Cisco-Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter
by Linksys
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter
Customer Review: Don't use their software
Summary: 3 Stars
I would lower this review to two stars if I could. I am not sure whether I need our Fast User Switching -- I spent so much time trying to get the adaptor to work with our router's wireless security, that I didn't notice that the welcome screen was gone. But also, if you go to Linksys' site, it gives you instructions for installing the drivers which are totally different from the included instructions (which you can also download). One says to install the software first, the other says to plug the adaptor in first. It shouldn't remove functionality without warning, just to install a USB driver. I think the wireless bridge is safer, because it connects with an ethernet cable and doesn't install anything.
I bought two of these for my kids' computers because I didn't want to deal with the WET54G. The WET54G is a wireless bridge which would need to sit on top of each computer, each one would need to be plugged in, and it would consume power. The USB adaptor plugs in or hangs from a supplied USB cord (make sure you get the one with a cord).
You are instructed to insert the CD and install the software prior to plugging the device in the USB port. Then it connects to your router's wireless. The problem is that the software is not capable of dealing with the router's security, so you don't get assigned an address -- and it doesn't work when you assign yourself one. I have a WRT54G and I am only using WEP 64-bit, so it shouldn't be this hard.
After fooling around with this for two days, I realized that the router has a button you can press to easily set up the security. This worked, but the software got stuck at "scanning 50%". When I closed the software, I was back where I started. Fortunately, the software's tray icon allows you to use Windows wireless zero (the built in wireless). It immediately asked me to choose a network and input the key. THAT WAS IT. THE STUPID LINKSYS SOFTWARE could not handle something that simple.
The USB adapter is fine -- install the drivers and switch to Windows and you will be fine (SO FAR - one post complained about bad memory leaks). Oh, and when the software tray icon disappears and you can't find it anywhere in All Programs, just look in C:\Program Files and double-click on the executable. Sheesh, these guys should stick to hardware.
Customer Review: Excellent USB wireless adapter from Linksys !
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the previous review on how that user had the Belkin USB wireless adapter and I chuckle a bit cause I use to have that exact same one too. The Belkin adapter was more problematic than anything and it either never wanted to stay connected or it constantly had troubles getting connecting onto my network. I had everything right from my WPA key to having the correct MAC address in my address filtering settings on my router (I did have a Linksys router and I've read that having a Belkin adapter can be more problematic with a Linksys product). I've heard some users have had problems with it even when they use a wireless Belkin router too. Anywho, I had picked up the Linksys USB wireless adapter and I have to say that it works perfectly and I have never had one problem with it yet. It's got pretty much the same features when you install an external adapter for a PCMCIA slot on a laptop. You can setup a profile so that when you plug in your adapter it will recognize those settings and connect to your network and you can sight through other networks if it picks up any. It supports WPA encryption, which I highly suggest for any home user with a home network as it's a stronger encryption method than the regular WEP 64 or 128-bit. Also keep in mind that when you install the driver for it from the CD, it disables your WELCOME screen for when you sign on to your computer...It's such a funny little thing too, here's what happens. Once the driver is installed, it places a file called GTGina.dll within a certain folder and it disables the WELCOME screen and you have to type your username and password instead of the other way around. I've done research and you can delete the GTGina value in your system registry and it will allow you to make changes again in those settings instead of denying you access. I've e-mailed Linksys on that one and they sometimes got confused by that, hehe. Aside from that tiny issue, it's an excellent adapter and I highly suggest it for Linksys users. *Thumbs up*Customer Review: Says it works with B networks but it doesn't. Installation on Windows 7 was Hairy.
Summary: 2 Stars
I. Obviously it's easy to stick the little dongle into a normal USB plug. But Installing the driver on Windows 7 was Less Than Simple. a) auto-discovery failed to install a driver; b) CD install gave errors and said that the software wasn't installed; c) download of driver from website gave same error; d) just happened BY ACCIDENT to go to control panel / system status and discovered a message waiting there for me that said "there's a new driver available for this hardware", and the driver download file had the word "stable" in it, which was frightening. That is the only installation that succeeded, but how was I supposed to find that download?!? it was pure luck that I happened upon it.
II. Right after that final installation (and using the linksys connection software, NOT the Windows network connection thingy in the system tray) is the only time that the adapter ever connected successfully (i.e. with "internet access") to my B network, but I never got a chance to try it; I pulled the dongle out to try something else and it never connected again. The rest of the time the linksys software gives an error that it can't connect. And the Windows 7 system tray network icon just connects and disconnects, over and over and over, each time only getting "limited access" with no internet.
III. I took the dongle and my Windows 7 machine (laptop) to a different location (big modern nearby complex with high-throughput wireless network and an IT department) and the dongle connected to the network just fine.
I'm only keeping it because I'm going to use it outside my house; at my house I guess I'm relegated to my 50-foot ethernet cable unless I want to spring for a new updated router (which I don't). If you have a B network and Windows 7, don't waste your time.
Customer Review: my wireless
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been online since 92 with one ISP provider.This summer we Finally got broadband. Only problem was that we could not hook up 2 computers without punching holes is ceilings and walls, which was not acceptible.
I than started researching and speaking to my "tech savy" friends(IT types)about how I could work around this house demolishing problem.
They all came up with a "wireless router" solution, different brands depending on whom you listened to. The name that came up more often was "Linksys wireless G". Well I thought ok, this is the RIGHT one to get, since I beleive in staying on budget these things came one at a time.
"No sense putting in a corvette engine into a Model T".
Point taken,I had to get a new computer!!!(working with upgraded (Win98SE).Then I got the router, had it for several months before my research turned up this adapter,originally looking for good prices on PC Wireless Cards" as I had been instructed. Printed the info I found about this Wireless-G USB Adapter for me and emailed it to my friends. Needless to say they all agreed that this was a great find and even better than the cards they'd spoken with me about. It's been instramental in aiding my supervision of my grandchildren(10&5) online. They can't get online unsupervised without it being plugged in. I have TOTAL control. This is a great addition to my computing world.
Wish I could tell you all the "techie speak" I heard about the installation of it,however I will tell you that it took less than 30 min.to get it up and running I have had no problem with it and of course it arrived in a timely manner. I recommend this for anyone that doesn't want to remodel their house for wireless. TMG
Customer Review: Linksys should be ASHAMED!!!!! XP users beware!
Summary: 2 Stars
My husband purchased this for me last week on Thursday. Here it is, Monday, and I just now finally got the dang thing installed to my computer which runs with Windows XP professional. I spent 5 hours straight on trying to set the card up, and I'm sure that has alot to do with the fact that I am certainly not tech savy, but honestly it took ALOT of internet surfing to find a solution. The software included with this USB device does not include a driver for XP pro. It directs you to Linksys website to drivers that have not been updated since 2004!!! Useless. My husband gave up and took the thing back to the store. I did lots of browsing and found some useful information on the linksys forum and decided to go back and get this thing and try again. The information I found was not truly helpful, but I kept searching the forum and finally found the ONE post from a random guy (whom linksys should be paying for his help) who wrote down, step for step, how to get this card to work for windows xp and vista. The steps included downloading updated drivers from a third party site since Linksys sucks and never updates the drivers, then altering the inf. files to include the linksys adapter, saving that file, deleting the driver from your hard drive, and then manually pointing the hardware install to the altered file. Definitely not simple. However, I am thrilled to finally have it working, and I gave it 2 stars b/c at least once I got it installed it is holding a good strong signal. So in the end, if you are considering this product and you run on windows xp pro, this CAN work for you, but you want to prepared to spend lots of time figuring out how to install manually b/c the software is just a piece of trash in the box.