Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G Router with SRX

[glc]

I installed one of these for a customer last Friday night. This is the latest wireless technology from Linksys - their "pre-802.11n" technology. The signal coverage is advertised as being much greater than standard 802.11g, and used with Linksys SRX adapters, supposedly speeds can be 8x greater than standard G.

Unpacking it, what struck me first was the 3 antennas, all adjustable. The router is designed to stand on edge. Installation was standard Linksys, log into 192.168.1.1 with default password (admin) and the interface looked just like the current Linksys WRT54G/GS. In spite of the dire warnings, I did not use the included CD to set it up, it's not necessary. The only new things were some of the settings on the advanced wireless configuration page.

I installed this in a decent sized suburban house - 2 story with a full basement. The router is located on the second floor, connected to a Comcast 3000/256 cable modem, with a D-Link VOIP adapter in between the modem and router. The D-Link is a NAT device, so this router is actually doing a second NAT (not normally recommended but in this case, it works fine). The wired computer is right there, it's a P4-1.7 with 512mb SDRAM and Win2000. I set up 128 bit WEP security. WPA/PSK is available, but it's not supported on all the clients.

Wireless computers:

Upstairs in adjacent rooms - a Celeron 1.0 laptop, 256mb ram, Win2000, and a Linksys WPC54GS card. Signal strength 80%, reported speed 54mbs.
Dell Dimension 4100, 1.0 P3, 256mb ram, Win2000, Linksys WMP54GS card. Same signal strength and speed.

Downstairs - Sony Vaio one piece desktop (integrated CPU and LCD), 2.0 P4, 512mb ram, XP Home. Linksys WPC54GS with ZCU disabled, using the Linksys utility. Signal strength 67%, speed 48mbs.

Basement on the other side of the house, in a room surrounded by a lot of interfering stuff (water heater, air conditioner/heater, etc.) - Duron 750, 128mb ram, Win98SE, Linksys WMP54GS card. Signal strength 37%, speed 24 mbs.

Tests done with old configuration (BEFSR41/WAP11 combo) with the internal Prism 802.11b card in the laptop - NO signal in the basement. Sony had a Sony 802.11b card, signal strength varied from 50% to no signal.

When booting up, the cards associate quickly. Internet response and file/print sharing response is wired quality - no typical wireless lag, even on the machine in the basement. There is no difference in response, speed, or signal strength between 128 bit WEP and no security at all.

This is the best wireless router I've ever worked with. However, there are some downsides, this thing is not perfect.

The signal is so strong it wiped out their 2.4 GHz phone. If you use one of these, the 2.4 will have to go. The phone did not even dent the wireless signal. We didn't try moving the base station to a different floor - but the base IS a good 30 feet from the router and the handset won't work anywhere in the house. Changing the channel from 6 to 11 didn't help.

Firmware is 1.00, it's lacking some of the firewall and QoS features found in the 3.x firmware in the WRT54G.

It costs $170 at Newegg.

The speedbooster feature in the Linksys GS series cards does not work with it, it's limited to 54mbs.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10 - the only factors that dropped it from a perfect 10 are the price and the phone issue.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=670

[sigmaseven]

LOL! It wiped out the phone signal! Thats the funniest thing I've heard all day!

[alastra]

I read your review on the LinkSys WRT54GX product and am interested to know if you have done in testing or research on its performance with non SRX adapters.

Specifically, if I utilize a WRT54GX/GX2/GX4 as my wireless router in a network that has the "standard" G-based adapters such as WMP54G card will I get improved range? If so, how much improvement over using non SRX everywhere (i.e. WRT54G with WMP54G)? I'm trying to eliminate dead spots and improve range, but don't want to replace all of my wireless cards as well. My thinking is that I will simply replace the WRT54G router that I have with the WRT54GX or GX2 or GX4, and my range/dead spot reduction will be greatly improved. Am I correct, any experience/knowledge on this question?

Same questions for speed as well.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[glc]

I have no direct comparison data, but the "feel" I got was just by itself, a GX will give you better range and speed than a standard router with the same client adapters. I'd concur with your thinking.

[alastra]

Thanks for your reply, I did give LinkSys technical support a call and discussed this issue. The support person indicated to me that using a GX router with standard adapters should provide improved range and speed. It won't be as good as if GX was used for both router and client adapter, but still noticeably better than just standard equipment on both ends.

[not important]

I am thinking about doing the same thing alastra. If you get the GX, please post your results on the board.

[DireNeed]

I don't know a whole lot about routers so I have a big problem. My dad just bought the Linksys WRT54GX router and hooked it up. We used to use the Netgear FV318 which was no problem. I reconfigured that router so I could host for a online game I play. I could access the router using the Username: Admin and Password: Password. Now with this new router, everything I've tried isn't working. I wan't to reconfigure the router so I can continue to host but I don't know the password. Any Ideas?

[glc]

Leave the username blank, the default password is admin. If that doesn't work, ask your dad what he changed it to.

[A2TheRizzo]

I have the SRX PCI-adapter for my wireless internet. I am 2 stories up and on the other side of the house from the router and I still get a very good signal. It doesn't wipe out my phones either. I also paid $95 for it on newegg. I can get a good 15-30 ping on CS 1.6 as well. :)

Bad pic, but you can notice it on top of my comp.
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9707/dscn09121bo.jpg

I didn't mean to hijack this thread, I guess I got over exited =/. LMK and I can take it down.

[Brad the best]

i wish my router could knock out our phones . lol . my linksys wireless g with speed booster is about 15 feet away from the linksys router and i only get 68% sometimes 58% and once a 71% , for somereason i can get the one from 4 houses down thow at 36%

[glc]

Brad, this thread is a review of the GX series MIMO equipment. If you are having issues with G or GS-series equipment, please start a thread in the networking forum for assistance. Thank you. This particular review forum is more structured than the others.