Linksys WAG54G gateway - any opinions..?

I have been looking at this device to replace my existing separate
modem/router/switch combination and possibly adding a wireless point as
well.

Does anyone have any opinions on it..?

Ivor

 

Works fine for me - no complaints at all

 

Have a look at the following forum before you make your mind up!

http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=20

 

I have one. Generally I've been happy with it, however there have been a
*lot* of complaints about it dropping out and losing connections to LAN
machines etc. I had some of these problems with mine over a period of
time and after reading a thread where standing it on its side was
suggested (possible heat issue) it seems to be behaving itself.

Also the statistics/reporting facilities are minimal.

What I'm not sure of is what is available for similar money that would
be any better, seems most of these things have their own unique bugs and
problems.

cheers,
Paul

 

Thanks for the info. I looked at that forum link but it wanted to set too
many cookies for me so I didn't really get into it.

I don't really *need* a wireless point but it seems impossible these days
to find something without one..!

Ivor

 

Mine rebooted every 90 minutes, so I booted it out....

 

Don't buy one. They are c**p

Wireless doesn't work. Range is abot 5 feet. Goes from a signal giving 54mbs
to 1mbs in under 30 mins.

Go for a Netgear DG834

 

mine worked straight out of the box and no problems since. Its left
switched on 24/7.

 

Had mine for about 6 months no real problems apart for Lan dropout as
already mentioned, trying the box on its' side. Wireless works fine all over
the house and even outside.

 

Same here, had it almost a year and it's on 24/7. Use it with a Linksys
wireless card on my laptop and the wife on hers downstairs. Picks up the
neighbours unsecured network as well (if I ever get fed up of paying for
broadband).

It locks up about once every two months, nothing that a quick push of the
reset button doesn't cure.

 

I concur with all above.

One does need to load the latest firmware, whatever it is...


Peter.

 

what picks up their network ? The WAG54G or some card you use ?
If the former, I'd be interested to know how (someone I know has
chosen one of these units... seems it was the one on the shelf at
PC World... I'd have suggested Belkin by mail, but not my cash!

 

Well, someone here with more technical knowledge will correct me if I'm
wrong.

But here is my Layman's understanding. I have a WAG54G as my router, this
acts as the base station. My wireless card WPC54G picks up the signal from
the base as does the wife's WPC54G. Now somebody else (one of my neighbours)
is using a router with wireless capability and my WPC54G is near enough to
pick the signal up, so I could log on to their network and use their
bandwidth (broadband) for free.

I believe I could also monitor what they were surfing and download/record
information. You need to set up an encryption key so that anybody else
cannoot access your router (base station).

To put it very simply any wireless router (not just WAG54G) is like a walkie
talkie, anyone else within range can listen unless you set up the
encryption. I would imagine if you stuck a laptop in a car with a wireless
card plugged in, you could drive down most streets and pick up a "free
connection".

 

Yep rubbish. Needed constant reboots when WLAN dropped out all the time and
poor range.

Got a 3Com that's never been rebooted in 8 months.

 

Except that (of the 30% or so of people that have any security at all)
most just use the basic level of security which is plain WEP, and if
you routinely pick up their signal (e.g. you are a neighbour) then it
won't take long to collect enough for e.g. Airsnort (do a google for
it) to recover the key. A lot of neighbours don't know how to do that
but some will know.

If you can hook into somebody else's ADSL you will save 20-25 quid per
month - worth doing, and they will never know! You could even run
Skype over it and save the cost of a BT phone line - another nice
bundle.

Correct.

Look up netsumbler, ministumbler, wififofum, wifigraph. The last 3
will run on a PDA that has wifi built-in (not a lot of compatibility
so you need to choose the PDA carefully). A laptop with a wifi adapter
will also do but you will need to hold it above the window sills -
more practical with a PDA in a car kit. I guarantee that, in any
significant town, you will have free internet access within 10
minutes. That's without using a directional aerial; with one of those
you could park in an elevated position and pick off any of many
networks.


Peter.