| Linksys-Cisco WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with Linux) |
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Model: WRT54GL
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 321
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Firewall - SPI
VPN Support - Yes
VPN Passthrough - Yes |
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| Description: |
| The Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router combines the functionalities of three devices into a single device, a wireless access point, a four-port full-duplex 10/100 Mbps switch and a router. The wireless access point lets you connect Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to the network while the switch connects your wired-Ethernet devices together. The router function ties it all together by letting your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. The push button setup feature makes it easy to configure your wireless devices. The router serves as a DHCP server, includes an SPI firewall to protect against Internet intruders and also supports VPN pass-through. The WRT54GL even features TKIP and AES to protect your data and privacy with up to 128-bit encryption. With the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers and multi-player games with flexibility, speed, security and simplicity. Status Indicators - Port status, link activity Compliant Standards - FCC IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3U, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g Data Link Protocol - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g Interfaces - 1x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 ( WAN / DMZ ), 4 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 1 x network - Radio-Ethernet Dimensions - Height 4.8 cm x Depth 20 cm x Width 18.6 cm Weight - 0.5 kg |
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| User Reviews (321 total): |
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Fast and easy to set up, September 24, 2006
By user (Pittsburgh,PA)
I must say that this router was easy to set up ...the router signal is excellent even when i go 3 rooms away from the router...the signal never drops off and is steady..
hope that helps.
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Linksys WRT54GL Review, September 21, 2006
By user (Lynchburg, VA, USA)
The Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Router is a rock-solid product. Installation in a snap, and setup is also easy using either the included CD or by using the wireless router's built-in configuration web page. The Linksys WRT54GL is the same as the Linksys WRT54G v4.0. After v4.0 Linksys downgraded the RAM and Flash ROM of the line and switched from Linux to VxWorks as the wireless router's OS. Linksys WRT54G v5.0 and up wireless routers are not as stable due to this switch and are unable to use third-party Firmware for the most part due to the downgraded RAM and Flash ROM. Linksys fixed this by releasing the WRT54GL which returns to using Linux as it's OS. Ignore the "Compatible with Linux" part, what it is referring to is the product itself using Linux. Unfortunately the WRT54GL is hard to find in stores. If you want a good, stable wireless router, get the WRT54GL (above) and avoid the WRT54G which is the most commonly found Linksys wireless router in stores.
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Does Linksys hate Apple users? Nice router; dismal instructions., September 20, 2006
By user
September 19, 2006
I bought this router because it was the only one that had consistently high user ratings. It seems to be a good router, worthy of five stars. The instructions, however, deserve no stars. I am an Apple user and from reading the other reviews I was expecting to have to manually configure this router. Linksys must hate Apple users. Nowhere in the PDF instruction manual, nor in any of the papers packed with this device, is there a note that says: "For Macintosh setup instructions see page..." It is as if Apple computers do not exist. (The only reference to Apple computers is in the FAQs: "Will the Router function in a Macintosh environment? Yes.") For three hours, over and over I struggled through the cryptic instructions which were filled with acronyms and technical jargon I didn't understand. It could be that I am a dim-witted moron (many would confirm that admission) but there is a school of thought that says a well designed product needs no instruction manual (see The Psychology of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman). It could be inferred that the larger the instruction manual, the worse the design. This router was obviously not desgined with Apple users in mind. Perhaps it was not ecconomically feasible for Linksys to create an OS X Setup Wizard. But surely they could have put some pages in the PDF instruction manual with screen captures and captions that state: "If you are an OS X user do this..." Or perhaps they just hate Apple users.
The bottom line: the hardware is acceptable and will perform as advertised. The instructions leave much to be desired.
November 1, 2006 - This router has performed flawlessly - five stars for the hardware.
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Performs well, but easy installation is not a guarantee., September 20, 2006
By user
Getting my router up and running was a minor nightmare, though not all Linksys's fault. Turns out (after many hours on the phone with Toshiba and Linksys) that there was a Windows issue (surprise!) I had to reinstall the software on the laptop. Then there was an IP address issue that only Linksys could resolve. The Linksys folks do answer the phone promptly, and are polite. My experience with level 1 techs was terrible. The level 2's, on the other hand, were excellent. Now that the router is working, I am very happy with it. It not only works perfectly throughout and outside my house, but I took my laptop across the street to my neighbor's, and the connection was perfect. On occasion, the router picks up as many as four signals in my neighborhood. I have no regrets.
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does the job stock, but when flashed is purrrrty, August 31, 2006
By user (Roswell, GA)
Not sure if this router is great for the "non"-techie, but for those of us not shy with trying other firmware. Load DD-WRT on this and you will be very impressed. What happens when everyone around you has a better signal than you? Increase the gain! on the antena, If you have trouble with signal's DD-WRT should help you out. Definetly recomend this!
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Tech support flaming useless, August 28, 2006
By user
This is supposed to be a WIRELESS router, so why must I plug the computer into it? I called tech support, and it took five attempts just to keep their horrible antiquated menu system from disconnecting me, then I just got to speak to a moron. I am definitely returning it.
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Great router, August 26, 2006
By user (DE)
I use this router at home. It works great with Comcast cable modem. Even under heavy network traffic, it still works perfectly. You may consider to update the fireware by using DDWRT, which gives you more options to config.
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Works on a Mac. Nice cheaper alternative to the Airport, August 21, 2006
By user (Los Angeles, Ca)
This is directly attached to a powermac G4 and my wife's iMac G5 is connected, using the built in wireless card. There were a couple of connection drops when we started using it, but once we changed some settings, the connection has been flawless for
a month straight. Overall, I am very happy with the purchase. Great alternative to the
much more expensive Airport. The Linksys router does not come with software for the Mac, so Safari is used to communicate with the router. You do not have to be a system adminitrator to set it up, but more effort is required than the Airport. The reason for the purchase was it was a lot cheaper than the Airport. Also, based on past experience, Linksys has excellent customer support. So far we are very satisfied.
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Great with DD-WRT, August 20, 2006
By user (TX USA)
This router works great with open source alternatives to the Linksys firmware. I was able to flash and configure it in a short time with no problems. I wound up with cool features like stateful packet inspection. It may seem funny to pay extra to get a free OS, but I think it was worth the extra $$. So far the routing and wireless connection have worked flawlessly. Although Tom's Hardware Guide was down on these routers for poor performance under load, I haven't had any issues. Of course, I don't do online gaming, either.
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LInskys is great for a beginner, August 18, 2006
By user (Texas)
This is the first router I have used. It was a piece of cake to set up. My second computer is upstairs and I had to move that computer in a different spot in order for it to communicate but once I did it works fine. I called Lunksys to ask a question and was on hold for more than a half and hour. They did help me but it was an ordeal so that is why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
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working great now - but keep away from your cable modem, August 12, 2006
By user (USA)
I had lots of problems trying to get this router working with my computers, but it is working really well now. The internet connection would hang somewhere between 10 minutes and 1 hour of establishing a connection. The only way to restore the connection was to power off both the cable modem and the router. After alot of troubleshooting, experimenting, and internet research, I discovered the cause of this. My cable modem does not like this router being close to it. When I moved the router several feet away from the cable modem all the connection problems went away. It has been working beautifully ever since.
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Great after firmware update, August 12, 2006
By user (Shelby Township, MI United States)
Running stock firmware it worked good, but needed to be rebooted every few days. Which meant having to unplug and replug it in, since there was no reboot on the admin page. I upgraded to HyperWRT+Thibor firmware which adds a reboot button and only have rebooted once in the past month. The update also adds SpeedBoost available in the WRT65GS among many other settings.
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Quick, Easy and reliable, August 11, 2006
By user
From out of the package to up and running was real quick...~30 min. Also, as a novice user, very simple to get running. Used to own a DLINK and had tons of issues with it and was always having to reset the router. The Linksys has been real reliable...haven't had to touch it since I installed it.
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Runs Like A Champ With QOS Too!, August 10, 2006
By user (Berkeley, CA United States)
This router was purchased to manage a home network with a digital SunRocket phone system, a Mac G4, a Hawking print server and one or more other computers. Overall I am pleased with router price & performance but am deducting one point for lack of instructions for the Macintosh platform. Setup took about 10" all told. No software install was necessary for the Macintosh & the 150 page Manual is largely irrelevant for Macs; but Mac users should heed the prescribed order in connecting & powering up the various components. Network management is via a web interface. Note--you will not be able to use your System X Safari browser for this purpose [at least on Panther]; but Firefox does the job nicely. By setting voice packets as high priority in the QOS [quality of service] panel, good voice quality is maintained for phone calls. Happily, my Comcast internet speed jumped from 4% of anticipated speed (while the Mac was downstream from the SunRocket Gizmo) to as much as 25% more bandwidth than I am paying for once the LinkSys WRT-54GL was in place. No speed throttling effect whatsoever. Wireless reception is better than expected. I notice that while file sharing between Macs via a hard-wired ethernet connection, I also am picking up unsecured PC shared data from apartments across a 6-lane boulevard. In the future I hope to use the LinkSys's wireless capabilities to operate a front door speaker/controller; & (with an open source firmware crack) to run airport express or similar hardware to broadcast iTunes from the bedroom to the living room. All in all a worthwhile purchase.
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Best I've used, August 10, 2006
By user (Atlanta, GA)
I've owned or installed wireless networks from DLink, Trendware, and others, and this Linksys was by far the easiest to set up, the most reliable and troublefree.
I've only owned it a short time, but I'm satisfied. Coupled with a range extender model pci wireless card (also from Linksys), it reaches my wife's pc with a strong signal from one end of the house to the other.
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Very solid base for 3rd party firmware, August 9, 2006
By user (Louisville, CO United States)
I'm extremely happy with this now that I've downloaded the latest Thibor firmware. It's been up solid now for over 2 weeks without a hiccup and has many improved features like QOS for Vonage or Skype.
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la mejor compra, August 5, 2006
By user (venezuela)
excelente equipo compatible con linux , me permite efectuar y colocar programas en linux dentro del router.
alta potencia 250 miliwatt
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just okay range, August 3, 2006
By user
my similar netgear router had to be restarted almost once a day. since i've gotten my linksys i've only had to restart twice so far and it's been a couple weeks. the range however is not as good as the netgear router.
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Best little router I've ever had, July 29, 2006
By user (Lantana, TX USA)
This thing (flashed with the linux based DD-WRT firmware) is, so-far, the best little router I've ever had. I love the status screens and features of DD-WRT. Highly recommended router. I just wish they made a "PLUS" version with more CPU power and more RAM, but this thing can probably handle more IP connections than any similarly priced router.
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Solid, July 25, 2006
By user (Houston, TX United States)
I have 2 SMC wireless router, 22G and 54G. They were fine when I used them in a apartment. However, after I moved to a house. The signal is very bad. Besides, I have VOIP from sunrocket. The delay is very bad when I connect the VOIP router to the SMC router.
After I bought this Linksys router, both of the problem went away. The signal is always excellent or good in the house. The VOIP is very stable.
I would recommend this router if anyone is in the smiliar situation.
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