Wi-Fi hotspots are so ubiquitous nowadays that we often take them for granted. We expect to be able to find a hotspot whenever we’re at the airport, in a shopping centre or even at home. I know some people who (foolishly, I’d say) latch on to their neighbour’s unsecured Wi-Fi, all because they are too cheapskate to get a broadband connection. Well, the good news is that wireless routers are now so affordable that there’s really no good reason not to have your own.
The WRT54G2 is a Wireless-G router, so it’s not the top-of-the-range, but these currently are the most economical way to get onto the wireless bandwagon. Linksys recently re-designed their wireless routers and this unit is one of three which boast the new antenna-less design (the other two are Draft-N routers). Compared to the earlier WRT54G, the new version looks infinitely better, but some users will miss the former’s stackable design.
The WRT54G2 uses a newer Broadcom chipset (BCM5354) but apart from that, it is essentially the same as the earlier model. There are four Fast Ethernet ports (10/100 Base-T) at the rear as well as an Ethernet WAN link to the modem for PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet). That’s because there’s no built-in ADSL modem, so users still have to use an external modem to connect. Frankly, I wish Linksys would integrate the modem, as the external unit ruins the WRT54G2’s sexy looks.
If you are familiar with Linksys’ products, you will have no problems configuring the WRT54G2 as they have pretty much the same menus. In any case, setting it up is as easy as keying in your Streamyx account details, changing the Wireless SSID and assigning an encryption protocol (highly recommended). The Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) software helps users set up their wireless network and can even check for firmware upgrades. The unit’s wireless performance is on par with the WRT54G which has dual antennas so this is quite impressive indeed. Users should have no problem getting a signal throughout a double storey link house, or even a bungalow if they place the router in the middle of their home.
At $50, the WRT54G2 is a hassle-free way to go wireless. Its user-friendly menus, good wireless performance and great looks make it a worthy successor to the famous WRT54G.
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Technorati Tags: WRT54G2, Wireless-G router
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