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 Buy Used: from $29.98 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
Customer Review: Good Product, Bad Instructions
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought it before I read these reviews. I almost took it back after I read them. I'm a network guy so I figured I'd give it a go. I got it to work by myself in about an hour. The first thirty minutes I spent messing around with Linksys' useless instructions.
The installation CD didn't find the WRE54G but I'll tell you how I got it to work below. I hope it's not to technical. I configured it through the web interface and updated the firmware. I have 128 bit WEP running like a charm. Also I advise to really put the expander as far away from the your WAP router. I have the WRT54G on the bottom floor of a three level townhome. I was trying to boost the signal on my third level. I first tried the WRE54G on the second floor with no real difference on the third level. When I put the WRE54G on the top floor it worked perfectly. My suggestion is use this device as a true repeater at the perimeter of you network. It won't make a difference if you put it too close the WAP router.
** Start from scratch - I put my WRT54G back to factory default and give it a SSID and broadcast it. Download the latest firmware for both your wireless router and the range expander.
1. Using my laptop that has a Linksys WPC54G wireless card I searched for available wireless networks.
2. The WRE54G will show up with network SSID of something like "linksysrf74848". That is the default SSID of the WRE54G so select it to connect to.
3. Next you'll have to configure a static IP address on your wireless capable computer to IP address 192.168.1.235 subnet mask 255.255.255.0 - That is all you need right now.
4. Open your web browser and type in 192.168.1.240 just type in admin for password. To the help page on the device and upload the firmware you have on your computer.
5. Now you'll need to type the the SSID, wireless MAC address of your wireless router (on WRT54G you'll find it on the wireless status page), and fill in all the other blanks as needed.
6. No you'll need to reconnect to a wireless network since you changed the SSID of the WRE54G. When you do a search you should see two devices with your own SSID. Notice that one of the MAC addresses should match the one on the back of the WRE54G. Select it and then connect.
7. Hopefully you have two blue lights right now. Select your SSID with the strongest signal.
8. Change your wireless computer's IP setting back to dynamic, if you like.
9. Setup WEP on the WRE54G then set it up on your wireless router, and change all the factory default passwords to something stronger.
Hope this helps!
Customer Review: Linksys Fail
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased the Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander in order to boost the WIFI and go sit out on the porch to surf the interwebs.
My excitement quickly turned to dismay as I embarked on an incredibly difficult setup process. First off, I attempted to get it up and running using a MacBook, the main computer that would be using the expanded range, but it turned out that the included set-up wizard is Windows-only. My frustration at this stage could have been averted if only there had been an indication of supported operating systems on the outside of the box!
OK then, luckily there was a Windows laptop available to use for the setup. After trying the auto-config button on the unit, I ran the wizard and received an error message (not much of a wizard if you ask me). I decided rather than continuing to fight I'd call the free, 24/7 tech support number.
I got a very nice tech support representative (presumably in India judging by his thick accent) who attempted to guide me through the setup. He quickly realized that the problem was not a simple one and asked if it would be OK if he "took control" of my PC. He said that if I allowed him to do that he could have things up and running in 10 minutes. I thought it was sketchy to let some guy "take control" of my PC, but I wanted to get this over with and I agreed.
"If you want me to do that" he said, "I will have to charge you $9.99." "Charge me!?" I said. I wasn't planning on spending more than the face value for this equipment. Now it's not working and the "free" tech support hotline is trying to charge more!? "It's your choice" he said. "If you want to get it fixed right now I can do it, or you can call back later and have to spend more time on this." Wow, really!?
In the heat of the moment I gave in and told him to go ahead and charge me the 10 bucks. The next thing I know some guy in India is controlling my PC, going into areas of the system that I would never attempt to mess with, and asking me for my credit card info at the same time. Sketchy!!
45 minuets later he was still messing around trying to make the thing work, asking me to un-plug and re-plug in the device etc. Finally I decided I couldn't spend any more time on this. I asked him to exit my system and I'll return the time-wasteing device.
Not only is it ridiculous in this day and age to make a product that doesn't work with a Mac and doesn't auto-configure like it says it will, but to then try and charge me for some stranger on the other side of the world to compromise my security. I don't think so, Linksys. I expected much more from you and your daddy Cisco.
Customer Review: Huge Hassle in a Box
Summary: 3 Stars
This is my first review, so lower your expectations on my forthcoming ramblings. And now lower your expectations on this product. The setup for this may have been the most complicated i have experienced with anything. GRANTED, I am not a computer guy, but I have a friend who is, and received his help. After the long debacle that unfolded, I compensated him with a lil $ and a meal for surviving the horrors we encountered. After an hour or 2 of attempting to get this to link my to my brother's weak wireless signal (100+ ft. away across a backyard) sent from his Linksys modem/router thingee,(model # cwg600? ish?), we finally established a connection verified by the blue lights on the unit itself. HOWEVER, even though this unit was talking to my brother's modem, i could not get the INTERNET for my ps3, (which has since been given ydl linux 5.0 os), because the connection was local access only. After receiving NO? help from linksys tech support for an hour (if there was any help given, we could not decode it b/c the accent of phone tech was indecipherable-- not their fault, but no help, either), I was ready to throw in the towel. My friend was not. He offered to take it home to try and link it to his system. I decided that i wanted one last shot. On the box of the unit was a picture of a wireless access point do-hickey with which the expander was supposed to work. After a quick trip to the local electronics store (and Taco Bell b/c we were starving), we hooked the Linksys WAP54G? wireless access point directly to my brother's modem via an ethernet cable. After just a couple of minutes we were easily able to get the expander to recognize the $80 wap. My PS3 was magically granted the internet and the ability to write this wonderous review b/c I took a stab in the dark (no thanks to linsys support- who promised to call back yet never did- I wasn't holding my breath...) by buying a seperate piece of equipment. The expander works alright now- sometimes, although not often,it loses connection with the wap (evidenced by a red light) and automatically finds it again after a few to several seconds. On some occations i have to unplug the expander for a moment to get the connection back quickly.
To make a long story short, if you are trying to connect this range expander to something other than the linksys modem or wap written on the box, you will need a copious amount of know-how, patience, and perscription strength drugs to calm frustrations. Once you get connected, you can then buy AND REVIEW products to your heart's content. Hope this helps- i know writing this review has been theraputic for me...
Customer Review: Must read if you want this thing to work !
Summary: 3 Stars
Ok, I bought this unit about 6 months ago. I have probably put 12 hours into it. Thus, 3 stars. Tried all the tips on here, tried troubleshooting, and finally have found the holy grail:
1. Read the instructions by other reviewers but don't follow them. I tried them - they didn't work for me.
2. Start the setup program off the CD ROM. (make sure your unit is set to factory defaults - if you're not sure, strick a needle in the reset hole and hold it for 15-20 secs. Unplug/ replug in unit)
3. When the setup program asks for the 'network' , make sure it is selecting your access point. When I did it, it would default to the extender. Select your access point from the list. Before you hit 'yes' to connect, have the exteneder in hand.
4. After hitting 'yes' , press the autoconfig button on the extender as hard as you can and hold it until the screen shows that it is found. This was the biggest stumbling block for me - nowhere have I read that you need to hold the button down in the setup. If you don't do this, the unit will not be found- I think the software confuses the extender with another network out in the ether. Interestingly, the found extender will have the same name as your SSID. Look carefully at the config to the left and notice that the specs are actually the extender's.
5.I think you click connect next. I got an error on my screen that said I couldn't connect. I closed it. The signal on the laptop jumped immediately to 100% but I noticed that the internet stopped functioning. Note- it is not immediately apparent that the extender is working except for the improved signal.
6. Open a browser and type 192.168.1.240 - go into the interface with nothing in the username and 'admin' as the password. Upgrade the firmware in the help tab. I have 1.04.17 I think. Also, while you are here, copy the MAC address of the extender down on paper or into your clipboard.
6. Reboot everything.
7. CRITICAL STEP- some guy on a different forum gave me this tip. Go into your router's webconfig utility and add the MAC address of the extender to the internet policy. On my WPC54G, it is under 'Access Restrictions' - click on 'enable' access and click on 'edit list of pcs' - add the extender's MAC address to the list and save. Close the edit list screen. Click the 'Save settings' button on the 'Access Restrictions' page.
8. Surf away! I literally just got mine setup in the far end of my house and have a full signal. I used to get 15% at best.
Good luck. Linksys could mqake a killing on these things if they made them user friendly...
Customer Review: It Works -- But It Wasn't Easy!
Summary: 2 Stars
I needed a range expander because I had a weak signal from my wireless router in remote areas of my house. I chose the Linksys WRE54G because I had a Linksys WRT54GS router.
Now that the unit is operational, I have a minimum of a "Very Good" signal throughout the house - so I'm happy - albeit exhausted.
First I'm a novice at setting up a wireless network - but not an idiot. In the end, it was a 1.5 hour call to Linksys (India) that got my issues resolved.
I suggest you write these numbers down:
Support 24/7: 800-326-7114
Linksys Support (Amazon) 10 am - 10 pm EST: 800-814-0180
Before calling, have the model numbers and serial numbers of the router and range expander - as they'll ask (including the version). A few tips:
- Make sure you have your SSID, security information (WEP, 64/128 bit, etc.), in hand before starting - as the settings on the expander MUST match the router! I printed mine by going to Internet Explorer and entering the default IP address for my router (http:\\192.168.1.1 with the password default of admin). The settings are under the wireless tab and then the wireless security sub tab.
- Have your wireless PC up and ready to go - you'll need it.
- Turn off security on your router (on the wireless security sub tab) - and re-enable when you're finally through configuring this animal.
- Insert the set up disk before connecting the hardware. To first configure the expander, plug into your router (later unplug to ping and test).
- Don't be fooled that blue lights on your expander means it's working - mine had blue lights after autoconfig and was not working. You should be able to "ping" the device when it's wireless - by going to Start, run, entering cmd - and then from the cmd prompt ping 192.168.1.240 (the default IP of the expander).
- In the end, I had an error message regarding the same IP address being assigned to two devices. Re-booting the PC, router and range expander solved the issue.
- The instructions are easy - getting it to work isn't. Have some time to work on this!
- If your security is weak, now is a good time to enable WEP/WPA, hide your SSID and perhaps use MACs - heck you'll be on the phone with Support anyway!
- Linksys sells a wireless internet video camera on Amazon to add to your network - now that you know what you're doing you may want that toy.
- Finally, I'm told Linksys just came out with more powerful routers - so rather than buy an expander, you may want to consider just upgrading the router!
Good luck -- I hope you don't need it.