Linksys WRT54GL v1.1 2.4 GHz router review, is it worth it?
The Linksys WRT54GL v1.1 (WRT54GLV11) router released in 2005. It is powered by Broadcom BCM5352E @ 200 MHz chipset, 16 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 WRT54GL v1.1 is 54 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
If you require more advanced features, faster speeds, or support for the latest wireless standards, you may want to consider higher-end routers in the Linksys product lineup or other routers available on the market. Linksys products typically adhere to industry-standard networking protocols and standards, ensuring compatibility with other devices and systems.
Table of contents:
Linksys WRT54GL v1.1 (WRT54GLV11) specifications
| Brand | Linksys |
|---|---|
| Name | WRT54GL v1.1 |
| Type | WRT54GLV11 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2005 |
Body
| Dimensions | 186 x 48 x 154 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 482 g |
If you plan to move or travel frequently and need to take your router with you, the dimensions become important for portability. Smaller and more compact routers are generally easier to transport, while larger routers with external antennas or multiple ports may be bulkier and less convenient to carry. The weight of a router can be a consideration in certain situations, but it is generally not as crucial as other factors such as performance, features, and compatibility.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM5352E @ 200 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 16 MB |
| Flash | 4 MB |
| OS | Linksys |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT DD-WRT Gargoyle |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The Broadcom BCM5352E @ 200 MHz CPU provides processing power to handle various tasks and services within the WRT54GL v1.1 router. The WRT54GL v1.1 comes with 16 MB of RAM. The amount of RAM in a router can impact its performance and capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. Higher RAM capacity allows for better multitasking, larger routing tables, and improved overall performance. The 4 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. It is a non-volatile memory that retains its data even when power is removed from the device.
The Linksys often releases firmware updates to enhance the router's functionality, improve security, fix bugs, and add new features. Firmware updates can provide performance improvements, compatibility with new devices or protocols, and address vulnerabilities. Alternative router operating systems often provide more customization options and advanced features compared to the default firmware provided by router manufacturers.
The WRT54GL v1.1 is an OpenWRT supported router. OpenWrt offers a wide range of features and capabilities that extend the functionality of networking hardware. It includes a package management system that allows users to install and manage additional software packages to add new features or customize the device's behavior. The Linksys packages the WRT54GL v1.1 router with 12 V / 1 A PSU. A good PSU is an essential component of a computer or electronic device that converts electrical power from an outlet into the appropriate voltage and current required to power the internal components of the device.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
Like many modern routers, the WRT54GL v1.1 supports many network standards too. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The LAN ports are physical connectors on a WRT54GL v1.1 router that allow you to connect devices to your local network using Ethernet cables. The WAN port on a router stands for "Wide Area Network" port. It is used to connect the router to the external network, typically provided by an internet service provider (ISP). The WRT54GL v1.1 is equipped with Fast Ethernet WAN port, which have a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 2 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g |
| Class | G54 |
| Speed | 54 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 18 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | no |
The 2 x 2 dBi, RP-SMA antennas of WRT54GL v1.1 influence the quality and stability of the Wi-Fi signal. A properly positioned and well-designed antenna can minimize interference and signal degradation, leading to a more reliable and stable connection. This router is 2.4 GHz compatible. The 2.4 GHz band is widely supported by a wide range of devices, including older devices that may not be compatible with the 5 GHz band.
The 802.11g is a Wi-Fi standard that was introduced in 2003 as an improvement over the earlier 802.11b standard. It operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, like 802.11b, but offers faster speeds and improved performance. The G54 refers to the maximum combined data transfer rate supported by the router across all Wi-Fi bands. The WRT54GL v1.1 is capable of a maximum throughput speed of 54 Mbps. The real-world speed of a WRT54GL v1.1 router is typically lower than its theoretical maximum speed.
The TX power of WRT54GL v1.1 can be adjusted by the user or set automatically by the router firmware. Higher TX power values indicate stronger signal transmission, which can result in a larger coverage area. The WRT54GL v1.1 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 WRT54GL v1.1 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 address of this router is 192.168.1.1. Explore the router's configuration interface to access more advanced settings such as port forwarding, DHCP settings, parental controls, firewall settings, and QoS (Quality of Service) settings. 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 WRT54GL v1.1 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.
The specifications above 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 WRT54GL v1.1, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.
Linksys WRT54GL v1.1 (WRT54GLV11) pictures
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