fuzziedice's Full Review: Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router
Reliable, Great for Home Networks
Linksys has always been a brand that means dependability to me. And this router is no exception.
The Linksys WRT54G is easy to set up. It comes with an installation CD that walks you through the process. In addition, you can log into the router's web page and configure the system to your liking. I recommend this method when setting the router up so that you can set it up for maximum security. If you are unsure what some of the settings are for, there is usually context-sensitive help which will give you more information.
If you are using Linux, you could set up the router by going to it's embedded web page using any web browser. This router will work well with Linux systems, including Knoppix Live CD.
This router will support WEP, WPA and WPA2 along with TKIP and AES. You can also use it for ad-hock/anonymous systems though it's very unsecure to do things that way. Another security feature is the ability to set the router up to not accept incoming requests from any machine other than the Mac addresses you can enter into it's white-list. There's also a black list which you can use to deny any addresses.
If you are setting up a home networking system, this router is ideal. It will work both as a 4-port wired system and as a wireless system. You can run an intranet server system and not use your internet connection to do it. This is useful for web developers and businesses that may have ISP accounts that do not allow running of servers on the connection. You can access your other machines, and yet keep it safe from other machines outside your network. It can also be used with static IP systems and servers. This router is fully configurable for nearly any type of setup.
You can also use it to share one internet connection with several machines, which makes it great for a home network. Everyone in the house can connect and use the internet. Handy for families with more than one computer or those with laptop computers who may use the machine in more than one room of the house.
The signal strength is good and the connection is reliable. You can even view streaming video and listen to internet radio without problems. File transfer from one machine to another on the network is fast. This router will work with nearly all WiFi cards. You just have to make sure the wireless card you pick will support the same type of setup and encryption that you have configured the router with.
For best security, it's recommended that you have WPA2 compatible wireless systems and set the router and your cards to use WPA2 with AES encryption. Furhtermore, use all 64 characters for the passcode, and make it a random mix of letters, numbers and symbols from the top number row of your keyboard. Be sure to write this down somewhere first and keep it in a locked safe or secure location. You will need to know it to set up your cards. Also it's good to pick a rather obscure SSID name as that is usually transmitted and most people on wireless networks will see the SSID, and that your system is using strong security. You can set up the router to not broadcast the SSID, but some wireless cards and laptops may not work well and may drop connection frequently if you do this. It will depend on your system. If you experience problems, set it to broadcast the SSID in the router (which is actually the router's default setting). Changing your passcode may seem like a hassle but it might be good to do every so often for extra security. And make use of the router's Mac address white list to ensure only your computers can use the wireless connection.
The Linksys wireless router is a secure and dependable solution to your home or business needs. It's fully configurable and gives you full control over the setup of your system. I highly recommend this router for anyone going wiereless or just wanting extra protection for their internet connection. A must have for web developers and others that run intranet servers. This router is a great bargain for the price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50.00 Driver Availability: Windows and Linux
Wireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that s almost five times as fast as the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products f...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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