with it. It works throughout the house, as well as on the back patio.
So for those of you tech-dummies out there, like me, there is hope! This product works.
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You have to wonder..., April 18, 2006
By fprintf (Cheshire, CT USA)
You have to wonder why so many reviewers have such different experiences recently than over 800 others over the course of the past 3 years. I recently purchased this router since I thought it was unlikely I would need the range or speed of the speedbooster model.
The router set up perfectly on Windows XP and installed immediately from the included CD. Security, via several different options, was a snap. I followed the directions by not plugging anything in until told to do so. The USB wireless antenna on the remote computer installed just as easily and found several different networks within my neighborhood, a typical suburban cul-de-sac. Impressive!
The instructions that came with my unit were in proper English, without any spelling errors or anything else that would lead me to believe this was a less than perfect representation of LinkSys product quality. Overall, very nice!
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Few years now and still going, and going, and going......., April 18, 2006
By Christian De Freitas (Caracas, Venezuela)
This Router has been on the market for 3 years, and it's unbeleivable the amount of linksys products are out there.
I have 2 of these at home, they are WRT54Gv3.0 so i updated it with a linux firmware available online freely. It's incredible what you can do with this router together with the new firmware.
Out-of-the-box it's quite capable too, but i just wanted to know what all the hive of the linux firmware was.
The most outstanding quality of this router is the posibility to increas the power of the antenna, it's shipped with the power set at 28mw, but i setted it at 150mw (out of 250mw possible) and have an amazing range, all of this with included antenas.
If you want a device thats capable of doing good & hard work get this Router.
BTW: the web interface is quite easy to use, it even has an online help included.
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read and be warned, April 15, 2006
By David T. Kight (Vidalia, GA United States)
I have bought over 20 linksys products over the years. (sound file player, hubs, routers, WAPs, cards, etc etc) On about 3 I have had to call or email for a bit of support to get them working, in each case customer service was good and the product worked great. Some maybe for only a year or 2. This is actually my second WRT54G, I have the WRT54G version 1.1 (look at bottom of the box for your version) This one is a version 5.
I bought a high gain antenna, range expander, a usb wireless adapter and this piece of junk WRT54G version 5 router. I have now called/chatted their service reps 5 times on this same device. It constantly just drops. I upgraded firmware twice, changed ip address, release/renew etc. etc. etc. I have an MCSE and a MBA emphasis IS, there is no doubt the problem is in their product.
The main reason I bought this is because of the several wireless appliances I have I hoped to use the range extender and antenna to cut through some interference and provide a better signal to a desktop that sometimes drops when some wireless cameras are on. (the version 1.1 doesn't have antenna that can be upgraded) What a huge waste of my time.
The kicker, I finally call for 6th time to say hey just give me a replacement and they try to once again make me jump through the same troubleshooting hoops for the 6th time, when I finally demand a refund/replacement they tell me to call back because their computers are down.
Linksys you have gone right to the bottom of my list for components.
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Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Caveat Emptor! WRT54Gv5 is terrible!, April 8, 2006
By Dragos Toader (Chino Hills, CA United States)
0 stars in this case. I'm emphatically stressing: Avoid, Avoid, Avoid. LinkSys released alpha firmware (v 1.00.6) for this. Looks to be untested. Some of the error screens have grammatical errors. Unpredictable behavior. Port forwarding did not initially work. Idle connections are automatically dropped and there is no idle timeout option in the web configuration. Tech support is clueless - from India and the Phillipines. Product was rushed to market and features do not work as advertised. Also, power supply doesn't output the correct voltage. Cut your losses and get another brand. LinkSys doesn't seem to care about quality.
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Easy & Fast Install, April 6, 2006
By L. Boal (Copperas Cove, TX USA)
To my surprise, I got the router working in less than 15 minutes. I just followed the instructions in the book and I was surfing on the internet in no time. I expected problems because I had them when I installed my old linksys router, notebook adapter & print server - so this is surprising.
Anyway it has been about a month and everything is working good.
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Version 5 is terrible., April 4, 2006
By OWEN (OVERLAND PARK, KS)
If you run torrent's or any P2P, run for cover and get the WRT54GL, which is basically this router with the memory (double) and firmware of Version 4 before they cheaped out.
Also, forget about using 3rd party firmware with Version 5 also.
I replaced a BEFW11S4 with this unit. Big mistake. I'm really mad at myself fot not doing some extra research before this purchase.
BTW, zero star's was not an option. Enjoy the tech support in India.
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V.5 Needs firmware upgrade and NetSet online to work--THEN it works great, April 2, 2006
By B. Ratanawongsa (San Diego, CA)
I spent a few weeks until I could get my router (v.5) to work. It worked sporadically but kept knocking me off my internet server. The bottomline is that the software that came with the router just doesn't work alone (at least with Windows XP) If you're having trouble getting this to work, I'd suggest (while connected to the internet without the router) just going to www.linksys.com/easy , clicking on NetUpdate to download the firmware upgrade for v.5 then clicking on NetSet and follow their directions. It'll tell you when to connect the router. There will even be an option to save a program on a disk you can put into a device (like a laptop) you'd like to connect to the router that makes certain it all goes smoothly. That was great.
After a couple livechat sessions (they were helpful but sort of went the roundabout way and didn't get me to the final solution), I finally spoke to someone on the phone for support who noted that I not only needed to do a firmware upgrade (basically software for the router to work) (which I already discovered is a different firmware upgrade for v.5 than for all the other prior versions) but to go to www.linksys.com/easy and download NetSet (when you're connected to the internet without the router on board) then follow the directions. I had spent forever punching in static IP addresses, etc...but the bottom line is that v.5 needs a firmware upgrade and help from a program you can get online to get it to work. Then it works GREAT!
I would have given this 5 stars if all this had been outlined when I received the router. Perhaps they should send a sticker to put on the boxes of the v.5 routers already sold. If that's too expensive they could at least have told all their livechat and call in support staff to direct all v.5 owners to do the above. I hope this saves some people a lot of heartache and time.
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Lower memory and reduce speed?, April 1, 2006
By - www.sysedco.com (Marysville, OH)
This concept seems to be unusual. Cisco (let's be honest they own Linksys) has lowered the memory and processing power of the newer versions of this device. They've gone from 16 MB of RAM in version 4 to 8 MB of RAM in version 5. They also lowered flash memory from 4 to 2 MB at the same time. Interestingly, they upgraded from 200 MHz to 216 MHz processors from version 3.0 to 3.1 and then throttled back to 200 MHz at version 4.0.
There may be many theories as to why they've done this, but a logical argument is that with a faster processor and more memory, they Linksys device may compete a little to close to the Enterprise-Class Cisco devices. Someone in Cisco should post a review here letting us know why this was done. If it was a software comaptiblity issue or a component availability issue, explain it to us so we don't have to theorize on the motives.
In the mean time, I'll buy a different router like the Buffalo WZR-RS-G54 with 64 megabytes of RAM and 8 MB flash (plus an amazing built-in PPTP VPN server that supports client-to-LAN as well as LAN-to-LAN connections). Maybe you could consider the used WRT54G version 3.1 if you can find it?
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Difficult to install with SBC 2Wire DSL and Apple Airport Express, March 27, 2006
By O. Diaz (Irvine, CA United States)
I have a DSL SBC-Yahoo 2Wire internet connection and I had a terrible experience trying to install it myself. I tried everything in the manuals and finally called tech support twice: Once to install my connection and the second time to set up my password access. It took more than 4 hours of my time and 1 hour of tech support to install the equipment.
Currently I haven't had any problems using my laptops and PSP, but I have tried (with no luck) to use my Apple Airport Express for more than a month and I haven't figure it out just yet. Be aware that in order to connect your airport express via Linksys you will need to upgrade your firmware, and be ready to spend some serious time working with this project.
my personal rating: equipment 8.5, software 7.0, tech support 7.5 (24-7 is nice, but poor english skills), apple friendly 5.0.
If you aren't a computer nerd, think twice before installing it yourself.
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Great device, March 26, 2006
By Josh Correll (Southeast Tennessee)
This device has everything you could ask for in wireless and more! It was easy to configure and I have no complaints at all. The price is exceptional considering what it does.
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