Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP )

by Buffalo Technology

Product Details

• Item Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BNDEZY
• Item model number: WLI-TX4-G54HP
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,763 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 4, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Great for Wireless Online Gaming! Connect to PlayStation 2, XBox, Slingbox!

The Buffalo AirStation High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter is an extremely versatile wireless client adapter. Use it to wirelessly connect gaming consoles, desktops, notebooks, media players, printers, Unix workstations, and any other devices with Ethernet ports. With a built-in four port switch, up to 4 devices can be simultaneously connected to the Ethernet Converter for instant wireless connectivity. The Ethernet Converter supports AOSS™, allowing you to configure a secure wireless connection with the push of a button, and offers the advanced security for WPA (TKIP, AES). Once the simple browser-based setup or AOSS™ is complete, the Ethernet Converter can be moved from one device to another without reconfiguration. You can even add an optional Buffalo antenna for extended range and performance.

Features

• High Power Wireless increases performance by up to 70% and extends range by up to 50%
• 802.11g Wireless 125* High-Speed Mode (Turbo G) transfer rates when used with 125* High-Speed Mode™ (Turbo G) Access Points or Wireless Routers
• Four built-in 10/100 ports for up to 4 simultaneous wired devices
• Easy and Secure Wireless Connections with AOSS™
• Can be used horizontally or vertically
• Compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g wireless routers and access points
• Simple web browser configuration, no drivers needed
• Can be moved from device to device without reconfiguration
• Enhanced security with WPA (TKIP, AES) and standard 64/128-bit WEP
• Works as a high-speed wireless gaming adapter

Product Description

Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, but opt for the WHR-HP-G54 if you have a WDS or Buffalo router. Also, 125 High Speed Incompatible with TiVo., December 30, 2006

By 

R. Clark - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP ) (Personal Computers)

The WLI-TX4-G54HP is not perfect, but it is one of the best bridges out there. Unlike most bridges from Netgear, Linksys, and D-Link, the Buffalo Technology WLI-TX4-G54HP has 4 Ethernet ports built in, eliminating the need for a separate switch. This is key, since the advantage of a bridge versus wireless adapters is that one bridge can be used for multiple devices (e.g. in an entertainment center to support a TiVo, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, Slingbox, etc). The costly and time consuming alternative is to buy and configure a separate wireless adapter per device, one of which costs as much as the WLI-TX4-G54HP, and many of which don't even support the latest network security encryption.

Compared to other network equipment, setup was relatively straightforward. If you have a Buffalo router or access point, you can use one touch AOSS setup, which worked seamlessly, defaulting to the highest level of encryption supported by all devices (e.g. WPA-AES/CCMP). However, your AOSS settings on your Buffalo router default to supporting 125 High Speed if supported by all devices on your network which can cause issues on the WLI-TX4-G54HP (see below). Also, using AOSS to configure the converter disables any custom settings on your router such as disabling SSID broadcast (a highly recommended security practice), so you'll probably opt to configure your converter manually.

With Manual configuration you have the option of using the PC configuration software or the built-in web-based configuration tool. The only hitch with using the web-based configuration tool is that you have set your computer's wired Ethernet adapter IP address manually to 1.1.1.2 since the converter's IP address defaults to 1.1.1.1 and you have to be on the same subnet to connect to it since there is no built-in DHCP server (to do this, Right-click Network Places, click Properties, right-click your Local Area Connection, click Properties, click TCP/IP, click Properties, select Use the following IP address, and enter IP address 1.1.1.2 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0). Once you change your computer's IP, you can log into the tool, change the network and security settings and change the static IP address of the configuration tool to an IP on your subnet (e.g. 192.168.x.2) so you can manage it from any computer on your network. Don't forget to change your IP And DNS back on your computer back to automatic detection after you are done configuring your device.

On the downside, if you are using the WLI-TX4-G54HP in 125 High Speed Mode mode (aka g+ SuperSpeed, Gplus, HSM, SpeedBooster, Turbo G, Xpress, WME), which is only possible when used on a network with all 125 High Speed compatible devices, it freezes up and requires a power cycle when used under intensive bandwidth conditions, which I discovered when trying to transfer video between two TiVos connected to two WLI-TX4-G54HP converters and a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router (all of which support 125 High Speed Mode). This can be avoided by disabling the 125 High Speed frame bursting mode on your router. You will not experience this problem on a non 125 High Speed network (or even if you have a 125 High Speed Network with any non-125 High Speed devices on it since every device must support it to enable it).

Finally, if you have WDS-compatible router, such as any Buffalo router, you are better off using another WHR-HP-G54 router as a bridge since it provides the same functionality as the WLI-TX4-G54HP but also acts as a repeater to extend your network signal, and costs about the same price online. In fact, the WHR-HP-G54 looks identical to the WLI-TX4-G54HP, except that the latter lacks a WAN port and a switch to change from router to bridge mode. The only downside to using the WHR-HP-G54 as a bridge, is that doing so requires disabling 125 High Speed Mode on your router, but since this doesn't work well anyways, it isn't really a disadvantage.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Device, December 19, 2006

By 

Jason (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP ) (Personal Computers)

Rarely in today's age can you find a piece of equipment that fits so seamless into your current setup that you are never aware of its presence, and rarer still is that device that does everything it says it can do. I can now connect my Computer using any OS of my choice, from OS X to Linux to 64 bit windows, with no hassle for missing drivers, and no waiting on a program to load to connect to my network, as this device is always on.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead simple setup and maintenance, January 9, 2007

By 

Ruben Miranda (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP ) (Personal Computers)

I have tried several other ethernet bridges in the past, with disastrous results. My network uses WPA encryption with a shared password (TKIP, for those scoring at home), which also happens to be the de-facto standard for securing a wireless network. However, not all vendors support this standard fully. Many of the manufacturers essentially force you to use their routers and switches in order to guarantee their own bridges will be compatible (even though D-Link's bridge claims WPA, they only support 'their' WPA. I wasted 4 hours of my life before finding this out...avoid it like the plague).

Thankfully, this Buffalo converter is different. For starters, the setup is dead simple. (I used the web configuration, which I recommend over the Windows-only software.) What I love is that the web setup is basically ONE PAGE. No silly wizards to run through, no menus and submenus to navigate through. One page. You scan for networks, pick the one you want, choose the encryption, enter a password, click submit. That's it. You are up and running.

I bought my first Buffalo bridge to connect a Mac desktop to my wireless network. After the success there, I've since bought two more to connect a TiVo Series2 DVR (HIGHLY recommended over the TiVo Wireless USB adapter, which does not support WPA) and a second Mac for my kid.

Two other nice features of this bridge:

1) High powered. With a 2-story house, I have had issues getting a good signal to the wireless router using other bridges. Not the Buffalo. Even from a router on a different floor and on the opposite corner of the house, I consistently get a signal status of "STRONG". Nice.

2) Multiple LAN ports. This thing doubles as a switch. With more network ports available, I have the flexibility to add a networked XBOX, or Vonage, maybe even the new Apple TV, all without having to hassle with more equipment or wireless setup. No other bridge offers this feature...I can't understand why.

In short, nothing comes close to replicating the features this bridge provides. It's standards compliant, easy to set up, simple to operate, and works long after you've forgotten it's wireless. If you want something that just works, go with this bridge.