LinkSys WRT54G Change in Product

I noticed that there are two versions of the WRT54G Linksys router for
sale. One in the older box and a new one with a different front panel
and a different box, but the model number has not changed.

Does anyone know if the underlying product has changed at all?
Obviously the router's front panel changed and reduced the number of
indicator lights, but has functionality change, CPU speed increased,
memory, etc?

Thanks

There's no new FCC filing. I think they just eliminated some of the per-port
Ethernet leds.

"Kevin Lutz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I noticed that there are two versions of the WRT54G Linksys router for
> sale. One in the older box and a new one with a different front panel
> and a different box, but the model number has not changed.
>
> Does anyone know if the underlying product has changed at all?
> Obviously the router's front panel changed and reduced the number of
> indicator lights, but has functionality change, CPU speed increased,
> memory, etc?
>
> Thanks

If you go back about two weeks or son in the posts you will see all the
differences lined out. Basically they dropped most of the lights, moved to
a 12volt suppy and integrated the radio on the main board as well as the
antenna connectors.

That->Kid

"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:htzsb.365$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> There's no new FCC filing. I think they just eliminated some of the
per-port
> Ethernet leds.
>
> "Kevin Lutz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > I noticed that there are two versions of the WRT54G Linksys router for
> > sale. One in the older box and a new one with a different front panel
> > and a different box, but the model number has not changed.
> >
> > Does anyone know if the underlying product has changed at all?
> > Obviously the router's front panel changed and reduced the number of
> > indicator lights, but has functionality change, CPU speed increased,
> > memory, etc?
> >
> > Thanks
>
>

And, the older version (the one with more LEDs on the front panel) has
a version of firmware with a "backdoor" that lets you do all kinds of
cool stuff, like adjust the transmitter power. This nifty feature was
removed from the newer version.

- Steve

On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 00:16:08 GMT, "That->Kid" <i'(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>If you go back about two weeks or son in the posts you will see all the
>differences lined out. Basically they dropped most of the lights, moved to
>a 12volt suppy and integrated the radio on the main board as well as the
>antenna connectors.
>
> That->Kid
>
>"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:htzsb.365$(E-Mail Removed). ..
>> There's no new FCC filing. I think they just eliminated some of the
>per-port
>> Ethernet leds.
>>
>> "Kevin Lutz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
>> > I noticed that there are two versions of the WRT54G Linksys router for
>> > sale. One in the older box and a new one with a different front panel
>> > and a different box, but the model number has not changed.
>> >
>> > Does anyone know if the underlying product has changed at all?
>> > Obviously the router's front panel changed and reduced the number of
>> > indicator lights, but has functionality change, CPU speed increased,
>> > memory, etc?
>> >
>> > Thanks
>>
>>
>

On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 05:26:05 GMT,
Steve Hull <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> And, the older version (the one with more LEDs on the front panel) has
> a version of firmware with a "backdoor" that lets you do all kinds of
> cool stuff, like adjust the transmitter power. This nifty feature was
> removed from the newer version.
>
> - Steve

The 1.1 (new) version of the WRT54G currently on retailers' shelves most
likely still has the 'ping hack'. It was only eliminated with the 1.42.2
firmware released a couple of weeks ago.

--
- Jeff Drumm

Is it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest firmware 1.42.2? I purchased my
WRT54G last month and its firmware is 1.41.2. My signal is pretty reliable
although sometimes the connection is lost or weakend when I am at the farthest
point upstairs in my house from the router that's downstairs. We're talking
about a modest sized 1600 sq ft. home split level home, so I don't think
distance should be the issue.

Will I have to reconfigure WEP encryption all over again if I upgrade the
firmware? What about my SSID name and router password?

Thanks.

Chris

>The 1.1 (new) version of the WRT54G currently on retailers' shelves most
>likely still has the 'ping hack'. It was only eliminated with the 1.42.2
>firmware released a couple of weeks ago.


-Chris
remove the "nojunk" when replying by email

Unless you need to use WPA-PSK for added security, I would not recommend
upgrading to 1.42.2. There is a problem with the firmware (acknowledged by
Linksys) in that the router will dissociate from the wireless cards every
few minutes; sometimes for extended periods of time.

-Yves

"Chris S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest firmware 1.42.2? I purchased my
> WRT54G last month and its firmware is 1.41.2. My signal is pretty
reliable
> although sometimes the connection is lost or weakend when I am at the
farthest
> point upstairs in my house from the router that's downstairs. We're
talking
> about a modest sized 1600 sq ft. home split level home, so I don't think
> distance should be the issue.
>
> Will I have to reconfigure WEP encryption all over again if I upgrade the
> firmware? What about my SSID name and router password?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chris
>
> >The 1.1 (new) version of the WRT54G currently on retailers' shelves most
> >likely still has the 'ping hack'. It was only eliminated with the 1.42.2
> >firmware released a couple of weeks ago.
>
>
> -Chris
> remove the "nojunk" when replying by email

I'll let YOU decide whether to upgrade or not.

But, as to whether you will have to tediously 'reconfigure' everything, the
answer to that is NO (I think).

I assume that the Linksys WRT54G has the same feature that the
Linksys BEFW11S4 has...namely, that you can SAVE/RESTORE
your complete configuration back and forth between a file on your
PC. So, just SAVE it there, do a firmware upgrade, and if the settings
get lost, then just do a RESTORE to put them all back. (It should thus
be foolproof.)



"Chris S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest firmware 1.42.2? I purchased my
> WRT54G last month and its firmware is 1.41.2. My signal is pretty
reliable
> although sometimes the connection is lost or weakend when I am at the
farthest
> point upstairs in my house from the router that's downstairs. We're
talking
> about a modest sized 1600 sq ft. home split level home, so I don't think
> distance should be the issue.
>
> Will I have to reconfigure WEP encryption all over again if I upgrade the
> firmware? What about my SSID name and router password?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chris
>
> >The 1.1 (new) version of the WRT54G currently on retailers' shelves most
> >likely still has the 'ping hack'. It was only eliminated with the 1.42.2
> >firmware released a couple of weeks ago.
>
>
> -Chris
> remove the "nojunk" when replying by email

I don't believe any Linksys routers have a configuration save/restore feature, do they?
I had a BEFW11S4 a while ago and it didn't have it, and my new WRT54G doesn't have it.

"David Cook" <(who wants to know?)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'll let YOU decide whether to upgrade or not.
>
> But, as to whether you will have to tediously 'reconfigure' everything, the
> answer to that is NO (I think).
>
> I assume that the Linksys WRT54G has the same feature that the
> Linksys BEFW11S4 has...namely, that you can SAVE/RESTORE
> your complete configuration back and forth between a file on your
> PC. So, just SAVE it there, do a firmware upgrade, and if the settings
> get lost, then just do a RESTORE to put them all back. (It should thus
> be foolproof.)
>
>
>
> "Chris S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Is it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest firmware 1.42.2? I purchased my
> > WRT54G last month and its firmware is 1.41.2. My signal is pretty
> reliable
> > although sometimes the connection is lost or weakend when I am at the
> farthest
> > point upstairs in my house from the router that's downstairs. We're
> talking
> > about a modest sized 1600 sq ft. home split level home, so I don't think
> > distance should be the issue.
> >
> > Will I have to reconfigure WEP encryption all over again if I upgrade the
> > firmware? What about my SSID name and router password?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > >The 1.1 (new) version of the WRT54G currently on retailers' shelves most
> > >likely still has the 'ping hack'. It was only eliminated with the 1.42.2
> > >firmware released a couple of weeks ago.
> >
> >
> > -Chris
> > remove the "nojunk" when replying by email
>
>

"Kevin Lutz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I noticed that there are two versions of the WRT54G Linksys router for
> sale. One in the older box and a new one with a different front panel
> and a different box, but the model number has not changed.
>
> Does anyone know if the underlying product has changed at all?
> Obviously the router's front panel changed and reduced the number of
> indicator lights, but has functionality change, CPU speed increased,
> memory, etc?
>
> Thanks

Actually the one with more lights on the panel is the updated one, I just
bought one last week.