Linksys WRT54G 802.11g Wireless Router Review (pics, specs)

by Nick Spohn, Illinois USA

This is a review of the Linksys WRT54G 802.11 g router. I purchased this router in July of 2005 when I switched my internet service from dial-upto cable highspeed.The router waspurchased at a local BestBuy for about $70 USD at the time, but lucky for me there was $30 in total rebates availableinJulywhich brought the final price down to $40.

Here are a fewSpecsfor the Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router:

• Linksys WRT54G v.3.1 Router
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 1.8 x 6.0 inches; 1.06 lbs;
• Internet connection (data in port): One 10/100 RJ-45 Port for Cable/DSL Modem
• LAN (data out ports): Four 10/100 RJ-45 Switched Ports
• Buttons: Secure-Easy-Setup Button, Reset Button, Power port (no button)
• 802.11g wireless data rates up to 54Mbps (5 times as fast as 802.11b), but also interoperable with Wireless-B devices (at 11Mbps)
• Advanced security: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), wireless MAC address
  filtering, SPI firewall, VPN Pass-through.

Everything in the box (view larger imge)

Included with this router:

• Setup Wizard CD-ROM with Norton Internet Security
• User Guide on CD-ROM
• Power Adapter
• Ethernet Network Cable
• Registration Card

Reason For Purchase

I needed a basic, cheap router to have wireless internet in my home. I went to Best Buy to see what was available on the shelves and arepresentative there recommended this router for its good reputation and good price, but warned me that it is a little difficult to setup. I figured I could handlethesetup, so that was not a deterrent. I wanted something with mixed capabilities (802.11b and 802.11g), but 802.11a was not necessary,so this router suited my needs perfectly. At the time, I used an Intel PRO 2100 card wireless card (802.11b) in my notebook, but knew I wanted to upgrade to an 802.11g wireless card so I wanted to "future proof" myself by buying a faster router than I really needed at the time.

Design and Looks

The looks of this router are fairly decent, the purplish/blue and blackcolor have been used by Linksys for a long time. Having said that, with a router performance is far more important than looks so this was mostly irrelevant to the decision making process.

Above view of Linksys WRT54G wireless router (view larger image)

I wanted something that would tell me what's going on with the router via visual feedback on the router itself, and the WRT54G has various LED lights to accomplish that. The WRT54G has LED light indicators for the following status indicators: Power, DMZ (firewall), WLAN status, LAN (1,2,3,4), Internet.

Back side view of portson the Linksys WRT54G (view larger image)

Front view of Linksys router (view larger image)

Size wasn't much of a concern in my purchase decisioneither. This router is not the smallest, definitely not a travelrouter,but it's fine for a home/ home office setup. The dimensions of the router (W x H x D): 7.31" x 1.88" x 6.16". Its weighttips the scale at1.06 lbs.

Bottom view of Linksys Router

Security is always a concern, so I was looking for something with WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). The WRT54G has 128-Bit WEP and WPA which allows you to securely send and receive data via the router and force a logon to allow use of the router so your neighbors can't just start borrowing your internet connection.

Setup and Configuration

When I first went to setup the routermy internet connection wasn't working due to problems with my new high-speed cable connectionISP provider. When I finally got my internet up and running, I tried to install my router and figured it would be easy. But man was I wrong, they advertise the setup process as "Secure Easy Setup", which in fact, it wasn't at all. The full instructions were only on the CD in PDF format.The router just didn't work even after following step-by-step instructions, so I kept trying to redo the setup in case I missed something. After doing a couple resets to the router, and countless iterations of the same setup process,I finally got it workingafter about2 hours. To this day Idon't know what the specific issue is that caused setup problems when following the CD instructions.

The Linksys "Easy Connect" router Administration website that can be accessed by typing in the routers IP makes configuring the router fairly easy at least. If there are a bunch of people close to you that use this router and you need to change the router to avoid conflicts, then you can do it through this only admin area and it's fairly (although not completely) easy to use. There are various other settings and wizards you can adjust for thingssuch as therouter's firewall and security settings via the router admin site.

Other people havehad easier times setting up this router based on other opinionsand reviews I've seen, but there's also a lot of complaints andpeople often say it's easier to setup routers by competitors such as Netgear.

Durability

I'm amazed at what this router has gone through. In the past, I have gotten mad and have thrown this router across the room and it still worked perfectly! It has alsosurvived a couple ofdrops due to dogs running around and bumping itand it has fallen 3 ft off my desk (not my fault of course). I am just very happy that this router has held up to all theabuse it has gone through! If you have toddlers or pets and stuff gets knocked down constantly, this might be a good router for you based on my experience.

Performance

The one thing that makes this router shine, is that it alwaysprovidesflawless connections at long ranges. I don't have any dead spots inmy houseandcan get a decent connection signal from just about anywhere. I never have problems with the router cutting out and disconnecting me. In fact, from July topresent I can't recall one time I've been connected to the router and then been disconnected.

Worth noting is that the router stays cool via 196 little ventilation holes on top of the router, and 188ventilation holesunderneath the router. You'll never put your hand on this and get burned, it always stays cool.

Customer Support

When first accessing the router via its IP to use the built-in Administration site I couldn't find what the password protected login was for router. So I contacted Linksys through their online chat support. Ittooka while for their chat agent to respond, or sometimes during the chatthey didn't even respond back at all, but I did finally get the help I needed -- which turned out to be having to use "admin" as the username and password for the first time of logging into the router.

Pros

• Strong Signal
• Hardly ever any disconnections due to router problems
• Runs cool
• Durable -- can take drops

Cons

• Not the easiest setup & configuration
• Support could be better

Conclusion

I would recommend this router for people that have had routers before. However, if this is your first time buying a wireless router and aren't tech savvy, then I would look at Netgear or another brand that has a wirelessrouterknownto have easy setup. Overall I'm satisfied with the product as it provides great performance and the durability is good.

Pricing and Availability: Linksys WRT54G 802.11 g router

 

I once had this router for awhile, it served me well, I have to agree with Nick that the setup wasn't the best but it worked fine. I actually lost the power adapter during a move and instead of hassling with getting another went out and bought a Netgear travel router http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2651 that serves me well given the fact I live in an apartment and don't need anything with that great of a range. This router has been around for sometime and is popular because you can add some hacks to it, I think it first came out in 2003 if memory serves. Still very much so available though and they are always updating the firmware and version number on the router. There's often coupons and rebates available for this model as was the case for Nick, so keep your eyes open for good deals.

Nice review Nick, might want to control that temper and the dogs though

 

$40 is a nice deal for a Linksys. They always get high marks for customer satisfaction. A shame that it has such a difficult setup though.

Glad to see it worked out for you.

 

I own the same router, very pleased. Depending on how old your router is it could be Linux based, in which case it is very hackable, see this article. The newest version is based on a closed OS. You can still buy the Linux version, just look for the GL suffix on the model number. Here's an article on the new model, sans Linux.

I bought mine last Feburary when my lappy's Ethernet port failed. Figured it was cheaper and certainly faster [overnight from PC Connection] to go wireless than send the lappy to Dell for repair.

My installation went surprisingly easy. Now have both desktops on the 10/100 switch/router, no more Cat 5 cable swapping.

Hermit

 

Ha, thanks Abaxter, it was the day right after i got it i threw it because it was a very stressful day with my comcast internet and that. Since that day i guard and protect it now. Its pretty high up off the ground and its toward the middle of the area its at so it cant fall. It's a nice router though.

 

Temper, temper, Nick!

Great review, and it is nice to see where your current state of Wireless-Guru-ishness began. I think a thorough review of the setup is very much in order for networking products, and it was good to review yours. Most people, I would think, buy a wireless router with every hope to just plug it in and forget about it. (Hopefully they'll be brave enough to set up some security, but I've picked up so many open networks in my neighborhood and my friends' neighborhoods, it's obvious most don't.)

 

jus wanna ask, is this router helps boost up a wireless signal and speed up internet/download speed? cause umm, i got a laptop, built in wireless, and theres a wireless connection arround my house here, but i only get some of the bytes from it, and need to boost the signal up so that my internet/download speed increases as the signal is high... does this router really helps?

 

If your asking if it can speed up your internet speed in upload/download time, it can't and no router can do that. Thats with your ISP and only your ISP.

 

but do i still recieve some of the bytes from it?

 

Bytes from what? You need to be more specific.

 

I must say that I have not experienced good things with the WRT54G, and Linksys. I tried to connect a WRE54G Ver 1 (range expender) to the Ver 5.0 WRT54G (which the linksys site said could be done), only to find that the web site was incorrect, and after wasting over 2 hours with Linksys tech support.

 

The Version 5 router is horrible. If anything doing research, that should have came up. V. 4 is much much better.
And this router is V.3.1

 

I too have had nothing but nightmares connecting to the internet with this router. The instructions on the wireless setup disk were of no help nor were the 3 tech service reps I spent several hrs talking to on multiple occasions. I stumbled on the netsetclient utility and when this is run I can get connected. But every time I restart the computer I have to run the utility wasting several minutes.

I have another home and bought a D-link router. I got connected first try with absolutely no problems. I have no problems in areas where there is wireless internet. Just this **** Linksys. And I cant get on the internet to modify the router's settings if that is a problem. Typing in the default IP address gets me nowhere.

If anybody has any suggestions please advise. Otherwise this is router going in the trash and I am getting another D-link.