linksys wet54g wireless-g ethernet bridge

Rating:
Date: 2008-07-01
Tricky to setup -- but then it works fine
I had to replace my trusty old D-Link DWL-810 bridge with this Linksys WET54G when I upgraded my wireless network from 11b to 11g.

I'm an experienced computer professional and even I had some trouble getting the WET54G configured properly. By all means try running the Setup program that comes on the CDROM, but if it fails to detect the bridge then you are going to have to roll up your sleeves and set it up manually:

1. Make sure the Ethernet light is lit solid and the Wireless light is flashing. If they're not both on, then you need to recheck cable connections. Do not move to step 2 till this is fixed.

2. On the computer the bridge is connected to, open a web browser and try entering the "URL http://192.168.1.226" in the address bar. If prompted for a password enter userid "admin" / password "admin". Then the Linksys administration web page should appear. If so skip to step 6.

3. OK, the magic URL on step 2 didn't work for you, but don't panic. On the same computer open the Network Connections window. Right click on the LAN connection you normally use and click Properties. In the protocol list highlight "Internet Protocol TCP/IP" then click Properties.

4. On the General tab click "Use the following IP address" and then enter the IP address 192.168.1.101. Click OK twice to close the open dialog windows.

5. Return your attention to the Network Connections window. Is the LAN connection enabled now? If not, right click on it and choose Repair. Close the Network Connections window and return to step 2.

6. Once you're in the Linksys browser administration console, select Wireless and click Site Survey. You should recognize the SSID of your home wireless network on the list. Note the signal strength, then select it.

7. If your network has WPA2-PSK security enabled, click Security Settings and enter the shared key passphrase. If not, and your router supports WPA2, then go to the router and turn it on! Older WEP security no longer works against hackers.

8. Open a web browser on the same computer and enter the URL of a web site that you have not visited in the last month. If it comes up then your bridge is working! If you get an error then continue on to step 9.

9. Try right clicking on the LAN connection icon down in your system tray (lower right corner by the clock display) and choose Repair. Then close all browser windows, open a new browser window, and once again try the web site from step 8. If it comes up then your bridge is working! If you get an error then continue on to step 10.

10. Restart the computer. While it's rebooting, press the Reset button down on the WET54G and hold it down for about half a minute. Then try the web site from step 8. If it comes up then your bridge is working! If you still get an error then I'm osrry to say it's time to call Cisco / Linksys tech support. :-(

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-21
This was easy to setup.
I really don't get why so many people are complaining about how hard this bridge is to setup, I got it working in a couple of minutes. I am going to guess that the windows software that comes with it is must be really bad.

I have a rule on all networking products : If you can configure it over its web server do so ( telnet or ssh are good also ). I plugged it in hooked up the ethernet cable then used the static ip that was printed on the only printed manual that came with it ( 192.168.1.226 ). At that point I clicked on the site survey and picked the network, if it is a secure network you have to enter a passphrase/key and you are done. Most linksys web interfaces are pretty simple.

There is WPA support but only TKIP encryption ( no AES ). From what I read before I bought this, the only way to access WPA settings is over its web iterface.

I run a mixed network with windows, linux, and game consoles, so this was a great solution. I even plugged my WET54G into the lan port on my WRT54G ( changed its subnet ) and then hooked my machines into it and it all works great.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-05
Setup more difficult than it should be
Setup for the device was more difficult than it should have been. The device comes hard-coded with a 192.168.1.* static IP address, so the install program was repeatedly unable to find it, even when I patched it directly to my PC. I had to manually assign a static IP in that range to my laptop in order for the setup program to detect the bridge. The quickstart guide was rubbish.

Also, mac owners beware: you won't be able to run the setup CD.

Rating:
Date: 2008-05-31
Bad experience, might have been a fluke.
We're Linksys lovers...if Linksys makes it we have it. We bought some of these to give our IP phones some freedom. My guys carry actual phone system IP phones on the road so we can have a full on office wherever they are. These didn't work good, the little Linksys black box without external antenna works great. Go for that one.

Rating:
Date: 2008-05-31
Fair, you really need to play with it
Simply put this works but you have to play with it. I found that it was terrible at holding signal when there was anything in between the bridge and the source. Sure it will connect but drop outs were frequent. Now that there is a mostly clear LOS to the source I'm not having nearly the same amount of issues.

For regular browsing this unit is great. You shouldn't have any major issues. For gaming I think there may be better alternatives. This will work but make sure you have clear LOS or you'll be having some serious packet loss issues and disconnects.

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