LINKSYS WRT54GS WirelessG Router

[UnReaL]

Hey guys,

Earlier today, I bought the LINKSYS WRT54GS WirelessG Router.

From:

pcworld.co.uk

I've tried the Belkin PRE-N wireless router, the NETGEAR (something) and they just would not give me a clear signal, my laptop would not receive a signal, from inside my house.

I was confused, everything was setup, my PC worked perfectly, the laptop kept getting disconnected from the Internet every few seconds.

These babies are expensive compared to the LINKSYS WRT54GS WirelessG Router, do a price check if you don't believe me, however with the Linksys, again everything was set up, it worked, ta-da, I was amazed, but was really amazed is what I'm about to tell you.

I searched on the internet to see if theres any way to boost the power of the router so that the signal strenght stays at 100%, I came across a website that actually created a firmware for this router, which allowed me to change all-sorts of things, from power to other things that the normal firmware didn't allow.

I took my laptop outside after these changes were made got into the car and still a very power 100% signal. I was actually amazed that such a cheap product was doing soo well, I then decided to see how far I could go, I must have travelled down the road, around 300metres, the signal went down to 91%, I ran a speed test and got around 8mbp/s down and 476kbp/s upload (I'm on NTL 10mb, btw).

I went a little further away from the house and the signal stayed the same, however the Internet connection dropped, I know it was an experiment, but if I had a signal at 91% running smoothly, and I went a few more metres away from my house, the signal the same, why then is my Internet Connection affected?

I had done an initial scan of devices within the routers range, only one unprotected router with no password or protection enabled was found in the area, this belonged to my neighbour who lives across the road from me.

Can any of you guys figure out the problem, like I said I know its not a big problem as the range is MASSIVE on this router w/ hack'd fireware and that it works inside my house now as the others kept dropping connection.

Also how can it have such a MIGHTY range?

Thanks for looking, its not a critical question, just a general discussion about the router and my findings, I'm not an expert at routers, although I am literate enough to set one up, so please don't ask me questions regarding any settings, etc, I'm trying to learn more about routers, the different settings and what they do and don't do, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: You can get those add on aerials for the Linksys router, they are big and they are powerful, although I don't need them, someone else might be interested

[Graham M]

The only reasoning I can see is that it boosts the power of the tranceiver to probably illegal levels (for the UK) that it is normally limited to. Also not to be Pedantic, but it's Firmware

[UnReaL]

I addressed my elder brother about this issue as he knows more about networking then me, he said that theres a certain limit in the power, etc.

The power is set to 251mW (with the default being, 230mW I think).

BTW, thanks for pointing it out, I didn't check carefully to see if firmware was typed properly

[oj123]

Hi! Greetings here from the Philippines! I'm using a Linksys WRT54G router, my problem is the router was placed on the ground floor together w/ my pentium 4 desktop and the laptop w/ Linksys WPC54G card on the 2nd floor directly above the router, I can only manage to get a signal/speed of +/-50% and also +/- 50% quality, I got 100% if I bring the laptop to the ground floor, will installing the firmware boost the signal/speed of the connection? Where can I download this firmware? Is there also a way to extend the antenna of the Linksys router? I'm looking for a cheap solution instead of buying Range Extender or Wireless Access Point! I have to mention that the flooring of our house is concrete (the whole house, for that matter), but the router and both computer are near windows and on the same side! Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Stuart]

I personally use the DD-WRT firmware (http://www.dd-wrt.com). This has loads of extra features, but allows you to boost the signal level. If you want a more simple firmware that allows you to boost signal levels, then try http://www.hyperwrt.org/

[oj123]

Thanks! I'll go download it right away! How about the antenna? Any solutions?

[UnReaL]

With the card, all you need to do it boost the power output on the router, I personally boosted it to 251mW, however I wouldn't recommend you doing it as I don't want to be held responsible if anything happens to your router, however I take full responsibility for my router!

EDIT:

This is the antenna you are looking for: http://www.microwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/LKSWL054

[jrhnewark]

I started a thread the other day and found out about this router - it sounds very impressive (time to order mine tomorrow!).

One thing I must advise of, as a communications engineer, of sorts (well, radio engineer - one-way rather than two-way!), is that the legal limit for output of any unlicensed device on the 2.4GHz band is 100mW ERP (that's not 100mW set in the firmware, it's 100mW including the gain of the antenna, which will typically be 2.5dB - making the legal limit for router output power, set in the firmware, around 60mW). Now, whether you run more than this is down to you - it's not such a problem in less urban areas. However, if you're in a big city, just make sure there are plenty of other free channels which others can use.

The problem for oj123 is that the linked antenna and the supplied antenna is omni-directional around the antenna itself - very little signal 'leaks' out below the antenna to the floor below. The other problem is that signals around 2.4GHz don't do too well at going through solid objects!

I'd first try raising the output power of the router, and then perhaps investing in a new aerial if the first option doesn't work. What I'd also try is leaving one of the two aerial vertical and putting the second horizontal - this will direct a good quarter of the signal through the floor and downstairs.

---------- Post added at 23:38 ---------- Previous post was at 23:30 ----------

Oooh, I have a question of my own - I'm planning on getting this router from eBuyer (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=63763) - now, for DD-WRT to work, I need "Linksys WRT54GS v1.0, v1.1, v2.0, v2.1, v3.0, v4.0 - not v5.0"... anyone know which version this is?

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Oooh, I have a question of my own - I'm planning on getting this router from eBuyer (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=63763) - now, for DD-WRT to work, I need "Linksys WRT54GS v1.0, v1.1, v2.0, v2.1, v3.0, v4.0 - not v5.0"... anyone know which version this is?

I bought mine from PCWORLD a few months ago and i 'think' it was version 4. I won't be home until sunday so i can try and find out what version i have then and post back.

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

I bought mine from PCWORLD a few months ago and i 'think' it was version 4. I won't be home until sunday so i can try and find out what version i have then and post back.

Are you running just the original firmware on that?

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Are you running just the original firmware on that?

Yes i'm running the original firmware.

I can also confirm the router version is WRT54GS version 4. I found the info by looking at the S/N and going to THIS site and checked my S/N prefix against the list. Mine is CGN6 which tells me it's version 4. The S/N(prefix) is displayed clearly on the outside of the box too.

For your info i bought my router from PCWorld on 10th Feb 06.

I hope all that helps.

[jrhnewark]

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

I'll risk it with an eBuyer purchase - if, for any reason, it's the wrong version, it'll just have to go back!

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

I'll risk it with an eBuyer purchase - if, for any reason, it's the wrong version, it'll just have to go back!

Whether or not eScammer accept it back or not is another story

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Whether or not eScammer accept it back or not is another story

I've not personally really had any problems with them before, but...

[nffc]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

I've not personally really had any problems with them before, but...

but nothing. Under the Distance Selling and Sale of Goods Act they have to accept it back if
- it's less than 7 days old and you've changed your mind
- it's less than 6 months old and faulty.

It's not quite that simple but not far off.