Cisco-Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
by Linksys
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Our Price: $72.97 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $22.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
Customer Review: Fast, reliable and relatively easy to set up
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased the WRT45G when my old router (D-Link DI-714) started dropping my VPN connections to work nearly as quickly as I could make them - whether my connection to the router was wireless or not.
Not only does the WRT54G handle my VPN connections reliably, it is also noticeably faster for all uses than the DI-714 (at least with 802.11b). These two improvements alone are reason enough for me to recommend this router.
I was also impressed by the browser-based interface, which presents a vast array of parameters and information in a manner that is visually pleasing, legible and navigable. As a computer professional looking for a lot of control, I appreciate this amount of configurable detail, but I think that the experience for less technical users could have been improved by putting the most critical pieces of configuration (ISP connection, SSID, router password and possibly encryption) on the same page, or together in a simple setup wizard (note that I didn't use the Windows-only setup software - see below). And there were some minor interaction annoyances: Many drop-down lists remain blank even after a selection is made, and most form submissions return success pages with a single "Continue" button (which may inspire confidence in some people, but I find them excessive).
However, despite its excellent performance and reliability, and even if my minor complaints are addressed, say in future firmware upgrades, I could not give this product five stars because the initial installation "requires" Microsoft Windows. A bright orange sticker on the back of the router admonishes the reader to "Run CD First before connecting cables" (sic), and I noticed that some reviewers gave up due to this apparent restriction.
But the Windows setup software, as it turns out, is entirely unnecessary. Anyone can configure this router using the browser-based interface after following these three steps:
1. Connect the router to your cable/DSL modem, connect the router to a computer with a web browser, then connect the router to an electrical outlet.
2. Bring up your network connection to the router (e.g., on Linux: `ifdown eth0 && ifup eth0`, or on Mac OS and Windows: if all else fails, rebooting your computer should do the trick).
3. Point your web browser to http://192.168.1.1 and login (user: admin, pass: admin).
As I said before, most people only need to worry about specifying ISP settings (in Setup > Basic Setup > Internet Connection Type), changing the default SSID (Wireless > Basic Wireless Settings), changing the default password (Administration > Management > Router Password), and possibly changing the "Security Mode" (Wireless > Wireless Security).
The WRT45G came with a lot of paper advertising so it would have been fairly easy to replace or supplement the Windows-only CD with quickstart guides for a variety of platforms: Windows, Mac OS and Linux. In fact, a Windows "Quick Install" guide is even available from the Linksys web site (http://tinyurl.com/dz779).
So while I find the WRT54G to be a solid product, it could be a great one with only a couple of seemingly trivial improvements.
Customer Review: Excellent product - best extensibility
Summary: 5 Stars
I own Netgear, Buffalo and Dlink equipment as well, but I will never go back after setting up this unit.It literally took 2 minutes before I had my wired and wireless computers up and running, including 128-bit wep - I only needed the manual because it sets up camp on 192.168.1.1, rather then 0.1 like most. The web interface is the best I have ever used. Very well laid out.
Let me take a minute to bark about the competition - the DLink AP has the absolute worst management software ever, and they dont even have a web interface - its a nightmare and their support is horrible. I'm sure Buffalo stuff has matured since their first AP I bought, but their web management system looked like a 4th grader designed it.
Anyways, back to the Linksys. Besides having the best management software I have seen, it is also a great looking piece of equipment compared to the competition.
But what originally drew me to this unit was the optional Wireless Signal Booster. It is not marketed for the 54g unit because it is not FCC licensed to be paired with it, but it works perfectly with it nonetheless.
The major feature of wireless networks that all these vendors drop the ball on is range extension options. Walk into a Best Buy and tell me how many 2.4GHz antennas you see - NONE! CompUSA? NONE! WHY? I have no idea. Alas, even Linksys has none, but they do have a range extension option at least with the booster, and it gave me 10 dbi, which is excellent, and my wireless range went from 2 rooms with my Buffalo to my entire property! People's experiences do vary with the signal booster however, so if you buy one make sure you have the option to return it if it doesnt work with your layout.
I would mention that Buffalo does market their own antennas, and perhaps DLink also, but you never find them in the store. Dlink also has a repeater option I have never tried.
However, the linksys booster is much more expensive then, say, a decent panel antenna setup ... But what I like about the booster is that it boosts the RADIO - leaving you the option of adding an antenna AS WELL, making the Linksys the most extensible consumer AP out there.
I've done a lot of wardriving, and about the majority of ssid's read 'Linksys', and now I know why. I just wish I had gone with Linksys first instead of last.
A final note is that I have not played with NAT etc yet, which some people have reported having some problems with - b ut so far so great!
Also to note - I experienced range on par with the Dlink and Buffalo when I tried this unit without the booster and my 802.11b Lucent Orinoco card. I gained an excellent 10 dbi with the booster. But what really amazed me is that I got an extra 7 dbi by pairing the unit with the Linksys 54g card rather then my trusty standard Orinoco, which tells me the Linksys PC cards are excellent radios. This was a very unexpected surprise.
The only complaint I have is that this setup doesnt recover from notebook standby very well, which could become a big problem for me. I may just need to fiddle with it.
Again, when it comes to range improvement, its all YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) so always be ready to experiment and bring stuff back until you get the solution thats right for you.
Customer Review: Rookie Recommends Router
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered this router through Amazon, along with its sister PCMCIA card for my Gateway Solo laptop. My goal was merely to broadcast the Comcast Digital Cable access throughout my 2,000 square feet home at the faster 802.11g speed. I wanted to surf the Web from the comfy couch in the TV room or a cozy chair in the living room...my choice -- no wires involved. I have never installed a network, so a lot of the literature, reviews on Amazon, and other sources of information were lost on me: I simply went with the big name brand at a reasonable price. I installed the router in about 20 minutes using the accompanying CD. Lights were flashing, and the hard connection to my laptop recognized the router. Flipped up the 5 inch rabbit ears and seemed to be in business. All-in-all pretty seamless. I had high hopes that I'd be wirelessly surfing soon. This was pretty exciting to me, as I am still running on Windows 98SE, and worried that I might encounter difficulties.
The installation of the sister WPC54G PCMCIA card didn't go so well. Again, I ran it instruction-by-instruction from the installation CD, and while the Linksys software seemed to install OK, the procedure tripped up when attempting to install a program called 'Odyssey' from a firm called Funk Software, Inc. The program kept looking for drivers, requesting that I insert the Microsoft Windows 98SE disk in my drive. I don't have a Microsoft disk, but a Gateway OEM version that apparently has Microsoft Windows 98SE, but not the specific drivers that Odyssey needs. To sum up, I spent several hours, all told, surfing Microsoft, Linksys, and Funk Software knowledgebase pages, downloading stuff, booting and rebooting my laptop, before giving up and going to bed frustrated. Tried again in the morning, and somehow, I still don't know how, hit the right combination of set up protocols that suddenly energized the PCMCIA card. I went from zero to eighty in no time, and my profanities turned to whoops of joy.
The best online help came from Funk Software, where I found a customer service technician at the help desk who answered my emails. His solution: as I was running a simple home office network (not a corporate enterprise solution) and I didn't employ a RADIUS server (whatever that is?) I shouldn't need Odyssey, so gave me good instructions on how to eradicate it from my PC. Still not entirely sure what Odyssey purports to do, so perhaps I'm missing some benefit?
Nonetheless, the router and card in my laptop are communicating nicely throughout the house...no connections further than 3 walls and 150 feet. Speed is excellent. I stepped through the setup of what I suppose is a rudimentary firewall (clicked a box marked 'Firewall enabled') and turned on WEP 128. I hope to figure out WPA next, and I hope that Odyssey is not part of this set up, but in the final analysis I am pleased with the product, happy I didn't have to pay a consultant, and sending this report to Amazon wirelessly from my comfy chair!
Experience of user: None.
Total install time: 5 hours
Biggest problem: Firmware for WPC54G card missing drivers
Customer Review: Mac/Apple users CAN use this product, with some effort and incantations
Summary: 4 Stars
Before buying this product I read a lot of your reviews - many of which warned potential buyers that NO WAY does this product work with Mac computers, is a bad product anyway, has no customer support, etc.. I found that all of this was just not true - for the most part. It is true that it is obviously not meant for Macs, not really. It works with Macs in that there is nothing preventing a Mac from working with it, but all the customer support and the CD that comes with the product (which has no Mac OS version) is pretty clearly NOT for Mac. That said, my Linksys Wireless-G is up and running just fine with my Mac. The guys who installed my high speed internet recommended this model, which they have recommended to all their customers. I have used it many times in the little town near here which has a downtown Wi-Fi project, and so I knew that there shouldn't be a problem.
My Mac picked up the wireless signal immediately, but getting my modem to communicate with this signal was another matter. Because the CD is for PCs only, I could not use it so I called my techie brother to come here with his PC laptop to configure it. I'd say that'd probably be the easiest solution for anyone with a Mac who wants to use it. Configure it through a PC, then make sure you can connect as well.
I was a little amused after reading electronics guy's review, where he says: "The fact is that configuring networking and especially secure wireless networking requires that the user know at least a little bit about what they are doing." My brother has been working with computers since the days when they were TRS-80s and he was 13 years old. He knows hardware, software, systems better than most people and it took him more than an hour to get my Mac to work with this. Of course he poo-poo'd the CD, along with the instructions the support guy sent (yes, you can get very good support without spending two hours on the phone to India - just EMAIL the request, I got a response in less than 24 hours, with follow-up a couple of days later). Anyway, so, he didn't use either of these resources, avoiding them in the way men usually avoid asking for driving directions.... He got his PC to function with this router fairly quickly. My Mac required some 'jiggling.' Eventually he had to take off the security because when it was on, I could not connect. Also, we had a difficult time getting the router to surrender the 'Linksys' name. But we did manage that finally.
Bottom line about all of this - It sure does work with Macs, and works fine. But, it is easier to configure it through a PC, and maybe that is what God, and Linksys, intended. There might be some residual problems, such as lack of ability to protect your network - but hell, I like my neighbors, let 'em hack in if they can. Finally - you will get good support and quickly if you send your request via email. Everyone knows telephone support - for anything, sucks. Your support might not be relevant for a Mac, but, again, this product wasn't intended for them though it does work just fine with them if you can get past the configuration hurdles.
Customer Review: Horrible Support, Decent Router
Summary: 1 Stars
This router works ok, but trying to get it to work with Linksys's WVC54G webcam and WRE54G range expander is a nightmare. It seems Linksys products don't work with other Linksys products.
Both my webcam and range expander are less than one year old. The router is brand new. For reference, I am a reasonably intelligent college graduate who has some experience working with computers.
First, the range expander: After an hour on the phone with Linksys customer service, I was told the range expander is compatible only up to version 4 of the router. I had purchased a brand new version 5, meaning I needed to DOWNGRADE the router in order to use the range expander. Customer service told me to return the new router, gave me a barcode number for the old version 4 router, told me to search local stores by reading barcodes on each box I could find, and good luck...I might, just might, get lucky.
Second, the webcam. Here is the letter I just sent to Linksys:
To Whom It May Concern,
I want to formally complain about my customer service/technical support experience with Linksys.
I bought a WRT54G Linksys router and a WVC54G Linksys Internet Video Camera with SoloLink DDNS service. The SoloLink domain name fails to show the webcam image. Instead, it brings up my router's web utility.
Yesterday, I spent close to three hours on the phone with various technical support and customer service people. The last step: a 2PM follow-up support call was scheduled for today, in which I was promised the problem would be addressed. No one has called me.
I just called Linksys support again. After another 30 minutes on hold, I was given another promise that someone will call me "at some indeterminate point in the future."
This "service" is unacceptable.
This has been the single worst customer service/technical support experience I have ever had. I have wasted 3 1/2 hours, most of it on hold listening to the same annoying song. I have been accidentally disconnected TWICE, once yesterday and once today, forcing me to call back and wait on hold until another support person became available. Worst of all, the appointment for 2PM today was not kept, and I had to reschedule business appointments to accomodate Linksys.
I have been very polite with all of the support people. I understand that this is not their fault. This is Linksys's fault for building a support service that is unequipped to handle seemingly simple problems like mine.
I will be sharing my experiences with Linksys support with my friends and with online customer review sites like amazon.com. Unless my problem is resolved quickly, I will return these products and get my money back. Perhaps Netgear, D-Link, or Belkin will offer better service and support.
Four stars for the router, but customer support brings the rating to one star.
WARNING TO FUTURE LINKSYS CUSTOMERS: Buyer, beware!!!