Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter | 
| Brand: Linksys
Buy New: See price in cart
New (25) Used (4) from $26.99
Rating:  55 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Network Interface: Hi-Speed USB
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.7
nv:Device Type: Wireless Adapter
Interface: USB 2.0
Wireless Network Standards: IEEE 802.11g
Wireless Data Transfer Rates: 54 Mbps
Wireless Network Configuration: Ad-Hoc (Peer-to-Peer)
Wireless Network Configuration: Infrastructure
Wireless Transmit Power: 17 dBm
Security Protocols: 128-bit WEP
Warranty: 3 years limited warranty
MPN: WUSB54GC
Model: WUSB54GC
UPC: 745883568598
EAN: 0745883568598
ASIN: B000CRFI8A
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Simply plug-and-play operation to connect PCs wirelessly to networks | | • | Supports USB 2.0 with up to 54 Mbps, high-speed data transfer rate with automatic fallback | | • | Compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b (2.4GHz) standards | | • | Supports up to 128-bit WEP and WPA encryption security | | • | Compatible with Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, and XP |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Are you tired of running wires through your house to keep your computers networked and connected to the Internet? Have you recently purchased a wireless data card only to discover that you have to open up your computer to install it? Don't worry, help has arrived. With the Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter, you won't need power drills or screwdrivers to connect to the Web anymore. 
The Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter converts a USB port into a 54 Mbps Wi-Fi connection. | All you'll need is an available USB slot. You simply plug the adapter into your USB port, and immediately you'll be connected to your wireless network. It can't get much simpler than this. By incorporating USB 2.0 and Wireless-G protocols, the Linksys WUSB54GC can immediately begin delivering data rates up to 54 Mbps (five times as fast as 802.11b) without the trouble of running wires or opening up the case of your desktop computer. To install the adapter, you simply plug it into any available USB port. (It's compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports, but 2.0 will yield the fastest speeds.) You can plug it directly into your PC, or you can use the included USB extension cord to put the adapter anywhere you'd like, up to five feet away. Because the adapter gets its power through the USB connection, no power cord is necessary. The included setup wizard walks you through configuring the adapter to your wireless network settings, step by step. The Linksys WUSB54GC lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, as long as you have a wireless signal to connect to. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch via e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and hard disk storage space with other computers on the network. You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number of public hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels, and convention centers. The new push-button setup feature makes it easy to configure your wireless devices. Just push the button on the access point and on your other enabled wireless device to automatically create a safe connection, protected by the industrial-strength security of Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and 128-bit encryption. This means that your data stays secure.
What's in the Box
WUSB54GC USB adapter, USB extension cable, setup wizard CD-ROM, user's guide on CD-ROM, and quick installation guide.
Product Description
Connect your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to a wireless network at incredible speeds with the Linksys Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. By incorporating USB 2.0 and Wireless-G the Adapter delivers data rates up to 54Mbps (5 times as fast as 802.11b), without the trouble of opening up the case of your desktop computer.To install, simply plug the Adapter into any available USB port. (It's compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports, but 2.0 will yield the fastest speeds.) You can plug it directly into your PC, or use the included USB extension cord to put the Adapter anywhere you'd like, up to five feet away.It gets its power through the USB connection, so no power cord is necessary. The included Setup Wizard walks you through configuring the Adapter to your wireless network settings, step by step. The Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter is also compatible with the Wireless-B (802.11b) network standard, with data rates up to 11Mbps. And your wireless communications can be protected by industrial-strength WPA and 128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.The Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running cables. Now you don't have to drill holes in your walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and hard disk storage space with other computers on the network. You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number of public hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers.So don't hassle with running cables through your house - get connected the easy way with the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 50 more reviews...
 Wireless networking made easier with Linksys July 23, 2006
Daniel Rutkowski (Wernersville, PA USA)
59 out of 62 found this review helpful
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 February 4, 2007
Scott Pointon (Crest Hill, IL United States)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
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. January 29, 2007
Matthew Leo (Boston, MA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
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 October 28, 2006
J. Grose (Dallas, TX USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
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.
Beware Windows XP Users : Wipes out user login screen August 6, 2006
C (United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
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.
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