Linksys WRT54GX

The Linksys WRT54GX Wireless-G broadband router with SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion) technology is a recent addition to a growing number of products equipped with a new technology called MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output). MIMO is slated for 802.11n, the specification that is scheduled to replace 802.11g next year. Unfortunately, the WRT54GX transferred data at a much slower pace than another MIMO router we tested, the Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router, and was even outperformed by several older-generation Wi-Fi routers, such as the Netgear WGU624. Contrary to Linksys's claims, the WRT54GX didn't earn fantastic throughput scores at long distances, either. Although the £94 (ex. VAT; £111 inc. VAT) WRT54GX has a few points in its favour, including three adjustable antennas, WPA security and an SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) firewall, it's still no overall match for the Belkin Wireless Pre-N in both performance and price (around £60 on the street).

The square, silver Linksys WRT54GX router is about the size of a hardback book and looks somewhat intimidating because of the three antennas sticking out of its top panel. The device also has four wall-mounting brackets for hanging the unit free and clear of possible obstructions, such as furniture, that can impede the signal. Nine handy LEDs near the router's top panel light up when it's powered on, when you're engaged in Internet and wireless activities, when you have other devices plugged into the four LAN ports, and when its DMZ capability is enabled. The package includes an installation wizard on a CD that ships with the router. The wizard walks you through a basic installation process, helping you connect to your broadband modem, choose an SSID (or wireless network name), and set up encryption for your wireless network. With its foolproof design, the wizard helps even those who are new to networking connect the router in a matter of minutes. The Linksys WRT54GX's browser-based configuration tool offers access to all of the standard Wi-Fi router settings, plus a few nice extras. The configuration tool lets you set up MAC address filters, allowing or denying connections from specific computers based on their hardware, or MAC, addresses. You can also use the configuration tool to adjust WEP and WPA settings. The tool gives you opportunities to keep close tabs on incoming data packets through an SPI firewall and to open up a VPN tunnel through the firewall. Finally, you can use the configuration tool to block users' access to specific Web sites by listing the URLs for those sites. Although the WRT54GX tells a fairly compelling design-and-features story, its performance tale is one of woe. We tested the router in combination with the MIMO-based Linksys WPC54GX Wireless-G notebook adapter, which is necessary to reap all of the router's benefits. The router fell far short of the Belkin Wireless Pre-N's maximum and mixed-mode throughput speeds at a distance of 3m (10 feet). True, the point of MIMO technology is to help wireless devices achieve fast throughput at longer distances, but even at a distance of 61m (200 feet), the WRT54GX's lacklustre 25.8Mbps throughput was well under the Belkin's 36.4Mbps. The Linksys WRT54GX may have faltered in our performance tests, but at least its service and support is generally up to scratch. The router ships with a long, three-year parts-and-labour warranty that includes toll-free telephone support. The company's support Web site offers a useful live chat feature that lets you talk in virtual real time with a tech-support rep. But the site's knowledge base failed to generate a single FAQ related to the WRT54GX. You'd be better off consulting the troubleshooting section in the router's helpful user guide, which also includes detailed descriptions of the device's hardware features and configuration tool.

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