[wireless] Linksys WRT54G, Help! (.11G)

[PJayAZ]

Products: WRT54G (Linksys)
54G Wirless PCI Card (Linksys)
54G PCMobile Card (Linksys)
XBOX

Software: Windows XP

I've been a Linksys fan for years. I hope I don't need to make a change.

I upgraded and bought the WRT54G and wireless NIC's. I've had nothing but problems. I kept getting drops and slow performance. So I upgraded the Firmware (Jan. 29th, 2003 Version) and now, I'm getting stuttering performance. It's not just the wireless end of it because I have a XBOX that's hardwired into the unit and every 5-10 seconds while I'm playing the game, I get a lag or disconnected message. I unplugged the router from the cable modem (Linksys Cable Modem) and plugged the the Xbox directly into the cable modem. No problems with performance at all. Please help me out, I'm beginning to think it was a bad idea spending $250 this past week. I talked to a Linksys Tech last Friday but he said there was going to be a new firmware upgrade coming out, and also said there's been a lot of people calling in with problems about the 54G products.

All I've done so far is download the firmware.

Also, I've got this problem with all of my pc's which are wireless, so it isn't just a "wireless" problem.

Here are the things I've changed.

1. Broadcast ID Disabled
2. SSID Changed
3. Wireless MAC Enabled (Permit Only PC's listed below to access the wireless network which are my desktop and laptop.)
4. Timezone changed
5. WEP was enabled but I disabled it after the problem started happening. The stuttering still occurs.

 

[PJayAZ]

Bump!

 

[Mr.Mike]

I too purchased the 54g and have had nothing but problems.
1. My DSL connection PPOE keeps dropping even though the router thinks it's still connected. I have to disconnect and reconnect manually.
2. My wireless bridge and wireless USB card won't link up. I exchanged the router and it worked for about 3 hours then went dead.
3. The only thing that works OK is the PCMCIA 54g card I bought.
4. The range is much worse than my older 802.11b set-up

It appears there are some major issues with this router, I should of kept my old linksys wireless set-up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JackMDS]

If you guys read the posts on this Forum. You would see that almost every one was suggesting waiting before plunging into the 80211g arena.

At the moment there is only 2-3 802.11g Routers in the market, which basically represent the need of some manufactures to early "Plunge In" with an immature product.

However hang on; there is a strong possibility that given few more months these problems will be corrected by firmware upgrades.

 

[PJayAZ]

I wish I would have read the posts in this forum. To be honest with you, I've owned many Linksys products, and I for some crazy reason have the thought that NO COMPANY especially linksys would release a product to the market that wasn't ready.

 

[spidey07]

linksys and the others are kings of betatesting products on unsuspecting customers.

The customers just don't know it.

I see betas....they're everywhere....they don't even know that they're beta.



Sorry about your luck PjayAZ. Can you call inksys?

 

[PJayAZ]

Ahh, finally some sympathy.

Have I called Linksys? Yes, The tech said that they've had lots of people calling in about the WRT54G, and that I should wait for firmware.

I also emailed them, and the site told me they'd reply within 24 hours. It's been almost 2 days now.

I'll try to keep the WRT54G owners posted with new info when it becomes available.

 

[JackMDS]

For the many years Network hardware was mainly sold in the realm of cooperates pro. envioroment, where issues can be work together between IT and the manufactures, and cost is ?High?.

In the last year it became a thriving Home, and Hobbyists market. However the sales "Bozos? in the Entry Level Network Hardware can not or probably do not know how to adjust their marketing system.

Instead of developing small objective beta testers system, they send a total of two or three units to two or three Advertising Depended Reviewers that are very careful not to blow away their ever shrinking Ad revenue.

In the past in order to find out what the customer wants it was necessary to spend a lot of research money. To day it is much easier if one employee will be instructed to monitor the major Network Forums on the Internet. However even this effort is too much for them. Here and there you will see posts of people that seem to be enrolled into posting empty positive remarks about certain brand, but do not provide any substance what so ever.

As a result when the dust will clear few years, most of them will be history.

 

[JackMDS]

Oops, double posting.

 

[spidey07]

However even this effort is too much for them. Here and there you will see posts of people that seem to be enrolled into posting empty positive remarks about certain brand, but no substance what so ever.

Very true. Buyer beware.

I've seen it on just about every board I frequent from audio to video to IT. People are planted on boards to post glowing recommendations and generate interest in a product in an effort to boost sales.