Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX

by Cisco

Product Details

Product Manual [1.90mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006ZM4XK
• Item model number: WRT54GX
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,139 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 5, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description Now you can enjoy wireless home-network access in those hard-to-reach rooms and--simultaneously--get faster networking and Internet performance, too. The WRT54GX Wireless-G broadband router from Linksys uses the company's advanced SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion) technology to enhance the speed and the reach of a Wireless-G (802.11g) network. The WRT54GX can provide faster wireless network throughput, reduce dead spots, and increase wireless range over standard Wireless-G networks.

The handy WRT54GX serves as an Internet-sharing router, a four-port 10/100 switch, and an SRX-enhanced Wireless-G access point all at once. Relative to standard 80 2.11g technology, a network using all SRX products can extend network reach up to three times as far and boost wireless network speed by up to eight times. (Actual throughput, speed, and range depend on a host of factors, from building materials to network traffic and distance from the router.)

The device is Wi-Fi-certified and backward compatible with 802.11b (Wireless-B), 802.11g (Wireless-G) and, of course, other Linksys SRX products. Mixed wireless environments such as networks containing SRX, Wireless-B, and Wireless-G products can operate each client at its own maximum data rate. SRX products maintain their higher speed and range, providing the throughput and quality of service to deliver applications such as VoIP (Internet telephony) and video streaming.

SRX is based on MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N (802.11n) standard. To improve range and speed, MIMO uses two radios and three antennas on a wireless router or client adapter.

To enhance data protection and privacy, the router can encode all wireless trans missions with WPA (Wireless Protection Access). Its powerful Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall enhances protection to all the wired and wireless PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks while also supporting VPN passthrough. Configuration is easy using a Web-browser-based configuration utility.

What's in the Box
Wireless-G broadband router, a setup CD-ROM with Symantec Internet Security, a u ser's guide on CD-ROM, an AC power adapter, an Ethernet network cable, a quick-i nstallation guide, and a registration card.

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. Which Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.

Product Description

Internet-sharing Wireless-G Router with SRX technology provides up to 8 times faster wireless network throughput, reduces dead spots, and increases wireless range by up to 3 times. The Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect Wireless-G, Wireless-B, and other performance-enhanced SRX devices to the network. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. It combines smart antenna technology with standards-based Wireless-G (802.11g) networking. Unlike ordinary wireless networking technologies that are confused by signal reflections, MIMO actually uses these reflections to increase the range and reduce "dead spots" in the wireless coverage area. The signal travels farther, maintaining wireless connections up to 3 times farther than standard Wireless-G. The farther away you are, the better -- the higher data rate and reflection-friendly technology can yield up to 8 times more throughput than Wireless-G in some situations. The router avoids interference by dynamically switching to the clearest channel available. Even your standard Wireless-G and -B equipment will work better when communicating with SRX-enabled devices.The Router can encode all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength WPA encryption. It can serve as your network's DHCP Server, has a powerful SPI firewall to protect your PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks, and supports VPN pass-through. Configuration is a snap with the web browser-based configuration utility.Finally you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, and multi-player games with flexibility, speed, and security!Also works with WPC54GX - Connects your notebook to the Wireless-G network with SRX technology.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent range, fast speed, February 3, 2005

By 

A. Verdugo (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX (Personal Computers)

I live in a two story house, with plenty of walls in between. This unit replaced 3 11a Access Points. I can now get 108mbps anywhere in my house with almost 100% signal strenght (my laptop is using the WPC54GX card).

The web interface is very straightforward and looks professional. I would buy it again.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Forget about the SRX, go with Belkin Pre-N!, May 6, 2005

By 

Nitin S. "Nitin" (Hickory, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX (Personal Computers)

This is my first Amazon.com review, so please bear with me. I bought the Linksys WRT54GX router along with the companion SRX wireless PC card because: 1) I wanted to replace an 802.11b wireless network in my 2-story home for better coverage (I was having to use a Linksys wireless access point in repeater mode to get "complete coverage" with the old setup); and 2) I wanted a faster wireless network.

I quickly became frustrated with the new Linksys SRX wireless setup, primarily because my laptop (a 2004 HP model) wouldn't always detect the wireless card after powering up from sleep mode, and often there would be dropouts in my wireless internet connection, even when my laptop remained stationary. In addition, even though the wireless icon in the task bar would constantly indicate a connection speed of 108.0 Mbps, it was obvious that my new wireless internet connection was often far slower than my old 11.0 Mbps wireless connection! This problem was especially obvious with websites rich in photo-quality graphic images, like ESPN.com.

So, I contacted Linksys tech support and, with the help of a friendly tech support agent, reprogrammed several parameters on the router. The problem improved, but only temporarily. Frustrated, I returned both the wireless router and the PC card and immediately ordered the Belkin Pre-N router and PC card (based on Cnet reviews, which rated the Belkin system higher anyway).

Both the Belkin wireless router and PC card installed quite easily with the accompanying installation CD's and my system has been up and running without a hitch--so far. One other thing I have liked about the Belkin system is that (using the included Belkin Wireless Client) it displays realtime send and receive speeds of the wireless card, which are often slower than the 108.0 Mbps the wireless icon in the taskbar is constantly pegged at; but at least I know the "true" speed of my wireless network at any given point in time (the measured speeds that are displayed are constantly changing and fluctuate mainly according to distance from the router).

Needless to say, I have been impressed with my early experience with this Belkin system and won't hesitate to highly recommend it to others considering a future home wireless network upgrade. Oh, and did I mention that the Belkin system was cheaper than Linksys'?!!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Software and VPN Issues, September 2, 2005

By 

Paul Noble - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX (Personal Computers)

This unit comes with zero documentation, as otherwise noted, and one is forced to use their set-up disk. I followed the instructions and when it came time to save the set-up, the software announced that it could not detect the router (which was by instruction hardwired to the computer). There was then no way to exit the set-up software and a complete reboot of the computer was required.

I called tech support (in Argentina) and was cheerly told that the set-up software often did not work and was then taken through manual set-up at which point the router worked.

However, it failed to allow IPSEC pass-through (with IPSEC pass- through enabled - a default setting) rendering VPN access to my office impossible. (Using a Cisco/Checkpoint client).

I brought the unit into the office this morning and one of our engineers spent two and a half hours on the phone with their tech support, rising three levels, only to get their confirmation of his analysis that IPSEC pass-through only occurs wired, but alas not wireless.

They claimed that he was the very first (!) to bring this issue to their attention and they would work on correcting it and to expect a call back on Tuesday.

I bought this unit to replace the WRT54G with high-gain antennas to improve reach within our house. I had searched the Internet for verification that this pre-n MIMO unit would extend reach for even non-pre-n nodes and frankly found little beyond Linksys's own muted claims. Also I had heard it rumored that mixed b/g environments were problematic with this router.

But the fact is, it does improve even 802.11b reach. Not dramatically, but my wife suddenly had reception for her X31 w/b in her home office and my daughter with a Mac iBook w/b had reception in her bedroom for the first time - both locations significantly screened by the old lath construction in our house - and my X40 w/g and G5 w/g and another daughter's iBook w/b closer by all had similar reception. My initial sense is that the improvement is greater w/b than g.

So assuming Linksys can provide updated firmware I'm keeping it and would judge myself very satisfied with its performance. But it is a constant source of surprise that market leaders like Linksys (i.e. Cisco) can bring products to market that are so poorly tested. The time I and my engineer have wasted so far on this has already far exceeded the value of the product.