Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
by Linksys
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Our Price: $129.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $35.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
Customer Review: Newest WRE54G Expander plugs into router for setup!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the latest model WRE54G expander in July 2008. The BIG difference in the newer model is that you can plug it into your router for setup - eliminating most of the headaches mentioned in the older reviews. I think that most of these reviews were of a unit that could not plug into a router and had to be setup via the "automatic" setup. The automatic setup is still not so nice if you have security turned on but there are ways to resolve that problem too.
Being able to connect to your existing router by cable makes setup a snap! Also, the instructions appear to be rewritten by a human being because they are reasonably easy to understand.
On my first setup, I basically walked my way through the setup wizard in about 5 minutes with the expander plugged into an outlet near my router and then plugged into my router with the included Ethernet cable. I unplugged the WRE54G, walked across the house and up a few flights of stairs to the far reaches of my wireless signal and plugged the expander into the wall. My laptop normally gets 0-1 bar of signal in this room. Tada! 5 bars with the WRE54G in place with security in place. I looked at the expander configuration via http://168.1.1.240 - default expander IP - and it (of course) had all the right security information in place.
Since I am a big proponent of wasting my time, I decided to reset the unit (with a pen in the small hole) and see how the automatic setup worked. I took a cue from Mr. Anthony Taylor's review and turned wireless security off on my existing router. I plugged in the WRE54G to a power outlet close to the router and pushed the auto configuration button for 5+ seconds and then watched the red light go to blue after about 30 seconds. I unplugged the expander and took it back to the other side of the house again - same result - full signal on my laptop.
That was all great except that my wireless security was still turned off. I pretty much followed Mr. Taylor's instructions for turning security on: I opened a browser window and went to http://168.1.1.240 and had the expander configuration screen. I entered the default password (admin) and went to "edit security settings" and entered my WPA key and saved that. I opened another browser window, opened my router config and turned wireless security back on (and reset my wireless connection from the laptop with security on). I unplugged the WRE54G and plugged it back (you must do this for it to re-initialize) and less than 1 minute later I was secure with 5 bars.
Overall, this piece of hardware does an excellent job of expanding the signal in my large rambling house that is hard to cover with wireless. I would order more of these to hopefully cover my entire place but it appears to have a fixed (default) IP so more than one of them would cause an IP conflict. I need to check this issue out...
Linksys has obviously made some significant improvements in the setup but I would not have purchased this unit except for some of the excellent reviews, particularly Mr. Anthony Taylor's review. I would like to think that the many negative comments by users prompted Linksys to look at how this piece of equipment was made and that our opinions resulted in improvements. Yay us!
Also - don't forget your firmware upgrade. This unit I bought in July 2008 shipped with ver 3.01.1 dated something like 2004. The latest firmware is 3.04.1 dated June 2006. You would think that Linksys could put the latest firmware in seeing that it is 2 years old. Unless my router has been on a shelf since before that! Could that be possible? Regardless, this is a product I recommend to anyone needing to boost their wireless signal around the house or office.
Customer Review: Good experience using Linksys router with WRE54G
Summary: 5 Stars
With help from tips here, I was able to get up and running in less than 1/2 hour. What I have found missing from many reviews is the router (and version number if Linksys) that they are using as well as the firmware version. This may explain setup nightmares that many have had.
This set of instructions (found below) was used to get my setup running in 1/2 hour. I have a Linksys WRT54GS 801.b/g router with Speedbooster version 1.1 (found on the bottom of the router). This is basically the same as the WRT54G router. I am using Firmware v4.70.6, May. 26, 2005 (found in the Status area of the setup page URL 192.168.1.1 using password, "admin" to access).
This is exactly what I did to get up and running with the WRE54G ver 2 range expander:
1. Download the latest Linksys firmware for your router and WRE54G (for later use). You will need to know the version number of your router and WRE54G (found on bottom of both devices). You can get the updates at www.Linksys.com/downloads. Once you download the router file, you need to go to the online Router Settings page to select the file and update the router. The default URL is http://192.168.1.1/ with "admin" as the password. Go to the ADMINISTRATION tab at the top and then FIRMWARE UPGRADE. Then browse to find the file you just downloaded and hit UPGRADE.
2. While you are still in the settings, disable the wireless security that you (should have) had on your network router. This is TEMPORARY.
3. Open box and plug range extender into an AC outlet near/next to your existing router (not at the edge of your wireless network).
4. Hit the autoconfig button. I did NOT have to hold the button in for 30 seconds as others did. I just hit it once for about 1-2 seconds. I also did not unplug the WRE54G from the A/C wall outlet. Wait for both lights to turn blue.
5. Using the wired computer with the router, connect to the range extender settings page at http://192.168.1.240 using "admin" as password. You can change the password and save it. Your SSID on the expander should be the same as your router network.
6. Update the firmware of the WRE54G by going to the Help TAB at the top of the settings screen. Not the HELP link on the left of the page. This takes a long time. Be patient.
7. Turn on WEP on the range extender and save the WEP key somewhere because you need to use the same one on the router.
8. Turn on WEP on the existing router using the aforementioned URL and unplug your WRE54G from the A/C outlet and go put at the edge of your network. Both lights should turn blue when you plug it in. Everthing worked fine for me but I did have trouble accessing the settings page from the wired computer once I moved the WRE54G. However, both lights are blue and I now have an extended network for wireless use upstairs.
Customer Review: It does the job, just follow these directions.
Summary: 5 Stars
This can be a nightmare for those new to wireless networks. It can be extremely nerve racking, but with some patience it'll all come together. Follow these instructions and it should work for you too.
If you're having trouble setting it up, definitely call the 800 number as opposed to going online. I tried with three different people through their website online and none could help. Right before I sent it back I decided to try phone support and it got the expander a reprieve. I've copied some instructions that Y.A. Escalante was kind enough to leave in his review, but corrected and elaborated some of the items based on my experience. I would've given this 4 stars, but I deducted 1 for it not having clear enough instructions with its initial shipping. (Would've saved Linksys some headaches)
Here goes:
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-Hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs.
3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password).
4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration)
5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
Hope this helps some of you...if not call the 800 number on the box and be patient.
Much thanks to the Anthony Taylor who posted this. Sometimes this doesn't seem to respond while connecting wireless. No problem, just connect through the ethernet cord provided. The installation cd is crap. I use it for a drink coaster;)
Customer Review: read remarks by a taylor, don't bother with linksys manual!
Summary: 5 Stars
works great if you ignore the CD software and install manual that linksys send with this device which is a WASTE of ink, paper and plastic. device works fine in WEP & open mode but the linksys people have no clue on how to write manuals or install SW. the SW CD won't even work properly on my standard XP machine. 5 stars for device and hardware guys, 1 star for linksys tech writers & tech staff Is a repeat of Anthony Taylor (Sherman Oaks, CA) remarks-
If you're having trouble setting it up, definitely call the 800 number as opposed to going online. I tried with three different people through their website online and none could help. Right before I sent it back I decided to try phone support and it got the expander a reprieve. I've copied some instructions that Y.A. Escalante was kind enough to leave in his review, but corrected and elaborated some of the items based on my experience. I would've given this 4 stars, but I deducted 1 for it not having clear enough instructions with its initial shipping. (Would've saved Linksys some headaches)
Here goes:
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-Hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs.
3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password).
4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration)
5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
Customer Review: My Experience Was Great
Summary: 5 Stars
Like the reviews of all things technology, the reviews of this product are quite varied. I am not a tech geek, but have been around the block enough that I understand how things work. And like most people, I am often frustrated that the term Plug and Play is usually an oxymoron! And yes, like you, I hate what off-shoring has done to tech support. Tech companies could care less about the Customer Experience.
Nevertheless, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!
Here's my experience with this Range Extender.
Our Family computer is located in a no coverage zone on the opposite side of the house on a different floor from our main computer. It is a 3 or 4 year old computer that we have networked to a Linksys 80211.B/G router-WRT54G v.1. The family computer is a celeron, connected via an 80211.B PCI adapter. Because of the age of the computer and router (installing new firmware proved ineffective/also perhaps the Family pc couldn't properly run the included firmware in a new Wireless G adapter that I picked up with the Range Extender). (much time spent with tech support who couldn't make it work. Agree on comments of heavy accents)
Setting up this range extender was easier than easy. Plug it in. Place next to wireless router. Hold the auto configure button. Wait for blue lights. Unplug and move to edge of the wireless coverage. Plug in. Instant broadband speed! No 'searching for wireless connection" notices, no 'Aquiring Network Address' messages. Always connected. I did not have to enter into any of the routers set up screens.
I would like to run with a G adapter, but the speed is good enough that I don't feel the urge to buy a new router or to upgrade to a new computer. This one works great for the kids-homework, email and games.
Results-Kids Love Me, Wife Loves Me, and I retire from the Daddy IT Dept. Wish I had found this device a long time ago!