Linksys WRT54GH WiFi router: Pros and Cons

54 Mbps

IEEE 802.11b/g

Ralink RT3050

8 MB / 4 MB

The Linksys WRT54GH (WRT54GH) router released in 2009. It is powered by Ralink RT3050 chipset, 8 MB of RAM and 4 MB of flash. The G54 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with WRT54GH is 54 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.

The WRT54GH is an affordable and reliable router designed for basic networking needs. Linksys routers are generally known for their user-friendly design and easy setup process.

Linksys WRT54GH (WRT54GH) pictures

The specifications below are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the Linksys WRT54GH, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.

Linksys WRT54GH (WRT54GH) specifications

Brand	Linksys
Name	WRT54GH
Type	WRT54GH
Rating	★★★★★ Rated 4/5 based on 1245 user votes.
Launch	2009

Body

Dimensions	110 x 32 x 110 mm
Weight	170 g

The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms, such as larger fans or heat sinks, which can help dissipate heat more effectively. If you purchase a router online or have it shipped, the weight may affect the overall cost. Heavier routers can result in higher shipping charges, especially for international deliveries.

System

Chipset	Ralink RT3050
RAM	8 MB
Flash	4 MB
OS	Linksys
Power supply	12 V / 0.5 A

The Linksys WRT54GH router is equipped with Ralink RT3050 processor. The WRT54GH has 8 MB of RAM. Some advanced router features and software functionalities require a certain amount of RAM to operate properly. For example, routers with more RAM can support advanced security features, VPN services, or QoS (Quality of Service) prioritization more effectively. The WRT54GH has 4 MB of flash memory. A larger flash memory allows for more storage space to accommodate future firmware upgrades.

The process of upgrading the firmware on routers has become relatively simple and user-friendly over the years. The Linksys provides easy-to-use interfaces and instructions to guide users through the firmware upgrade process. The Linksys WRT54GH router comes with 12 V / 0.5 A PSU. This unit is responsible for providing electrical power to the router, and if it becomes faulty, it can be replaced with a new, compatible one.

Network

Protocols	IPv4
LAN ports	4 x 10/100 Mbps
WAN ports	1 x 10/100 Mbps
Mobile network	no
VPN support	no

The WRT54GH router offers built-in security features to protect your network and connected devices. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The Linksys WRT54GH has 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN and 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN ports. LAN or Ethernet ports (RJ-45) are used to connect devices to the local area network (LAN). WAN ports often require specific configuration settings based on the type of internet connection provided by your ISP. The WAN port on the WRT54GH router is a Fast Ethernet port, not a Gigabit Ethernet. The Fast Ethernet ports are capable of supporting speeds up to 100 Mbps, which is still suitable for most internet connections.

Wireless

Antennas	1 x 3 dBi internal
2.4 GHz	yes
5 GHz	no
60 GHz	no
Standards	IEEE 802.11b/g
Class	G54
Speed	54 Mbps
Transmit power	17.5 dBm
Security	WEP WPA WPA2
Guest network	no

This router has 1 x 3 dBi, internal antennas. Antennas play a significant role in Wi-Fi performance and coverage. They are essential components of wireless routers that transmit and receive radio signals to establish wireless connections with devices. The WRT54GH supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. It is one of the most common frequency bands used for Wi-Fi networks. 802.11g routers have a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps, which is significantly slower compared to more modern Wi-Fi standards.

The G54 refers to the maximum combined data transfer rate supported by the router across all Wi-Fi bands. The WRT54GH is capable of a maximum throughput speed of 54 Mbps. The real-world speed of a WRT54GH router is typically lower than its theoretical maximum speed. The TX power (17.5 dBm) of a router refers to the transmission power or signal strength at which the router broadcasts its Wi-Fi signal. It determines the range and coverage area of the wireless network.

The WRT54GH router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2. The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure.

Connectivity

USB ports	no
Print server	no
File server	no

The WRT54GH router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.

Administration

Default IP	192.168.1.1
Default username	[blank]
Default password	admin

The default IP addresses of the Linksys WRT54GH device is 192.168.1.1. These address allows you to access the router's console login page. If you are unable to log in to the setup panel of your Linksys router, performing a reset can be a helpful troubleshooting step. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your WRT54GH router after the initial setup. If you forget the new password in the future, you may need to perform a factory reset on the router to revert to the default settings.