Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter Reviews

• Wireless networking made easier with Linksys

  
  By A2WXIJTI5PEV9N on 2006-07-23
  At first glance, the WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter is a simple solution for connecting any computer to a wireless network with support for industrial-strength WiFi Protected Access security (WPA including the newest version WPA-PSK2). Because this value option doesn't require you to open up the computer to install a network interface card, most people should be able to install the USB wireless adapter by following four simple steps:
  
  Step 1. Open the package,
  
  Step 2. Insert the included CD in your CD-ROM drive and install the driver,
  
  Step 3. Plug the adapter into an empty USB port(socket) on your computer (do NOT plug into a USB hub as you won't get enough power),
  
  Step 4. Setup the adapter with available wireless network.
  
  I've been using Linksys networking products for ten to eleven years and have been pleased most of the time with the functionality and simplicity of their offerings at a value price. Through the years I've gradually upgraded from my initial Linksys product (a primitive, but inexpensive, router...sharing a dial-up modem connection on a wired network with a tangle of cabling to match) to my current, fully functional, wireless/wired network that has seven Linksys products attached to it.
  
  This WUSB54GC adapter is the first Linksys device I purchased (or replaced within warranty) that did not require a call to tech support for help to hook it up. USB devices are almost always very straightforward and user-friendly out of the box, but unfortunately I ran into a snag right away.
  
  When it took more than a few minutes to "install" the new hardware and my Windows 2000 plug and pray OS didn't find the new device, I thought that my latest Linksys acquisition was DOA (dead on arrival). Having had more than my share of networking "experience" and dreading the thought of calling Linksys about as much as...[insert bad memories here], I downloaded the latest driver (there was a newer version than the one that came on the CD with the adapter) and installed it. A search of the Linksys website for "Easy Answers" revealed none, and the User Guide included on the CD provided no help. Before giving up and returning the adapter (after checking to make sure the bar code in the package was not destroyed while unpacking the unit), a closer examination of the USB port on my notebook computer revealed "the problem" -- the plug end of the adapter is a flat rectangle that's 1" across with no tapering and the USB socket on my laptop is 1/2" across and recessed about 1/4" so the USB plug wasn't fully seated and the adapter wasn't getting power. Now, you might possibly run into this issue, too, so check your USB ports for clearance BEFORE purchase unless you want to progress to the next step.
  
  Step 5. While unpacking the bubble pack in Step 1 above, you might wonder why this wireless adapter comes with a 5 foot extension cord. I plugged in the extension cord, plugged the adapter into the cord and it worked. So...now I have a wireless adapter with a five foot dongle (oh well...my wireless adapter isn't totally "wire-less"), but my old Linksys PCMCIA network adapter that cost almost twice as much as the WUSB54GC didn't support WPA security.
  
  WINDOWS XP USERS: You will have an issue if you use Fast User Switching (you are using FUS if you have the welcome screen where all of the user names appear); Linksys has a workaround for that problem on their website.
  
  The Linksys WUSB54GC network adapter is small, lightweight and it works well; the connection is very reliable and fast, installation is minimally invasive and the adapter monitor that's part of the driver makes connecting to your network a breeze. It also comes with a three-year warranty.
  
  Here's hoping your installation goes as smoothly as 1,2,3 and 4; if so, your rating will be a 5.
  
  

• Great product

  
  By A2013JDMPUV6D9 on 2007-02-04
  I recently moved into a new house that has three floors - 2 stories and a basement. I made the decision to go totally wireless with my home network (2 PCs and a laptop). This adapter went on my older PC in the basement and it works perfectly. A no hassle set up means I was up and running 5 minutes after opening the package. I have not experienced any connection problems, slowdowns, etc.
  
  I highly recommend Linksys wireless products for your home networking needs.
  
  

• Great hardware, gratuitiously bad software. Avoid if you are non-expert.

  
  By A1UV7O4NACZD1S on 2007-01-29
  First off, the good. The stick gets pretty good reception, IMO.
  
  Next the neither here nor there: if you follow the advice of the sticker and run the install CD, it will replace the standard Windows wi-fi zeroconf with Linksys's own utility. Zeroconf is not really all that great, but it would be decent of them to ask you first. If you are used to doing things the Windows way, you'd probably prefer to keep doing so. The Monitor software is not bad, but it has its own faults. You might prefer it to Windows, but don't expect any help from your resident Windows expert if you have problems with it.
  
  Next the truly bad: the softwarte mucks around with windows settings (e.g. the notorious GTGINA.dll/logon problem) without asking permission, informing you, or giving you a clue as to who is responsible.
  
  It is utterly amazing this thing earned a Windows compatibility sticker given this. When you buy something with the sticker, you should at least be confident you aren't going to be sucker punched by the software installing unasked for and unwanted "improvements".
  
  This is why this software is not just BAD, it is GRATUITOUSLY bad. It's one thing to make software that is dreadful at what you buy it for (which indeed the Linksys drivers are not), it's another to spread dreadfulness around to completely unrelated functions (which the Linksys drivers do). There is no reason at all for Linksys to do this.
  
  YOU might not have a problem right now, but in the future you may end up with mysterious and uninformative error messages which will have you digging through the Windows registry to track down.
  
  For this reason, I strongly recommend that non-experts avoid this device. I understand that the changes this driver installs are intended to make life easier for non-experts. It may even succeed at this for some. But if you run into problems (particularly later), you are going to have to handle your resident Windows support guy getting very cranky. The problems the included software create are not only completely unrelated to the functions this device performs, they persist even if you don't have the device plugged in.
  
  It is incumbent on a vendor, when replacing standard ways of doing things with a way that is supposed to be "better", to achieve 100% success. Otherwise they leave the poor user high and dry with no viable support. Better obvious flaws that everyone knows about than mysterious, untraceable flaws.
  
  For Linux users, the device works flawlessly, but you have to do the following:
  
  (1) compile the RT73 driver source and install the package.
  (2) obtain the RT73 firmware deb or RPM (From the same soruce as the driver) and install it.
  
  Once you do this, when you plug the device in the system should recognize it as a wifi network adapter and give it the device name "rausb0". You then use the method normal for your Linux distro to configure it, either iwconfig on the command line, or the KWifi program for KDE users (also Ubuntu Gnome users).
  
  If you have never compiled a kernel module before, have no fear. Just google for "wusb54gc rt73 compile" and you'll find directions. Follow them step by step and you'll have success.
  
  

• One of the worst pieces of garbage I have ever owned

  
  By A1SQCSLKZC6ZVT on 2006-10-28
  I'm an A+ certified tech who previously worked for CompUSA's corporate support staff, so I am very familiar with a wide variety of hardware. This USB device is by far the worst I have ever dealt with in terms of usefulness, connectivity, and problems. I have previously used Linksys's routers, both wired and wireless, and they are some of the best routers on the market. However, they seem to have a big problem when making wireless adapters.
  
  I purchased the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router with SpeedBooster, and so I tried to by the same capable cards for all computers in the house (5 in total currently). I was lead to believe by the staff at a local computer store and Linksys tech support that using Linksys branded devices with this router would enhance the capabilities of the wireless network, in terms of range and coverage. I have now found that to be a complete distortion. There are two laptops in the house, one of which has a built in Intel wireless (that worked fine) but I decided to purchase a PCMCIA Linksys card because it was advised that it would enhance the range of the device. It did not. I recently purchased a second Laptop custom built by Alienware, and at the advice of a local computer store, opted to leave out the built in Intel network card, which was a huge mistake. The Alienware laptop does not have a PCMCIA slot, and only has a "Express Slot Type II" of which I can find no card from Linksys that functions as a wireless card.
  
  The USB device WUSB54GC constantly disconnects, especially in the room that I use it, it has constant problems. It reports a USB2.0 socket as not being one, and then I plug it into another one that is USB2.0, it works fine (reading as USB2 socket) I have used Linksys drivers and Windows drivers, and (overall) I have found the Linksys drivers to be mostly worthless, this is including on all the wireless adapter cards I have installed. I have attempted to troubleshoot this problem with any networking site and forum you can name, as well as Linksys and others, to no avail.
  
  I would not recommend this device to ANYONE, even if you have successfully used other Linksys hardware. This device is absolutely worthless, and I won't spend another dime in my life on any Linksys adapters. Their routers are fantastic. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same of their adapters.
  
  

• Wireless can be a nightmare, this device works as promised, superb!

  
  By A2PTMQWNPHQ6HK on 2006-06-14
  Having struggled through a wide range of routers and wireless card devices, all of which were either difficult to setup, extremely difficult to configure, and unreliable (a major brand router which literally "fried" itself in the first 48 hours), this simple little Linksys device seemed almost too good to be true. Since I have both PC's and Mac's I can say that with the exception of the apple devices (airport and airport extreme) this is the only piece of wireless hardware that has actually worked for me out of the box and just as simply as the enclosed software promised. My set-up time was literally 45 seconds (mostly waiting for the device to establish communication with the router for the first time)! In a world of wireless-not-quite-ready-for-primetime products, this one works!! (I'm connected to an Apple Airport, fyi for Mac fans. Totally compatable).
  
  
• Beware Windows XP Users : Wipes out user login screen
  By A3AG046XRPGTK0 on 2006-08-06
  Beware! If your OS is Windows XP and your computer is configured for multiple users who use login screen of Windows XP, this device will disable user login. Linksys support will not provide assistance as they say this product was designed to purposefully prevent use of multiple user login interface built into Windows XP. Search the Internet on:
  
  Linksys WUSB54GC Windows XP User
  
  to see many descriptions of this problem.
  
  
• Lousy Customer Support and Windows XP surprise changes...
  By ATVW3G7AJF58E on 2006-10-23
  I bought this adapter along with the Linksys WRT54GL Broadband Router. I managed to set them up and install them properly. (The best advice I got from the "Home Networking for Dummies" book was to get a 100 foot Cat5e patch cable so that I could put my router in the place I where I wanted it, and hook it up with a wired connection first. I actually only needed a 50 foot cable, and got it for $20 from a local electronics supply store.)
  
  So I got everything up and running (remember to install your router first, and then your network adapter), surfed the internet for awhile, and then shut down my computer. Here's where the trouble started....
  
  As other reviewers have noted, the Linksys installation makes changes to your Windows XP configuration, de-activating the Welcome screen and the feature Microsoft calls "Fast User Switching." This happens with no warning.
  
  When I went to turn on my computer again, I got a new start-up screen for Windows, demanding a password. I freaked out, because I don't remember ever setting a password for Windows. I called Linksys, and was extremely unimpressed with their customer support. The young woman seemed to be amused by my problem, and was actually laughing at me. She began to start me through the process of completely re-setting the router to the factory settings (this would NOT have helped).
  
  What finally helped was figuring out (with no help from Linksys) that if you never set a password for your Windows XP logon, all you have to do is hit "Enter" at the password prompt. That's all there is. Linksys could have told me this, or better yet, warned before installation that these changes to Windows XP would take place and suggest setting up a User Password in advance.
  
  Another gripe about this network adapter and the Linksys router--neither came with instruction manuals. There is a 60-page instruction manual on the CD rom that comes with the product, but you'll have to print it out yourself (Do it before you install or try installing the product). In the case of the router, I also had to do deep searching to actually find the instruction manual on the CD-ROM--it wanted to start up the Setup Wizard automatically and the instruction manual was not easy to access from the CD-ROM. I guess this may be the norm now with computer hardware, but it still stinks.
  
  I do not recommend the Linksys WUSB54GC, primarily because of the unannounced changes it makes to the Windows XP system, and because of Linksys' non-existent or non-functional and rude customer support.
  
  
• WORKS FLAWLESSLY
  By A2PRIQ2EA5GYML on 2007-05-23
  I have an old Dell that I relegated to the corner of the basement for my young girls to play games on. They like to go on the Disney Channel online, so I wanted to give them internet access. The computer is so old (7 years old-which is ancient by computer standards) that I wasn't sure this adapter would work. The short answer-it works flawlessly. It took me 5 minutes to get it up and running. Perfect internet connection to my home network.
  
  It is so good in fact that I have to buy another one. I have 3 computers on my network, and I recently moved them around to different locations. My almost new HP computer, which has a built in wireless card, moved from right next to the router, to another room. After I moved it, I kept getting a very weak signal. Not sure why, but I just popped the adapter out of the old Dell and popped it into the new HP. Literally took me 2 minutes to get it going, and I now I have excellent signal strength. I now have to buy a replacement to put back in the old computer so my girls can access the internet.
  
  I did not have any of the problems some of the other posters had, and this adapter has now worked perfectly on 2 different computers, an old one and a new one.
  
  
• Excellent USB wireless adapter from Linksys !
  By A1J3X04M5ZI9S0 on 2006-06-13
  I read the previous review on how that user had the Belkin USB wireless adapter and I chuckle a bit cause I use to have that exact same one too. The Belkin adapter was more problematic than anything and it either never wanted to stay connected or it constantly had troubles getting connecting onto my network. I had everything right from my WPA key to having the correct MAC address in my address filtering settings on my router (I did have a Linksys router and I've read that having a Belkin adapter can be more problematic with a Linksys product). I've heard some users have had problems with it even when they use a wireless Belkin router too. Anywho, I had picked up the Linksys USB wireless adapter and I have to say that it works perfectly and I have never had one problem with it yet. It's got pretty much the same features when you install an external adapter for a PCMCIA slot on a laptop. You can setup a profile so that when you plug in your adapter it will recognize those settings and connect to your network and you can sight through other networks if it picks up any. It supports WPA encryption, which I highly suggest for any home user with a home network as it's a stronger encryption method than the regular WEP 64 or 128-bit. Also keep in mind that when you install the driver for it from the CD, it disables your WELCOME screen for when you sign on to your computer...It's such a funny little thing too, here's what happens. Once the driver is installed, it places a file called GTGina.dll within a certain folder and it disables the WELCOME screen and you have to type your username and password instead of the other way around. I've done research and you can delete the GTGina value in your system registry and it will allow you to make changes again in those settings instead of denying you access. I've e-mailed Linksys on that one and they sometimes got confused by that, hehe. Aside from that tiny issue, it's an excellent adapter and I highly suggest it for Linksys users. *Thumbs up*
  
  
• Screws up your logon
  By A1XEURHL26CJ12 on 2006-08-30
  I couldnt figure out what happened to my login profiles. Its a real problem, I have no idea why it does that. I thought some virus was involved. The adapter works well in its functions but they have no right to mess with your logon screen and accounts. Why?
  
  Linksys should fix, I would buy another adapter until they resolve this faulty software.
  
  I'd return it but it is too late. Since I was new to pc, Id used macs and I had installed and removed alot of software from my new computer, I didnt know what cause the lack of multiple user account screen.
  
  I'm sure a hacker could fix the problem but for many people this will be a big hastle. I'm obviously annoyed since I reinstalled lots of software trying to fix it. I also didnt suspect that a driver for a small device would do that.
  
  im giving it one star for my pain and suffering!
  
  
• Insallation and Download Disaster
  By A2GMO86C1MF544 on 2006-12-25
  Awful product, awful service. When I tried the install on my PC it froze my computer at the 50% done level. I rebooted and tried to install again....said I had to uninstall, but it couldn't find file and kept hanging up...Called 1-800 India and told I had to download up dated software and install that...(of course without cxn I had to go to other computer in house, write CD which I did) and tried to install update drivers BUT same thing happneed....After three hours tech tells me the cannot fix will try to find registry cleaner...then hangs up on me....I call back and then get 1800 Phillipines who says there is no registry cleaner for this product....four hours now...tech wants me to install it on another computer (where not needed to see if software works)...I say no thanks...after four 1/2 hours I'll return it and never buy Linksys again...may also sell my Cisco stock as the level of customer service I got (poor) is probably indicative of larger problems at that company...do not know what I'm going to do to get rid of the unneeded program segments...
  
  
• Doesn't function and is backed by unsupportive service
  By A29I5E7WK5FHJB on 2007-06-07
  We started out with D-Link initially because back then it was the cheapest and easiest to access, but recently our adapter had technical problems and then physicall busted. We went to the store and when they were out of replacements the salesperson said get this adapter from Linksys instead. It's only a little more and it's a preferred brand nowadays.
  
  We checked the box and all the compatibility, system requirements, special wireless numbers, etc. all looked fine and matched our desires and expectations.
  
  Took it home, the installation hangs. Going online on another computer I found it's a known problem with a relatively easy fix (basically using Add New Hardware directly on the CD). The screens make for an easy to follow installation, no problems.
  
  Nothing is automatically detected. The router is less than 40 feet from the stick, and has two thin walls to pass through. The old router got a great signal and a second more distant computer and a third computer a little closer but with more and thicker walls have no problem. I'm concerned it might be a technical problem but then it finds a network from one of our neighbors down the street! Their network was secured so even if we were pirates we could use them to test the product and it was too late to go over to ask permission, but lo and behold eventually, after 30 minutes of looking up the special paramaters to type to get it to hone in on our network, it finds it, says it's online and connected, I see a signal that fluctuates broadly and rapidly in strength, but it says I can't connect to the Internet. Didn't get the chance, the signal disappears.
  
  This happens for about 2 hours and then it finally stays online, and the graphic for the Internet still won't light up but Internet Explorer finally works in spite of that and stays on for twenty minutes. Then off again all night. After scooting the computer closer, using -two- USB extenders, nothing's doing so I call support (thankfully free, but for a reason). I get some guy in India who seems informed, I don't think he's stupid, but I think his confidence in the product education makes him think whoever he's talking to is stupid. He's almost unbearably difficult to understand (He'd say the equivalent of "What's 4 + 4?" and I would say "Yes" to move the conversation along). After a twelve minute holding time he walks me through two things I told him I already did and tells me to talk to someone else about my router (the same one that works fine and worked fine before changing companies).
  
  I spent a couple hours on their forums -- which only has other customers helping out except no one has half a clue because they're also getting screwed -- and find out that someone at Linksys finally told one person on the phone that the product has known issues with XP, especially Service Pack 2, and beyond that one of the recommendations they give to solve a general problem with this adapter is to use the Wireless Zero configuration utility that comes with XP -- but also told them that Wireless Zero won't work with their product, and you'll have to use the program that came with their CD instead. They said they'd like to inform everyone but don't have the means and going with new packaging would be too expensive. Seriously.
  
  I tried every last thing I could find on those forums and then went to the live support chat on their site as a last resort. This person at least had some new ideas on what to fix but eventually hung up on me and ended the chat.
  
  Who has fifty bucks to plunk down on a product that literally cannot work, sold by a company who knows it's effectively broken for 90% of the people who'll be using it, and supported by a lack of support (save for the rude or incompetent support)? Worst experience I've ever had with something like this, and no one will take it back. Run like heck lest the whole world be run like this and populated by such products.
  
  
• Don't use their software
  By A2RS6JZ4BBENPI on 2008-01-18
  I would lower this review to two stars if I could. I am not sure whether I need our Fast User Switching -- I spent so much time trying to get the adaptor to work with our router's wireless security, that I didn't notice that the welcome screen was gone. But also, if you go to Linksys' site, it gives you instructions for installing the drivers which are totally different from the included instructions (which you can also download). One says to install the software first, the other says to plug the adaptor in first. It shouldn't remove functionality without warning, just to install a USB driver. I think the wireless bridge is safer, because it connects with an ethernet cable and doesn't install anything.
  
  I bought two of these for my kids' computers because I didn't want to deal with the WET54G. The WET54G is a wireless bridge which would need to sit on top of each computer, each one would need to be plugged in, and it would consume power. The USB adaptor plugs in or hangs from a supplied USB cord (make sure you get the one with a cord).
  
  You are instructed to insert the CD and install the software prior to plugging the device in the USB port. Then it connects to your router's wireless. The problem is that the software is not capable of dealing with the router's security, so you don't get assigned an address -- and it doesn't work when you assign yourself one. I have a WRT54G and I am only using WEP 64-bit, so it shouldn't be this hard.
  
  After fooling around with this for two days, I realized that the router has a button you can press to easily set up the security. This worked, but the software got stuck at "scanning 50%". When I closed the software, I was back where I started. Fortunately, the software's tray icon allows you to use Windows wireless zero (the built in wireless). It immediately asked me to choose a network and input the key. THAT WAS IT. THE STUPID LINKSYS SOFTWARE could not handle something that simple.
  
  The USB adapter is fine -- install the drivers and switch to Windows and you will be fine (SO FAR - one post complained about bad memory leaks). Oh, and when the software tray icon disappears and you can't find it anywhere in All Programs, just look in C:\Program Files and double-click on the executable. Sheesh, these guys should stick to hardware.
  
  
• Great! Much better than Belkin F5D7050
  By A18CCPFWCGAFEJ on 2006-05-12
  After months of cursing at unreliable access using a Belkin F5D7050, I bought this Linksys and it's been working without fault for a month. Great!
  
  
• Vista Experience
  By A10XYZSC1GNY7 on 2007-02-05
  I purchased this after my newly upgraded Vista PC decided that it did not like my old USB adapter. My choice was based upon information that Linksys had a Vista driver. True but not as simple as it should be.
  
  I downloaded the new driver uing a link on the Linksys web site and attempted to install multiple times. No luck. Tried 1-800-INDIA but unable to get through. Got up way early the next day and did reach tech support. They basically had me repeat everything I had been trying but without success. They also said that they would evaluate and call me back.
  
  On to the punch line. Linksys had a bad link on their web site whereby clicking on the link to get the updated Vista driver for this product downloaded the DRIVER FOR A DIFFERENT PRODUCT. Once they determined this and told me where to download the correct driver, all went smoothly. The joys of being an early adapter. By the way, I did check and confirmed that they now link to the proper file!
  
  
  I give this 3 stars because it actually does work well now but was hell to set up.
  
  
• Easy to install, works well
  By AR81912O7VXMC on 2007-04-11
  I ordered this for a laptop without internal wireless modem. It was very easy to install running Windows XP and connected flawlessly with the Wireless Router. The Router is on the second floor in a closet and the connection is at least "good" all over the house (2,300 sq feet, two stories). As one other reviewer wrote it is a bit longer than I expected and makes handling the computer a bit awkward with the USB ports in the back.
  
  
• Horrible product and customer service - stay away
  By A39KFTH8S609TZ on 2007-10-10
  If you like being stuck on a technical support line for 30 minutes in the year 2007, please, by all means, use Linksys. If you like your adapter USB cable to actually DESTROY any signal-detecting capability, by all means, use Linksys. If you want your Linksys have to have the worst signal-detecting capability even WITHOUT the cable, by all means, use Linksys.
  
  Plus, there are spelling mistakes all over the box and in the software.
  
  Oh, the instructions on how to uninstall the drivers is just plain wrong.
  
  STAY AWAY FROM THIS LINKSYS PRODUCT.
  
  
• Great Product but.....
  By A29FQHQUJ5KLZQ on 2006-07-31
  Windows it works fine.... but only after I bought it I discovered it takes some effort to get it to work under linux. Linksys does not support Linux very well and there is no support for this product under linux. This leaving having to use ndswrapper to make it work. Native support would be a welcome addition to this device. My Windows PC is directly connected to my network, but I am building a Linux system and it not tied into the network yet as I keep having to run a cable to it to get it online. Thus I figured a wireless adaptor would work for me till I can configure my workplace to have both systems nearer together to be wired. Turns out that not possible.
  
  Linksys should be ashamed they do not support Linux!
  
  
• Hardware seems fine, software is terrible.
  By A1SLTCAHJ472MO on 2007-01-11
  This USB adapter appears to do its job OK, although the signal reception is (of course) poor compared to adapters with proper antennas.
  
  The software has one major flaw- a horrendous memory leak that renders the PC unusable after just a few hours. This kind of fault should never have made it out of the Linksys software group, and yet they have done nothing to correct it in the YEAR that this software has been on their website.
  
  I would not buy this product again.
  
  
• Functions flawlessly
  By APXHAT1ZM3J37 on 2007-09-06
  I ordered this for my sister so she could move a computer into her room and stay connected. She managed to figure out how to use it, despite being utterly and completely technologically impaired.
  
  
  
• This little gem solved a problem for me
  By A3PMKVFSM2WNNX on 2007-11-24
  I had just installed a dual-boot (XP and Vista) in my new computer and could not get my ethernet to operate in the XP mode. I installed all the drivers I could find and it would only work in Vista. I plugged this little gem into a USB and now can access the internet in either mode through the wireless connection.
  
  
• This is a great little adapter!
  By A1E685TJTZ8HN7 on 2008-04-02
  This is an excellent adapter. The strength is as fast as my ethernet cable when it is hooked up directly to the router. Not to mention my router is about 75 feet away from my computer when I use this device. It is fast, and always stays connected! You can't go wrong with it.
  
  
• Your Decision
  By AWPODHOB4GFWL on 2008-05-16
  My Wireless-G Router was giving me fluctuating connectivity. I was advised to buy this USB 2.0 and Wireless-G Adapter, as it claims to deliver data rates up to 54Mbps. I did not find that my connectivity data rate went up, but the connectivity was more stable, meaning uploading was not necessarily faster, but more predictable. I tried using it with the five-foot cord and moving it around. There were definitely some spots that were better than others for even reception. However, I can't say that I am convinced that this Adapter really made much of a difference other than making the connectivity more even. You can take that either way. If the price doesn't bother you, then it can`t hurt.
  
  
• Linksys WUSB5GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter
  By A1NKPGAIMY5J89 on 2008-09-03
  I received the Adapter promptly and started to install it. First sheet in the box said "if you have Vista operation system do not use this CD, but go to the internet to get correct driver". This could be a little problem, since the adapter is for getting to the internet. I had another computer to use to get the driver from the internet. Transferred the new driver to this computer and installed the adapter --- nothing happened. It came back "can not find driver". Tried several times and still nothing. Send at least a half day calling Linksys Tech. Assistance and going thru their phone maze and getting cut off several times, just to be told to do what I had been doing all a long. Finally someone decided it might be the unit and to send to them and they would replace it. Which I did and in about a week had a new unit. I loaded the driver I had gotten off the net and installed the adapter -- nothing !! The CD they provided with the new adapter looked just like the one I have sent in with the bad adapter, I decided to load it and installed the adapter again. It worked --- part of the time. I am about 25 feet from the router, but unless the adapter is on the extension USB chord provided and above my desk, it only works part time. It works great when I log-on, but if I leave the computer run and it go into "sleep" it will not work until log-off and log back on. Then works fine.
  
  
  
  
• Auto setup
  By APSLHOU3OFHPP on 2006-08-25
  It set up automatically and picked up the signals for my unit and for another in the area. Highly worth the price.
  
  
• Somewhat bigger than I had hoped but works well!
  By A312Q1NWK64PME on 2007-02-10
  My notebook has built in wireless capability but in some environments it does not work well. When that happens, I simply plug in the unit and I am ready within seconds.
  
  
• Wonderful product - works with vista
  By A3IBFABSIS24WF on 2007-03-28
  I got this because I didn't want to use the built in wireless while it was on my lap. This product has a usb cord that allows me to keep the adapter away from the computer. It works with vista, as advertised. A great product.
  
  
• Linksys Wireless - G USB Adapter
  By A53L9X0XVOF52 on 2007-10-18
  Easy as can be to install and use. However, my only problem was the length. I was unable to plug into the back of my tower so I used the front access, which made it easy to be stepped on or bent (we broke ours)if you have to move the tower or have limited space so it sticks out as far as it does from the connection. If you have similar problems with limited space or available ports, I would recommend using a USB hub on a short cable so it can sit on the desktop or shelf. I would still highly recommend this product for use
  
  
• Not The Most Powerful USB Tool
  By A1GZRSQ5RSK17M on 2008-04-29
  I bought this because my daughter's old laptop did not have a card slot. We figured a USB Adapter would be the next best thing for our wireless network at home. The USB adapter sits less than 20 feet from the wireless router and has a wall with a door separating them. Many times it has had trouble picking up the signal from the wireless router when I don't feel this should be a problem. Both my wife and I have laptops with built in wireless receivers and have no issues picking up the router's signal anywhere in the house. However, it seems like this USB adapter has to be right on top of the router for the signal to be strong enough to link to anything. We've made it work but she still does not have the best signal in the world. I think I would look into something different if I were trying to come up with a networking solution now.
  
  
• Terrible product with lousy support
  By A43TUNSWJTNH5 on 2008-05-04
  I bought the Linksys WUSB54GC wireless USB adapter to connect to my new Linksys WRT160N wireless router. Although I am a fairly advanced user, I could not get the adapter to stay consistently connected, even though other wireless devices in the house stayed connected flawlessly. I called Linksys technical support. They were pretty lousy, and after speaking with 5 different representatives, the product was deemed defective. I bought a D-Link DWA-130 adapter as a replacement, and it has functioned great. So, either the product was indeed defective or was an inferior product. Either way, I was not too pleased with this purchase or the support for it.
  
  

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