Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g

Pros: Good web-based config utility

Cons: VERY poor wireless performance. Frequently dropped connections, vanishing SSID, inability to connect or associate to the router frequently. When this happens, you need to power cycle the router to get the wireless to start working again, and then it craps out ten minutes later. Often will not allow clients to associate or connect for more then a couple minutes before randomly dropping them. This is a known problem with these routers, see the other reviews, and the Wikipedia entry for these routers for more information. Also, versions 5 and up (which this is) do not use Linux firmware anymore, and have much less memory then versions 1-4, meaning that most aftermarket firmware and hacks will not work on these routers. Versions 1-4 were much better.

Overall Review: Beginning with revision 5 of these routers, Linksys took a cost cutting approach, and switched from using Linux, to using VxWorks for this router's firmware. This has caused HUGE problems with the router's wireless components and abilities. Versions 1-4 of this router all run Linux, and as such are much more stable and reliable. You can still buy the Linux version of this router, is has now been labeled the WRT54GL. While it now costs $20 more, it actually works, unlike this one. WRT54G v1-v4 = good WRT54G v5+ = bad WRT54GL = Good – Identical to WRT54G v1-v4

Pros: Easy set up

Cons: v5 doesn't work with DSL. Made my 3 mBit DSL feel like dialup and reqularly locked up requiring a recycle. Linksys support regularly acknowledged this is a known issue but kept giving me the run around about return/exchange. Spent hours on the phone trying to negotiate an exchange for older version and finally gave up.

Overall Review: Like another reviewer, I researched this product before buying and read a lot of great things bout this product, but the version 5 (v5) product is NOT the same. Less ram and different OS. It is misleading to market this product with the same name as earlier versions.

Pros: Low price. Well built. Firrware hackable with dd-wrt, and that's the savier

Cons: You really want the WRT54GL version, the non trimmed down version of the WRT54G. This version has only 2MB of memory and it's not very simple to install a 3rd party firmware. Again spend the extra 10$ for the L Version

Pros: Has many essential features.

Cons: The router locks up whenever running a high number of connections through it. If you use bittorrent or any other peer-to-peer software you're going to have major problems with this router. Linksys tech support is not helpful about the issue. Plus, it looks like NewEgg will not allow a return for this worthless product. My router is the newest version 5 and is a cheaper, less powerful version of the old WRT54G routers. If you're a techie you might look at the WRT54GL instead, which is a Linux based version 4 router that can be loaded with custom firmware to avoid these types of problems.

Pros: These units do what they are supposed to do and the price is nice. I run a mom and pop pc mobile repair shop and use these routers for many of my clients. Have approx. 50 customers using this router including one in our own office with no troubles at all. Works well with all the different configurations we've thrown at it. Highly recommended.

Cons: None that I can see.

Pros: Easy to setup, just don't use the CD and you'll be set after rebooting each system. Laptops 2 floors down in my house are getting their wireless connections with great strength. Even connected our extremely old system with Win98se!

Cons: Seriously don't use the setup CD, it kept telling me I had no internet and wouldn't complete the setup. Just connect to 192.168.1.1 through your Port 1's web browser and configure any settings needed.

Overall Review: Never had wireless in our house before, had to get it for 2-3 laptops we had floating around. It connects perfectly and easily, you can De-Broadcast your network so that your neighbors can't see your network, with that on top of a network password you really shouldn't have a problem with intruders!

Pros: it does what is advertised on the box. great router if you are in to plug and play, and don't care about firmware flashing, removable antennas, or other features that made the older wrt54g cool.

Cons: Non-flashable after revision 5, and this one is revision 8. It also doesn't have removable antennas, which is a huge irritation. You can't flash it to boost power, you can't change antennas to improve gain. Overall, hugely dissapointed in the crippling of this once great product.

Overall Review: get the GL model and make sure it has removable antennas. This one is a waste of time unless its for grandma in her 1 bedroom house.

Pros: slightly cheaper than before

Cons: NO LINUX! Linksys changed the software this product runs in Version 5 to VxWorks. This means you can't load new firmware (DDWRT/sveasoft/etc) and their new VxWorks firmware has caused problems with many of my clients (I am a professional computer tech).

Overall Review: This used to be a good product until they switched from Linux-based firmware (software that runs the router) to VxWorks based firmware. The switch saves them a few cents per unit as less RAM is needed. In return, their new firmware is somewhat buggy and many of my clients (especially those on DSL) have reported problems with this new version. I advise purchasing a WRT54GL instead (L for Linux), which runs the old (better) Linux-based firmware.