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68 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Handy Physical Installation, Good Software Installation, September 5, 2004
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.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
So-so adapter, but utility has SERIOUS memory leak problem, November 27, 2006
First, the hardware. The Linksys WUSB54G wi-fi adapter comes in the form of a small box with a flip-up antenna. You hook the included USB cable (A-B type) to the adapter and to a USB port on your PC -- high-speed USB 2 port preferred -- and you can surf the web wirelessly. The adapter seems average in performance, in terms of speed and distance. (I use it with a Linksys Wireless-G router.) The signal strength seems to fluctuate quite wildly, even when you don't change any of the factors that might affect it. But overall, it works.
Now comes a BIG warning: do NOT install the utility that came with the adapter. It has a confirmed serious memory leak problem. By this I mean that after running the utility (which sits in the system tray) for about an hour, it'll have gobbled up anywhere between 300MB and 600MB (or more) of your system memory! My desktop has 1GB and at one point the utility took over more than 580MB before I shut it down via the Task Manager. Unfortunately (as another example of really bad software engineering), you can't quit the program for real. As long as you have the adapter active, the utility will come back to life and start eating up your memory again.
If you have Windows XP, use the OS's built-in "Windows Zero Configuration Wireless Client." First, uninstall the Linksys utility if you already installed it. Second, you need to install the adapter's driver: simply plug the adapter into a USB port, and, when Windows' driver search dialog comes up, browse to the "Driver" folder on the Linksys CD-ROM (e.g., "D:\driver"), and use the "v4" (version 4) driver, which is the latest -- after that, Windows' built-in wi-fi client will automatically kick in.
Unfortunately, if you use Win2k or earlier, you'll have to either live with the poorly written Linksys utility (the problem exists on all systems) and restart your PC periodically to reclaim the memory, or just return the whole thing as a defective product and get another adapter (e.g., Netgear).
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Piece of cake to install and setup, January 2, 2004
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.
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