WRT54G Linksys Wireless-G Router - Help?

[Silver Gaia]

I'm going to have to set this router up for our network ASAP, and I feel totally clueless. It didn't come with any instructions on paper, just a set-up CD. I've read various reviews, from easy to extremely difficult to get configured right.

It's both wired and wireless, and what I hope to do is leave the office desktop computers (mine and my hubby's) wired as they are now, and use the wireless for my daughter's desktop access upstairs, and for my laptop and hers around the house.

Anyone have any experience with this router, or have any general advice regarding setting up such a system? I don't usually feel so clueless about stuff like this, but I need something to READ, and Linksys didn't provide me with anything written.

[trotsky]

1. They're usually really easy to set up.

Here's the product page from Linksys: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1166859837401&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=3740141396B08

(Hopefully that link works, it's long.) You can download the user guide or just the quick install doc.

[Silver Gaia]

5. Thanks, found the manual.

Unfortunately, it isn't much more helpful, though. Found a bit more detailed info by searching, but still looks more complicated than it seems like it ought to be.

[PennDem]

2. Why type of internet service?

It can be fairly easy to setup with a cable modem. Some DSL setups can be more involved. The user guide should be on the disk that you got with the router.

Trotsky's link is the best place to start.

[Silver Gaia]

6. Cable modem.

[lpbk2713]

3. Who is your ISP? Is it DSL or Cable?

And what kind of modem to you connect with? If you have a Verizon DSL with a Westell 6100 modem you will run in to some unique problems. That modem has a built-in router and Verizon has a few peculiarities that sets them apart from others.

[Silver Gaia]

7. ISP is called Wave,. Some outfit that replaced Charter in my area.

Only available option for broadband here. The modem is a Motorola, fairly new since it was just replaced a couple of weeks ago (by the cable company). I'm using a wired Linksys router with it now.

[Jersey Devil]

4. Before you install

go to their website to see if there is an upgraded driver and/or installation program or firmware. There should be full instructions online.

[Silver Gaia]

8. There IS a firmware upgrade. The set-up directions I read said

to do that last. But it made no sense to me in that order: "If you’re not online after performing this procedure, you may need to upgrade the firmware of the router." Sounds like a lot more trouble than just doing it first.

[Duer 157099]

9. Hi Joolz!!

I'm not familiar with that particular router, but I bet it's not much different from the one I use (Netgear). They always make it sound so much more complicated than it actually (usually) is -- have you tried just plugging it in and seeing if it works, or...?

What have you done so far?

And, do you use any sofware firewall?

[Silver Gaia]

11. Hi Dot!

I haven't done anything with it yet except look at it :D and try to read up on it. My daughter and I are gonna see if we can get it set up on Friday. And yeah, we have firewall software. We did have a security suite that was provided by Charter in a partnership with F-Secure, but that one doesn't work any more now that they sold out to this new Wave outfit, so I had to go out and buy something else. It works fine with the wired Linksys router we're currently using. Hope there are no problems...

[DemReadingDU]

10. I have that router, the CD is easy

Any time I ever update anything on the desktop computer, I usually have some kind of issue. But perfect installation with Linksys!

The CD is step-by-step. It will tell you exactly what step to do, which order to hook up all the cables.

The easiest installation ever!

The only thing I didn't do, was setup a password to make a secure system. I still need to do this to prevent strangers from linking up. But I first wanted to make sure I could setup the Linksys, and that the laptop could connect to it.


edit: Does your daughter's computer already have ability for wireless connectivity? If so, that's great!
But we had an older desktop without wireless connectivity and we had to purchase an adapter in order to make it available to receive the router transmissions.

[Silver Gaia]

12. Thanks for your post! That makes me feel lots better about it.

Both our laptops have wireless cards. But we've purchased a wireless card (also Linksys) for my daughter's desktop, since it doesn't have one. I'm hoping this router will be strong enough to reach upstairs to her office. I'm glad to hear the set-up CD is fairly easy to use. Will keep my fingers crossed and give it a whirl on Friday!

[DemReadingDU]

13. It will reach fine

Our main desktop computer and Linksys router is downstairs, and the older computer is upstairs with the wireless adapter. It works great. We took our laptop outside, and that connected too. We're very pleased.

I think during the setup process, it will ask you to setup password, but I skipped that step. I wanted to make sure everything connected first. I still need to go back and setup the password so other people can't use our signal.

[Silver Gaia]

14. It's done! Thanks for all the help!

The set-up CD wouldn't work for me (it wanted a password to the old router that I didn't know and couldn't find), so I had to call Linksys and talk to some guy named "Jerry" in Singapore, but we worked around the language barrier and finally got it going. :) We got the wireless card installed in my daughter's desktop, too, so she's online now and I can have my computer all to myself now! Yay! :D

[DemReadingDU]

15. That's great!

Thankfully, you got someone who understood the problem and was able to communicate to help get the router installed