Hot! Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G 802.11g Router $59 AR+tax OD

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: sinucus
I saw the links for the rebates but I don't understand the second one. sinucus

That one from amazon expires today, I dont think its a good idea to use it. Just goto officedepot.com and find the rebates there. The rebate image links the guy posted was only for 1 rebate and the front of the other. For the BACK goto officedepot.com and click rebate center, or try this link:
http://rebateimages.teg-online.com/88402Back.jpg
Too bad the 1st poster doesn't update his post with links

Originally posted by: GeminiZi
Can someone please reply ASAP... I'm trying to get on this deal. Been looking for a wireless router but no one has really confirm that Linksys WRT54G is an awesome router. I was thinking about getting a PCI adapter. Should I also get the Linksys WMP54G PCI adapter or the WUSB54G USB? I heard bad reviews about WUSB54G, that it doesn't support WPA. I need a PCI adapter recommendation. Thanks guys.
Will the rebates also apply to the PCI adapter since it does not list it?

For the PCI/USB rebates it looks like only 1 $10 rebate from those 2 rebate forms applies to each one, but check out the OD ad and see.
If you want a good PCI or USB adapter (when I say good I mean the range/power of the card), I would skip linksys, they are ok, but the good ones are stuff like orinoco gold, or there's a couple with 200mw power. You can look around and find lists and reviews. You could even try googling terms like: WUSB54G review
If your concern is not for the range of the card but only if it supports WPA, then just about any card will work. You do know that any wireless equipment you buy is not going to be very secure though right? If you do online transactions that transmit your credit card, dont use wireless to do that unless you keep a careful eye on your bill. There's things you can do to secure your connection somewhat (dont broadcast SSID, change from default, only accept connections with certain MACs, etc), but ALL of them have problems and a determined hacker can burn through your encryption by watching the patterns in a couple hundred megabytes in transfers. I dont know the details you can google them, but I do know that its not totally secure. (Note: For clarity I edited the quotes from you guys)

 

[EektheCat]

Reading some reviews on this router (I bought one, but it hasn't been delivered yet), it looks like its performance is near the bottom of the 802.11g pile... any body with some real world experience with this?

 

[sinucus]

Thank you Devistater for the links and info.

sinucus

 

[Nanotech]

Got mine yesterday!

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: EektheCat
Reading some reviews on this router (I bought one, but it hasn't been delivered yet), it looks like its performance is near the bottom of the 802.11g pile... any body with some real world experience with this?

Not sure why you would say that.
I googled WRT54G review and the top link http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Reviews-39-ProdID-WRT54G.php says:

Like all draft-802.11g products, the WRT54G is a work in progress on its wireless side, and will remain so until the 802.11g spec is released this coming June. On the positive side is that Linksys appears to be leading the pack in wireless throughput with a top speed of about 21Mbps.

Now this was dated 3-2003 before the G wireless spec went final (I think it went final about half way through 2003).
Another review:http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,112467,pg,2,00.asp:

If you want "real world" reviews, check amazon. There are 341 customer reviews there averaging 4 stars.

Now there are several issues that most reviews bring up. One is mixed mode G and B clients working together. Linksys apparently slows way way down in this situation. I dont know if thats been fixed since the reviews (most are from last year). I dont plan to use it for mixed mode and if I did, it would only be for net browsing which never goes near even B speeds. For very large file transfers I'm always going to plug a wire in.

Now if speed is your #1 concern, dont get this router. Get the WRT54GS (note the S added) one, or one of the other turbo/speedbooster G wireless routers. And replace all your wireless network cards (USB/PC card etc) with turbo/speed boost stuff. Those will boost the wireless speeds even further. And dont mix B cards in your network.
If range is your #1 concern, the linksys routers/WAP products are decent to start with, since they are very easy to unscrew and remove the antennas and replace them with larger antennas (look on the net or ebay). Then you go with one of the 200mw wireless netword interface cards and get a special antenna for that (or make your own). Then get one of the modded firmwares for the linksys and crank up the transmitter power. Take a look at this page about a wireless range contest: http://www.wifi-shootout.com They hit 35+ miles with 802.11b setup and a homemade antenna made with materials under $100. Now unfortuantely they dont tell what brand of equipment they used at the transmitting or recieving end.

Here's a decent list of hardware with a comparison of the specs. Note this might also help the guy looking for a PCI/USB client card. Note that the G hardware is on differant pages, just follow the links.
http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/HardwareComparison
And here is way more info than you probably wanted to know about the WRT54G:
http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/LinksysWrt54g
And finally some technical info about its transmitting/receiving capabilities. Now I have no idea what this stuff all means so I dunno if its good or bad, we need to get someone who knows about DB and stuff in here heh:

Transmit Power: 15 dBm (Can be increased to 20db/84mw) (FIX: 84mw=19.24db) Info: 15db=31mW 17db=50mW 20db=100mW
Receiver Sensitivity (unconfirmed):
-65db for ofdm 802.11g 54 megs
-80db for dsss 802.11b 11 megs

Oh and I just found another link on slashdot, this one has some details on making your own antennas and stuff:
http://www.gbppr.org/

 

[Beandog]

I love this router and have had it up and running for 2 months with no problems. I did not use any software in box, I downloaded latest Firware from Linksys site and updated router. I have 2 comps connected directly to router and one running off the USB G desktop adapter which was really easy to install for me on a WinXP, in fact once I connected it to the USB, Windows auto installed the software to run it and I was up and surfin the web...currently though the wireless comp is only one room away same floor, Im going to test 1 floor up, then 2 floors up later.

 

[GeminiZi]

Can someone recommend a good deal on a PCI adapter or USB adapter to go along with this router. My order still says pending for 3 day delivery. Will the manual's instructions be enough to keep the wireless connection secure, are there any other things I should do?

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: GeminiZi
Can someone recommend a good deal on a PCI adapter or USB adapter to go along with this router. My order still says pending for 3 day delivery. Will the manual's instructions be enough to keep the wireless connection secure, are there any other things I should do?

Yes there are other things you can do to make it MORE secure, and you cannot make it totally secure. See my previous reply to you for details, and check out the links I gave in a couple previous posts for some info on PCI/USB stuff. Basically if you have an average setup, and dont want to spend a lot of money, just get whatever is on sale at any of the local B&M stores. I've seen the MS wireless USB go down to like $40 or so (not that I reccomend that to any but a casual wireless user).

Beandog: Note that DIRECTLY above and DIRECTLY below a typical router wireless transmitter are the WORST places to be. If you can, offset yourself a bit. Like have the transmitter not directly under you, but off to the side a bit. Let us know what you find out though.

 

[elny3680]

im going to network my pc with my laptop using this router. whats a good card to use for the laptop?

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: elny3680
im going to network my pc with my laptop using this router. whats a good card to use for the laptop?

Either a PC Card or a USB one. Mostly personal preference. See above posts for ideas on where to start looking, or if you are average wireless user get whatever is on sale.


BTW, a big YMMV, but according to another thread if you call Office Depot and tell them the $20 off coupon code they MIGHT let you use it over the phone (it doesn't work online). Then its theoretically possible to get the router down to $39 AR.

 

[Devistater]

Yes! I called them about the $20 off $75 coupon. I called about 3 ppl before I got it, but finally got a guy who applied it (the coupons this week apparently aren't supposed to apply to technology stuff). $20 off woot! I just kept telling them I forgot to apply a coupon when I placed the order. BTW, they have some silly rule about they can't apply coupon if its AFTER the day you got the package. So tell them you got it today. Or if you haven't gotten it tell them you haven't received it yet.
This makes the deal even HOTTER. So it is potentially $39 AR.

 

[PLaYaHaTeD]

Time: ~ 3 hrs. Before coupon expires
Location: My crib
Subject: Trying to make 59.99 AR into 39.99 AR

Transcript Call #1:
-Me: Hello, I recently had my girlfriend place an order on your website. While I was driving home from work, my friend called me and told me about this great deal on a router.
-CSR Rep: Order number please...
-Me: Sure it's ... [omitted] ... Anyway she placed the order but forgot to add the coupon.
-CSR Rep: This is a technology item. A coupon can't be used.
-Me: What?! Impossible! My friend told me he got the deal. Could you please try and put the coupon through?
-CSR Rep: No sir it wont work. Not on an order with a router.
-Me: Can you just try? He told me....
-CSR Rep: We are not allowed, our Department had a meeting about this and we were told not to
-Me: Well okay then
-CSR Rep: Thanks for blah blah blah goodbye

Transcript Call #2
-Me: Hi.....[her voice sounds familiar, but i cant tell for sure] .....Uh did i just talk to you?
-CSR Rep: Well what is your name?
-Me: Sam Mueller
-CSR Rep: No it doesn't sound familiar.
-Me: Oh, well I was just disconnected from a rep....See, my girlfriend placed an order for me while.....
-CSR Rep: Hold on I just talked to you!!! And hey, you werent disconnected, and I told you that the coupon can't be added
-Me: Oh shlt [Call Ended]

Transcript #3
-Me: Hi ....[voice nowhere close to "Maria", the CSR from hell] ....My girlfriend placed [truncated - you know my story]
-CSR Rep: The order is locked but i could add it manually. You will have to call back when you receive the item
-Me: I have it! It's right here...[in there like swimwear ]
-CSR Rep: Oh, i see, well what is the coupon number?
-Me: [omitted]
-CSR Rep: Okay you've been credited to your CC, here is your confirmation ...[omitted]
-Me: Thank you [i love you and i want to make babies with you]
-CSR Rep: Your welcome thanks for calling office depot [if you saw me, you wouldnt have thought that] [End Call]

 

[Devistater]

I LOVE this router. I dunno wtf was wrong with my old router, but I was lucky to get speeds about 3.5mbit down on the old one. And I have the SBC 6000/608 DSL hot deal plan for $50 a month. I was thinking it was something in the phone lines although I haven't complained to SBC yet about it. So I plug this in and BANG! I'm getting about 5mbit down!! (after you add in overhead and stuff, 5mbit down throughput on a 6mbit connection is pretty close to max).
I love this thing! And I haven't even tried modded firmware yet! Thats like over 40% internet speed increase just by replacing a router! Dang! This thing is GREAT!

 

[alfhead]

can anyone tell me if this router has a problem with locking up during fast bit torrent downloads? i've noticed a lot of routers have a problem with freezing when bit torrent makes too many connections. currently on my netgear mr314 router i don't get this problem, but I have had the problem with the us robotics 8054 router.

 

[GeminiZi]

Hey guys, are these routers version 2? Do you guys use the cd that it comes with or u just update the firmware and it's ready to go?

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: GeminiZi
Hey guys, are these routers version 2? Do you guys use the cd that it comes with or u just update the firmware and it's ready to go?

Yes, I was afraid it would be version 1.1 since it said something about 1.1 on the box packaging in small print near the UPC, but its 2.0 inside (I'm guessing that the outer packaging and box design is the same from 1.1, so thats why it had that printed). You can confirm by looking at the bottom of the router where it shows the serial number. It says 2.0 there.
I didn't use the cd, but from what I hear the CD changes windows settings to match router if you tell it to, and sets the router to match whatever you need for your ISP. Easier for people who dont know how to change settings on thier own. I just connected to default IP of router and used the default password (both are in the quick start guide, 192.168.1.1 and admin is password). Then I set it up which basically only involved telling it PPPoE and my name/pass.

Alfhead: I'm not aware of any bit torrent problems, I've tried other p2p apps on it like emule and it seemed fine. IF it did turn out to have issues (which I really doubt it would) you could always try a modded firmware and I'm sure that would fix it right up. But so far its been great using it and no problems. I'm so freaking happy with my 40%+ increase in internet speed using this thing.

 

[Devistater]

Deal is DEAD!
They raised the price back up to where it shoulda been, $100 before rebates. They also have a link to rebates on the product page. Congrats to everyone who got in on the deal, especially those who managed to get the $20 off coupon applied

 

[dabuddha]

I don't see the rebates linked from the page. Unless the rebates have expired.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
I don't see the rebates linked from the page. Unless the rebates have expired.

This deal was only for first 5 days or so of last week, ended on like on 4-1-04 or so. Some people were lucky and were able to use $20 off coupons until 3-31-04. The rebates are now in the office depot rebate page, since they dont apply to purchases now as far as I know.

 

[PLaYaHaTeD]

Okay im bringing this thread back from the dead because I sent my rebates out in april, and even though the one from linksys is on its way, the office depot one is not even in their systems. So i basically need to locate a copy of the rebate form so i can call in and try and locate my rebate.

I checked the 5th post in this thread (the one with two links) and it shows the office depot rebate but it doesnt have the form with all of the information about the rebate.

If anyone who participated in this rebate could help me out, it would very much be appreciated.

 

[Devistater]

Didn't you make copies of your submissions?