Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router
by Linksys
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List Price: Our Price: $54.95 You Save: $25.04 (31%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $39.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router
Customer Review: Excellent hardware for running Linux operating system
Summary: 5 Stars
IYCC uses this router at its factory in Laredo, Texas, and has installed it for clients. We usually install a version of DD-WRT ([...]), and are enthusiatically happy about the results. We have one in our warehouse, where the daytime temperature is often well over 104 fahrenheit (40 celcius) degrees, and we run it overclocked. Despite the punishment, the router runs without failure day in and day out.
It has been known for several years now that the Linksys WRT54G series of routers, running the Linux operating system, performs better than commercial-grade routers, with lower energy consumption and better features. Most, if not all, models of Linksys WRT54 routers can run Linux without any problems, but this particular model (the WRT54GL) is allegedly engineered with components that run best with Linux.
The hardware inside is no different in kind from the hardware on other models, and is even a bit lighter on RAM and flash memory than some. Our only conclusion is that Linux is so much more efficient that it just doesn't need more hardware to do the same work. Less hardware means less heat stress, so one would expect more stability and reliability. Perhaps that's why it runs so well in our warehouse.
You may be asking why you should pay an extra ten to twenty dollars when the other models of the WRT54 will run Linux too. I can only answer for myself: I'd rather spend twenty more bucks and be assured it will "just work". Our engineering time is worth more than $20 if there's a problem, so I just pay the freight. I also have to admit that I feel better about paying for a product that is engineered for the most advanced operating system on the planet than working with a half-baked, crippled, proprietary OS.
Loye Young
Isaac & Young Computer Company
Laredo, Texas
http://www.iycc.net
Customer Review: Easy setup *after* finding good directions for DSL configuration
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, I have Netzero DSL and this wireless router. Initially, I couldn't get it to work - and I mistakenly searched the internet looking for how to get this router to work with my particular DSL service. Bad idea - it ended up sending me down the wrong path - for three hours. And NetZero's help page on setting up wireless with DSL made things worse in this case.
Forget the NetZero wireless instructions - they don't apply in this case - at least with this model. You do NOT need to disable DHCP on the router and you do NOT need to change any firewall settings.
"Setting-Up a Router with DSL Internet Service"
In my configuration, I did not even need to enable PPPoE! It worked with the "Automatic configuration - DHCP". Basically all I needed to do was to change the local IP address on the Linksys router to 192.168.2.1 as specified and voila!
Lots of great security features with this model - MAC address filtering, time filtering, WEP2 encryption, etc. The signal is very strong and I can be anywhere in the house or on my property and still connect.
The only minor complaint is that the "wizard" sends you through the initial setup process, but it doesn't really help you with your specific type of connection. If it had a "Try generic DSL settings" that works with most DSL connections, that would have saved me three hours of pulling my hair out - disabling DHCP, firewalls, VIM's, Gateways, etc. There is no reason that they couldn't do this, especially since they have a FAQ that covers this topic. This would have made the setup even easier and faster.
UPDATE: I was also able to connect across the street at my neighbor's house, which is about 100 feet away. The signal was low, but I was able to connect nonetheless. The router is on an outside wall.
Customer Review: excellent!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had it for no more than 72 hours now, but this is what I think about this.
This is a review from a customer who read A LOT of comments on this product before buying it, and basically, I did what almost everyone recommended to do with this:
WRT54GL + DD-WRT.
I didn't even try the stock firmware, I just upgraded to DD-WRT rite when I got the thing. I made sure I had downloaded the right version, which should be, the mini_generic. I installed it, and, it basically SUCKED. The connection kept dropping every half an hour or so. I had to go back to the router, and reset some cables, for it to work again.
For that reason, I decided to go back to the stock firmware (v4.30.2). All I can say, is that it's AMAZING! The connection hasn't dropped ever since, and the signal is strong, everywhere I go in my house, which is exactly what I need.
Now, this is the thing. I'm a total noob in configuring routers and wireless devices, and maybe I needed to do something else with the firmware for it to work fine, but this was my experience.
All I'm using the router for, is to go on the internet, and check my email n stuff, obviously download large files and everything, and also my bro uses his NDS to play online, but that's it. And so, this router works perfect for me, I even put a password to the network using the WEP encryption setting, and it's been great. No complaints.
So, my advice? Buy this thing, and install the stock firmware v4.30.2, and you're good. 3rd party firmware didn't work for me. Plus, if you're not an advanced user, and if you're not gonna use the features that DD-WRT (or any other third party firmware) has to offer that the stock firmware doesn't have, then you don't need it.
Excellent product! HIGHLY recommended.
Customer Review: Linksys WRT54GL setup
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this router after our old Linksys WRT54G router quit talking to the Internet...after 8 years of use. I did not try to update/repair the old one because of its age. I bought this one because I was impressed with the reliability of the old one, and the excellent reviews it had received compared to others. It was easy to set up, and after one glitch it has performed seamlessly and in the background.
I gave the unit a 4 star because of a setup glitch. At first, when a hardwired computer would be powered up, the router would not connect with the internet unless we shut it off and started it up again. Then connections worked fine as long as the computers were not powered down. When restarting any hardwired computer, we had to go through the same repower sequence of the router to get an internet connection. I contacted Linksys tech via live chat. He (she?) determined that the router needed a firmware update which we loaded. Now the router has been working just fine both hardwire (computers and printers/scanners) and wireless from several different laptops. Wireless connection speed seems very fast, better than the old one.
I must say the live chat with the Linksys tech was refreshing. Hooking up with them was fast compared to other tech support I have had...only a couple minutes. The tech live chat was courteous and professional with clear instructions on each step to diagnose the problem, download the firmware update, and followup to make sure the router was performing properly. This time I preferred the live chat vs. phone contact because I could print off the instructions as we were chatting (I am not a computer guru). The only thing that could have been better is if the router setup CD would have automatically checked for and downloaded updates.
Customer Review: Works great if you can get past the set-up!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am knocking a point off for pain and suffering endured in the set up process - the physical connections were easy enough to make, but the start up CD was frustrating to say the least. I kept getting prompted for a password - even the enclosed FAQs/tips on how to bypass that didn't work. The solution was just to keep trying and trying until I finally got to the router's set up page.
Not really being familiar with wireless routers - this was my first one and I purchased based on the reviews - I found the set up quite non-intuitive and had to enlist the help of some of my IT people at work to help me figure out how to configure a secure network. Most tech-savvy users will probably not have issues with this, but those in my limited knowledge bracket will probably be left scratching their heads.
Once I got it all set up, the internet connection was dropped every sixty seconds. What the...? The problem was not on my ISPs' side of things and I had no idea what caused it or how to fix. I finally got the brilliant idea to contact Linksys support where I quickly got an online chat going and the rep worked me through the problem step by step, changing all the settings I originally had to fix the issue. Changes to the settings were certainly NOT something that any average user could have figured out for themselves. They were not in any way intuitive. But now the thing works and doesn't drop the connection, and I'm thrilled. However when I try to click on access to my wirelessly networked laptop from my PC, I am prompted for a user name and password for that device, and as every possible alternative I could think of was rejected, I don't know how I'm supposed to access the laptop from my PC, but one day perhaps I will figure that out too.