Rating: 
Summary: did not work out of the box
Review: Do not pass go and go directly to the linksys site for the latest firmware update. I spent hours trying to figure out why mixed mode would not work with my older 802.11b client cards. Well, the standard out of the box version has some serious bugs that linksys corrected in a downloadable update however it took me many hours before I decided it wasn't me and there may be something wrong with the linksys. After the update all was well. Linksys should advise in there quick installation folder that you should check their site for updates immediately and make it really easy to update their software (updating required downloading to my pc, accessing the linksys through the web interface, finding the update key and locating where I downloaded the update. This is not for the faint of heart).All is well now and all my computers that were running fine on an old cisco 802.11b ap are now running on my new linsys.
Rating:
Summary: Problems when using 802.11b and g devices
Review: Over all, I like this unit. However, I initially could NOT get my IBM Thinkpad T30 with builtin 802.11b adapter to connect to the WRT54G, even though it was running in mixed mode. The laptop would not even see a signal when it was 5 feet away from the access point. However, I could plug in the Linksys 802.11g PCCARD into the laptop and it worked great but the builtin 802.11b device did not. Calls to tech support did not help. The firmware upgrade did not help. Finally, I located the problem. I'm a security nut so I have enabled 128-bit WEP plus also enabled the MAC address filter option - per the recommendations on Linksys's web site I might add. Enabling the MAC address filter removes 802.11b functionality even when you add the 802.11b device's MAC address to the filter's accept list. I don't know why. I reported it to Linksys and asked for a fix. They basically said "Don't do that" and that they had no idea if or when they might fix the problem. In fact, I'm not convinced my emails and discussions with tech support even got the problem into the right channels so it might be fixed one day. However, once I stopped trying to use the MAC address filter option, all my wireless devices (802.11b and 802.11g) can connect without problem. Hopefully, this will help others with a similar problem. With the exception of this sole problem, the WRT54G has worked flawlessly for me.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't believe it worked so well!
Review: .... It was easy to setup and I was amazed that after 15 minutes I could sit on my back patio with a laptop and surf away. Great job LinkSys!
Rating:
Summary: Good Range, Sleek Look, WORKS WITH XBOX. WIFE LOVES IT!
Review: I had been waiting for this router for about 3 months, finally had my birthday and dear old mom bought it for me. (bless her heart) Anways, Plugged the bad boy in, hooked up 2 Desktops via ethernet ports, then Desktop upstairs Via Wireless NIC, and laptop is just AWSOME!! I get full 54mbps from router in office(located in basement) to upstairs on other end of house. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!... And as far as the Xbox goes, I'm playing my games right now on it, no wires all wireless with the USB adapter for 802.11G.
Rating:
Summary: Review Of Linksys WRT54G
Review: The Linksys WRT54G wireless router gets a thumbs up from me. Not only was it quick to set up but it also functions well. Having the ability to go anywhere I want (in or around my home) and be able to surf the web or network to the other computers is a freedom I can't do without now that I have it.
Rating:
Summary: Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G
Review: I replaced a wired router from Linksys (BEFSR41) with this WRT54G wireless one. Setup was a snap. Performance is no different from the wired unit when the wireless option is disabled as I have not yet purchased the wireless cards and only plan to using the .11G types.
Rating:
Summary: Second thoughts after a few days of use
Review: I had previously given this unit, and its accompanying 54g pc card, glowing reviews, I wanted to note some second thoughts. First, my throughput tests via ftping a vob file between windows machines, with 54g-only (fastest setting) on card and AP, no WEP, right next to the radio: 20 MBps Not very impressive. If you add the (supposedly only for 802.11b) signal booster, the signal and range are greatly extended, but the data throughput is mysteriously cut in half to 11 MBps! Now I understand why the signal booster is not marketed for the 54g AP, but I dont understand why a radio signal booster would DROP throughput - weird. At the same time, with a regular 802.11b access point I am lucky to get 1 Mbps down my hallway, not I have about 7 MBps throughout the house, so its all relative. Anything above a solid 2 MBps doesnt improve my 1.5 MB DSL gateway anyway. Finally, the 54g PC card which matches this system isnt really big on coming out of standby, which is a pretty big problem since notebooks (especially those which actually are mobile and use wireless networking) come in and out of standby constantly. My old Lucent Orinoco silver snapped in and out of standby reliably every time.
Rating:
Summary: Techie had/has troubles but still happy with router/pci/card
Review: I have spent dozens of hours tweaking and tuning and loading drivers to stabilize things. I like some of the features a lot and wish there were better tools to troubleshoot problems. For instance, my laptop w/ and w/o running the linksys TI cardbus beta driver stops communicating. I have signal strength et al, but I can't even ping the router. I have to power cycle the laptop. I love port mapping. I have each of my computers running PCAnywhere on a different port and can connect to any from home or internet. I went to the dyndns web site so I don't have to know my cable modem's external IP to connect. I have wep on, dhcp off, changed pwsd, SSID off. Sometimes I lose connections and have to put in my wep key again. If I reboot my desktop, I get nothing. I sometimes have to powercycle the box AND redo my web config on it. So, I have UPSs on every PC and each one has autologin to try to keep them up and stable. Of course, I have to reboot the laptop all the time. Overall, I'm happy. Some of the settings between the PCI and PCCard NICs aren't labelled the same. What is the diff between 54 only and 54 fastest? hdatontodo
Rating:
Summary: Excellent product - best extensibility
Review: I own Netgear, Buffalo and Dlink equipment as well, but I will never go back after setting up this unit. It literally took 2 minutes before I had my wired and wireless computers up and running, including 128-bit wep - I only needed the manual because it sets up camp on 192.168.1.1, rather then 0.1 like most. The web interface is the best I have ever used. Very well laid out. Let me take a minute to bark about the competition - the DLink AP has the absolute worst management software ever, and they dont even have a web interface - its a nightmare and their support is horrible. I'm sure Buffalo stuff has matured since their first AP I bought, but their web management system looked like a 4th grader designed it. Anyways, back to the Linksys. Besides having the best management software I have seen, it is also a great looking piece of equipment compared to the competition. But what originally drew me to this unit was the optional Wireless Signal Booster. It is not marketed for the 54g unit because it is not FCC licensed to be paired with it, but it works perfectly with it nonetheless. The major feature of wireless networks that all these vendors drop the ball on is range extension options. Walk into a Best Buy and tell me how many 2.4GHz antennas you see - NONE! CompUSA? NONE! WHY? I have no idea. Alas, even Linksys has none, but they do have a range extension option at least with the booster, and it gave me 10 dbi, which is excellent, and my wireless range went from 2 rooms with my Buffalo to my entire property! People's experiences do vary with the signal booster however, so if you buy one make sure you have the option to return it if it doesnt work with your layout. I would mention that Buffalo does market their own antennas, and perhaps DLink also, but you never find them in the store. Dlink also has a repeater option I have never tried. However, the linksys booster is much more expensive then, say, a decent panel antenna setup ... But what I like about the booster is that it boosts the RADIO - leaving you the option of adding an antenna AS WELL, making the Linksys the most extensible consumer AP out there. I've done a lot of wardriving, and about the majority of ssid's read 'Linksys', and now I know why. I just wish I had gone with Linksys first instead of last. A final note is that I have not played with NAT etc yet, which some people have reported having some problems with - b ut so far so great! Also to note - I experienced range on par with the Dlink and Buffalo when I tried this unit without the booster and my 802.11b Lucent Orinoco card. I gained an excellent 10 dbi with the booster. But what really amazed me is that I got an extra 7 dbi by pairing the unit with the Linksys 54g card rather then my trusty standard Orinoco, which tells me the Linksys PC cards are excellent radios. This was a very unexpected surprise. The only complaint I have is that this setup doesnt recover from notebook standby very well, which could become a big problem for me. I may just need to fiddle with it. Again, when it comes to range improvement, its all YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) so always be ready to experiment and bring stuff back until you get the solution thats right for you.
Rating:
Summary: Easy entry into wireless
Review: Having bought other Linksys products I was inclined to try them in setting up my wireless network. I had no problems with Windows 2000 or even Windows 98. Setup went quickly, a few reboots and boom, I was wireless. The only quirk is that coverage seems to be spotty. I have a one bedroom Manhattan apartment (as in small) and in the next room I get only a 30% signal. Well, maybe our walls are real thick. Quality is good and overall I am very satisfied.
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