| 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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Setting it up, March 9, 2005
By Level II
Setting up a linksys wireless router
"I had a desktop and a notebook both using XP home edition"
Open the box and remove the router , power supply and Cat V cable
(Leave the CD in the box it's useless)
Know this:
You will not be able to "secure" your router during the setup but will be able to immediately after
Calling "tech support" is useless unless you are from the vicinity of 15N 75E
Do this
Go to www.linksys.com and find out if there is an upgrade for your firmware and download it
Disable your firewall
Go to www.linksys/com/easy and select the net setup option
Enable your firewall
Once you have completed this verify your connectivity
Now open your browser and type in 192.168.1.1 in the address and press enter
Leave the user blank and type admin for the password and press enter
You will want to enable the WEP 128 and change the router PW at a minimum
(You will need to enter one of the "keys" in your wireless pc network connection as it will be disconnected
after you change the security)
You may want to change the other settings and will need to check the FAQ for reference
Good engineering, good firmware, crappy software, phone support and documentation. But if you get to the web support you can find what you need eventually
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Spend more for quality!, March 7, 2005
By Apprentice
I used to own a $20 after rebate cheapo wireless router that I thought would be adequate enough for a home wireless networking. Ended up returning to a Linksys router and giving the cheap router the boot.
The cheap router I used to own had very minimal feature in the configurations menu and less security options then the Linksys WRT54G. But the biggest problem was the constant drop in connections and weak signals from time to time. I was fed up and turned to WRT54G because of its positive reviews, good past experience with wired routers and frequent firmware updates to correct any bugs.
I'm happy to say that this router was exactly what I was looking for. You won't regret it. The setup was very easy. Just follow the instructions carefully, it's all based on a CD that has everything you need to get you up and running in no time. The dual anteanna is a plus and the design is slick.
No more connection drops and strong signals even from the backyard. The WRT54G offers excellent security features and much more (and easier) configuration menu that I didn't even need a manual to setup correctly.
Even though you could get a cheap router these days, I'm happy I spent a little extra for the Linksys. The quality is significant and you'll be very happy from saving time and the headache.
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Excellent router, March 7, 2005
By Will (Stamford, CT USA)
I use this router for a mix of B and G clients and speed and coverage are excellent. The stock firmware was OK but the router would hang after 3-5GB of files transfer from wireless to wired clients. The HyperWRT firmware fixed this problem and combined with WallWatcher (Windows application receiving in/out log from WRT54G) provides excellent logging functionality.
I use Linksys, Netgear, Orinoco and AT&T wireless cards and not a single one gives troubles with this router.
There is only a piece of funcionality that is missing in the router; ability to pin DHCP address allocation to the same client (aka static DHCP). It is more convenient to have persistent IP addresses without dealing with static IP.
Highly recommended.
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5 stars no less unless you dont know about how wifi works, March 6, 2005
By Anh Lai
This router is my 3rd router in various places. The one key component for Linksys G/Super G routers is the QoS feature. QoS allows priority of internet packets. This feature is a MUST for VoiP services. I have never had any issues setting up ANY router, crappy or not. The low stars are due to people not understanding the basics to router setup period. This router is FLAWLESS.
Things to do once you get the router to ensure it works perfectly:
1) Upgrade the firmware right away if it's not the newest version. One key for upgrading: Newest factory firmware upgrade gives you QoS support!!
2) Disconnect your 2.4Ghz cordless phone. You will always have issues with it, so eliminate it right away to make sure your wifi setup is up and running first. You might live in proximity to neighbors with 2.4ghz phones, so be wary of that interference. Dont blame the router right away.
3) Ditch your 2.4ghz phone if possible for 5.8ghz cordless phones, i did this knowing the technicalities of the interference which i experienced.
4) Enable QoS for VoIP users, this is the ONLY reason i purchased this router. VoIP (vonage) is working flawlessly in any situation where I am downloading heavily, the VoIP packets get priority.
5) Read the dam instructions before posting negative reviews on the product.
6) Do not setup encryption on intial setup to test that it's up and running first, then move onto more complex setup with encryption. Read the instructions !!! And you SHOULD enable encryption for godsake.
Those 6 steps should allow any non-technical person to get this, or ANY 802.11b/g router up and running. Remember, 2.4Ghz phone usage will kill your wifi connection regularly, especially in big buildings with many tenants!!!
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Installation problems, March 5, 2005
By Cilla (Colorado Springs, CO)
First time installation was problematic. I had to call the Linksys help desk for support. Linksys customer service was surprisingly responsive and helpful. Once installed, the unit performed well. However, I moved to another state recently and had to re-install the router to a new cable modem. At first it seemed fine, but then it could not detect the signal. Called Linksys help desk again and they determined the router became defective. Only purchased it 4 months ago, so I'm a bit disappointed with the product.
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great if you have a weekend to waste.., March 5, 2005
By Trader A (CA)
I'm not a tech dummy. I've set up large (60+ workstation) networks. I spent HOURS trying to get this garbage to work. Went to tech support.. waited FOREVER. This product, this company SUCKS! Avoid! No joke!
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Get netgear instead, March 3, 2005
By Natalie Caricola
I purchased netgear b-band for my laptop. Set it up in 10 minutes. I purchased a new desktop pc and wanted to upgrade to g-band so I purchased a linksys router, adapter, pci card, etc... It took two weeks of agony before i finally returned it and got the pci card for my desktop through netgear. I set up netgear for my desktop in 15 minutes.
Get netgear!
Natalie
ps.. I have a dell pc, fyi.
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Easy Install, February 21, 2005
By R. Ward (Villa Park, IL United States)
I read some of the previous reviews before purchasing so I was a little worried when it arrived. It seems people have a hit or miss with linksys.
While I felt bad for the people who responded negatively using AOL broadband, I can say that I have DSL and this thing worked flawlessly right out of the box. I completed a wireless connection to a PC and have a mac laptop. Time from out of the box until installation and both computers recognizing the network, maybe 10 minutes total.
So far I've been able to take the laptop to any room in the house with full signal strength, even with microwave interference.
It works great and for a great price, but my only work of caution is like another reviewer who hooked up macs to their network, this router has trouble establishing WEP encryption with macs. I use my mac on at least 5 other networks without a hitch, it's the best computer I have. But something with linksys and the security settings are not meshing well.
I've tried Netgear and D-Link with mixed results. If you want a cheap access point that works great out of the box and delivers strong signals, go with this router. In fact, the only place where I lost the signal was out in my driveway on the street, which is good, that's the whole point.
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If you use AOL for Broadband with cable, don't buy this!, February 20, 2005
By crazymonkey89 (Houston, TX USA)
I use AOl Cable with 9.0 optimized SE. I bought this from Best Buy where the staff informed me this was the most popular wireless router with 802.11g and the best deal for $69.99 So I take it home and spend the next 4 hours trying to install it with its "EZ setup" feature. After arguing over and over with Linksys and then AOL I find a tiny thred in their terrible support forum that only the following routers work with AOL at this time:
BEFW11S4
BEFW11S4 v2, v3, and v3.2
BEFSR41
BEFSR41 v2
BEFSR11
BEFSRU31
BEFSR81
BEFSR81 v2
As you can tell, these are the older 802.11b routers and are fast fading from tge scene.
Furthermore, the AOl Braodband department advertises this router as the best one on their very support page. It's a crazy world.
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Great product. The best choice for console gaming!!, February 18, 2005
By Cyberdine
After decideding we needed wireless internet access in our home we purchased this to replace our wired Netgear router. Setup was a snap. Being our first wireless product I was a bit nervous about it being complicated to setup but I actually spent more time installing the Wireless PCI card we bought (also Linksys) than setting up the router. It was practically plug and play as we were up and going within 20 minutes.
The web configuration utility, as others have pointed out, is the way to go for setup. Naturally for security reasons you want to change the default SSID and disable SSID broadcast. Also enable WPA encryption.
The latest firmware upgrade contains a number of great configuration options. For example, we can designate our PS2 to have priority over our PC when playing online - this is great when you want to maintain a fast connection.
Unlike our previous router, we were able to play every Playstation 2 game we owned online without enabling port forwarding or turning on DMZ (even with the router's Firewall turned on.) Presently we have 2 PS2s, an XBox, 2 wireless computers, a wireless game adapter, a 4 port switch, 5 port hub and 3 file servers all using the router and we have not encountered any problems.
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Tough setup if you have a Mac, but not impossible, February 17, 2005
By E. Chen (New York, NY USA)
If you're buying this product and operate on a Mac platform, ditch the CD and go directly to live assistance on the Linksys website.
I recently bought the Linksys WRT54G router and have been very happy with the router itself. I run on Mac OSX, and though I considered getting the whole Apple airport setup, the cost difference between the Airport and the latest model Linksys pretty much left no comparison. (The Airport was more than twice the Linksys router.)
HOWEVER, configuration of my system and actual setup of the router for wireless use took me more than 3 hours, and briefly made me reconsider my choice to forego the airport and its notoriously easy setup. I am a generally computer-savvy person; not an IT expert by any means (which is what router configuration sometimes seems to require), but I can install and manage most computer stuff without too much support. But when I opened the box I found little more than a few advertisement flyers and instructions to run the enclosed CD before plugging in the router.
Too bad they don't mention anything about how the CD can't be used with a Mac. (Didn't find that out until I talked to someone in technical support an hour later.) After messing about a bit with the CD, I went online to the Linksys site to look for support tips. I even downloaded the product's user manual - useless. The Linksys technical support site has nothing about configuring the router for use with a Mac. It's like they want to pretend that Apple doesn't exist or something. But eventually I found my way to live assistance through their site (thank GOODNESS), where someone was able to give me adequate instructions to configure the router so that I could at least use it. I say adequate because it was enough to get wireless working, but nowhere near enough instruction to do the proper configuration job that I could have done if someone would just give me some instructions in plain English.
The router comes with a TON of options for setup, but sadly enough, I had no idea what most of it meant. What this product really needs is better documentation for how to set up the router for DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEMS!! and step by step explanations for all the different setup options and their relevance. I don't mind if the instructions are online instead of in the box, but please have some instructions *somewhere.* I'm giving it 4 stars because the setup process was so miserable. But the product iself is great.
If you have a Mac, I don't think you should totally discount this product. Once you set it up, it's great. And it is EXTREMELY well-priced for what you're getting. Just make sure to budget a couple of hours for setup, and invite some computer-savvy friends over first if you're prone to high blood pressure.
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Beware of frustrating compatablitity issues, February 14, 2005
By Stephen (New Jersey)
I purchased a WRT54GS router and two WUSB54A/G network adapters two weeks ago. I have a third network adapter - model WUSB54G whichb is three months old.
A senior Information Systems technical support individual from the hospital where I work ($$$) attempted for eight hours to set up a secure newtork in my home with these devices.
No problem with the WUB54 A/G adapters and even a Motorola WUB830G network adapter. However, despite a frustrating day, we could not get this new router to operate with the WUSB 54G network adapter.
The outsourced technical support which we tried to utilize "STINKS|!!!!!!".
When I told her that we believe the WUSB54G is defective the technician told me to call a number for the RMA department to try to retrun the WUB54G device. She swore it was open (Sunday)...sure enough it was closed.
Furthermore, I cannot get the router to work with my Dell Lattitude computer which has a built in wireless card.
This is the same Linksys outfit that I spent days arguing with several years ago when their drivers were not compatable with Windows XP and I had to rant and rave to get their assistance.
IF CISCO doen't clean up their act, they are going to go down the tubes!
I made a mistake...no need to repeat it...buy another brand!
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No pain no gain, the Linksys will get the job done!, February 14, 2005
By Courtland J. Carpenter (Fort Wayne, Indiana United States)
First, I must point out that any router installation is not for the faint of heart. Networking computers is quite beyond the capabilities of those, who used to think you had to keep the TV on to record it from your VCR. You have a chance if you're a good cookbook recipe follower. Yes, that makes women capable of installing these, there's no heavy lifting involved, just some focused thought. Unfortunately, Linksys does not write the best documentation. What is really needed with these are plug-ins, (ever present software controls) standard from the operating system, (OS) (Windows, Mac, Linux etc.) that use some type of connect standard where the OS does all the work. It's not here yet!
Why own one of these things then, especially if you only have one computer. The reason is simple, one word, and "security". The average Windows based computer, can exist on an unprotected Internet connection less than 20 minutes before someone will find its port address, and access it. They then send in Trojans, Worms, (programs that extract, and run themselves in your computer) plus other nasties, to steal information, or take control. In some cases, you can't even get your PC to the MS patch site to download XP security patch #2 before being hit. It's no wonder many new PCs ship with full hard drive images on DVDs, so you can restore your system back to as-shipped condition. Of course your data, and installed programs are gone if you do that. You'll have to reinstall everything you put on, from the day you first turned it on. Unless you backed up the documents, and other things you created, (data) that will be lost too.
What does a router, access point, do to help prevent this? For one, it clones the Mac address on many systems. A Mac address is a unique hardware identifier. Many if not most cable / DSL systems are looking for the Mac address from the cable modem you are using. Since you are connecting a router in-between the cable modem and the internet, the Mac address must be copied because its what's recognized by the your network service provider to identify you on their network. In addition, your port address is now the router, not your computer. Networks on the outside can't see your computer, and unless you install the security protocols incorrectly, all they see is the router, and what can't be seen can't be accessed. Now to get you, they have to trick you into accessing them by sending E-mails, or otherwise enticing you into downloading their mal-ware. This is what is commonly called a firewall. You now set the software to allow what access you will allow.
Here is where many typical problems begin. Windows security and most routers are not compatible on all levels. You have to look to the Net, tech service help lines, and FAQ sites on your router, to find out how to solve most of the typical problems. These generally range from not connecting at all, to hosting online games, or downloading files from sites with different security levels. With wireless routers, you have another potential hole, "the wireless connection". Someone next door may have a wireless system too, and could access your system if you forget to set these software firewalls.
Computer novices should have a computer savvy person install, and set-up their router. You are really the ones that need this the most. Your newness to the world of computing, and Internet surfing makes you a prime target of E-mail spoofers, identity thieves, and others who would attempt to take your private information. Don't try to install this yourself unless you have some technical knowledge.
Ok, so what can we say about this particular network product? Well Linksys was one of the original big players in the router industry. Linksys is made by Cisco, the networking giant who introduced the first routers for the Internet, and became a company that rivals Microsoft in size. I'm trying to point out they have experience, and so the reliability of the connection you get is among the best. You typically find less horror stories detailing poor connections with this, and most Linksys models. This model appears to be especially good.
Why the four-port wireless model you ask? You may only have one computer. True, you don't need more than an access point, and a wired one at that, to use as a protective firewall. Still, if you think there may be more computers in the future, and there is a need for a multi-port network. If that happens, you'll want to save money by sharing the Internet connection, rather than pay for two services or more, at multiple single-connect prices. Moreover, the price of these is very low compared to most computer add-ons, so getting the added functionality is at little, and sometimes no cost. What about the wireless capability, you ask. Well, if your network has or will have, computers in other rooms, you may not want to wire your house for Ethernet. This is especially true if you don't need the speed of a wired connection. Don't worry though, the primary computer located by the Linksys, can be connected by wire, this makes for a solid, and fast connection to the Net.
My last topic concerns the security setup you do, or have done with your router. Remember, you are working with two sets of security hardware boxes, your computer, and now your router. As said before, you may get some conflicts. The other issue is how secure do you want it. You can prevent any, and all file transfers to your PC. Even things like the downloaded files, and E-Mail attachments you do want to receive. Another thing you may do are the many file transfers needed to playing network games. Some settings allow you to play, but not host a game, others won't even let you connect to play. It may take several attempts, and reading a lot of FAQs or network help sites to fix some of these issues. However many you open up, remember you are putting holes in your firewall, making your computer less secure. You need to be careful not to just take down so much security that you allow the bad guys back in your system.
Let me give you a word about AOL, and other service providers. They provide you with their network security as a part of the service, but for a price. It is a good place for new users, who want to feel safe, and they do provide a good measure of safety, but they are not the total answer. Often they restrict you from sites you want to visit, and you can still be reached by clever hackers who con you into opening or using their files or programs. Let's put it this way, it's a big badge of honor in the hacking world if they can beat AOL, Microsoft, Earthlink, or another popular sites that provides Internet security. The purchase of a router is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself these days.
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Happy out of the box., February 13, 2005
By maniacmedia (Salt Lake City, UT USA)
I'm going to be moving soon. One device, Tivo Series 1 DVR, is far enough away from my network router to need either a really long Ethernet cable, or a wireless connection. Got the Linksys after reading some reviews. Was a bit wary because the software is Windows only and I have an iMac. But everything worked out for the best.
After pulling the Router out and connecting it, I hooked a Linksys WET11 Bridge onto the Tivo. Reset the network, tried the connection, and it's working like a charm. The downside being that the Tivo can only connect at 802.11b speeds and not 802.11g. However since this Router is backward compatible, that doesn't pose a problem at all.
Overall, it'll make my move that much easier knowing I don't have to worry about connectivity.
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The way wireless should be experienced, February 13, 2005
By unknown
I do not see what the problem is with this router. Picked one up at Best Buy today, got home and it had stickers reading "Install CD first"
Nothing was actually installed on the PC, it was more of a mandatory walkthrough to help get you connected, and it proved to be succesful.
I had a wired router. Now, using the WRT54G router, I have all 4 desktops connected by ethernet and two Windows XP laptops surfing at high speed.
I have a B and G Wifi laptop notebooks, and both recieve amazingly fast connections, with the G obviously being faster. I can roam up to 100+ feet with the notebooks and still recieve an incredibly fast connection.
People tend to get wrapped up in the routers proclaimed speeds, such as 54mbps or 11mbps. Well, when you are 120 feet away from this router, the signal says "Low" however it reads 3.5 mbps. Most people have high speed internet that is no faster than 2 mbps. You will only see a decrease in speed if you have a connection faster than what the router speed is.
Overall, I am surprised at how easy it was to get all 6 PCs (4 wired, 2 wireless notebooks) connected.
If you have Windows XP, the PC literally does the work for you.
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A good router for home use, February 10, 2005
By Kris (NY)
I have this router for over a year now, so far it is pretty stable. It has all the necessary security settings for your wireless network device. But, these settings are limited to wireless PC only (not Mac). I can only configure my Apple Powerbook G4 to work with this router is to have it open accepts all wireless connections. Or I can have my Powerbook's MAC address filtered. Over all it is a good router for home use.
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Minor problems, still right for the price, February 8, 2005
By Heidi (San Francisco, CA)
Some of the advanced configuration is non-obvious and is very poorly documented with the product (both in the help system and Linksys's website). Wired configuration was a breeze and took seconds. Wireless has been a bit trickier. Whenever certain encryption modes are enabled, all of the attached wireless devices drop signal momentarily every 4-5 minutes. Just long enough to terminate all of my connections, pretty annoying. Firmware updates and calls to Linksys support have not resolved this. (I ended up just turning off encryption, and enabling mac filtering, for the short term). I would be concerned with the security, but the signal strength is so poor that I doubt it's an issue -- the signal drops off with my own house. I can only get usable reception from approximately 60 feet away. I'm told there are better antennae that be purchased and added to the device, which may be a worthwhile investment. All in all, I have lukewarm feelings about this device. The value is about right for the price. You're probably not going to find anything better nor easier to use at such a low price. I find myself wishing I'd shelled out a bit more to get a better router though.
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buy the GS instead, February 7, 2005
By thank God for GPL
With the GS you'll get MORE processing power and more ram so you can use cooler Sveasoft firmwares.
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Works great, February 5, 2005
By Richard Cohen (Big Island, HI USA)
I bought this to replace my failed Netgear wireless router that was about 2 or 3 years old. If this one lasts that long I'll be satisfied. Works fine. The only thing that would make it better is if it was cheaper. Nuf said.
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New Setup Utility Improves An Already Good Device, February 4, 2005
By M. C. Ciulla
My old Linksys router recently died after 2.5 years of service. While I am not happy that a solid state device died after such a short period of time, my quick review of this product space did not yield any other brands that seem much better than Linksys.
The new router came with an updated setup utility that makes getting the router installed a fairly straight forward process. I had to change the channel of the router, like the channel on a cordless phone, to get it to work with the Linksys Instant USB Wireless Adapter v2.6. I also had to do this with the old router.
I used Linksys technical support several times. Unlike other reviewers, I have found the support to be responsive, almost no wait time on the phone, and relatively knowledgeable. Granted, I am a professional technologist with years of experience.
Overall, this router seems like a reasonably priced product that works as well as can be expected for products in this space and the company backs it up with good support.
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