Cisco-Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster by Linksys
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Our Price: $159.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster
Digital camera Review: Can you say "lemon"?
Summary: 1 Stars
Obviously, I got the dud of the bunch - I tried installing it with a Mac, and was told by a whispering tech support lady that it couldn't be done with OS 9.2. Fine, so I upgraded the machine it was to be hooked to - still no dice. The second time, the help line was busy. The website support was useless too. So in a fit of desperation (and $30 later after buying an ethernet switch to do the job this thing was supposed to do) I put it on the lone PC in the network - ran the CD-ROM- and it failed at the last step - repeatedly. Again, tech support was on vacation when I called in.
On the bright side, my compliments to Amazon for taking this lemon's return. At least they understand what customer customer service!
Digital camera Review: Can't believe how easy it was to set up!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got my Linksys at a far inferior website than Amazon-regrets but I'm back. Anyway, first I didn't know you needed to have a speed boost adapter to make the speed boost adapter on this router work. Just to save you time and "restocking" fees some rip off companies may charge you. Get the Speed boost adapter.
The set up was soooo easy, I couldn't believe it!
I am not exaggerating! I popped in the cd for the router, I got the instructions. Got the password, security settings down and it did the rest. I just plugged in the adapter to my other computer and Presto!!!! The internet was on in seconds. I was truly amazed. Kept thinking, I had to of done something wrong... that was too easy! But I didn't. It works.
I have cable internet and the speeds on this computer that has the adapter in it works very well and downloads very fast most of the time. It has it's slow times, on very little occassions, but that has more to do with internet traffic than the adapter/booster. You have to be realistic.
Anyway, love it, glad I got it. Been using it for more than 3 weeks and I am extremely happy with it.
Digital camera Review: Can't get it to completely work
Summary: 2 Stars
This may be a good product, I don't know. I can't get it to work with my DSL modem which my ISP just sent me. They won't help with the router and the router doesn't document what to do with the modem. So I'm back to my old Linksys router.Digital camera Review: Caution - a separate DSL or cable MODEM is required - not built in
Summary: 4 Stars
It is NOT a modem/router - just a great wireless G router. OK, I looked at a lot of different wireless routers including mostly 802.11N models, and reviews were excellent on this WRT54GS - I read several. Skimming the description of "really 3 devices in one", and seeing "Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection", I made the purchase to set up a friend's new DSL network. (To resolve a long nightmare on the 10th wireless DSL router/modem from Verizon, DOA or toast after an hour or day or couple of weeks, with techs saying "yeh that unit has a lot of problems, we'd really like to send you this new model that we know works, but we're not allowed because you're an existing customer.")
Then I got the product. Oops. No built in modem. How had I missed that? Well, it doesn't say it's got a modem, but it's implied. Re-evaluating the situation in the face of purchasing a separate DSL modem, I realized we would be better off to return it and purchase an N-standard router with built-in modem. I chose a Netgear DGN2000-100NAS model based on reviews and personal experience, & it looks good for its first day on the job.
Although we didn't install it, the Linksys seems great, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. I realize the design has been around since before combo wireless modem/routers and so the original description probably assumes that everyone knows a separate modem is required, but I still took off one star for wasting my time with the combination of implying a built-in modem and not clearly stating that it must be plugged into a modem.
Digital camera Review: Cheap, reliable, and a good performer.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've worked in IT and networking for more than ten years. It was not that long ago that a router with these features was only available from Cisco or 3Com for many times this price, and was much more difficult to set up. (Cisco has since acquired Linksys, but has thankfully resisted the temptation to mess up the design or jack up the price.)
The WRT54GS is easy enough for computer novices to set up, yet offers enough options for experienced users or moderate-sized networks that might need special considerations. Linksys was one of the first to use a simple web interface for setup, so no arcane "programming" is necessary.
Range of the wireless signal is good. As with any wireless network, the effectiveness will depend on the quality of the receivers and the building's construction, but I have been able to get a usable signal at my next-door neighbor's house. Keep this in mind when you set it up, and secure your network with the provided encription, or else you might leave it open to unwanted users.
This little router is perfect for wireless home networks, but is capable of serving a small business very well, too. Either way, it provides reliable performance, and doesn't take a network engineer to install and maintain it.