Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
by Linksys
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Our Price: $129.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
Customer Review: WRE54G doubled download speed on wireless laptop
Summary: 4 Stars
First, like just about everyone else I did have some minor setup problems, which I'll describe below. However, my total setup time was under 20 minutes and the WRE54G repeater works very well for me.
I use a laptop in my bedroom, which is at the opposite end of the house from where I have my WRT54G router set up. Average file-transfer speeds, using the speed tests at DSL Reports, were around 2400 kb/s download and 300 kb/s upload before adding the repeater. After adding it I ran 5 speed tests which averaged 5100 kb/s download and 410 kb/s upload, double what I was getting without the repeater. This compares well with the 5950 kb/s download and 435 kb/s upload averages I get with the PC I have hardwired directly to the router. And yes, these values are correct. I have BellSouth's Xtreme 6.0 DSL service, which really does deliver the 6000 kb/s download speeds it promises.
The problem I ran into was that I could not access the WRE54G's setup screen using the default IP address (192.168.1.240) after turning the router's WEP encryption back on. A network audit using the Vista netsh command (see below) showed 2 SSIDs with the same name, one with encryption (my router) and one without (the repeater). I hardwired the repeater to the router using the included LAN cable, accessed the repeater's setup page using the default IP address, and manually set encryption on the repeater. This fixed the problem. I could now access the repeater's setup page wirelessly, and netsh showed a single SSID with 2 BSSIDs and encryption enabled.
For those running Windows Vista and unfamiliar with the netsh command, you run it in a Command Prompt (a DOS window to us old guys!). Open a Command Prompt (found under Programs/Accessories) and enter "netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid" without the quotes, of course.
Customer Review: Works great for me ... set up quick, easy, problem-free
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, let me say that this is essentially a non-technical review from the perspective of an average end-user who was looking for a simple solution to a common problem.
This is one of my favorite wireless solutions and the cornerstone of my home wireless network. I absolutely love it and would recommend it to anyone.
After reading some of the other so-so reviews, I was skeptical prior to purchase, but I needed something to resolve the problem I was having with slow wireless speeds from the back of my house approximately 80-85 feet from my Linksys Wireless-G router. I considered other options like hard-wiring a bridge in the back bedroom (wired wireless?), or purchasing a better antennae (expensive), but decided on the Range Expander because I feel that it will be backwardly compatable with any future and faster standards.
Upon receipt, I was pleasantly surprised by the small size and sleek design. After a quick glance at the instructions, I simply plugged it in and then checked my laptop in the back. Still 11.0 Mbps??? I walked back to the unit placed high on a wall in the hallway and this time held down the auto-config button. When I returned to the back of the house and checked my speed it was now at the 54.0 Mbps maximum, and the highest signal strength possible.
My total setup time was less than 60 seconds. It really was that easy. This product met all my needs. I don't know why others experienced problems, but I certainly didn't.
I am a DSL user, running Windows XP Pro SR2 on a Dell laptop with an internal wireless adapter.
Based on what I've read, you can avoid a lot of the hassle by disabling encryption before you install, but this did not apply to me personally so was a non-issue.
I'd gladly purchase again.
Customer Review: Range Extender Doesn't
Summary: 1 Stars
I have just gotten off the phone after a frustrating 3 hours with Linksys technical support. I called them because the brand new Wireless-G Range Expander (WRE54G) from Amazon was not providing a strong enough signal for my wireless laptop to pick up, even when they were side-by-side and in the same room as the wireless router.
It took 3 hours for Linksys technical support to finally admit that maybe, just maybe, the problem was with their product. The conversation was not helped by the fact that Linksys has apparently outsourced their technical support offshore to either India or Pakistan, and everyone I talked to had such a thick accent that it was very difficult to understand them. At the end, they reluctantly authorized the return. But then I found out they wanted me to pay for the return shipping!
Fortunately Amazon has an excellent return policy which includes free cross-shipping the defective device and the replacement. Never having had to return a product to Amazon before, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was. So my appreciation of Amazon and its return policies is just as high as my opinion of Linksys is low.
*** FOLLOW UP ***
I received the replacement, and after trying for another 4 hours I have given up on the range expander. I have tried all of the suggestions for getting it to work posted in these Product Reviews and everything suggested by Linksys Tech Support. Nothing helped. So I plan to take the advice of T. Myers (another reviewer of the WRE54G) to get a WAP54G and configure it as a wireless repeater instead. The price seems comparable, and this will also let me use the stronger WPA security standard instead of the weaker WEP. This last is a real plus ... if it works. I'll post a review of that product once I have had a chance to try it.
Customer Review: Very easy to install, great product
Summary: 5 Stars
I had no luck using the CD that shipped with this product. It actually caused me problems by installing a Broadcom Wireless Utility, which is a LAN application that replaces the default Microsoft Windows XP Windows Zero Configuration Service. To fix this problem I had to uninstall that software.
I configured it manually and it is very easy. Here are the steps:
1 Start/Run/CMD
2 At the command prompt enter ipconfig
3 Write down the default gateway. If you have a router this will be your router's IP
4 Connect a LAN cable from your router to the Range Expander. Note: you can connect directly into it from your PC, but then you will need to configure your LAN connection from DHCP to Manual.
5 Open Internet Explorer and enter 192.168.1.240
6 UserName: Leave Blank
7 PassWord: admin
8 In the Gateway section put in the IP address you got on step 3
9 Make sure to enter your network name exactly as it is in SSID. This is what appears when you look for a wireless connection.
10 Enable Security
11 Save Settings
12 Select Edit Security settings tab
13 Select WEP and In Key 1 and enter your WEP
14 Save Settings
15 Disconnect LAN cable, you are done!
To test your connection after completing these steps you can disable Broadcast on your wireless router. When you view the available networks and you see yours, it will be the range expander. I hope this helps.
I bought this for my neighbors and decided to set it up on my Linksys WRT54G to insure it worked. My neighbors have an Actiontek broadband router and I know for a fact it will work. All I need to do to connect it is get the WEP and router IP. Then follow the above mentioned steps. This is in my opinion a great product.
Customer Review: Works Great, but Setup not for the beginner..
Summary: 4 Stars
First off I would just like to say when opting to buy this product shop around and pref use an online company to purchase it, because my local stores wanted over $100 with tax for this thing and there isn't much to it..
With that being said, once i received my Wireless-G Range Expander i thought i could just plug it in and away we go, well i was in for a major overhaul and disappointment in terms of setup. For anyone interested,i realized that mine didn't come with the installation CD so that made it even more difficult to setup on my own. I tried some things and it was a no go, so i decided after about an hour on my own to call the linksys 800 number (highly recommended to do so with this product).
After spending about 45mins on the phone with a linksys tech we got it working and it works as specified. I live in a multi-split house. Wireless G router works all over upstairs and half of the downstairs but cuts out on the far sides of the house. With this beauty plugged into the dining room area (the middle of the house) we now get Excellent-Very Good signal quality in every room of the house, including the far sides where no service was reported prior. One thing I should add is that I was expecting the lights on the actually product to light up both blue, but its actually the opposite, when the thing connects to your network, one lights up solid red and the activity light flashes blue..(I associated the red light with not working, and even online with linksys they say the red light means no connectivity..) So dont worry about the lights when trying to set it up for the first time...
I recommend this to anyone who needs an extra boost in signal with there wireless network, but be warned that the setup may be frustrating even to those who know what they are doing...