Linksys WTR54GS Travel Router, Discontinued?

Hello Guys,
I was trying my best to locate any online store that sells Linksys WTR54GS Wireless G Travel Router with Speedbooster but it seems always out of stock or Discontinued, Any website you know that sells that router? I couldn't find it on eBay either.

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OR, if you have ever tried any other travel router, please recommend me a brand.

Thanks

 

Yeah, this beauty is discontinued. Sometimes they pop up on eBay (there's a few here and there), but they seem to be commanding a premium since they are one of the few travel routers which can connect wirelessly to a Hotel/Hot spot connection then create its own hotspot (Wi-Fi In -> Multiple Wi-Fi Out). I was contemplating the Apple Extreme Airport and ASUS 330gE which both are pretty good (Airport is pretty straight forward, IMHO and is highly underrated). You can use both to use your laptop to create a Hotspot and share your connection with others (What the WTR54GS does so beautifully) with ICS, but man ICS is ugh and it requires your laptop to be on/awake at all times.

Or do what I did. I dug out my old circa 2003-4 Trendnet ABG 4-port 10/100 Wi-Fi router which can also act as an AP, Bridge and has MAC cloning. (So glad I didn't toss it when I upgraded to a Linksys ABGN) and saved $100.

With it, I can:

Connect to cable/ADSL via WAN port and have 4 10/100 and Wi-Fi Hot spot
Connect to DHCP server (another router or Hotel/Condo/Place Ethernet connection) via WAN port and have 4 10/100 and Wi-Fi Hot spot


Is it tiny? No, but it does everything I need to create Hot spots everywhere I want and/or share that connection.

 

You're Right, I already snapped one on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=280358746132

Cant wait to have it in hands : ) Thanks for the detailed reply.

 

I don't know why other companies don't offer travel routers with wireless Hotspot sharing (IE Hotel wireless only pay for Internet access (no wired) which can then be shared via DHCP) in addition to wired Hotspot sharing which are offered in spades via small, dedicated routers and even some cable/ADSL routers can do it too.

I know I travel a lot, and being able to share a connection (either wired or wireless) with my laptop, iPhone and daughter's laptop, cellphone and extra laptop makes it so easy and convenient.

I haven't been able to find another company that offers (or offered) a travel router capable of doing with a wireless signal what it can do with a wired signal to create a hotspot on its own vs. needing a laptop or other computer.

One good thing about the Asus 330 is that it can be powered via USB so you can create a hotspot with your laptop wherever you go (via ICS, albeit), but still neat.

 

My issue arises when I travel to Europe usually, I always stay in holiday homes where internet in available only using RJ45 cable thus I needed to router to share connection with my colleagues. Carrying a regular router wasn't an option for a guy who loves to travel with as minimum luggage as possible and after many reading for reviews and opinions I realized that Linksys is my best choice but since it's discontinued I hardly found a new one on eBay and thanks GOD I snapped it.

 

A lot of hotels are still like that. You would think that best hotels would have wireless. Nope. I find that I am MUCH more likely to get wireless in a motel. I like surfing the net in the bed with the TV on. Hard to do that with wired :S.

 

I just got mine off Amazon for $50 and I am VERY happy with it.

Just a question. Does anyone have step by step how to enable the single wifi to make my own hotspot feature?

Thank You in advance1

 

Yah.. asus 330Ge is definetly a good one. I have one at home. You can technically load it with Tomato and DD-WRT if you wanted. LOL That would make it a very good candidate. The stock firmware is alright and stable, but missing some QoS functions and other more advanced ones. I usually power this router through my laptop's usb interface thus I don't need to bring a power adapter. This little device can be had for less than $25 if you're lucky.

 

I take it the travel router is mostly used to create wireless in a spot that only has ethernet?

 

If you're referring to the Asus 330GE
it can be a wireless bridge, wired to wireless bridge, wireless router, wireless access point, wireless repeater, wireless ethernet adapter, wireless NAS/print server (with a bit modding required)..etc

 

The Linksys Travel Router is able to take a pre-existing wireless signal and create a wireless (or wired) hot spot all on its own. That is why it is popular. It is a stand alone Hotspot creator from a wired or, more importantly, a wireless source. If a hotel or location has a wired connection provided, it is as easy as using a basic router and connecting wired LAN via the WAN port and getting a DHCP address and then using your router (I used a old Trendnet 4 port wireless router) just as you would if it were connected to ADSL or Cable.

It is when you encounter a location that only provides a fee based wireless signal per device you run into problems if you want to connect multiple wireless/wired devices to the signal and not pay ~$10 a connection. You can use the ASUS or another router and ICS to do the same thing, but it isn't nearly as convenient.