| Linksys Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54GC |
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Model: WRT54GC
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 186
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) Access Point
Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G and B devices
Compact form factor fits in anywhere
High security: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2 Personal), wireless MAC address filtering, powerful SPI firewall
Compatible with Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP |
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| Description: |
| The WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router puts you onboard for the newest wireless networking standard. Wireless-G is 54Mbps wireless networking that's almost five times as fast as the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes & businesses. They can interoperate with existing 802.11b equipment, making them more flexible thanother networks. The built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 connects 4 PCs directly and lets you daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches for as big a network as you need. To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G Broadband Router can encode all wireless transmissions using 128-bit WEP encryption. The powerful Stateful Packet Inspection firewall will defend against most Internet attacks. |
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| User Reviews (186 total): |
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Good cute little wireless router, May 10, 2007
By user (NJ, USA)
This router delivers amazing performance for its size. I don't have a problem with the connections or the connection speed, as compared to my previous much bitter, ugly router. I recommend it!
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Great Value, Great Performance, May 3, 2007
By user (Boise, ID)
I purchased this router for one simple task - provide my laptop from work with wireless broadband access so that I can work from home when needed. For this task - this little router EXCELS. I have a 1700 square foot home on one level - so its not much of a challenge from a signal perspective, but this little thing really throws out the signal anywhere in my house. I can be in the backyard, on the patio, in the master bedroom or wherever and I always seem to have the max signal strength. I am using the WPA wireless security protocol and change the password every now and then, I feel pretty secure that my connection is safe for the most part.
This router was a great value and it works as advertised. Highly recommended.
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If you have plenty of free time buy this product, April 28, 2007
By user
I'm not an IT wiz but my experience with this router has been terrible. In the past 36 hours I have connected Linksys 7 times. It connects and drops. I can see another "linksys" on my network that is probably a neighbor's and I can connect to their WiFi with NO problems. Unbelievable!!! This unit requires you to manually enter setting like the DNS1 and the gateway. Geeze! The CD to configure this unit is worthless it takes you to all of 2 steps and then tells you "sorry" your will need to enter your settings. I need something easy to set up, even the Linkys techs can't get it working for more than 20 mins. The plan was to piggyback into a wired router (connected to my work computer) that I need for security purposes for my job. All I do is reboot, unplug, reconnect, reboot, unplug, reconnect -get the picture? I will be returning this unit and look into a Netgear product. If you have TONS of free time and would like to play IT then by all means buy this product. If your time is valuable and you want something that is reliable then this might not be the product for you.
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Compact, April 28, 2007
By user (OVERLAND PARK, KS)
I've had no issues with this unit, and I take it on trips too for hotels with iffy WIFI and to connect a couple of gaming computers for practice when in a LAN town. 3rd party firmware is also available if desired. if you need help with this product, go to a forum because the guy from Linksys that will try to help you is from some backward country where they kill their "wives" if they drive a car.
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Small Area Router, April 18, 2007
By user (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida United States)
The router was purchased based on specifications given. I realised too late that houses where I'm from are constructed differently (we use block and steel for all walls both interior and exterior). The signal from the router was weak and I had to purchase a high gain antenna to get signal in the bedroom. The signal from the router was steady but coverage is small. Assess your usage before buying. If you are going to be some distance away consider using the regular router rather than the compact model.
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Continuous resetting!, April 15, 2007
By user (Long Island, NY USA)
This router has to be one of the worst. I literally have to reset it everytime I need a wifi connection. Would not recommend to my worst enemy!
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great little router, April 11, 2007
By user (Richmond Hill, NY United States)
can't really comment onit's range since i'm in an apt. but it works great w/o needing 'reboot' like my previous netgear.
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Excellent purchase, April 10, 2007
By user (Colchester, CT)
This wireless router further solidifies Linksys's reputation as the #1 company when it comes to wireless networking. The router produces a strong signal that is accessible throughout an entire house and outside as well. The size is a plus, too; it's compact size allows it to fit almost anywhere unobtrusively. Great purchase, highly recommended.
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Very Good, Very Easy!, April 2, 2007
By user (Hoosick Falls, NY)
Being new to the wireless game, I was hesitant about buying this unit. After himming and hawwing I did infact buy it and I was Very pleasantly surprised. It is very compact and I got it up and running in about an hour (would have been quicker but I need to remember passwords) I have a large home with two laptops, a Wii, and 2 PC's. I works great with the laptops and PC's, works pretty well with the Wii. It is located down stairs in the middle of my home (2000 sq ft) and I can get a signal from just about everywhere in the house. A good, small system that does what it says it should.
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Cute and Works Well, March 30, 2007
By user (Orlando, FL USA)
This item was easy to set up and is wonderful for my home high speed wireless network. I use it with a laptop and a wireless printer, and everything works super fast! It's about the size of two ipods connected together.
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Great Low Budget WiFi Router, March 25, 2007
By user (Panama, Panama (PTY))
This is a great product. Easy to configure, up and running in less than 10 minutes, excellent signal (in small cover areas, good for 30-50 feet range), small and compact, and cheap.
All you need to set up a small wireless network at home without a hassle.
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Works like a dream, March 23, 2007
By user (Trinidad, WI)
Firstly the router is very small and compact it measures 90mm x 90mm x 20mm. I wanted to go with a wireless network throughout my house. At first i was frightened because i forgot to purchase the antennae(Linksys High Gain Antenna for SMA Connectors HGA7S) but I get great reception anywhere i go even outside in my yard and in the street! Its easy to set up there is a setup cd thats included which makes it very simple even to the non computer geek.Great product no problems so far.
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Great short range wireless router, March 23, 2007
By user (CA, USA)
Great compact product, works well with high signal strength across small domestic area. Fine security features to stop others tapping into your internet connection.
Installation disk didn't work and error message instructions were misleading however problem sorted out easily and effectively by call to helpdesk. Allow an hour or so for installation and assume you'll need the Linksys helpdesk support!
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compact & wireless, March 16, 2007
By user (Brookline, MA, USA)
Small and compact router for small homes (since it has limited range) or flats. Easy to install, BUT DO NOT update the firmware. Many have reported issues with firmware updating, resulting in a nonfunctional router. Even linksys tells you to "If it's not broke, don't try to fix it". Other than that it works fine for me. It is easy to install with the help of the software that comes with the router (XP only), but the router works fine with OSX, and you can via IP communicate and change settings on the router from a Mac if needed. If you look for a small router for a small flat for a low price, I would recomend this product
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Great item, March 16, 2007
By user (Brazil)
Easy to install, good reception (if you consider its size), and it fits in the notebook bag.
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Could have a stronger signal., March 15, 2007
By user (Venezuela)
The router is very small and extremely easy to set up. The signal is not very strong, my house has concrete walls, and I am having problems with the signal.
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I think it's great!, March 13, 2007
By user
This is my first wireless router bought for personal use at home. After receiving the unit, it was a little tricky to set up at first...but I got the hang of it in no time. Once that was done I was connecting instantly via my laptop. I am amazed at how small it is yet the range is good.
I would recommend this router to anyone who is looking for a sleek, compact and capable device for home use. Enjoy yours, I know I am!
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Try the WTR54GS instead, March 11, 2007
By user (Chicago, IL USA)
I strongly suggest you buy the Linksys WTR54GS instead of this one: it is smaller, more reliable, and there's less risk of it breaking beyond repair. If you do buy this router, know that the firmware is buggy, it has trouble letting through multiple VPN sessions, but if you try to upgrade the firmware, it will completely stop working.
The firmware upgrade issue is a big deal: firmware is the software inside the router that controls how it behaves, and the upgrade seems to erase it entirely. When that happens, the router's wireless function stops working, and you can't fix the problem yourself (since the firmware is gone, the web client doesn't work, the unit no longer acts as a DHCP server, it does not obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, is unreachable via the Linksys TFTP utility, and can't even be discovered by advanced tools like nmap). Because there's no way to reach the router, you have to send it to Linksys or return it. Sadly, I can't send mine in for replacement because I don't have the receipt, so they won't take it...even though it's a known issue that totally breaks the router.
For more information on this issue, go to the Linksys support page Community Forums, and search for "WRT54GC" and "firmware". There's a post with 26 replies (and attempts to help) describing the issue.
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Great Product, March 8, 2007
By user (Argentina)
1-Easy install
2-Easy use
3-Good Conection
4-Good $$$
5-Great size. Is sow small!!.
GREAT PRODUCT FOR THIS PRICE!!!
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Good for what it is, February 28, 2007
By user (San Jose, California United States)
I got this as a small router that would be easy to move about so that I can network two laptops wirelessly in different places. I wanted to set it up similar to a prior WRT54G to connect to the internet, and it was easy to do that without the manual (which looks pretty good) or the setup wizard on the CD which also looks good. I like that the wizard does not seem to install a bunch of stuff on your computer that you will only use once.
The wired router seems to work fine (although I do not game etc, so I cannot comment on the related security features), and the wireless setup is similar to the WRT54G. I do notice some features of the WRT54G (V2) are missing, like the ability to disable the wireless. The antenna (internal, external high gain optional) seems to work about as well as the standard short "rubber duck" antennas on a WRT54G. Note that the high gain antenna costs as much as the router as of the time I write this, so if you are thinking you might need something like that, you might want a different router to start with.
Its firmware is not open source, so if you want to hack a router you might be better off with something else. Maybe the WRT54GL.
I had a lot of trouble configuring the router to communicate with my ADSL modem. The Linksys help was unhelpful for the first 3 phone calls, and I gave up on the phone and then tried e-mail. I eventually got a canned e-mail response that I tried and I am now up. [For those interested, my ADSL router has PPPoE with the username and password on board. A WRT54G works if configured with the internet connection as "Automatic - DHCP". However the WRT54GC needs "PPPoE" with a username and password in spite of the ADSL modem having that info in it already. The ADSL modem did not need to be changed. My ADSL modem is a Speedstream 5100 (5 light model)].
So, if you are looking for a small router to share an internet connection wired and wirelessly across a few computers, but not to do some of the more interesting things then give this router a look. Checkout the manual at [...]. Its size makes it very portable, and allow you to bring you LAN with you.
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