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"Great product when you finally get it to work!" on by juney
Pros: Expands your range to hard to reach places
Cons: Hell to configure! throw the Setup disc in the trash!
Summary: I think it's a good product, but Linksys did a horrible job with the directions on how to use it. Luckily I read a review on CNET before I configured it because I would not have been able to use it if I didnt. 1) Go into your Linksys router web tool and disable WEP if it is enabled (and it should be). 2) Plug in your range extender and press the auto configuration button. 3) Once you get a blue link light set your WEP on the range extender to match those of your router (You will lose your link when this happens, but that is ok) 4) Enable your WEP again with your router (the link should return again). You should be good to go now. However, it may take several tries to get it right. The RE is very tempermental and may not link the first time. It took me 5 tries before I got it, but it is finally up and gives me a great signal boost. Just remember not to use the setup disc. it's useless!!!!
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"Increase the range of your wireless network" on by DaveMcLain
Pros: Great increase in useable wireless range
Cons: Very tricky to setup in some situations
Summary: I bought this device used off of E-Bay about 8 months ago to use to extend the range of my wireless network more than 300 ft across the yard from one building with a high speed connection, into a house and into the office room. My router(Linksys wrt54G) could not provide enough signal for a reasonably reliable wireless connection over this distance, through walls etc. I saw the wre54g on E-Bay and after reading many lukewarm reviews decided to give it a try.
The device is smaller than you would think, just a box with a single antena that you can click to various angles. It also has a funky power supply that plugs into the bottom or allows you to plug the box into an outlet and hang it on the wall. In my situation I placed it on a window ledge at the end of the house nearest to my router which is still across the yard in another building.
Before placing the unit I had to get it set up and working with my router. This was rather difficult and it took me about an hour to get it to "talk" to the router. Once I had it working I upgraded the firmware to the latest version. My hardware is not the latest version because mine does not have a wired ethernet jack, it's totally wireless.
Many people have had problems getting this device to work but I found that it will not automatically connect to the router unless you're running both G AND B signals, do that and it'll hook right up, at least it did for me. Two blue lights on the top, one steady and one blinking when data transfers through the box.
This thing has been working very good now for the last 6 months or so. The connection is fast and reliable. It is true that if you use one of these boxes to extend your range that you will cut your wireless G bandwith from a theoretical 54Mb/sec down to around 24Mb/sec. In my case where the computers on the extended side of the network are used for internet surfing, downloading etc I've not noticed any appreciable difference in speed. Even when transfering files to a NAS located in the other building it's fast and reliable, still faster than that hard drive.
One of those products that works great once you get it TO work. If you have one you need to be patient and get it working because once it does it's nearly flawless. -
"Upgraded it's firmware and it works fine." on by fliersrr
Pros: Nice looking, expands your range
Cons: Difficult to set up for the average or advanced user.
Summary: Here is how to setup and get your WRE54G working. First reset your current router to factory defaults. (no encryption, no hiding SSID, no nothing. Upgrade it's firmware to Link sys latest. Use a cat cable to connect a PC or laptop to your current router. Get connected to the INTERNET. Type in your http://192.168.1.1 to connect to your router. Do not change anything. Now open a new browser and type in http://192.168.1.240 and connect to your new WRE54G. Now you can see you are communicating with the WRE54G. Now look for firmware upgrade link. Upgrade to latest from Linksys site. Now toggle back and forth from each browser and make changes one at a time. Always do WRE54G first and it will go off line, but as soon as you do the change on the router, it's back on-line. The latest WRE54G firmware gives Pre-Shared Key, TKIP. Nice.
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"challenging setup; could be better" on by gkopp
Pros: Expanded the network signal dramatically.
Cons: Very challenging setup. Not seamless operability.
Summary: After a long drawn out installation, I found the strong signal ruined my 2.4ghz wireless phones and had to switch back to 900mhz. Important note that if you are using your primary access point and you move away towards your repeater, you have to log onto the repeater manually to switch to the stronger signal. It isn't automatic. There may be a way to program the seemless switching, but I couldn't do it. In the long run, it worked ok, but if you move around your house at all with your notebook computer, it can create issues...
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"Great product, tech support / included setup instructions worthless." on by Ruger16
Pros: Works great, well worth the $100, greatly extended my wireless network range.
Cons: Horrible installation manual, horrible tech support
Summary: The WRE54G is a great product once you get it set up. The whole installation process takes about 10 min. once you figure out what you're doing, only took me 7 hours till i got it up and running. The best advice i can give you is to disable WEP on your router, plug in the WRE54G push the auto connect, if the WRE54G is working properly with your wireless security diabled call Linksys and tell them you want to turn on WEP on the router and on the WRE54G also tell them you want to upgrade the WRE54G firmware, if you don't upgrade the firmware it wont work. good luck, and remember the Tech's don't know alot of english and apparently have a predisposition that we're all incompitant, so give them a hard time about it. it makes the installation process a lot more enjoyable...
Wireless-G Range Expander user reviews
