Linksys WUSB54G Wireless-G USB Adapter

Other products by Linksys

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.2 x 2.4 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009X6PH
• Item model number: WUSB54G
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (208 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,832 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Networking Products > Network Adapters > USB Network Adapters

• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 3, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The easy way to connect your desktop or notebook to a high-speed wireless network

Connect your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to a wireless network at incredible speeds with the Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter. By incorporating two new, blazing fast technologies -- USB 2.0 and Wireless-G -- the Adapter delivers data rates up to 54 Mbps (5 times as fast as 802.11b), without the trouble of opening up the case of your desktop computer.

To install, simply plug the Adapter into any available USB port. (It's compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports, but 2.0 will yield the fastest speeds.) It gets its power through the USB connection, so no power cord is necessary. The included Setup Wizard walks you through configuring the Adapter to your wireless network settings, step by step. The Wireless-G USB Network Adapter is also compatible with the Wireless-B (802.11b) network standard, with data rates up to 11 Mbps. And your wireless communications can be protected by 128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.

The Wireless-G USB Network Adapter's high-gain antenna lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running cables. Now you don't have to drill holes in your walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and hard disk storage space with other computers on the network.

So don't hassle with running cables through your house -- get connected the easy way with the Wireless-G USB Network Adapter.

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 of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. What 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 802.11a/g 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
LINKSYS WUSB54G -- Here's the simple way to connect your desktop or notebook PC to a high-speed wireless network. Jack into incredible surfing speeds with the Wireless-G USB Network Adapter. By combining two cutting edge technologies -- USB 2.0 and Wireless-G -- the WUSB54G delivers data rates up to 54Mbps (5 times as fast as 802.11b) -- and you don't even have to open the computer case! High gain antenna lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running cables!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy Physical Installation, Good Software Installation, September 5, 2004

By	Mitchell Small (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have a SOHO that uses a wired 10/100 switched network. Already part of this network is a Linksys single port Cable / DSL Router. When it came time to make the jump to wireless, the WAP54G seemed the logical choice, as I would not have to reconfigure anything on my existing network. For my initial conversions, I was converting a desktop PC and an older laptop. For this review, I'll be discussing at the WUSB54G. Look for reviews on all these items posted separately.

I decided on the WUSB54G because I did not have any available internal slots. This computer may be replaced in a year or two, and unplugging the network card from a USB port seemed a lot more attractive than opening the case. Actually, the installation is almost a simple as plugging the adapter into an available USB port.

My initial installation was using Version 2.0 of the installation software. The significance of that will be explained later. Regardless of your version of Windows, I suggest installing the software first. This will eliminate any potential problems in the installation process. Make sure you know your network name and WEP Key. You will need to supply that information during installation or you will not be able to connect right away. If you don't have the key handy, it can be input later, but it is not as convenient.

The Wizard does a good job of walking you through each step. Once done, you will need to reboot. Don't disconnect from the wired network just yet. Wait until the next phase is completed. On boot, you computer should detect the new hardware and install the correct drivers for it. The next step could take a while, so be patient. Your new wireless network card will search for a signal, an access point, and you should be prompted when a network is found. If more than one network is detected, a distinct possibility with the proliferation of wireless networks, you will quickly realize the advantages of naming you network something other that the default and of applying a WEP Key to your network.

The initial connection took about two minutes, but seemed a lot longer! You will see an icon on the Bottom Right of the Task Bar indicating you are connected. I do one final check by opening a command prompt and using the command "ipconfig /all" to show all my adapters. If there's a difference in IP addressing ranges, reboot one more time. If both the wired and wireless connections show IP address in the same range, you're ready to unplug the wired connection. Now try opening your web browser. If you can surf, you're all done.

My experience with this installation was very positive. The wizard was friendly, the physical installation could not have been easier, I had all the information on hand I needed and I was wireless after the first reboot. I'm using this adapter with a G network and I'm getting the full throughput.

One final note: this installation went so smoothly I got another adapter from a local dealer that had a price too good to pass up. When I got home, however, I noticed a small sticker that said this was for Windows 2000 and Windows XP only. I then noticed the serial number and installation software said version 1.0. Hmmm... this was going on a Windows 98SE machine. The hardware specs looked identical, from what I could determine from the box, so I tried an experiment and used the version 2.0 software. It worked just fine. BEWARE: this is not an endorsement that this will work in every case nor should you conclude there is no difference between versions. I strongly suggest you try to get the latest version hardware and software for optimal performance.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Piece of cake to install and setup, January 2, 2004

By	Samantha (Cornelia, GA United States) - See all my reviews

I purchased the Wireless-G Router (WRT54G), Wireless-G notebook adapter (WPC54G) and this Wireless-G USB Adapter (WUSB54G). I ordered them on a Friday night, they were shipped on Saturday and I received them on Monday around 4:00 pm. I opened all 3 boxes and had all installed by 5:00 pm that same day. These were a piece of cake to install and set up. I have 2000 on my laptop and XP home on the desktop. I really can't believe how easy this was to set up. I had put off getting these for months because I figured it would be my luck that I'd buy the wrong items or installation would be a nightmare. It wasn't. The connection hasn't failed once since installation. The router is located in my basement office (where the DSL cable modem is) and the desktop that utilizes the USB Adapter is on the main floor at the opposite end of our home. The signal is good (although not 100% obviously), but good enough that it is 10 times better than the dial up we had on that PC. I have taken the laptop in all rooms of our home (main floor and basement) and love the freedom I have to work where ever I want without losing my internet connection.
I am very satisfied.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars unreliable at best -- a product that needs help, December 1, 2003

By	Y. Chang "ciaconne" (Mamaroneck, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A short review, to be updated as the user experience continues:
I got this unit in place of a wireless ethernet because of the price and the size. It is powered by USB so it saves wire clutter. I am running out of PCI ports so that this was selected as an alternative. Here is a simple breakdown:

Likes:
-Small size, portability, ease of connection

Dislikes (minor annoyances omitted--only major flaws):
-Signal fluctuates quite a bit, from very good to very low, and at which point it drops connection. Other wifi devices in the same area suffers no such phenomenon, using the same WRT54G router.
-Not capable of being used in a windows network in XP (cannot select it as a network device) -- still investigating.
-Needs a driver to be connected, instead of the universality of a standard ethernet WIFI connection (WET54g, for example).
-The software stinks. It offers few additional features if at all. Might as well use windows network software instead.
-The connection would often drop after a while, without warning, and there is no way for me to reconnect to the available networks. At this point I have to unplug and reconnect to reset the unit. Doing this sometimes causes system to freeze in XP, and task manager shows that "system" process is using all the system resources. I will have to hard reboot, which of course comes with all the unplesantry of system crashes, which does not happen in xp that often otherwise.

I am recommending against the product, becuase of the above reasons. It has wasted countless hours with reconfiguration woes, and sporatic disconnections due to the signal/reception fluctuation simply erode the user experience (net streaming media never comes in one piece). I picked Linksys systems over the cheaper Netgear just to change flavor, but this WUSB54G in particular seem to deserve much more attention before it should be considered by anybody. Caveat emptor.