| Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster |
 enlarge
|
Model: WRT54GS
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 433
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
|
|
|
| |
| Features: |
Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) Access Point
Protects all wireless transmissions with 128-bit encryption
New SpeedBooster technology increases wireless network performance by up to 35 percent
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and 802.1x
Shares Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired, 802.11g, 802.11b, and SpeedBooster devices |
| |
| Description: |
| LINKSYS WRT54GS -- The Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect Wireless-G, Wireless-B, and other performance-enhanced SpeedBooster devices to the network. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. Easy configuration with web browser based configuration utility Linksys Parental Control Service (free trial included) keeps your family safe on the Internet, setting profiles for time-of-day and day-of-week access restrictions, and controlling which of 16 content categories each family member is allowed to see Also includes email & instant messaging filters |
| |
| User Reviews (433 total): |
|
Works Great, May 26, 2006
By enblackley (Buena Park, CA)
I have had no major problems with this router so far. It was easy to set up. Ocassionally, the connection is broken at start-up, but all I need to do is repair the connection and its up and running with no problems. There is no perfect electronic device, but this one is good enough.
|
Be careful before buy this router., May 22, 2006
By Leo (MIAMI, FLORIDA United States)
This router has several issues (specially V.5). Check on internet forums if it could work for you.
|
It's fugly but it's solid and easy to setup., May 19, 2006
By unknown
This router is like an ugly girl with a great personality.
Easy setup. Solid reliable performace. Just hide it somewhere
cause it's hiddious looking.
|
Wireless Broadband, May 18, 2006
By Zig (Pennsylvania)
I have had this router for over a year now and have had no problems with my son's xbox or my laptop wireless connection. If there were issues they were mine.
|
Very happy with this router!, May 11, 2006
By Nucita
Easy to install, I was set up in 5 minutes!! Good range, good speed! It's worth the cost (which i found quite low!). If you need wireless access, with good speed and security, this is the product for you.
|
Great product, May 7, 2006
By Christian Ihssen (Campinas, Brasil)
Working fine on my 300 square meter apartment. The router is at the midle of it and I can access the internet everywhere!
Easy to set up security (You will need around 30 to 45 minutes to set up the security).
I never imagined to have so much for so little.
|
A winner, April 24, 2006
By Paul Anderson (San Francisco, CA)
Wireless routers under $100 are a mixed bag right now. Most models get a heavy share of negative reviews.
Against this trend, the LinkSys WRT54GS is an absolute gem. It configures quickly, has a full set of options, and keeps running day after day. My WPA2 connections have been blazing fast with a variety of non-LinkSys receivers.
There are minor caveats. The installer sticks in an infinite loop if you have a fixed IP. Just set your IP/DNS to automatic and query the router directly. The config screens are a little clunky, and the current v5 doesn't have enough memory for the open source drivers.
But those are tolerable issues for a robust, reliable router that does what it's supposed to.
|
Speedbooster <-------- Save your $, April 22, 2006
By Consumer (Florida)
Upgraded from the dinosaur "B" wireless hoping for some speed.
Hookup went smooth, no problems, but no extra "speed" to speak of. Called Tech Support (phone answered in the Phillipines with terrible lag). Told me if I got 54 Mbps that was the best it will give. I asked about where the "Speedbooster" was that I paid extra for, sorry, I was told must be interference, phones, walls, etc. I was on the cordless phone at the time but the 2nd computer was in the same room with speeds of 11 - 34 Mbps. Save your money, "Speedbooster" sounds neat but does not deliver.
|
disconnect problems and terrible tech support, April 17, 2006
By dg (Indianapolis, IN USA)
I bought this router in September, and it worked beautifully for about five months. Then, for no apparent reason, I started having issues with dropped connections. I initiated connect via email with Linksys tech support, and I was very disappointed in the quality of their support. After a month of getting instructions that didn't solve my problem, I was extremely irritated with their inability to resolve the problem, and they finally gave up and told me to ship it back to them for a replacement. By this time, the router was working only when connected via an ethernet cable.
Well, the replacement arrived, and I tried to set it up, only to find that it couldn't connect to the Internet at all. After a full hour on the phone with tech support, the technician told me that she'd exhausted all of their troubleshooting steps and that I should return it to the store where I bought it. I tried to explain to her that I bought it in September and couldn't return it, but she refused to understand what I was saying and told me to contact Customer Support for any further assistance.
So I contacted Customer Support asking for a full refund, and they informed me that because Linksys isn't in the business of selling their products, they can't give me a refund. But I can contact one of their SENIOR technicians to resolve my problem. (Apparently, they've been relegating me to their JUNIOR technicians for the past month and a half.)
All I want at this point is to get my money back so that I can buy a working product from any company BUT Linksys.
|
Tips for first timers with SBC Yahoo DSL and Windows XP!!, April 15, 2006
By Craig (Palo Alto, CA)
FINALLY got the wireless network going but not without help from many of the reviews listed, a long call to Linksys tech support and then stumbling on the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard. This wizard was able to resolve the last of my issues!
Being BRAND new to networking and especially wireless networking here is what I have learned in the past 24hrs that helped get my router/wireless network up and running, but note my experience listed below was to get my desktop which was plugged into Port 1 on the router to access the internet via SBC Yahoo DSL. Once this was FINALLY sorted my wireless laptop was easily connected as soon as I entered the security settings mentioned below into the wireless card software AND THE SIGNAL/SPEED IS EXCELLENT!!
The hard part was connecting the wired desktop below:
-On your desktop that you wish to be wired to the router, first close/disable your virus/firewall software and/or Windows XP firewall
-Do NOT use the CD that comes with the WRT54G. Instead while your computer is still traditionally plugged into your DSL got to www.linksys.com/easy and download NetSet software to your desktop (so you can find it easily). While on this page also download NetUpdate to your desktop also - this program will check if you need a firmware upgrade (ie router software upgrade) - but you have to have your router connected before running this program. So once you have downloaded these 2 programs run the NetSet program and it will guide you through plugging in the router.
-Once the router is plugged in, run the NetUpdate program to check if you need a firmware upgrade (note: my version 5 router did not need an update according to this program)
-If during this entire time the little box saying "Dialling SBC Yahoo DSL" continuously keeps popping up followed by "Error 678 - Remote computer did not respond", and opening Internet Explorer does not result in your home page coming up - well this is what I spent an hour on the phone with tech support about!! They eventually fixed it, but the next morning the same problem still occurred!! This was FINALLY solved by going to My Computer/My Network Places (under Other Places on left side)/Set up a home or small office network and then the Network Setup Wizard pops up. Follow the wizard (there is a requirement saying Connect to Internet - continue on even if the error 678 boxes keep popping up as in my case I WAS connected to the internet through the router despite the error boxes!!) Select the option about sharing the connection through a gateway and once the wizard is done, power down DSL modem and router, then turn on DSL modem first, then router, then restart your computer (as prompted) Once restarted, try to open Internet Explorer....hopefully your home page comes up and the "Dialling SBC Yahoo DSL" followed by "Error 678" is gone....
-If not, right click on the Internet Explorer icon and select Properties/Connections and check "Never dial a connection", then click on LAN settings and make sure all boxes are unchecked, then click OK to exit and try opening Internet Explorer again...
-If still no home page, then close Internet Explorer and double click to open My Computer then go to View/Toolbars and check Address bar and you should see and address bar (may have to drag things around on the tool bar to see it fully). Type the router's default IP address (without www) into this bar - it is listed on FAQ's slip in the router box and looks like ###.###.#.# and hit enter. A box should pop up - leave username blank and type default password listed on FAQ slip in router package and hit OK. Now a new page should come up, click on Setup/Basic Setup and for SBC Yahoo DSL select PPPoE from the drop down menu (different selection req for cable modem). Enter SBC Yahoo DSL username and password and click Save Settings then Continue.
-While you are here, you'll want to change the security settings, so click Wireless/Basic Wireless Settings and make up a new SSID network name that you can remember that contains numbers/capitals. All computers connecting to this wireless network will need to know this SSID, so write it down as well as the wireless channel selected (I was told to select Channel 11 by tech support). Then check Disable SSID broadcast so that your SSID network will appear without a name on a wireless computer's scan. Knowing what channel your network is broadcast on will help you find your network later from your wireless computer. Click Save Settings then Continue. Then click Wireless/Wireless Security and then select either the super secure WPA2-Personal with AES algorithm or the still secure WPA-Personal with TKIP algorithm. Both are acceptable and way more secure than nearly useless WEP. You will need to type a >8 character "password" or WPA Shared Key into the box - again all computers connecting to your network will need to know this so write it down, it should contain capitals and numbers and all computers connecting to your wireless network will need to be compatible with either WPA or WPA2 security and have your network SSID and WPA Shared Key (password) entered into their wireless connection software.
-For extra security, you can ensure that only listed computers can connect to your network. To do so, write down the MAC (basically ID#) printed onto the wireless card of any computer you want to connect. Then on the router set up screen mentioned above, click Wireless/Wireless MAC filter and check enable. Check "Permit only listed PC's having access" and then click "Edit MAC filter list". Enter MAC (ie ID#) from the wireless card of any computer you wish to access your network, then click Save Settings then Continue. Before exiting, click Save Settings then Continue and then close program.
-Now try to open Internet Explorer - if it doesn't work, you will have to call tech support....
-To configure wireless laptops, open the software on the laptop for the wireless card, scan and select your network - it will have a blank area under SSID anme and should be on the channel you wrote down above. Select it and then enter in the SSID network name you created and select either WPA or WPA2 security and enter WPA Shared Key (password) to EXACTLY match whatever you selected on the router configuration page. Hopefully you should be now be able to connect!
-The last problem I had was with Outlook email, as when click Send/Receive it also tried to dial! Click Tools/Email accounts/View /Change existing accounts/Change/More Settings/Connection/Connect using my local area network(LAN)/OK. Then click Test account settings - should work fine. NOW click NEXT to save settings, then Finish and hopefully all "Dialling" error boxes should be gone!
-Once configured and connected you should be able to turn your virus/firewall software back on - GOOD LUCK!!
|
|
|
Great dissappointment, April 7, 2006
By Jimmy (OC, CA USA)
I have had this router for little over a month. I have had problems with it ever since I got it. I have been on the tech support with linksys many times and they seem to not be able to resolve the problem with connection drops. This router tend to drop my connection now and then. Annoying.. I will try and return this product although it has passed 1 month. Linksys released a firmware update for this product few weeks ago, it did not resolve most of the problems
|
The best wifi router out there for techies, March 30, 2006
By Leigh F. Ishikawa (MA USA)
I've owned several wireless routers. (SMC, Belking, Netgear, and Linksys to name a few). Hands down this is the WIFI router a techie should get. Now someone who don't care about security and just wants to plug and get things done, I've found Netgear to be more frienlier but lacks features. So why 'THIS' WIFI router?
1. Linksys has stable releases of firmware. Especially if you like to do things like port forwarding, and so forth you want good support.
2. Linksys has provided the source code to the firmware. And there are several open source firmware codes for this thing. Some provide few additional configurations while others are compltely new firmware. It's a geek's dream come ture.
3. If you use VOIP. (telephone service running on top of your internet), this router is one of the very few who provides QOS. QOS (Quality Of Service) can put higher priortiy by physicial port, or network port. I just plug my VOIP to the port and prioritize it. My calls are substantially more stable then before.
4. Reputation (Solid hardware.) I bought Linksys's first home router back in 1999. Linksys has always made reliable and good routers.
5. So do you need the GS? Actually no, but they are pretty much identical hardware with GS having more memory. Besides the speedboost thing (which I never used), it doesn't matter. Which ever is cheaper and more readily available, you should pick it up.
I have to repeat that this is a great techie router. A beginner will be fine too, but I found 'Wizard' like menus of other WIFI router to be more 'consumer' friendly. But for someone who wants to configure the router to do a lot of things and require something that can take heavy abuse, this is THE router.
|
Manufacturing problems, March 26, 2006
By tem216
I spent THREE HOURS talking to Linksys customer service about this product...only for them to tell me that it wasn't I who was installing it wrong, but many of these products (this type, to be exact), had a chip that made it impossible to correctly install. Good job, Linksys.
And did I mention that this was the second wireless router from Linksys that I problem installing?
Ridiculous. I hope everyone else's Linksys routers work better than mine did,for I will never purchase a Linksys product ever again.
|
[...], March 24, 2006
By vertu77 (S.Korea)
The product works fine, but it was a little bit annoying to install. You should find a manual online for yourself. [...]
|
Great Router!, March 23, 2006
By K. Vernace
It was very easy to install. I even got my wireless connection up and running ASAP. The speed is good and we have had no problems since installation.
|
Great router at a great price!, March 22, 2006
By Tacomahunter
Bought this router after using and swearing by a D-Link 624 for the last few years. What a nice change! I used the CD to set it up and all went as advertised. After the install I used the web access to tweak the router the way I wanted it. Nice the have WPA protection now, and it does to this day amaze me how many people use no protection at all when it is so easy to set up! I then bought the wireless print server and had it set up in 5 minutes. Great products Linksys!
|
The router works fine, but the support is AWFUL, March 20, 2006
By wolfd (Fairfax, VA USA)
Now that I finally have this router installed, it works great. But getting there was quite a battle.
The big problem came when I put in the install disk. It tried to load the Symantec security tools. But when doing so it created such a conflict with my already installed McAfee software that my computer barely worked at all for anything.
I called the Linksys customer support number. The good news is that they answered quickly. The bad news is that they provided poor support. The first person who answered recommended something that didn't work at all. The second person patiently walked me through a process that caused my computer to repeatedly freeze up. On the third call, I was "escalated" to another person who ended up telling me they couldn't help and that I'd have to call Microsoft. I told him that answer wasn't acceptable. He put me on hold for over 30 mins then hung up.
The key turned out to be going through a rigorous process to remove all the Symantec software which required frequent reboots.
6+ hours later I'm happy with the product, but what a process!
This all could have been avoided if the install wizard checked for the existence of, or provided adequate warnings regarding conflicts with McAfee or other security products, and given the buyer an easy workaround. It also would have been better if the people on the support line knew what they were doing.
Since installing, I've had no prolems with the router; and, I hope it keeps working because I dread having to call the support line again.
|
So far so good and better than Netgear, March 20, 2006
By C. Baker (New York, NY USA)
Yesterday I bought the Netgear WGT624. What a disaster. I says it takes about 20 minutes to set up and 3 hours later I was about the kill myself. To sum up my experience with that, my desktop would not connect to the Internet (despite being wired to the modem and router) and my laptop would. Also, my desktop Norton software had to be completely disabled. Went back to BestBuy today to buy the Linksys WRT54GS (after some online research and talking to their Geek Squad and fellow customers). They definitely recommended this one over Netgear. So far it is working fine, but took over an hour to set up. I also had to disable my Norton AntiVirus software in order to complete the setup on my desktop. After a call to their customer support (about 20 minutes wait time) I spoke to a woman with reasonably good English. She helped me set up my laptop by wiring it to the router and connecting to the Linksys setup site. Now my laptop is running perfectly and so is my desktop. I have also re-enabled Norton and everything still seems to be working. Though this router is bigger and clunkier than the Netgear one, so far my experience has been better. The customer support was also a lot better than Netgear. Netgear obviously outsources their support to India and the rep I spoke with was reading directly from a script. I was also able to reach a Linksys rep via chat, when I could not do so for Netgear.
|
Still haven't been able to install and I had help from IT support., March 16, 2006
By Cesar Gomez Barba (Mexico)
According to the over simplified instructions I just have to follow the on screen instructions. I've been working on some of my weekends to try to get this thing running and it really gets frustrating. I haven't given up hope and next step is to use special instructions on the Linksys support page.
|
You definitely need a geek to install!, March 14, 2006
By non-geek (Newport Beach, CA United States)
Thankfully I have a son who is computer-savier than I. The device works just fine, but even for him, there were major problems to overcome. One of the pluses of this product is that it still allows for plug-in cables, so we were able to use the router before the wire-less portion was fully functional. Besides, only one of our 3 machines (mine!) currently has wireless capability. Nice, not to have to plug in. The four stars are a consequence of the installation process, not the function of the item.
|
|
|
| Copyright 2001-2007 WiFiReview.com |
|