Linksys WRT54GX4 SNAFU

by Volker Weber

Looks like Linksys will have to recall a few of those units and make them fit an RJ45 plug if they want customers to connect to the internet.

Comments

oops.

That's a security measure!

Is this a photoshop, or did linksys actually build these with RJ11 jacks?

Ken Porter, 2005-12-15 16:20

I have been told that Linksys did indeed ship them and are now making them invisible as fast as they can. Including some not so rave reviews.

LOL! Thanks, whether this is real or not, it made my evening! :-D

Christian Bogen, 2005-12-15 17:12

Who's looking at the connectors anyway? Check the three antennae. Looks like this one goes to eleven too.

I'm not so sure this is real?

If they got the jack wrong on the production line, why is the hole in the legend sticker for an RJ11 as well?

Jim Andrews, 2005-12-15 19:30

It's a cute photoshop, but come on, guys, the first hit on a google search for the unit debunks it: http://www.jiwire.com/linksys-srx400-wireless-router-WRT54GX4-photo-image-gallery.htm

Unless, for some reason, they made two versions of the product, the photo there from a real life unit clearly shows all of the jacks are the same size.

Not to mention, the ONLY result of a google image search for it shows the same thing:
http://images.google.com/images?q=Linksys%20SRX%20400

Not to be a joy killer or anything, but come on, guys :-P

Zen Tormey, 2005-12-15 20:18

I would be really curious if it is worth the extra money

compared to a Firmware boosted WRT54G

or compared to the Netgear light machine (WPN824)

pierre

It has to go to eleven. ;-)

Pierre, there's already a new light machine: the DG834PNB. Now with black hat included (and ADSL 2+ modem but who's going to need that anyway ;))

@Chris. The three antennae are set up as beams, you know, like CB. ;-) Next thing you know, boosters will come back.

some Siemens Models also have RJ11 connectors.
you just need a special cable then....

Chris Bendlin, 2005-12-16 13:35

This is not a joke. I got one when Amazon was the only seller a few weeks ago. I was working with a Linksys tech to get it set up since the CD wouldn't work. She said to plug the cable modem into the internet connection, and I found the plug was bigger than the hole in the router. They acted like they had never heard of the issue, and told me that I had to get it replaced by Amazon, not Linksys. I returned the unit and got another one. The box said WRT54GX4 and had the correct three antenna picture on it. But when I opened it there was a two antenna SRX200 router inside. I think I've had enough of Linksys' sloppy Q.C.

David Rule, 2005-12-18 19:05

I used to work for a well known computer manufacturer between 1990 and 1994. During my time there we had three incidents of manufacturing soldering the wrong connectors on to logic boards. Fortunately they were small batches.

In the UK, British Telecoms ADSL presents to an RJ11 (It's PPPoA, not Ethernet) so it's quite likely that these devices do exist but shouldn't exist in certain countries. Perhaps. Maybe.

OK. I'm grabbing at straws. But if Apple can produce 7100s with 4 ADB ports and no Geoports, there's no reason why LinkSys couldn't do this.

A portion of the internet port is covered up by the sticker so it appears to be an rj-11 port. Its really an rj-45 port underneath it. The 8 connectors are there. Just press a little harder when inserting the RJ-45 connector.

Jack Stephan, 2005-12-19 19:42

I talked to Linksys today, and they said I could take a razor blade and cut the hole bigger...that the correct connector was under the undersized opening. Maybe Linksys should include a razor blade in the box. What a joke!

David Rule, 2005-12-20 01:16

I'm going be buying one of these Linksys WRT54GX4 tonight, so I'll let you all know what plug mine has when I get it! I'll dig under a label, or a rigid plastic case? Anybody got any good recomendations about where I should get best price / availablilty that I can order it from now?

Talk to you later.
W

Willard Quinn, 2005-12-21 03:54

I've just received my second (replacement) unit from Amazon. The hole in the label is bigger for the "internet" port and the connector plugs in without issue now. But I had to use a knife to enlarge the four "ethernet" ports to allow the connectors to securely snap in. As you can see in the photo, there is no notch at the bottom of the hole for the tab that snaps the connector into place. The connectors go into the holes fine but can easily pull out again without modifying the holes.

Bill McLaren, 2005-12-21 19:53

i was so excited to get this router.now i wish i had never bought it!! yes the internet port hole was to small and the signal strength sucks!! i live in a 2 story 1800 sq ft house and can't get a excellent signal read on all computers??? what the hellllll are all the antennas and mimo tecnology for??? my old 54g router did a better job and i got excellent signal reads on all computers.also my xbox live is know hooked into the neighbors connection due to horriable preformance with the new router and i'm using a linksys 54g gaming adapter.i was told move the anntenas,do this ,do that etc!!! like i said what good are all the anntenas and mimo!!! product sucks!!! but i'm a sucker and will probally try netgears 240??

greg munson, 2006-01-11 21:24

You could still use this, if you knew how to do the wiring. Ethernet only runs on two pair, so you just have to find which two are send and which two are receive on the router side.
I'd love to have one of these messups to toy around with like that.

Matthew Mills, 2006-01-18 17:58

I'm a journalist reviewing the WRT54GX4 and encountered this exact problem with the mis-cut Internet sticker. The photo posted above is accurate. I picked at the sticker with my nails until I could fit the jack in properly, but if it were my own router I'd be a lot more hesitant to destroy part of it before I'd even turned it on.

My First Impression: Linksys WRT54GX4.

Hey Guys...I got the WRT54GX4 and it must have been one of the newer ones because the Internet socket is a "real" RJ45. But like greg munson, the wireless access really sucks. My laptop only works if it's about 2 feet (yes 2 FEET!) away from the router w/c is sitting on my desk. Yes I know it should be located high up and maybe, just maybe my monitor sitting about a foot away just might be interfering with the router but isn't this just a bit ridiculous? The antennas were detached when i got the box and I did notice that the antennas have thin wires dangling from them but when I look inside the holes where they mount, i don't see any socket or hole to put the wires through. Is this normal? I just stuffed the wires through the holes and mounted the antennas but somehow, I think theres a connection here between the poor signal and the antennas. Are my antennas "normal" as in the wires really just dangle inside the router without being connected to anything?

Tim Samson, 2006-07-19 08:09

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vowe.net is a personal website published by Volker Weber a.k.a. vowe. I am an author, consultant and systems architect based in Darmstadt, Germany.

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