Cisco-Linksys WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter
by Linksys
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Our Price: $89.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $24.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter
Customer Review: Great once you get past the setup
Summary: 4 Stars
Here's what I did to get the WGA54G talking!
I first followed the instructions to a T in the manual and the setup disk...plugged into the XBOX and no go.
I then plugged the WGA54G back into my router (a linksys WRT54GS) and opened the Web Config utility. I located the network and noticed I had another WiFi on channel 6 (the default) - I then changed to channel 7, made sure the WEP was the same as my network, set the IP,DNS, Gateway to Automatic and hit apply. Then hit connect button on main screen until device showed Connected to wireless network and the Wireless-G light was lit on the WGA54G.
I unplugged the power cable and plugged it back in, brought up the config utility just to make sure the setting took.
Then unplugged the Ethernet cable and made sure the Wireless G light still flashed or illuminated a little (doesn't stay solid all the time)
Then unplugged unit and hooked RJ-45 into Xbox. Plugged it in, and then turned on XBOX.
Go into XBOX Network settings...advanced, and wireless setup...the device was found and showed a stong connection. Then (B) buttoned back a step or two to the Network Connect and tried to connect to XBOX LIve. Had to set IP and DNS to Auto and wait 30 secs or so...all settings autoprogrammed and device sidned into Live
Done.
This took me a couple tries because for some reason at first Xbox would not connect through my IP or DNS addresses, no matter if they were set auto or manually...When I finally changed the settings in the WGA54G web config utility to channel 7 and auto for the addresses...everything started working.
I place the trial and error problems on the user and can't blame the part because it works as advertised. Only problem, it doesn't work right out of the box as it says it most likely will. Too bad they couldn't get a step by step for Xbox or other game consoles included with the device. So for this I'm docking 1 star :(
After about 3 hours of frustration - I'm now a happy camper!
Customer Review: Works okay, but only with some sacrifices.
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been using this product for over a year now so I think I am pretty qualified to review it.
Simply put, the Linksys-G adapter WILL work, but you have to configure your system around it. I had problems with the adapter when I switched from PS2 to Xbox and had to recycle the power every time. This was fixed by converting my whole network to fixed IPs. The LED's on the device do not work as you would expect and the web-based configuration utility would never report a "connected" status although it was. The unit does not support WPA. For some reason MAC filtering would never work right with the Linksys adapter even though I had the adapter and all of the devices it attached to on the "allow" list. I just turned it off since WEP was still working
Linksys finally released a firmware update to the product which supposedly addresses some of these issues and allows for Xbox-based configuration. I foolishly applied it immediately. Now things are worse than before. I cannot run my Wireless-G router in G-only mode anymore, I have to use B-compatible mode, which lessens performance for my other devices. The Linksys adapter will not see the router in G-only mode. I cannot enable WEP anymore because although the wireless connects and gets a good signal, the Xbox cannot see the gateway when it is enabled and therefore there's no Internet access. I know it is set up correctly.
Yes, the firmware fixed some of the issues but it broke far more. Now I have to run in B mode on an unprotected network. Linksys's official response is to "run in b mode and disable WEP". Thanks guys, real helpful. They won't even put up the old firmware so I can at least get back to WEP and G.
Moral of the story is a)Linksys customer support is terrible and b)never update firmware unless something is completely broken. I am now in the position of having to purchase another solution since this one is unacceptable. I gave the product two stars since if you convert to Static IPs and don't update the firmware it works great.
Customer Review: Excellent Product
Summary: 5 Stars
Like all Linksys products, I've found this to be an excellent product. I just don't understand why people have so many problems with Linksys - EVERY home network or small business network I've set up has been with Linksys equipment. I've never had a problem - and I've had some ODD setups.
My home setup is as follows. 2nd floor has BEFSR41 Router to EG005W Gigabit Switch and WAP54G Access Point. Gigabit Router conencts to two PCs using Marvell Gigabit LAN adapters onboard. WGA54G Game Adapter is connected to EZXS55W Switch which then connects to Xbox and Dreamcast (and soon to be Xbox 360). Yes, the WGA54G can act as a bridge for multiple devices. It's just more flexible than a standard bridge when using consoles because consoles can change the settings.
Settings (such as IP info and security settings, like WEP key) can be changed by a PC or appropriate console (XBOX works, Dreamcast does not) when you Flash to 1.10 Firmware. Flashing firmware does not erase network settings. You do not need the CD to setup this hardware....just use a physically connected machine and log into 192.168.1.250 - this will not work over wireless, it must be connected via ethernet cable. I would suggest entering all of your security settings and "reboot" the Game Adapter by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in - This seems to be key for getting it to work with new settings.
Also, remember, if you have MAC address filtering on your WAP, add not only the MAC address of the Game Adapter, but also any units you may have downstream of the adapter. If worse comes to worse, reset the unit and start from scratch by disabling security on your router to see which setting you may be having problem with. An open router to an open adapter is going to work from the get-go 9 out of ten times. Remember the "rebooting" trick after each setting change on the adapter.
Wireless networks do not set themselves up....and anyone with half a brain should be able to be successful with this setup.
Customer Review: Worthless, save money and headaches...
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased one of these several months ago, along with a Linksys wireless-G broadband router so that my son can play his X-Box online from his room. First of all, set up using the included instructions and CD was virtually impossible. I had to call their helpline, where I was on with an overseas tech who bare spoke English. However, I managed to struggle through the setup, and everything was working fine.
A few weeks later, however, the gaming adapter just stopped working. After several calls to the Linksys helpline, and at least 7 to 8 hours and enormous reconfiguring of the hardware and software, the tech finally decided that the problem was the router, not the gaming adapter. Since it was within the first month of purchase, I exchanged the router (thanks, Amazon, for your great customer service), hooked it up and, low and behold, my son's X-Box still couldn't connect online. After several more phone calls and hours with a second-tier tech (along with my pleading with Linksys that there was nothing wrong with either my internet connection or my son's X-Box, but a problem with the gaming adapter itself), he finally came to the conclusion that the gaming adapter must somehow be defective.
So, Linksys sent me a "refurbished" replacement, which I hooked up. And it worked wonderfully... for about 3 weeks. Then it mysteriously stopped working again, just like the first one. The Linksys router seems to work fine as I can use other wireless products with it. But the wireless gaming adapter is a piece of junk. Rather than go through the enormous hassle of dealing with the Linksys customer support again, I just wrote it off as a bad investment.
I ended up getting my son a long patch cable for his X-Box that he runs through the house directly to the router whenever he wants to play online. It's a little inconvenient, and I'll eventually get him another wireless adapter, but it most definitely will not be a Linksys product. I'm done with them.
Customer Review: Biggest Hassle Ever
Summary: 3 Stars
Thank goodness for Red Rhino's review and suggestions as I had no idea why this was not working. First, ignore the Linksys setup disc. It is useless. Use the web browser to access 198.168.1.250. This works whether you use DHCP or force your network card (the one in your PC) to 198.168.1.249. If you do that, make certain your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 and gateway is 198.168.1.1. (If there are any other wireless networks in the area, block 'em out, even if it means putting the Linksys and your pc in a closet. For reasons unknown, the Linksys caused my pc to assign a weird private address to itself. Voodoo!) The biggest problem with the WGA54G is setting up WEP security. Do this before setting up the WGA54G. I chose WEP with 128 bit encryption, and open network authentication. Your choices are very limited. My passphrase was set in my Netgear Wireless router/access point menu. This gave me a 26 character Key, built out of letters A-F and numbers 0-9. Write this sucker down! Then you are ready to return to the PC where the WGA54G is connected to. Sounds like you need 2 PC's, right? Well, it helps. Anyway, open up Control panel, network connections, right click Wireless Network connections, and go to properties. Head to the Wireless Networks tab, click on View Wireless Networks, and hopefully you'll see your SSID there. Connect to it. At this point, you will get to a password menu, but if you don't, you can access it later, as long as the named network gets into preferred networks. You modify this through properties, choosing Open, WEP and typing in your 26 character Key twice. Ain't that fun. Choose key index 1. Under Authentication, disable IEEE 802.1x. Under Connection, click Connect when this network is in range.
Hopefully, this saves you some major aggravation. Amazing how lazy and shortsighted Linksys was in not automating all of this for you. Pathetic. Anyway, the WGA54G is happily connected to my Mac now, but it took me 3 pc's to set it up properly.