Pros: Easy Installation, well secured wireless connection Cons: None so far
I just recently bought my wife a laptop for our 20th anniversary so she could sit on the coach and relax while she is online. That immediately presented a problem with how she was going to connect to the Internet. The laptop had a built in 56K modem so ...
Pros: Easy configuration, works in most enviroments out of the box, highly hackable Cons: Did not work well for me (may be my area)
After recommending Linksys to everyone during my days at Best Buy, I've decided to take the plunge when Fry's Electronics had it on sale for $59.99. This is not a bad price considering that it still goes for $79.99 at most retail stores (and recently ...
Pros: Three-n-one product: router, WAP, 4-port switch; capable of dual protocol transmit and receive. Cons: Tech support; wrong MAC address labeled on the bottom of the unit.
Wireless-G is the next wave in wireless networking technology. Wireless-G WAP's, and Network Interface Cards (NIC's) are capable of transmitting and receiving data at speeds of up to 54Mbps, almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B ...
Pros: ease of use, security, useful features, compatibility Cons: performance, expensive, questions about construction
A year ago I started a new job. They gave me a laptop that had a built in wireless card which I could take home and do work as necessary. Previous to that I had been an advocate of using hard wired Ethernet when possible because wireless creates what I ...
Pros: Designed for the home user and the business user. Cons: Configuration is so vast with little instructions making it confusing.
INTRODUCTION There are two ways to approach buying a wireless router to create a wireless home network. One way includes visiting a Best Buy store, and telling a store associate that you want a wireless home network, listening to their ...
Pros: Ease of use, price, speed Cons: Short signal range, Technical support
Going wireless For someone who is not into computer technology this might sound so out of this World and an untouchable thing. The Linksys Wireless-G router changes all that. Going wireless has never been easier than with this device. I chose ...
Pros: No more cables. No more worms. Cons: Very small security risks.
This is a fine wireless SOHO solution. I'm using it between my DSL four port router and my internal NYC apartment network. For a cable modem, you'd do just what I did--connect the router to your cable modem using standard netwok cable. Set-up was qui ...
Pros: Good brand name, inexpensive. Straightforward product. Cons: Power adapter is kinda bulky.
After fiddling for too long with ethernet cables around my house, I realized that wireless products were much less expensive than I had originally though. And I was right. A visit to my local Best Buy, I found that there were many products, ...
Pros: Inexpensive, comprehensive, open sourced router, part of a legacy of innovative products. Cons: It lacks content filtering and robust firewall, but there is alternative open source software available.
Linksys has a history of offering great value in small home and home office networking devices. The WRT54G continues and in many ways improves upon this legacy. This is even more noteworthy as Linksys was purchased by Cisco as this product was rolling ...
Pros: Firewall is perfect, Great Price, Decent Wireless range Cons: The power plug is a little big
An Important Note is there are many versions of this router as well as firmware. Currently they are on hardware version 2.2 and firmware 3.0. I have version 2.2 It would be a good idea only to read reviews for the current version because some of the ...
Pros: Versatile, inexpensive, reliable, good range and performance Cons: Setup can be tricky, especially if you ignore the directions.
Broadband internet is becoming more readily available every day. Offices and homes continue to add and upgrade computers. With the Linksys WRT54G wireless broadband router you can easily and securely share your broadband connection with your Ethernet or ...
Pros: Wireless Encryption, easy manual setup, Bright Wireless signal indicator on front of unit Cons: Flimsy construction, install CD can be cumbersome, signal strength (although may be attributed to environment)
The WRT54G is my first foray into the world of wireless internet in my home. I purchased this from a friend who bought it, but realized that it didn't have what he wanted, so he offered it to me for half what he paid for it. I decided to jump at this. ...
Pros: Router/Switch/Access Point (and pseudo firewall) all in one. Easy set up. Good security...if applied. Cons: Ships in a rather 'open' condition regarding security. Softcopy manual.
The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router does just what it's expected to. I was able to set mine up in minutes and add security in a few more. The unit boasts a rather small footprint but serves as a router, a switch for wired devices, and an access ...
Pros: Works great, excellent security, good wireless range. Cons: The documentation is a bit spartan.
After a hideous experience with Microsoft's MN-820 (review: W
hat
a piece of Junk) I was looking forward to a pleasant experience with the Linksys WRT54G. My entire set-up time was 1 1/2 minutes. I opened the package ...
Pros: Reliable, much better range, easy to setup and maintain. Cons: Network authentication SHOULD work, too.
First, it is probably appropriate that I fill you in on my home networking history. About the same time as my first cable modem arrived in the mail, I decided that I wanted to install a wireless net in the house. Our typical configuration changes dependin ...
Pros: Easy installation. Secure wireless connection. Cons: Look of unit is dated.
Having just moved here to Maine, I needed Internet access so that I could continue my business operations as well as get to my most important email. At first, I got connected to Cingular using the B
lackjack.
Finally, ...
Pros: Reliable, dependable, great signal strength, customizable, compatible with most wifi setups. Cons: Default setup is not maximum security possible. You have to do more configuring yourself.
Reliable, Great for Home Networks Linksys has always been a brand that means dependability to me. And this router is no exception. The Linksys WRT54G is easy to set up. It comes with an installation CD that walks you through the process. In ...
Pros: Easy to setup and add to current Router Configuration Cons: None so Far
I had recently brought a laptop for use at my company and it had wireless capability and needed an inexpensive wireless router, so after doing my research and asking some tech guys. I looked into the Linksys WRT54G router. Brought it from Best buy on ...
Pros: Faster than 802.11b, Reliable, Easy to Configure, Cost Effective, Tech Support Cons: Not lightning proof
This review concerns the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router (WRT54G). I wrote a review a few years ago on the Linksys Wireless-B Broadband Router (BEFW11S4), which you can read he
re.
All comments in this old review ...
I have been using WRT54G version 1.0 for over a year (when 802.11g was still a draft standard), and while this is a competent product, there are many bugs Linksys needs ironing out. Setup was easy enough. Connect router to broadband modem, connect ...
Pros: Worked right out of the box, MAC based Policies, and tolerant of mixed brand hardware. Cons: Access Restriction Policies need to be revised.
The WRT54G is my second WiFi router. My previous Dlink DI-614+ worked well enough but had occasional glitches that required the unit be reset. The purchase of a Dell laptop (non Centrino) with Dell's internal 802.11g WiFi, and the Dlink router ...
Pros: Easy to install, improved security using WPA-PSK (TKIP), dual antennae for Tx and Rx. Cons: Power adapter difficult to source for use in countries outside the US. No CLI.
The product installed easily and worked like a charm. Took no time at all and I am getting 54 Mbps most of the time which is as specified. The Web interface is easy to use and the router easily configured. Very few changes were necessary to connect to my ...
Pros: Fast, Not Too Expensive, Easy Connections Cons: Setup program is kind of confusing...
My initial impressions were very good. It's a neat, good-looking product and initial setup was ok - I had two PCs sharing a cable modem in about ten minutes. It's also very good value, particularly as it's quite feature-rich, offering a DHCP server and ...
Pros: Very stable, easy to use, "hackable" Cons: Certain variations/revisions lack advanced user options
This is a very handy little router. The greatest feature of it is actually it's "hackability." Linksys released the source code for this router and as a result many people have been spending a lot of time adding features and creating new versions of ...
Pros: None Cons: Could not establish a home network, Tech Support
I purchased this router for $89 with a $10 rebate at Staples 3/6/04. I also bought a new laptop with wireless "g". Set up was easy for the router using the disk provided with the unit. Our family was surfing the net on both the new laptop and existing PC ...
Pros: Great compatability (802.11b, G, and 4 port standard ethernet), well built product, Cons: No power switch on back.
Having tested the wireless capability over 6 years ago with Diamonds HomeFree system I was a little skeptical on how well it would work. After plugging it in and putting my cable modem up to it, it was working like a charm. I installed a Wireless-G PCI...
This router is so easy to connect and use, a kid can do it. No, seriously. I work from home and have two internet connections. We use the cable modem for my work PC and the DSL for the home PC. My husband was recently promoted and part of that ...
Pros: Cheap, but is it worth it when you figure in the lost hours? Cons: Requires more nursing than a newborn.
This is the second broadband router from Linksys my girlfriend has had. In both cases we were lured by rebates from Best Buy. The first was a wireless-B and always had connection issues. We spent too much time with numerous calls to customer support. ...
Pros: Good short range performance, easy install/interface Cons: Terrible in houses/settings with more than 2 walls between
Works as good as any 54g wireless router would at short distances, but practically useless beyond 2 walls. Setup is easy - that said, ALL wireless routers are easily installed if you follow the directions and make sure your windows is fully updated - ...
Pros: Excellent Tech Support-knowledgable and not script readers Cons: out of the box ease isn't easy even with the EasyAdvisor CD and web help.
I have a 108Mbps Blitzz wireless router I wanted to upgrade since they are no longer in business and thought I needed to replace it after some wireless issues. So, I go to Fry's and am told that the 2.4 gHz is much faster than the 108 Mbps(technically ...
Pros: Better Distance, Better Interface, More Reliable, More Secure Cons: None
Increased Distance, More Reliable, Secure, and Stable. What more could you ask for? I purchased this item after seeing how strong the signal was at a friends house. My first wireless router was a D-Link wireless, I constantly had problems with ...
Pros: Worked flawlessly. Nice web-based interface. Cons: Cannot come up with...
This wireless router worked without any major problem in my environment. The box of this router says the installation requirement is Windows, but I installed from Mac and I could set it up properly from the web-based configuration interface. In order ...
Pros: Outperforms equivalent NETGEAR products, never looses an IP connection. Cons: None really, highly recommended.
As you may have seen, as of 1/20/07 there are 127 reviews on this product. I'm not going to go into any depth on details that have probably been covered 127 times before. What I can tell you is that I recently replaced my NETGEAR WRG614 with the ...
Pros: Works fine, looks okay, moderately priced. Cons: Security was not super easy to set up.
We thought we could go from broadband to dial-up but we were wrong! We have a need for speed. We decided on cable after frustrations with DSL related to old phone lines (probably a problem with the dial-up too). The issue? We live in an apartment complex ...
Pros: Easy to set up
Cheaper than "Pre-N" routers
Reasonably priced Cons: Will not support "N" protocol when it is established
I recently purchased the WRT54GS Wireless Router from Linksys and I have to admit I am rather pleased. Gone are the days of searching for MAC addresses and fumbling through the router's IP address. The WRT54GS offers speedboost technology, which claims ...
Pros: Easy to install, excellent value, adds nice convenience. Cons: PCMCIA dimensions might interfere with other cards that you need to use in slots.
Received this router as a Father's day gift last week. Took about 5 minutes to set up and run tests to be sure I could get the distance I needed with "wireless". I was concerned that there might be interference with my cordless phone system (Siemens ...
Pros: Simple to use/install, standard security features Cons: Nothing "Special" about it
This is my third or so router. My experience has been that most routers I buy work great. I haven't had much of a better experience with one verses the other. However, here is my experience with this router: Range: Range is fine on this router. ...
Pros: Ease of setup; Price; Color Cons: Version 5 Lacks Desirable Qualities
First of all let me give you some context of my use. I am not a heavy user but I do have specific needs. Currently, I have 3 wired and 1 wireless connection. I occasionally work from home using a VPN connection. This was my first real attempt at a ...
Pros: Easy to config and run. Cons: Don't get me started again...
I have a running problem with Linksys customer support. I purchased a new G router to upgrade from my Linksys B that was stable and fantastic. The G router died after one month and three days... Linksys sent me a replacement. The replacement died ...
Pros: None. Two many problems Cons: Range problems, wireless disconnections, slows IE.
I have been a Linksys fan for a long time, but this router made me question their quality. I had experience with a few Linksys routers before buying this one and had no problems whatsoever, so when the power supply on my old 802.11b Linksys Wireless ...
Pros: Easy to set up, very secure, and very inexpensive. Cons: New GUI is too plain.
This is my second Linksys router to replace an older model that still works but has less features. Right out of the box it's pretty much plug and play. I can see how some would find it difficult to configure the encryption, but it's really not all that ...
Pros: Name recognition, linksys was a reliable company. Pretty color Cons: Dropped connections, not enough flash, horrible tech support.
I bought this router to upgrade from my previous router a wrk54g (kit version of the good router) and thought I was getting an upgraded router. First problem cropped up while trying to install the router. The box has a big note not to disconnect ...
Pros: The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router has GREAT speed Cons: Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router has no cons
The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is an upgrade of the WRT54G series, giving a 35% boost, and well worth the cost. If you use Comcast cable with speedboost as I do then why not use a speed boost router. Believe ...
Pros: Easy configuration Wireless strength really good. Easy security setting Cons: At times internet is slow, but you just need to restart.
I bought this router about seven months ago and think it is one of the best routers, I ever purchased. I have used Netgear, D-link 3Com and other routers, but it is one of the best in its class. Signal strength is really good and I can roam around my ...
Pros: Very fast and easy setup with good range and fast download throughput. Cons: I have not yet identified any downside to this router.
I have used D-Link routers for the last several years and had many problems with my latest one. This led me to search for a different brand. After looking at routers in my price range and reading a lot of reviews, I decided upon the Linksys WRT54GS. I ...
Pros: Good Connection speed always. Simple instruction for non-AOL users. Good web-support Cons: Should state special instruction for AOL users with package.
Bought the routher after reading reviews and contacting AOL. AOL told me that Linksys, NET-GEAR and Action Tech would work with their service. Went to the Linksys website and found specific instructions for AOL users. On the Linksys.com website, ...
Pros: Easy to setup and install, affordably priced Cons: no power switch, not rackmountable, connection can be interrupted by cordless phone use.
Linksys has done it again. I began using Linksys products years ago and continue to use them to this day. As an IT consultant I have used Linksys products from small business applications to large corporate applications and have never been dissatisfied....
Pros: Never encountered any Cons: Setup Wizard, CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!!!, difficulty of setup
I purchased this router to hook up two computers to the internet through a cable modem. I used the Setup Wizard, but it wouldn't connect to the ethernet using their setup wizard. So I called customer service. Now five years ago I bought a wired router ...
Our home network consisted of 2 desktop, 1 laptop, and 1 X Box and a Netgear router. When the Netgear router went out we bought a D-link router and notebook card. Unfortunately the wireless connection of the D-Link router did not work. After many ...
Pros: Quick and easy to install, easy to configure, reliable Cons: one lockup after power down
Recently I had to organize additional working space for my wife and there is no way we could work side-by-side in my home office. And I wasn't crazy about idea of running UTP cables around the house to get the second computer connected. I've seen Linksys ...
Pros: Nice product, Works much better than a Microsoft router I previously owned. Cons: Very hard to understand Tech support people.
Fairly simple to set up, decent tech support (if you can understand them). I first purchased the Microsoft router which had fantastic tech support but was a horrible product, (Poor range). Took it back and got the Linksys. Much better signal to my...
Pros: great speed, easy setup. Cons: range, hard to acquire signal.
I was extremely hopeful when I first purchased this product but that soon faded after it arrived. Directly connected to my pc it's great, but my laptop just 10 feet away picks up a signal only at certain angles (I found this out the hard way). After...
Pros: Very fast wireless G connection, great signal strength. Cons: I don't think there are any.
I purchased my first Belkin wireless router thinking to myself, "I'm going to go cheap". I wanted to save a few bucks. I think the Belkin got struck by lightning so the Linksys router is replacing the Belkin, and I never liked the Belkin very much at ...
I bought this router because the name is associated with Cisco and they are the authority on routing. Too bad the parent company didnt pass that idea on to Linksys. The product looks nice in it blue and black plastic case. About 6 weeks after using it, ...
Pros: Internet sharing sometimes works. Cons: Internet sharing sometimes doesn't work. File and printer sharing never works (for me).
This is my first wireless router and what a bad experience it's been. I bought it so that I can share files among my three computers, and also share broadband internet access among them. All three computers are running Windows XP with Service Pack 2. ...
Pros: cheap, easy Cons: must have broadband connection to use
Wired house about ten years ago with ethernet cable and a simple four port switch. We could share printers and files and the dial up internet connection. Just switched from dial-up access (26 kbs!) to Wild Blue satellite. Had to replace switch with ...
Pros: Works well once installed, Linksys reps were EXTREMELY helpful. Cons: A pain to set up with a Mac
I originally bought this product for my dorm room but I don't get back for another month so I set up a temporary home connection for my family. Well let's see I got this in the mail yesterday and it took forever to install. It would have been easy if I ...
Pros: Easy to set-up
Reliable
Cheap
Port-forwarding works Cons: No WPA yet
I bought this router to replace my P.O.S. Dell TrueMobile 2300. It was a snap to install: Truly Plug 'n Play. Once I was up and running I downloaded and installed the 2.00.8 firmware. In glaring contrast to my old 2300, I have experienced no problems whatsoever with this Linksys model. It hasn't once lost my cable connection or not given me a clear wireless signal.
The range is adequate. My laptop sits 2 floors away from the router in the basement. I get a clear signal all the time-- usually "High" but occasionally (Once every 2 hours) dropping to "Low" for periods of ten minutes or so before bouncing back up. Of course, even the 36 mbps connection I get with a Low signal is extremely fast and makes the G protocol a worthy investment.
The port-forwarding feature works flawlessly. Finally, I am able to create games in Warcraft III.
Very Good Router (So Far) by nieman46804 ,Mar 10 '06
Pros: Reasonable price, fairly good tech support, very fast for wireless. Cons: A little finicky when it comes to setup and software.
I have a company issued laptop with a built in Wi Fi card and wanted to get a wireless router for home use. I stumbled upon this one at Best Buy and decided to give it a try. The setup software was pretty easy to use and for the most part the on line security was not too hard to manipulate. The trick is getting the encryption set up correctly; you pretty much have to call LINKSYS technical support. They aren't bad (Phillipines) though they are a little hard to understand at times. Overall, though, they had the problems worked out fairly quickly. I will say that the router is a little finicky when it comes to accepting security changes (I had it all set up and had to power it down and then up again for the settings to fully take). Once up, though, it has worked great. Very fast. There are also 4 wired positions so it also serves as a wired 4 port switch. Overall, if it holds up should be well worth the purchase price of $69.
Great Home Office Router by toddybear78 ,Sep 09 '03
Pros: Fast wireless networking, easy setup. Cons: Lack of UPnP.
The Linksys WRT54G was a replacement/upgrade to my Linksys BEFSR41. Setup of the WRT54G is simple. The latest firmware of the product has fixed many of the initial problems the router had. The router currently servers 3 wired clients and 2 wireless in 802.11b/g mixed mode. There is a lack of Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) which may make setting up certain file sharing programs difficult. Personally, I don't use UPnP on any of my systems and this has never been an issue.
Pros: Excellent customer support. Cons: The unit doesn't actually work.
I had a lot of problems with this product. I had one that quit after working for a few days. Then a few exchanges from the store didn't improve the situation. It's possible that the store just got a bad batch. The customer support is quite good. They were knowledgeable and helpful.
Worst Customer Service Ever by sarahjb ,Aug 16 '04
Pros: It works fine if you don't need any help. Cons: Incredibly bad customer service
Beware of the incompetent customer service for Linksys. After easily setting up a wired/wireless network I called for help making it secure. 4 hours and 4 phone calls later my internet service didn't work, my network didn't work, my internet service didn't work, my router didn't work, and Linksys said it was a faulty system (it had worked before I called for help). I had to call Earthlink to fix the internet connection and then bought a Motorola. They had it fixed and secure in 15 minutes. I told a friend this story and she said she had a friend with a similar Linksys customer service nightmare. Beware! Also, I never received a rebate from an earlier item I bought in '02, even after calling about it.
So sorry we spent the money on this by rabidsquirrel ,Jan 10 '04
Pros: The 2 wired connections still seem to work the same as before. Cons: Offshore tech support, skimpy documentation.
We were excited to finally have a way to wirelessly network an upstairs computer to a downstairs hub (we have some nasty wall problems preventing wired connections). Our older wired Linksys router has performed flawlessly.
We spent 6 hours of trying to get a signal to the router, working with the documentation, tech support, and the online articles. Tech support described software and hardware as looking different from their actual appearance. Tech support articles provided conflicting information. Some parts worked at the beginning - none of it works now.
I'm ready to return all of it and drill a hole through the ceiling to drop the Ethernet cable through.
Pros: Fairly easy to set up, does some of the things it's supposed to. Cons: Can't properly share files between computers, horrible tech support.
I'll keep this short and to the point. Setup is fairly easy, you'll have to reset it about once a day (unplug then plug it back in) to reconnect to the internet, and it has a major file transfer flaw. The tech support (as everyone mentioned) is really bad; I think companies feel that providing horrible 24/7 tech support is for some reason better than good 12/7 tech support. Back to the point, here's what you can do... surf the net, share your internet connection. You cannot easily transfer files between computers going from wireless to wired. Based on that, it sucks.
Pros: you need to have the computer on top of the router for a good signal Cons: Poor range, slow transfer, awful techsupport, what else can I complain about?
I bought this thing because I thought i could trust a big name like linksys, man was i wrong. To sum it all up, i am dissatisfied with every aspect of this router. I updated to latest firmware but still had problems with the VPN passthru, and what seemed to be a finicky GUI. For having 2 antennas this thing sure sucks. I couldnt get this unit to go thru more than 1 wall and 20 feet. 2 or more walls seemed impossible, but now matter how close i was the wireless transfer rate was nauseating. When i finally got thru to tech support, which took nearly a combined 5 hours on the phone they didnt know what the problems was, or how to speak english. Finally they said that it might be a defective unit, so they sent me a replacement and there was no differance, what a surprize! after more than 2 weeks of wasting my time I bought the Netgear WGR614 and it worked PERFECTLY. It gets a good signal anywhere in my house, and its almost twice as fast on file transfers. VPN passthru works beautifully.
Open Source makes it Fantastically Flexible by bpearlmutter ,Mar 10 '05
Pros: linux + flash RAM = flexible fantastic computer/router/WAP Cons: power adapter is 120v only (in US model)
This is an amazing wireless access point for geeks. It ships with Linux under the hood, but you can very easily flash new software into its ROMs from www.openWRT.org and have a flexible full computer in your router/WAP. It can do all sorts of amazing tricks, from MESH networking to DHCP forwarding to IPv6 to acting as a web server. These are all simple to install, things that people have already set up. But you can do your own tricks with it too; the limit is your imagination. A true geek-worthy machine!
Also, the case can be opened without even a screwdriver, and with a little soldering you can activate the otherwise unused USB port, so you can eg connect multiple WiFi USB dongles.
My only issue: the power adapter is 120v only. Most things like this are 110-240v, which (being a citizen-of-the-world type) I would find much more convenient.
Don't Buy this......Seriously! by ilovethehutch ,Feb 20 '08
Pros: easy to set up Cons: Doesn't work!
Purchased at Frys electronic store. This product was on sale and the sales person said it was a great product for the money. This was installed easily with a bit of customer support (because there were no WRITTEN instructions) in maybe half hour. It worked great with no problems for about 3 months. HOWEVER, this product just STOPPED working after about 3 months. So i'd advise you to pay a bit more and get something that works for a bit longer! Now, we are back to having a huge long cable through out our home because our wireless didn't last.
Quick, Easy, exactly what I expected! by fjn026 ,Jun 21 '04
Pros: Great interface/features, and local loopback! Cons: Does not support CustomDNS
Based on the familiar Broadcom 54g MIPS-based router chipset (found in other manufacturer's products such as Microsoft, Belkin, Dell, Buffalo, etc.), this little guy runs an embedded Linux.
Configuration is a snap - just plug it in and go to the IP address. Local loopback even works, which makes it much easier to develop on your personal webserver from inside the firewall!
Wireless range was on par with the old Linksys WAP11 Access Point I had. Throughput seems a bit higher.
One of the features the router supports is Dynamic DNS services. Unfortunately, the Custom DNS service from DynDNS.org is not among the supported types. I assume it's only Static or Dynamic DNS service. However, with Linksys' track record, this will be corrected in a soon-to-be upcoming firmware release.
Overall, great product, and the quality you would expect from Linksys.
Pros: Easy to set up, clear instructions. Cons: None found yet.
I went to Best Buy Yesterday and bought the Linksys WRT54G for $79.00. I also purchased a wireless card for my laptop. I put in the instructional CD, followed the directions and in 30 minutes I'm in business. I thought this was an easy and relatively cheap way to give me mobility to any room in my house as well as outside.
Average router for home use by greatmom3 ,Jan 25 '06
Pros: Easy to set up. It took a little more time, but finally got it done. Cons: Range is very low. Hard to get a decent signal going for my laptop.
I have a home business so I bought this so I could use at home with desktop and laptop. I do my business work mainly on my Dell XPS desktop in one room, while my laptop is for personal use such as surfing Internet, kids research for homework, getting recipes, etc. while in my kitchen.
Good, easy to use Wireless Router by afjmusicman ,Jul 16 '04
Pros: Easy to use, really attractive design, great for people new to wireless networking. Cons: Not as powerful as others in range, okay tech support, but other than that, none.
I have installed several of these in a church. For the most part, they are great wireless routers, they are some of the best looking routers (something you would like to be seen out in the open, lol), and setup is very easy. The only thing I seem to not like about them is their range, of course I'm asking a lot to want them to go through brick walls and walls with steel reinforcement. I have never been a fan of Linksys, but I have had several users that I installed them for say they like them a lot. Overall, a good router for the home or small business user. I've heard horror stories of their tech support and even of the equipment, but have not experienced any of these things for myself, so I cannot say. I have purchased and installed about 3 of these along with 4 or 5 of Linksys' APs. Overall, good router.
Pros: Netgear 614v8 is really great Cons: WRT54 is not worthy
I am using Netgear 614v8 router for the last few months. Believe me it's a excellent product. It is a broadcom based router and well suited for many third party firmwares like Tomato, DD-WRT and Open-WRT. Netgear has also announced the Tomato firmware for this router. I have used Tomato with this platform.... So I got the enhanced feature set for a resonably low price. It's great man....
Come on, try it out.... Let's switch to this router why should we continue to pay much for the same functionality?
Pros: Easy to setup for both home local network and internet/file/printer sharing. Cons: None that I have seen
I had the chance to work with several wireless router recently and I must say this one is the best of them, really easy to setup and has a very good range and network performance.
I used this tutorial to establish my home network and internet sharing: http://www.cguy.net/wlan_home_net/
Pros: Easy to use and good range Cons: EXTREMELY POOR TECH SUPPORT
I was always reluctant to buy a wireless router, because of the security risks. It was on special (during Christmas), so I bought it. Quite easy to set-up and configure security.
However, ran into some problems while configuring network and viewing shares between wired and wireless devices. After a lot of playing around with and LOT of help from various newsgroups, finally got it working.
One thing for sure TECH SUPPORT SUX. After a looooooong wait on the toll free line, finally got through. The tech was very ill-informed and was (seemed like) trained to answer only basics. He plainly refused to help me and simply told me to search for help on the net. :(
Don't waste your time with this by wick40 ,Jan 05 '05
Pros: If you like wasting your time then this is for you! Cons: Tech Support stinks - software provided didn't work
I wanted to go wireless but with the linksys router and card it would'nt work at all. Non of the software that came with this worked on either of my machines and then I had to download everything. I spoke to 6 different people over 5 hours of time with their tech support, only one spoke English where you could understand it. They told me I had driver issues and that they would e-mail me the driver I needed. The e-mail never came so I took both the router and card back to the store (in a snow storm) and bought a netgear system. In 10 minutes of getting back home I was networked and running wireless from my laptop the way it was supposed to work. Save yourself the hours of pain and just get the netgear. I don't wish it on anyone what I had to go through with the Linksys.
nice but can't WEP with my old mac by slathering ,Jan 05 '05
Pros: easy to install Cons: configuration interface odd in places
This product is a piece of cake to use. My apartment building provides network access (wired). I just plugged this router into the wall and it was ready to go. Of course, I went and changed the default network name, and set the security settings. But it did work right out of the box.
The software is a little weird in places. In the web based interface, there are some misspellings, these were corrected with a firmware upgrade. Like any router with security, it's possible to misconfigure it and lock yourself out of the configuration utility, but the reset button on the back fixes this quickly.
Overall, I'm quite happy with this router. The coolest feature is that it is capable of updating records in various dynamic DNS services (dyndns, etc). Unfortunatly, because my apartment ISP puts me behind a NAT, I haven't been able to use this feature.
I bought this along with a Linksys WPC54G adaptor card for my Toshiba notebook but gave up after three days of over three hours per day trying to get some sense from Linksys so-called
"technical support" somewhere on the Indian sub-continent. They were incapable of helping me to get any wireless communication whatsoever and the sessions finished with incredible statements such as "You must delete Windows Service Pack 2 and replace it with Service Pack 1 !!!"
One most annoying feature of the WPC54G is that it comes with a sticker which insists that the user run the CD before doing anything else.On my first call to Linksys I was told that Windows XP users should NOT run the CD.
Many reviewers seem to have had good experiences so I might perhaps have a defective WRT54G/WPC54G but, after my exhausting sessions with their unintelligible "technical support people" I can see no point in trying to get Linksys to look into the problem.
Pros: they have good marketing skills Cons: they suck
I had the exact same interaction with their Tech Support, they told me to buy this router when I asked them for the port redirection feature, after buying the router and installing it, I realized I was fulled.
A bit tricky at first, but worth the effort! by katiecorn1 ,Oct 11 '04
Pros: Great signal, fantastic tech support Cons: A bit complicated to configure for a total novice
When we switched from dial-up to DSL, we decided to simply go all in, and get a wireless router, too, so we could access the web on our other computers, too. Frankly, it was all a bit more work than I had anticipated, but that may have been simply because I was trying to get so many new things to work all at one! I had to call tech support a couple of times, but really, that was fine. They were very courteous, and quite knowledgable. The tech I spoke to patiently walked me through everything I needed to do, which was great, since it was somewhat beyond my scope of understanding, as far as computers go. Once everything was aligned, it worked like a charm, and still does. The signal I get on my laptop, as well as our other PC (with a Lynksys PCI card) is always excellent, and there has yet to be any problems. I'd recommend this brand highly, even if it were just for the tech support!
EVALUATION OF LINKSYS-G BROADBAND ROUTER by drglush ,Jan 29 '05
Pros: PHENOMENAL SIGNAL WHICH CAN REACH AT LEAST 120 FEET FROM MY CABLE MODEM Cons: SETTUP WAS TRICKY.
I HAD PROBLEMS NETWORKING USING MY OLD WIRELESS B ROUTER AND COULD ONLY NETWORK A MEDIOCRE SIGNAL A FEW FEET FROM MY MAIN COMPUTER.AFTER SETTING UP THE LINKSYS-G 2.4 GHX ,I COULD ACCESS THE INTERNET FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF MY HOUSE RUNNING 54 BITS AT LIGHTNING SPEED USING A CABLE NETWORK.I CAN RUN 4 COMPUTERS AT FULL CAPACITY ALL OVER MY HOUSE.MY 5 YEAR OLD GATEWAY RUNS TWICE AS FAST USING THE NEW ROUTER.
Not great performance Crashed LIKE THAT!!! by jsey ,Feb 23 '07
Pros: Fast to install Cons: Too many reboots and no predicatability on when it will lose network connectivity.
We, my sister and I, purchased the Linksys WRT54GS and the pci card to go with it so we could share one internet connection. We've only been connected 2 months and just like that blam!!! it stopped working. There we were downstairs surfing and then it just quit.
I spent 3 hours with tech support, who determined that we had a faulty device and then told me that I would have to talk to customer service on the next business day. The product has a 3 year limited warranty. And I frankly don't see the point.
It was fairly easy to install, which is it's only good point right now. It required several reboots and one reset made it completely useless.
new version 5 is terrible! by simpleeqbest ,Jan 28 '06
Pros: many great features Cons: features are useless because it doesn't work
Linksys recently "upgraded" the WRT54G from version 4 to version 5. From what I hear, v4 is a great router. From personal experience I can say v5 is broken, even with the latest firmware version 1.00.6. I was able to connect, but not much more. Ping times to Google were 10 seconds or more per ping, and could not view many web sites because the browser would time out before a response came. Was not a problem with MTU, cables, computers, configuration-- I swapped the Linksys for another router and everything worked fine with the other.
Pros: Reliable working unsecured. Cons: Special web site essential for adding new computers was taken down by linksys.
I've never been able to use wireless when the network has been secured.
I ought this modem two years ago. Most recently, I bought a new notebook. The system refused to allow the notebook to join. When I attempted to use the software furnished with the router, it directed me to a website when the needed linksys program would be uploaded onto my new notebook. That website which was inside linksys was taken down...it does not exist. A visit to online support chat, told me it was out of warranty. I can pay for tech support if I want more info.
Easy set up?!?! NOT SO with me by keako1 ,Feb 24 '08
Pros: Nice looking unit and good signal. Cons: Not so easy to set up. C.S., 1 in 5 chances of getting real help.
It took five calls to tech support three times re-installing software. Finally was able to set up one lap top to network! Oh and don't try setting up two everything goes down the drain.
Poor Performer Poorly Trained Support by brenthawkinsmd ,Nov 01 '03
Pros: none Cons: Poor range. Ill-informed support staff with long wait times.
At first glance, the WRT54G looks mean and ready to outperform the others. But transfer rates are no more than 1.5MB/s at close range. Even with the dual antennas, the WRT54G has a very limited range yielding 18Mbps @ 15 feet.
The poorly trained support will only inflame you with their ill-advice and unknowing lack of knowledge. I requested if the router had port-redirection where you can forward an external port to an internal port of a different number. Two different support members told me yes but one told me that such things are done at the level of the internal server (which tells me they're clueless). It can only forward ports to ports of the same number.
Another problem with support is the wait. Be prepared to wait long past 30 minutes; perhaps up to 45 minutes per call at different times of the day.
Pros: 1) Ease of installation
2) Connection Speed.
3) Linksys Support. Cons: There were no cons for me.
MY EXPERIENCE: This product is great! It even installed well on my clunky Win 98SE direct connect desktop. It works well on my older Compaq Laptop (XP Home). The box it came in says "for best performance, use with Windows XP". I replaced an 80211b configuration and I am happy with the increased speed.
WHY I BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT: Linksys reputation - my last Wireless Router was a Linksys - My FIRST name brand Wireless Router and Card (Wasn't a Linksys) got me so frustrated that I gave it away after a month and replaced it with a Linksys WRT54G.
WHAT I LIKE: The installation was relatively simple. I had one hiccup and Linksys Support fixed it promptly. I like the increased connection speed. I'd highly recommend this product along with the Linksys Speed Booster Laptop Card.
WHAT I DISLIKE. I have NO dislikes.
Awesome. Reliable, and Easy to Use by unripecoconut ,May 29 '05
Pros: Reliable, functional, easy to use. Cons: None that I can think of
I initially bought a NetGear router because I loved their switches and loved the company. I also got a great deal on the NetGear. However, it died after a few weeks.
The LinkSys has been going strong without issue for three months now! I have to say that the good reviews on this product are for a reason. It is the best and most consistently well-rated of all the routers you will see.
I set it up quickly and only have had to reboot it rarely.
ok product, horrible warranty by johanna3682 ,Feb 21 '07
Pros: the router worked great Cons: it took a lot of follow-up to get linksys to fulfill the warranty
I had this item for almost 2 years and it worked great. One day it stopped working and since it was still under warranty, we called Linksys. My boyfriend spent hours the phone with them until they finally agreed that the unit needed to be fixed or replaced. I completed the online process and mailed the unit in.
From the time I mailed my unit in to the time I received what I think to be a factory reconditioned unit was over 2 months! After a month of not hearing a word from Linksys, I called customer service. They informed me that since they changed warehouse locations since I mailed the unit, the unit was likely sitting unopened at the old warehouse. I provided the tracking number that verified Linksys had received the unit, and they agreed to "expedite" the process.
It took another month of calls and threatening emails to finally receive the unit. When I received the unit the install cd was cracked, but luckily still worked. The new unit is functioning fine, but was a headache to wrangle over with Linksys.
Waste of time, money, and sweat by david_c_reed ,Feb 13 '04
Pros: Looks nice, pretty box Cons: Awful support
Had issues getting this working and called their tech support. (Mind you, I'm a computer engineer and have done wired networking lots of time.) After a lot of time on hold and a lot of explaining the same thing over and over, the support "engineer" in the Phillipines told me that she'd send me an e-mail within 24 hours explaining how to fix the problem.
I never got the e-mail. Still haven't.
Returned the product, got Netgear, and had that up and running in no time.
Pros: Broaden your life experience by talking to people in India... Cons: Doesn't work, techs accents hard to understand
I have a simple home network of two wired PCs, three wireless laptops, a network printer and a wired Xbox. The router it replaced (lightning damage) was a breeze to set up by comparison. Only after several hours talking to a gentleman in India and updating firmware did it begin to sort of work... Several more hours were spent on online and LAN gaming issues before another upgrade and reset, a week after the first(!), to which the router did not respond. Now I'm told it is a bad router, so sorry, and to take it back to the retailer... this after 8 plus hours on hold, talking to or chatting with techs to begin with.
Avoid this router so you can avoid Linksys tech support!
I switched to the WRT54GS (802.11g) from a BEFW11S4 (802.11b) - I got a great deal ( Staples.ca had them on for $89.99 but ncix.com for $85.99 - pricematch from Staples + extra 10% off it cost me $74, along with a $15 rebate in hand ).
It took me 5 minutes to get it setup - plug it in, fire up firefox and connect to the web-interface. Impressive - lots of features and a firmware upgrade took less than 5 mins as well.
Due to the ease of setup and menus on the web-interface, this router can be used from novice to advanced users. I would recommend this router to anyone, especially since it uses 802.11g with the added security and max throughput of up to 54Mbps. Two thumbs up! :-)
Not good. Do not waste your money. by cheatin5 ,May 11 '06
Pros: None. Cons: Poor support, bad firmware, a bad investment.
Linksys tech support advised that later models (v.5) are having serious firmware problems. I tried with three and could not get them to connect. Likewise, I could not get the new firmware to load.
wrt54g linksys wireless router by kinetic1 ,Feb 21 '07
Pros: none Cons: no tech support. Not easy to install
I will never buy a linksys product again. No tech support, not easy to install. After Installing, could not connect more than one computer at a time. Tried everything possible, waited on phone more than 40 mins. E-mailed questions and no answer!!
Went bad after less than 3 months by n-grover ,Aug 23 '07
Pros: Works great, for a couple of months Cons: only lasted a couple of months, poor warranty care
There is a lot to like about this router, Don't know if I just got a bad one or what but it stopped working after 10 weeks of use. Linksys was good about replacing it though. Did I mention the "new replacement" was actually a older "remanufactured" Of a older version of the same router? This after I specifically requested the same version! Oh did I mention they require you to provide your credit card number so that they can put a hold on it for $90. That is until they receive the old router that they want you to pay to have shipped back to them. Let me see I originally paid $76 now I have the honor of paying another $9 to ship it back and have $90 of credit tied up for God knows how long. I Guarantee you I will never by another Linksys Product again. EVER
Pros: Cheap and easy to install Cons: Wired length limit of 60' Not even close to the 300' I needed.
I've had this router for a year and a half. up to this point it worked fine. The wireless coverage is OK. The down side is when you try to use the wired ports. I tried this and found that unlike regular switches that have a 300ft length limit, This units limit is 63 feet. Now that I have hardwired my home, I need to buy a new Switch.
Pros: SOHO Ideal!
Fast
Easy, Inexpensive Cons: Nothing.
Simple, easy, & quick SOHO solution. Enough said, really. Works out of the box, though I suggest taking the initiative in customize your security features and enabling them, as well as taking the time to really understand its capabilities.
Pros: Easy setup Cons: May be problematic for stability
Apparently many are having issues with ongoing Internet disconnects. That is to say that the router is losing its ability to communicate with the ISP provider at randoms intervals, and must be repowered to recover. Apparently it does not matter if you are using it with DSL or Cable. Some posts in different forums have suggested using a third party Firmware instead of the manufacturer's, as this seems to stabilize the unit. I am an owner of one with the issue and have not tried this solution yet since I am still testing other resolutions first. My recommendation is to steer clear of this model right now.
Router doesn't retain settings by kmainc1 ,Feb 23 '04
Pros: Has good range, decent router, software has good features, when they work. Cons: lost settings, software flaws 3 firmware upgrades and one RMA Tech support suxs
UPDATE: After writing Linksys and explaining the problem, a tech called me personally to dedicate as much time as it took to figure out what was wrong. THE FIX: To keep settings and block Internet access, you must UNCHECK the Automatically adjust time for daylight savings, save settings. Why this works? No idea, but I have more control over network and settings work, use 2.02 firmware, then give it a shot, it should work as it is for me. Customer service still needs work, but no company has ever called me at home to "Make things right", I was impressed.
Good router, not really to many problems with setup once you get past the WEP, difficult for the average and sometimes the pro to set the WEP. Good software. You've heard it from the good reviews and the bad...Tech support is awful! If you just need a wireless router/Access point its gonna work just fine, but shop around certainly read reviews learn what problems everyone else is having (or not having) then decide whether you want to tackle those issues. Purchased July 03.
Pros: Excellent signal coverage, reliable, easy to use Cons: Nothing major
I'm writing this review as a homage to my Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router. I purchased this router approximately 3 years ago, and recently, it died. Over a period of 3 years, I relied on this router everyday. I never once turned it off, except when the power went out and I very, very, very rarely had any issues with it.
The signal coverage that it provided, with its dual antenna system was excellent, allowing me to get a clear, full speed signal anywhere in my house (basement and upper floor) as well as some areas surrounding my house (porch, backyard).
I experienced no connectivity issues, even when the router was busy handling 3 or 4 computers in my household at once. Very, very rarely did I lose the connection or need to restart the router.
The setup was extremely simple, and everything worked properly, right from initially plugging it in and turning it on. The menu and options were all very easy to use and configure.
I have not had nearly as good of luck with the D-Link Router that I have purchased to replace it.
Poor product and support by leppardfan ,Jan 05 '08
Pros: reasonable price Cons: terrible support, bad software, bad product
I have purchased 2 of these models. I am now having to return the second one. It has major connectivity issues and I have spent several days, most on hold, with technical support that is sub-standard. They can not understand the problem, nor can they fix it. I would not recommend this product to anyone, unless they enjoy re-installing the software or router settings several times a day.
Excellent, dependable, stable router at an affordable price by tomwilson ,Jul 07 '06
Pros: ease of setup, ease of maintenance, great signal Cons: no ability to change power setting, no repeater option
I have been using this router for a couple of years now. It is very reliable and very stable. I never need to reboot it and I never lose connection. Speeds are good, but not near the 54Mbps that it states. I have come to expect that with wireless equipment though.
Setup and maintenance of the wireless network is very easy with the WRT54G. Security is excellent and I have been very pleased with the product.
I do wish the router had the ability to work as a repeater or had the ability to increase the transmit power though. This can be added with third-party firmware, but I haven't had the real need to mess with that.
I have since added to my wireless network with multiple Linksys products and recommend them to everyone I know.
Pros: easy setup/use, good interface, quiet, dual-functionality Cons: a bit big, slightly weighty, heats up fast
The Linksys wireless router has done everything I expected of it-nothing more. It sets up easily, accepts wired or wireless connections, functions as a hub, etc. It's really nothing special. You can hook up computers, xboxes, whatever ethernet you want and it will accept the device. You can configure it instantly, and set security limitations. There is a small security risk if you don't know how to configure it correctly, but its your own fault if you can't do this. The size is average, being a bit hard to fit onto a common desktop amongst your other peripherals. The router features a standard linksys interface which will let you know what's going on with each connection. The wireless-G has a couple nice features, but when kamikaze hits battleship, it really has nothing special to offer.
Pros: Price, Performance, Set Up Cons: Cordless phone interference.
I was formerly running the linksys befw11s4 wireless router. I needed more range so I purchased the wre54g range expander. It will only work with the g type equipment so I upgraded to the wrt54g. Set up was really easy. This router has loads more features in the set up screens than the befw11s4. The range is also slightly better. Cordless phones seem to interfere more with it though. I changed it to channel 1 and am getting better results. Later on I plan to upgrade my adapters to the g type to increase my network speed. What's great about this router is the fact that it will work with your old b type adapters. There are also more security options with this router. All in all I'm very satisfied with this router. At this time my network is a laptop and desktop in the house, another laptop at my wife's business next door to the house.
I bought the 54G with speedbooster by jlynn15017 ,Sep 04 '05
Pros: Super range, Super fast, Super easy to use... Cons: I needed DSL tech support to setup the connection to the router...
I purchased the 54G with speedbooster. It is supposed to work up to 35% faster. I paid $79 at Wal-Mart. It works great. However, I have Verizon DSL which means that I had to have one of Verizons techies set up the modem for me. There are a few changes that need to be set up in order to connect to the router. It was fairly simple though. I would highly reccomend this wireless router. By the way, I also get tremendous range! I love it.
Pros: No hassle installation. Easy to configure. Strong support on Linksys's website. Cons: Online documentation was not updated for the WRT54G. Looked copied from an older model.
I've read tons of reviews of so many routers before I got this one about 3 months back. I'm glad to say it worked straight out of the box and I've had none of the nightmare scenarios reported by some. I've been having >85% signal reception in three rooms with 3 difference adapter cards (Intel Centrino, D-Link, Linksys) on 2 floors. The connections have been a steady 54mbps in mixed mode. I'm sorry but I've never tried Wireless-G mode yet due to the variety of acces cards on the network so I can't comment on that.
This is a home networking product and it has WEP for those that need it, and those that dont. IT was up and running in less that 10 minutes, with my 2 computers and laptop, ALL wireless, and with all 3 i was either getting or was close to the 54mbps stated. It was seemeless and flawless, who could ask for more...??
In comparison to others on the market, with linksys, you cannot go wrong. It was easy to set up, connections to the internet were fast. IF you have problems with this particular router, it probably NOT the router. If your lookin for a home solution to networking, with DSL or Cable internet, this is the perfect product. If your looking for top notch security, or a super secure network, this isnt the product for that, your too cheap to buy one that was made for that purpose.
Compact, Inexpensive & Easy to Set-Up by morankj ,Mar 18 '07
Pros: Compact, inexpensive, sturdy Cons: I couldn't find any.
We've had ours for a couple of years now - I have one and so does my boyfriend - have had no problems with either. While the instructions are somewhat criptic as to how you actually reset the password to make your device have a secure network - it never needs to be reset, is compact, sturdy and takes a pretty good hit when the dogs have knocked it down.
Pros: Worked great right out of the box! Cons: None yet ...
Along with a profession that works with networks all day, I support my home with a family that doesn't care which name is on the router. When the Netgear quit (WGR614 V1), and tech support was nowhere to be see, I had to put something in that would work. I had recommended a Netgear to a client, which never worked (WGR614 V5), so I started looking into the quality and realized that I was NOT alone. After one Netgear failed in service after 8 months, and one DOA in the box, I went with Linksys. Even with the router in a separate room in the house and me clicking each Next (and walking back and forth), it took less than 5 minutes to get going - wireless laptop even jumped up and it works wonderfully! Now start closing down the access (MAC access, WEP/WPA, etc) It even MAKES you assign a different password to the standard router password. I will admit to never changing the ones I have had before, even though I knew it needed to be done.
My trash can will contain two netgear routers, and a box that says Linksys on it. Highly recommended.
always loses wireless connection by lennyleonard ,Apr 28 '05
Pros: Perfect for breaking in your new sledgehammer. Cons: It's the most expensive, and it doesn't work.
The wireless signal cuts out for 15-60 minutes, ten times a day. Half of the time, it wouldn't reconnect at all. My laptop is only ten feet away from the router. The firmware is worthless, and the upgrade is even worse. Linksys' support (on-line or otherwise) is non-existent. Saying that this router is garbage is an insult to garbage everywhere. Since it wasn't worthy to occupy the same space as my food scraps, used Kleen-exes and old newspapers, I smashed it to bits and flushed it down the toilet. But not before I sat down and airbrushed it a bit.
Do buy this, running 3 years & still strong. by backdaddy404 ,Aug 14 '07
Pros: Port Forwarding, DMZ and DHCP reservations that actually work. Cons: Wish it came with directional ant.
It works great, provides LAN ports and wireless. Features port forwarding for gaming or site hosting. Offers full hardware firewall with DMZ capabilities. Has DHCP with working reservations, which exceeds D-Link and Belkin's non-working reservation options. If you need remote access to PC or servers, this is the router you want. Offers both wireless encryption and security (MAC address filtering) not just encryption like D-Link and 2Wire. Additional options and table rows can be obtained with a simple firmware upgrade, which you should always for check quarterly with any network hardware. If you have issues, RTFM or look at the simple instructions next to each entry.
User guide and help files are in line with IEEE standards and naming conventions. Example: You don't have to guess which clever marketing term means port forwarding, it's actually an option on the nav bar.
LinkSys is a BIG DISAPOINTMENT by sbredall ,Feb 17 '07
Pros: Nothing. Cons: Quality is bad, support is worse.
I purchased a WRT54G wireless router a couple of months ago and it has been nothing but trouble. The reception is terrible. I can’t even connect from about 15 feet away. I’ve had it replaced once by LinkSys and the replacement they sent was worse than the first unit. BUY A NETGEAR instead. Their support has been outsourced to India so it is also terrible. I will never buy another LinkSys product if there is an alternative.
Stay away from this router (V.5) by shockula ,May 18 '06
Pros: Works great with internet explorer. Cons: Doesn't work with Aol.
I recently purchased the wrt54gs v.5. You cannot use aol with this router. Linksys tech support is unable to solve this issue and claims they are unaware of it but check the net-it is everywhere. Firmware upgrade doesn't solve the issue. It is a chipset defect and it goes back to the store tomorrow. Beware!!!
Works well, easy install, worth the price. by mmkm71 ,Mar 18 '06
Pros: Easy five minute install, amazing signal, security features built into installation Cons: At times the router needs to be reset in order to recognize the Internet connection.
I purchased this router through NewEgg to accompany my new laptop and set my house up to be wireless. While i did not need anything amazing, I talked to my friend who is a Buyer for a computer manufacturing company. This friend told me i should go with the LINKSYS WRT54G. He even told me he would set it up for me. Unfortunately for him, when the package came, I did not want to wait. Luckily for me, the install took no more than 5 minutes. Everything was cut and dry. I am sure most children could complete the install. The installation software even sets up the encryption to protect against people stealing your Internet connection. I can even get clear connection from over 30 feet away from the actual location of the router while on the other side of my house! This was a very good purchase. If you are in the market to make your home wireless, this might be the best bet.
Pros: They're geat at being worthless. Cons: Bad tech support. Bad product. doesnt work as advertised.
Extremely bad support. I tried to get through to the toll fre line every day for a week. Many times I was just cut off after about 30 minutes. When I finally got through, The guy could barely speak english. He was very ignorant. I recieved no help from them. They seem to be well trained in avoiding the blame. I would suggest to anyone not to buy from this company.
Do not waste your money by cfranceschi ,Aug 04 '07
Pros: Cheap Cons: will not work consistently, ie poor design
I bought this router a year ago and it has been a very frustrated experience. After hours of screwing around with the support team (who can do nothing but read a script from India) it will work for about a day. I will then have to manually reset the router by unplugging for about 5 sec.
I recommend spending a little more on a different brand and avoiding the frustration with this poor design.
Linksys 54G not compatible with SBC DSL Modem by shirtsforme ,Aug 03 '06
Pros: Pretty Blue and Black paint - very attractive Cons: Simply did not work, technical assistance worthless.
Bought this router because it was suppose to be able to supply multiple computers (both wired and wireless) with individual IP's so they could all be online at the same time. However, the Linksys 54G would not provide separate IP's, so only one computer could be online at a time. Spent over 2 hours with Linksys Live Chat and their solution at the end of the chat was "just follow the instructions and it will work". Totally useless assistance.
I will take it back to the store and by a DLink that is "plug and play."
Would not recommend this product or Linksys Technical Assistance.
Pros: Works good as a wired network Cons: Terrible Tech Support if you want to go wireless
Whether this product works or not is besides the point. They have outsourced their tech support from India to the Phillipines and the ladies there can not do the job.
If you want to setup a wireless network don't buy a Linksys. Their tech support messed my network so bad that even my ISP couldn't fix it.
I used this product for a few months as a wired network and decided to set it up as wireless.
What a mistake I made by calling Linksys Tech Support.
Toshiba wireless setup of Router by shadow_rider ,Jul 23 '05
Pros: Making the changes to the router was easy. Cons: Documentation was lacking on Toshiba's end.
I found that if you set the Routers Wireless Security Access Key to WPA Pre-Shared Key, WPA Algorithms to TKIP, and set a WPA SHARED Key, and then change the Wireless settings to match, the Toshiba laptop would connect to the network and was able to access the internet. The speed was 54Mb during downloads and update and the connection was disabled and enabled numerous times.
All in all the components were simple to setup and operated together flawlessly.
Pass on this router go with netgear by chadhumm ,Nov 29 '05
Pros: None that I can think of other than it looks cool. Cons: very Slow, tech support foreign, signal not as strong as others
I had too many problem with this router and many many calls to tech support which was of no help, there advice "hold in the reset button for 30 seconds and reinstall it" To put it in perspective i spent 5 hours trying to get the linksys working and it took 2 minutes for its NetGear replacement to be setup and working like a dream. When the linksys did work I lost 50% of my internet connection speed. In addition the signal strength is far less than on the Netgear and the d-link. D-link is very fast but not reliable. Check out my review on the NetGear WGR614 before you think about Linksys. To top it off the linksys is 2-3X the price of the better Netgear614.
Pros: Nice when it worked Cons: Unreliable and tech support very inconsistent
I have had two of these with the same problem of failing to maintain a connection for more than 10 minutes. The first unit lasted 5 months and the second 3 months. Trying to diagnose the problem and getting a replacement required multiple days of tech support phone calls. The frustration of getting a working unit forced me to look elsewhere for a router. Some of the tech support people were knowledgeable while most were reading from a computer screen.
Great product for price point by professor422 ,Jul 26 '06
Pros: Cheap, easy to use, good security built in Cons: Nothing not expected at this price.
I ran several kiddie scripts against my network when I set it up. Penetrating the network took in excess of twenty minutes on a dual processor mac G5. This is with what I call "the easy button" this router comes with.
For the price... it's a great product. If you know what you're doing, spend the extra money to get what you pay for.
Linksys? Only thing worse than the product is the support by testcase ,Aug 26 '07
Pros: Linksys routers are light weight and easy to carry when you return them. Cons: Maybe it will install, maybe not. If not, they don't care.
I bought 3 different Linksys router models (including this one) in 3 days from 3 different retailers. Tried to install each one on both a Vista and an XP laptop. Even got the successful installation messages. But, no success. After trying the installation tips from the Linksys site, I went to phone support. Someone halfway across the world got my email address and phone number, directed me to the download at Linksys.com/connect, and told me I was on my own. They don't "have the skills or authority" to do more, she said. So, after hours of cursing and frustration and driving back and forth shopping and returning and all the "router not found" and "...older version or non-Linksys product..." messages, I just knew you would want to hear about it.
Pros: Ease of setup/install, good signal range, sharp looking Cons: Hmmmmmm! Can't think of any.
I bought this router about 5-6 months ago. This is my first attempt at a wireless network for my house. Well, it looks like I got it right. I took the router out of the box, plugged it into the wall, the cable, and the desktop and it's worked perfectly ever since. The whole setup time was only about 60 seconds. No additional software needed. I'm using a Compaq Presario 2195US notebook that already had a wireless card installed in it.
Elegant simplicity, reliability and open source firmware=good buy by syllevator ,Feb 01 '05
Pros: Simple to use, great for home users & open source firmware Cons: Case bulky, OEM firmware didn't take full advantage of it's potential out of the box.
I ditched another brand that kept cutting out and finally blocked the internet/wan signal after a few days.
THIS router worked out of the box. 'Hidden' features were easily unveiled with the help of open source folks such as sveasoft's alchemy firmware -- though do so cautiously because I expect Linksys will void the warranty if you do not use their firmware.
I am impressed by the hardware and the willingness of Linksys to go the open source route. Some great firmware available out there.
I am running a small home network with a hardwired desktop PC and print server as well as a wireless Mac laptop, pc laptop, and xbox. All run well. The system runs both 11b and 11g easily.
The new open source firmware also allows me to set up a virtual lan easily -- which I am doing for a VoIP--voice over the internet phone.
Very Reliable and Strong Signal by computernut6 ,Jul 29 '05
Pros: Great signal strength, ease of setup Cons: None
I have been using this router for a couple of days now. I Just love it. It took me only about 15 minutes to setup the router and the wireless network. If you have Intel Centrino it is even better because this router is designed to be used with centrino. The ease of instillation is amazing just connect the cables and insert the cd and your done. That just how easy it is. I have heard of other routers of having many problems with signal strength, and firmware with this router none of that is a problem. I have my router in my room. And if I go down stairs I still have excellent signal.
Easy to install and set up. Perfect for Home & Small office by raule50 ,Jan 05 '04
Pros: easy install & menus easy to follow Cons: Web filtering did not work and not enough info displayed on in/out bound log
Compared this router to the others on the market and chose this one based on other reviewed. No problem in setting it up and Gui is easy to follow. Passed firewall tests, set up wireless connection to Pocket Pc and laptop ok but range is a bit suspect.
Mine went bad after about 10 months. That can happen. But, to have it replaced, I needed to have the original receipt...even though I registered my purchase with Linkys.
Fortunately, I purchased mine over the internet, so I had an electronic receipt.
However, after I returned my unit, I still had not received word from Linksys. When I spoke to them, they asked for my mail tracking number. Fortunately, once again..I had electronic info regarding my tracking numer. Twice then, Linkys attempted to bail on its warranty with what I considered techinicalities and red tape.
Pros: Looks cool! Cons: Works when it wants...Read my review. Buy one of the cheap brands!
This is my 2nd linksys wireles router. I have bought them based off of reviews i have read and the brand name. The first one i got a few years back worked o.k for awhile. But eventually started dropping the connections all the time, i would have to unplug then plug it back in so i went back to "wires".
Finally last month may 2005, i bought another one off of ebay. I figured the technology would have been better. Well it was the same. I am not a computer newbie and when I first bought a linksys router I lived at a different house so its not the location.
I have also tested the trendnet (spelling?) and netgear's router from FRYS electronics. they were cheap, like 26-30 bucks and it worked better than this.
I figured if netgear and trendnet work this good linksys must be better......Its not...
good hardware but requires good network knowledge by regloor ,May 21 '06
Pros: good hardware, vertical position allowed (save place) Cons: complex administration panels, require good network knowledge, documentation not helpfull, transformer too hot
In fact, I have a WRT54G (without S = old version of the WRT54GS).
There is an "easy install" CD but if you want to configure manually, the documentation and administration panels suppose that you have a good network knowledge/background. It is probably the reason why some people on http://www.epinions.com and other forums are not happy at all.
In addition, complementary information is not so easy to find on the net, even on the Linksys site !!
Finally, I have had to send an email to Linksys to get the information.
The conclusion is that this router can be used in 3 modes :
- pure switch : WAN port not used, modem connected to one of the LAN ports (then modem is on the same subnet as the other LAN ports and the wireless pc's)
- pure router : second router connected to the WAN port + "router" in panel "advanced settings" (wrt54g doesn't do "address translation", I didn't test this mode).
- gateway : modem connected to the WAN port (modem is on another subnet + wrt54g does "address translation" for all the LAN ports !!)
I purchased a wireless router... by l_craig_dt3000 ,Feb 27 '03
I purchased a wireless router & adapter card for my laptop so that I could surf the net without being pluged into a phone line, and to search much faster. We have broadband through our cable system. I set up the router as instructed, it was alot less complicated than I thought it would be. I set up the adapter card in my laptop, turned everything on, and EVERYTHING WORKED! So far I am satisfied & am planning on purchasing another router to set up at our "lake House" so I can take my laptop there & use it. Everything OK so far!
It Works, But For How Long? by fertree ,May 14 '07
Pros: It works.
Wireless, networking, port forwarding all ok with a static IP
Cons: Reliability is highly questionable.
Horrible support encourages you to learn networking on your own
I've had this router over a year. I called tech support once, but couldn't understand the accent, so I figured out the problem myself. I recently moved into an area where power outages are common with both brownouts and blackouts. The router is on an APC surge protector. After the first outage, the unit came back with port one dead. After the second outage of the season, the unit came back with a second port dead. 2 more bad storms, and I'll have a wireless only router. No other item in the house has been affected by the storms. There's a quality lapse somewhere here.
Horrible software conflicts by johng01 ,Sep 17 '05
Pros: None Cons: 5 hour install process ultimately had to be uninstalled.
In short, the first wireless card (packaged with the router in my case) failed. Second card was a different version which worked, but after 5 hours (a grueling experiene) Linksys told me the only hope would be to uninstall their software and use the windows barebones version.
A five and a half hour install ultimately culminating in "well, it's just not going to work" is entirely unacceptable.
Pros: Quick installation, no worries, hardware firewall, hardly know it's there! Cons: Cons? What cons? It should be FREE, maybe?
This is a no-brainer! We bought it, we installed the software, we configured the device, and had wireless going within 30 minutes. Took a bit more time to really figure out how the WEP option works, but we got it, and we're relatively secure. Our laptop found the net quickly, and we got it past the security quickly. It's as fast as wire, and it works all over the house. We've got two computers, our Oki printer, and our TiVo on the wired ports. We also installed a booster on the back porch to extend the wireless to our detached shop building, works great.
Purchased this router new to upgrade from previous standard. WRT54GS version 5.0
The software would not display the Linksys setup page correctly in my browser window, such that most of the links and buttons were not available. This made it impossible to troubleshoot the usual network setup problems. I spent 6 hours working on this, including multiple phone calls back and forth with Linksys tech support, but they were unable to diagnose or fix the problem.
The worst part is that Linksys was unwilling to admit this was a defective unit or to agree to replace the unit without making me go through ANOTHER hour of useless maneuvers.
Finally, Linksys agreed to a replacement unit, but their replacement unit website malfunctioned and left me unable to complete the paperwork.
Pros: none Cons: Unreliable Internet connection. Poor wireless coverage.
The firmware is faulty.
The Internet has multiple well documented cases (Google-search for yourself) of this router dropping the Internet connection or not providing enough wireless coverage after a few hours.
Users are angry that Linksys is releasing products to the market that are not well tested.
My WRT54G Linksys router is so unreliable that I have switched back to my old Linksys router. Yes! It is an old Linksys BEFSR41 but it works, not like this piece of sh..t!
Linksys support recommended to downgrade the firmware from 1.37 to 1.02. I got better Internet connection but the router was losing over 50% of wireless coverage after 48 hours and I had manually reboot it every 2 days.
great router! linksys has awesome customer support! by aussiemango ,Jun 07 '06
Pros: Fast, reliable, good wireless range, best customer service ive ever had! Cons: none so far
im very very happy with this product. bought it about 6 months ago and no problems. was recommended to me by a guy thats in IT security so im sure he knew what he was talking about.
anyway, the best thing about this router is the customer support you get with it. although ive setup routers before i had a small problem installing mine (no fault of the router- just me) but anyway i called the linksys help line and they went through every mouse and keyboard click with me until it worked!
id definately recommend this product to anyone, especially if you're not sure if you can setup a router!
As easy to set up as i had heard.... It gets an A+ for that... by dacaur ,Jul 25 '06
Pros: Simple setup. Dependable so far. Cons: Not so good signal strength for me... {but have never dropped connection yet}
I bought this router because it had the highest reviews on a couple sites, even though it was $20-$40 more than other routers. One of my biggest requirements was ease of setup and dependability. Well, it gets an A+ on both counts, setup took only minutes with me just pressing "next" a few times and I was in business, setting up security was super simple, and getting my wireless computers online was similarly simple. My one and only complaint is that the wireless PC's, which are only about 50 feet away through 2 walls get a signal strength reading of "low". But I dont have a laptop to test actual range, and to be fair, they dont lose connection or anything. I just figure it should be higher than "low"....
OK Functionality, BAD support by drottster ,Dec 16 '05
Pros: Works ok for the standard home user. Cons: Terrible support if that home user needs some help.
There was a time when Linksys actually cared and wanted your business; not anymore. This product is allright if:
1. It stands alone and does not connect to any other networking products except clients.
2. You don't have any trouble and don't need to call support.
My biggest beef with this product is the support that follows behind it. Every time I call Linksys on the phone, I can never understand them. Their support must be based in India or something. If you use the live chat they have on their website, its even more frustrating. I would ask a legitimate question, and they would respond with something totally off the wall such as:
Me: What does it mean when the power light on the WRT54G constantly blinks? I have rebooted the router and it still does this.
Them: Are you connecting to the router via a desktop or laptop?
I have also found that if you ask them a hard question, they just flat out stop talking to you. The product itself is allright, but its worth it to me to pay alittle more and get another brand, one that has better support.
Very good price great performance very happy by hebert131 ,Dec 27 '05
Pros: Easy to setup ,Price, speed I am very Pleased Cons: Power adapter A little bulky
After trying several other brands like Netgear, Dlink and having lots of trouble with them I decided to try the linksys for the first time. It was very Easy to set up the only thing I had to configure was the security encryption.
I use vonage phone service and the linksys works well with it. I have 3 computers on my home network and they all work fine I am very happy with it I haven't had any trouble yet.
I would Highly recommend it The price was good and the product works well
Pros: speed Cons: poor tech docs; installation can be dicey
I bought a Linksys w/ trepidation . . . my previous b's performance had degraded over time and w/o decent technical docs, you have to rely on Linksys tech support to troubleshoot issues. My initial router install and my 4 adapter installs ALL required calls to Tech Support.
I had tried the Belkin G 54 mpbs and LOVED the accompanying technical documentation, the setup was a breeze, the setup user interface well designed, and the built in firewall a definite + (noticed that my pop up blocker seemed to work so much better w/ the Belkin in place). However, my connection speed was waaaaayyyyyy toooooo sloooooooow.
Tech Support at Belkin sent the wrong firmware update; I got no reponse to an email saying it had failed and even completed 2 surveys saying problem was not resolved. So, I took the Belkin back and bought the Linksys. After talking w/ a geek at Circuit City, I'm wondering if Belkin has an issue w/ their ethernet cables.
The initial Linksys install looked like it was gonna hose, but powering down everything worked. My hardwire and wired clients are zipping along.
Pros: none Cons: setup very difficult, made humming noise.
I bought this router at Staples. The setup was very difficult and I had to call the 1-800 to get this thing communicating with my ISP (COX). After speaking to COX, I realized that Linksys customers seem to call the ISP helpline often and the COX technician already knew the 1-800 number from Linksys, which I felt was not a good sign.
The speed and range is decent, but it made a humming noise and I returned it. Staples refunded the money and I went to buy a Netgear WGT624, which was very easy to set up and works great.
Pros: Does route between wireless and wired boxes well (at times)
Supports WPA. Cons: Absolutly unreliable.
This is the worst router I've owned.
Right out of the box, it didnt' work, I had to phone tech support, which is very time consuming, and resulted in a new firmware upgrade, which got it working. Good news.
However, now it needs to be power cycled about every week or it just stops working. Lights look good but nobody is home.
Can't ping it, cant do anything but reboot it. I have wireless and wired boxes that need to talk to each other. Maybe this is what causes it to go brain dead. Also I noticed that after it's up for a while, it gets real slow to respond to it's admin web page, and if you want to see the DHCP table, then it takes a long time. After a reboot, it responds fine.
Pros: Nice color. Cons: Compuadd's waranty is good for only one return.
What can I say about a product that I have to return 4 times in six months? I will not buy this brand again. I don't care what all the computer techs say. Its crap
Wireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that s almost five times as fast as the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products f...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router is an all-in-one networking solution for your home. This Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster incorporate...More at eBay
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.