Customer Reviews
Mac buyer beware 
2008-06-21
If you have a Mac laptop, in my case a Powerbook G4 running OS-X 10.4, I suggest you stay away from this device. I actually have mixed feelings about it. The setup program works well, and the device configured to my wireless network with little difficulty. My G4 saw the device, but was unable to get an IP address using DHCP. I spent over an hour in a chat session with Linksys tech support, and that was followed up by a call from a supervisor there who spent another hour with me. One thing which was (finally) suggested, which also appears in various forums, was to manually configure an IP address in System Preferences --> Network. Apparently this works for some, but it didn't for me. I'm returning the device. So why are my feelings mixed instead of all negative? (1) The level of (attempted) support was outstanding, especially since Linksys doesn't always get good marks. (2) The device does a great job with my wife's PC laptop running Vista. It just doesn't work well with Macs. Linksys knows this and has corrected the same problem with early models of its wireless routers (I use one and the Mac sees and can use it, but with an extremely low signal, thus the need for an expander.) I don't understand why they can't fix this guy! If you're a Mac user you're better off with the Belkin 5FD-7132 Belkin Wireless G Universal Range Extender/Access Point - Wireless access point - 802.11b, 802.11g which you can usually buy for less. It has an annoying tendency to drop its connection to the router occasionally, but at least it works most of the time.
It works for me! 
2008-06-14
i have a version 3 of this product...WRT54GL as my router...i just plugged it and press the Auto Config and thats it!
Works but tough setup 
2008-06-13
I had to install this work a place I volunteer with. It as first was difficult to setup. Once its setup it works flawlessly. I bought one for home and since I already dealt with it I had it up and running in 15 min. The setup is not for your novice user. I would recommend anyone buying this is to connect the WRE54G directly via ethernet to PC it'll save more time. You'll have to use the combination of the cd and the IP interface to get it up and running. It work and expands the range well.
Good range expander for people with WRT54GC router 2008-06-13
Since I moved a bigger place, I've been trying to extend the wireless range and this worked pretty well. (I tried Access Point and Wiress-N but none worked.) As many reviewers pointed out, Linksys' instruction isn't sufficient so if security of the router is enabled, you will most likely get stuck middle of the config. But once I configured it right (after spending 30 min with tech support), the signal improved from 1-2 bars to full bar. So if you have WRT54GC router like I do and want to improve wireless range, you might want to consider this product.
Environment is Everything 
2008-06-13
This product, though very hard to set up, does work. The thing is, it needs to sit in a "sweet spot" between your router and the receiving device so the router signal isn't too weak, and neither is the extender's. If your home will allow for the extender to be within approx. 30 feet of each device, this can be a great asset. Just don't try to set it up yourself. Linksys tech support was wonderful and friendly. Linksys usability and tech docs are for the birds.
Only works well with specific Linksys access points - box lies 2008-07-15
Bought this at Best Buy so I didn't get the message that is clear in the Amazon description - Linksys doesn't care that the product doesn't work well with access points other than the two Linksys products that they support. The box says "Works with Most Wireless Routers* ... * Works Great with most Standards-Based Wireless-G and Wireless-B Routers". That is a lie. I talked with their support and they were nice enough to walk me through the workaround - setting a static IP address on every system - but agreed that it would not work well with other access points. They apologized for the false advertising on the box.
If the box clearly stated the compatibility issue, I would have no problem and probably would not have bought it. Even though it works, I give it one star for putting acknowledged misinformation on the box that cost me time and money.
That said, the device does an excellent job of extending the range of wireless coverage once you configure static IP addresses. Some of these reviews (e.g. that it expands the range only 10 feet) must reflect people trying to expand their range by keeping the expander close to their router. That is not the way you are supposed to use it. The expander should be placed close to the edge of the range of your existing access point to create a new zone of coverage.
The cheaper Belkin F5D7132 is likely more compatible and a better buy, but I haven't tried it as the store didn't carry other products.
Linksys WILL knock out your internet connection 2008-07-15
First off, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to computers. Figured I could muddle thru any setup. Read all pertinent reviews here in reference to setting up to get a headstart. Once I autoconfigured the unit by pressing the auto-config button, all hell broke loose. The unit assigned itself the same IP as my router! My internet immediately went down and I could not even get into my router via 192.blah.blah. So, I'm sitting there with no internet and no way to access my router. Here's what I did to get everything back to normal.
* This is only a way to get your internet back - not to make the Linksys work - PRINT THIS OUT BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT YOUR UNIT *
1) Plug the Linksys into your router via the provided cable.
2) Run the setup disk until the software recognizes the Linksys, in Vista, go directly to the disc and right-click on setup.exe and select "Run As Administrator"
(if it fails, take a pen and reset the Linksys by pushing the tip into the 'reset' hole and hold for 5 or so seconds and release - if that doesn't work, unplug/plug back in Linksys and then hold auto-config button down for 5 seconds and release, let it cycle for one minute, rerun software)
3) In your browser, goto 192.168.1.240 (default Linksys IP) * note, you may have the internet back at this time, but it's probably thru the Linksys and you'll have the same problem if you power down and back up)
4) Change the IP to 192.168.1.241 and save settings. It will reboot. Wait one minute and then type 192.168.1.241 in your browser and you should see the Linksys menu. This means the new IP took.
5) UNPLUG THE LINKSYS FROM YOUR ROUTER AND POWER IT DOWN
6) Reboot your router.
7) You may have to search for wireless networks again on your PC,etc and reconnect.
I tried to get the Linksys working 4 times and each time it overtook my router. Even after trying all advice here on amazon and other websites. Changing the IP, SSID, etc - all did not make a difference.
This is a horrible product. It's going back and I will NEVER buy a Linksys product again. Really. (amazon needs a zero star category)
It works! (Finally...) 2008-07-07
I actually blame Vista for most of my frustrations with setting this up. I keep forgetting that you need to right click set up and choose 'run as administrator'. As soon as I did that, the software did it's thing and now I can access my network from anywhere in the house.
So, other than the instructions (not super clear) and MS Vista being a pain, this is a good product and I'm glad i got it.
It is work fine 2008-06-28
It is 3-rd version of the expander. So you can to setup by wires. For setup in secure mode you need set all properties same as in your router. The properties is: Name of network, Pas Key. It is working fine. It is what I was needed to my wireless network. I have two flours flat and my router is on second flour, so if you try to connect to network in first flour, it will failed. So the expander is the solution for my problem.
A major source of frustration. 2008-06-26
When our Linksys ranger expander did work it was great. However, 9 times out of 10 it didn't work, and it became a major source of frustration and disappointment. I've had dozens of "discussions" with my wife about the poor, or lack of wireless coverage in our pre-war co-op. I think the most frustrating part of owning the Linksys range expander has been dealing with my son after he's been playing with his online Webkinz or Nick Jr. online and the expander simply stops working. The look in his eyes when "Daddy can't fix the internet" is truly heart breaking.
Our apartment is about 1300 sq. feet yet its almost impossible to get full wireless coverage from my Linksys wireless 54g router from end to end(forget about videos or large email files). As a result, I went out and got this range expander a couple of years ago and have been sorry I did ever since. Everything that the "1 star rating" reviewers said is true.
The in-box directions are terrible, and the support is horrible. I've spent hours on the phone with their customer service trying to get this thing to work, as well as countless hours on the linksys web site dealing with software updates (which are difficult to install) trying to figure out "what I was doing wrong." Turns out I was wrong for buying this piece-o-junk. I would have dumped this thing a long time ago, but after plunking down over one hundred dollars for it I was stuck, and determined to make it work.
I think the most frustrating part about the whole thing is that although the Linksys router worked fine most of the time, when the Linksys range expander was connected to it and failed, it blocked total access to the router even though the router was broadcasting ok. I can't tell you how many times I had to stop what I was doing to reset that range expander or even completely defer a family activity with our son because the coverage of the expander was so unreliable.
I hope the technology has improved since I purchased this so called range expander, and based on a previous review, I'm going out today to pick up a Netgear WGXB102 54Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender Kit or the latest and greatest, and hope it will work as advertised.
In conclusion, if you're looking to avoid a major source of frustration, DO NOT BUY THE LINKSYS WIRELESS G RANGE EXPANDER!
CK
