Linksys WRT54G vs. WRT54G2

eWaste and good riddance (as I upgrade the firmware on a BEFW11S4 v4). Sigh.

Look at the setups:

I did a fast side by side comparison between corresponding pages and couldn't see any difference. The software controllable features look identical.

Non replaceable internal antenna. That would kill it for me. Limited RAM. DD-WRT doesn't work with G2.

FCC data on the G2 (Q87-WRT54G2V1):

(See internal photos).

I would go with the WRT54G which at least has removable antennas.

Incidentally, both the G, G2, GS, etc all have switched ports, not hub repeaters.

I don't know the difference between a hub and a switch. Would the WRT54G2 work like the BEFW11S4 does on my 4 computer wireless network?

Wrongo. See chart at bottom of:

and:

The early WRT54G v1 and v2 used a ADMtek ADM6996L, which is an ethernet switch chip. The others use a BCM5325EKQM or BCM5352EKBP which are also both switch chips.

I don't recall any wireless router, even back to the stone age, that ever had a built in hub (repeater). It wouldn't make sense as 5th port on the ethernet chip goes to the wireless bridge section (access point section). With a hub, there would be no isolation between the ethernet ports and the wireless. Any packet that goes into the hub section, would also get repeated out the wireless section. The only way to prevent such excessive traffic is to isolate the ports by MAC address, which is how a switch works.

So the official Linksys web page description must be wrong.

No it's correct, a switch.

If so, it won't be the first time that someone has muddled hubs, repeaters, switches, brouters, dual speed hubs, and such. I don't see anything on the WRT54G page that says hub:

except "Connect four PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need"

Did you catch my explanation as to why a wireless router cannot possibly use a hub (repeater)? With a hub, there's no MAC layer isolation between ports. Everything that goes in one port, comes out ALL the others including the wireless. That will generate lots of excess traffic.

Oops. (engaging brain before typing this time). I'm wrong.

It is possible to conglomerate a hub into a wireless router. The wireless access point section is a bridge, also known as a 2 port switch. A hub can be added to that. That will generate the usual excessive LAN traffic between the various hub ports, but the bridge/switch will prevent excess traffic from belching over the wireless.

Nope...its the WiFi that is frying your brain... heh heh heh

The WRT54G has a 4-port hub. The WRT54GS has a 4-port switch.

Go with the WRT54G

Self Correcting Liebermann.

I approve of this mod. Keep up the development Jeff.

TBerk

To err is human. I occasionally need reassurance that I'm still human.

I do believe that DD-WRT micro version works with the G2. At least according to:

Nevermind - I further see from the link above this is a WIP and as such is not currently supported by DD-WRT. I wouldn't get the G2 anyway because of the internal antenna but I at least thought the firmware could be upgraded. That is not the case however as evidenced by this link:

It appears that the problem is the lack of a VxWorks killer to allow loading a new firmware image. Apparently, someone is working on it. (See bottom of page 5 of the above thread). Even so, the best that can be done will be the micro version, due to lack of memory. That's is good for a client radio (wireless ethernet bridge) or repeater but not much else:

However, I agree. The lack of external antennas makes the WRT54G2 a nice paperweight.

Drivel: I'm probably showing my age, but every time I look at the WRT54G2 squat rounded black box, I think of the 1950's Steve McQueen sci-fi movie, "The Blob":

The G2 is now supported by DD-WRT:-