LINKSYS WRT54G and LINKSYS WPC54G Install Help! 1

[Focusedonsound]

Hello to all. I am in no way a pro at this however being that I have purchased these items I now come to find my self in the same boat that a large amount of people are in. I have done a lot of research over the past few days and have come up with a little bit of a How to Guide on Installing the WPC54G and upgrading firmware on WRT54G. I would like to invite anyone who would like to add any HELPFUL Information which will help anyone get up and running with ease. If there are any errors in my directions please let me know as once again My intentions with this thread is to make it easy for ANYONE(non computer savy users)

 

[Focusedonsound]

1.Open IE Explorer and in the address bar type

http://192.168.1.1

look through the different menus to check router firmware.

2.Update Router firmware.
I.Open IE explorer and in the address bar go to
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/network/
II.Locate wrt54g_1.42.3_fw.exe and down load this file
to your computer which is wired to the network (not a
wireless connection)
III.Run wrt54g_1.42.3_fw.exe to update your routers
firmware.

•You now have completed the updating of the firmware of your router. This update should resolved the following issues.

Firmware 2.02.2
•Updated wireless driver to support all versions of WRT54G hardware
•Adds support to allow WAP54G connect as a repeater
•CTS protection mode set to disable by default to improve wireless performance in normal environments
•Resolved issue where the WLAN LED stays on even when wireless is disabled
•Resolved security vulnerability causing the web server in the router to crash

Firmware 2.00.8 (WRT54G v.2 only)
•Updated wireless driver

Firmware Version 1.42.2
•Updated wireless driver to 3.31.15
•Added URL and contents filters
•Added L2TP passthrough
•Added HeartBeat Signal support
•Resolved issue with Connect on Demand
Firmware Version 1.41.2
•Updated GUI format and layout

Firmware Version 1.30.7
•Adds UI control to enable/disable frame bursting
•Resolves issue with firmware upgrade error in Internet Explorer 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2.030422-1633, on Windows XP pro.
•Send 192.168.1.1 to disable DynDNS
•Resolves issue with using the 4th tx key for WEP
•Resolves issue with disconnecting PPPoE causing WPA to be disabled

Firmware Version 1.30.1
•Adjust PPTP max MTU value from 1400 to 1460
•The router is now certifiable for the UPnP logo
•Complies with final 802.11g standard
•Improved performance asymmetry between the transmit and receive paths
•Receive Broadcast packets from renew state. Some DHCP server (Dlink 300G+) send broadcast ACK after it receives a REQUEST
•Fix: The firmware upgrade will fail, if DDNS updates while upgrading
•Fix: If first DNS address fails, the second or third DNS address will be used to resolve domain names
Added the following items under Setup Page:
•Router Name
•Manual Time Server
•MAC Clone
•wireless domain
•Security Settings
Added the following items under System Page
•UPnP enable/disable
•Ping Test and Traceroute
Added the following items under Wireless Page
•CTS Protection Mode
•Basic Rate
Added the following items under Status Page
•Router Name
•Start IP Address
•End IP Address
Added Wi-Fi Protected Access(TM) support including AES and TKIP encryption
•Resolves issue with Port Forwarding name showing up as garbage characters
Added "B-Only" option to wireless modes
Added "Default" option to Basic Rate settings

Firmware Version 1.02.1
•Incorporates updates found in the Draft IEEE 802.11g version 6.1 specification
•Resolves interoperability issues with legacy 802.11b devices under Mixed Mode
•Resolves a performance bug where the performance in a mixed b, g network did not go up once the last b client disassociated
•Resolves issue where WEP degrades performance
•Resolves issue with TZO DDNS Service
•"Domain Name" replaces "name"
•TFTP server will only verify image file name "xxxx.bin"
•MAC Address Filter under the Advanced tab works on both wired and wireless clients
•Fixed a bug that prevented wireless clients from connecting to the Internet if there was no active wired PC (PPoE customers in Europe and China only)
•Support for UPnP enabled applications such as MSN Messenger
•Fixed a bug that caused computers connected to the LAN ports to be dropped at some interval only to be immediately re-connected
•Fixed Dynamic Routing issue between 2 Routers
•Allows User to name Static Route Configurations
•Modified PC List Web Page to avoid confusion
•Stabilized Wireless-G to LAN and WAN Throughput
•Stabilized Wireless-B to LAN and WAN Throughput
•Improved LAN-WAN Throughput

Firmware Ver.: 1.01
•Initial release

Installing WPC54G PCI card under Windows XP.

If you have already attempted to install the WPC54G in your computer you have already discovered that there are instillation issues with this PCI card and Windows XP. Please follow the steps below to get your wireless network up and running.

If you currently have your WPC54G card still installed in your computer please make sure to properly uninstall all drivers and software.

• If you have Installed the Linksys software on your computer I have found that the only way to fully remove this software is to use the LINKSYS UNINSTALL.
? First REMOVE your Linksys WPC54G PCI card
? Go to Start
? View all programs
? Locate a folder for (LINKSYS)
? Now Click Uninstall and allow it to uninstall.
? Once the uninstall is completed you will need to Reboot your computer.

• Go to my computer click on C: and create a folder called (Linksys)
• In order for you to properly install the WPC54G it will be necessary for you to download the latest drivers from linksys.

http://www.linksys.com/download/driver.asp?dlid=92&osid=6

when you click on the link to download the file save the file to the (Linksys) folder you have just created.
• Now you will need to unzip the file. Unzip the file to the the (Linksys) folder.
• With this file now unzipped and placed in the (Linksys) Folder your ready to now install the PCI Card.

1. Plug In the PCI card and the install wizard will appear on your screen
2. It will ask you if you want to let windows choose (recommended) or if you would like to point it towards a folder.
3. Select to point it towards a folder and direct it to the (Linksys) folder.

Your WPC54G PCI card should now be installed and operational.

If you are still having any issues I have listed a few things that might help you get on line, or pointed in the right direction.

• Connected but loosing connection.

Wireless problem in windows xp where the user loses the wireless connection after running windows update ( and not installing the service pack ) in his machine.

This happens because of the installation of a recommended hotfix (815485) from microsoft from XP. This hotfix is a part of an optional but recommended windows xp update which adds WPA support to the wireless card drivers.

The indication of this problem can be like this,

1. After the wireless card is enabled and connected to the AP it will not get an IP address nor will it be able to ping to the AP. The wireless connection properties will say that it is connected with good signal strength, it will also send packets but not receive any packets back.

2. The Wireless status will say "One or more wireless networks available" when the user tries to connect , it will not connect , but it will continue to say "One or more wireless networks available". Whatever the user does will not help himto connect to the AP.

Solution:

To solve this problem we need to either uninstall the update or enable encryption in the wireless network in open key mode.

Uninstallation of the hotfix:

1. Go to control panel " Add remove programs".
2. Scroll to the bottom and look out for an entry which says,
"Windows XP Hotfix (SP2)Q815485"
and remove it

Enabling encryption:

The user can enable encryption in his wireless network which will also fix this problem. To enable encryption the user first needs to enable encryption in his AP and follow these steps to enable encryption in the wireless card.

1. Right click on the network icon in the system tray and click on " View available networks",
2. Select the network name or SSID of the AP,
3. Enter the encryption key in the fields " Network key " and " Confirm network key",
4. Uncheck the checkbox which says "Enable 802.1X authentication for this network" and click on connect.

After a few seconds the user will be able to establish an encrypted connection to his wireless network.

The user can also alternately configure encryption using the following steps,

1. Right click on the network icon in the system tray and click on " View available networks",
2. Click on the button advanced.
3. It will take the user to the "Wireless networks" tab of the wireless area connection properties window.
4. Select the entry in the preferred network and delete it,
5. Select the entry in the "Available networks " and click on configure,
6, In the configuration window select the Data encryption as WEP and Network authentication as Open system,
7. Click on the TAB Authentication and uncheck the check box which says "Enable 802.1x authentication"

Click OK twice to come back to the desktop and check the connection to the router, which will be active now.

Disabling the Wireless Zero configuration:

If the wireless card vendor has supplied a utility program for windows xp, the user can install the utility and disable the Wireless zero configuration.

The user can follow these steps to disable the Wireless zero configuration.

1. Go to the wireless networks tab of the wireless area connection properties window.
2. Uncheck the check box which says " Use windows to configure my wireless network"

Checked configurations:

1. SMC2404WBR + Windows XP professional SP 1 + Q815485 + SMC2632w V2. - positive

Able to connect but not able to receive packets, the computer with the wireless card goes on sending packets but is not receiving the packets.

2. SMC2404WBR + Windows XP professional SP 1 + Q815485 + SMC2435 - negaitve

3. SMC2404WBR + Windows XP professional SP 1 + Q815485 + SMC2662w V3. - positive

Not even able to connect without encryption, only if encryption is enabled able to connect. Shows one or more available networks over and over again

3. SMC2404WBR + Windows XP professional SP 1 + Q815485 + SMC2664 - positive

Not even able to connect without encryption, only if encryption is enabled able to connect. Shows one or more available networks over and over again.

4. SMC2404WBR + Windows XP professional SP 1 + Q815485 + SMC2335 – negative

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;826942

 

[bcastner]

A star for you sir.

Some additional notes:

. If using Windows XP, get the wireless rollup hotfix update and apply it:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826942

. If using the WMP54G (and possibly other adapters) disable if found the Bluetooth compatability mode in Advanced settings.

. The WRT54G is an incredible deal. If you own one, please see the firmware enhancements done by "wifi box" and "Seavsoft". The broadbandreports.com Linksys Forum has numerous discussions of what can be done with this little box, and you owe it to yourself to research the issue on their Linksys Forum:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/equip,16

http://wrt54g.sonycrx2xx.org/om/forum/equip,16

http://www.sveasoft.com/postt119.html

 

[Focusedonsound]

Thanks bcastner!

Do you know if this should be fixed in SP2?