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    linksys wrt54gl or wrt54gs ??

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by jnm4lsu, Jul 23, 2007.

  1. jnm4lsu

    jnm4lsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    wrt54gl $52.99 (newegg)
    wrt54gs $65.00 (bestbuy)

    What is the differnce between the two and is the gs worth the extra
    Never had or setup a wireless connection before. Will hopefully soon have a new laptop, powerpro w/ builtin wireless. have motorola sb4100 cable modem. thanks in advance
     
  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The WRT54GS is a solid router.
     
  3. choopz

    choopz Notebook Consultant

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    The difference is that the WRT54GL has a Linux based firmware. As for the WRT54GS the "S" is for speedbooster. This will only work if you have the matching Linksys speedbooster card installed in your computer. If you don't have this card the speedbooster won't work.

    I would buy the "GL" it's a solid router.

    Hope it helps. ;)
     
  4. jnm4lsu

    jnm4lsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you for your quick response.
    Are either or both upgradable to dd-wrt firmware. And is this upgrade worth the effort
     
  5. choopz

    choopz Notebook Consultant

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    The "GL" I'm quite sure it can. DD-WRT gives you lot's of options that the normal firmware does not give you.

    I personally have a WRT54G with dd-wrt installed and loved the extra options.
     
  6. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

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    Current versions of WRT54GS runs VxWorks just like WRT54G.
    Even though it is possible to run DD-WRT on it using JTAG cable if I remember correctly there is no point.
    As for "GS" as stated previously it stands for SpeedBooster and in can be enabled in DD-WRT also on WRT54GL :)
    SpeedBooster is Broadcom specific so it works with Broadcom cards only (and some notebooks mainly ACER, HP and Dell without the Centrino card)

    The newest WRT54GS has 240MHz CPU as opposed do WRT54GL with 200MHz CPU but also only 2MB of flash (GL has 4MB) forcing you to use DD-WRT "mini" without many features.

    To sum it up- definitely WRT54GL

    EDIT: DD-WRT is good thing :)
    2MB flash will not run DD-WRT v24, you need at least 4MB
     
  7. jnm4lsu

    jnm4lsu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you for your help
    Ordered the WRT54GL from newegg
     
  8. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Glad you went with the GL version.

    Read below for all the problems I had with the GS v7.

    I just setup a GS version a couple of week a go. It's junk, v7. It had the latest firmware, so it not even usable, unless you like getting up an power cycle it every 30min to 1hr. Yes it was that bad. It was constantly locking up on the wired side. The wireless side seams to be more stable. Beside you need to have the matching GS card for speed boost to work, as .
     
  9. jpep13

    jpep13 Notebook Consultant

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    Did you get it yet?