OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Routers Methodology v3.0
Routers Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Routers Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Routers Methodology v3.0

Linksys WRT54GL review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£55Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g)Wi-Fi speed:54 MbpsLAN port speeds:100 MbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

Linksys WRT54GL Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 2 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

Linksys WRT54GL
6.0/10

Overall score

Score
6.0/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

40%

5.3

Technical score

25%

5.3

Reviews score

25%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.9, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–¼Worse than 99% of routers
7.2

Value for money

Value for money
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

70%

6.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–¼Worse than 99%
5.3

Technical score

Technical score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components

26%

4.3

Wireless

20%

5.1

Ports

18%

5.8

Networking

14%

8.5

Security

12%

4.2

Hardware

10%

4.2

Management

â–¼Worse than 99%
5.3

Reviews score

Reviews score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models

5.3

Mark 8.0 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

80%

8.5

Average grade

20%

6.3

Popularity

Grades by review (2)
2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
â–¼Worse than 99%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
  • linksys-wrt54gl
linksys-wrt54gl
Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of router Linksys WRT54GL

Technical score
Technical score
5.3/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components:

26%

4.3

Wireless

20%

5.1

Ports

18%

5.8

Networking

14%

8.5

Security

12%

4.2

Hardware

10%

4.2

Management

5.3
Reviews score
5.3
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Score components:

70%

6.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

7.2
Brand name
Linksys
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g)
This router uses Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g), which is less advanced than 97.9% of routers and equal to 0.2% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz
This router supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are less versatile than 76% of routers and equal to 21.6% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
54 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 54 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 99.8% of routers and equal to 0.2% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz channel width options, which is fewer than 95.8% of routers and the same as 1% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA2, WPA, WEP
This router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP Wi-Fi security protocols, which are more advanced than 37.9% of routers and equal to 14.8% of routers.
DoS protection
yes
This router includes DoS protection. 9.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
yes
This router includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 4.7% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
yes
This router supports MAC address filtering. 1.7% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
yes
This router supports URL filtering. 2.6% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
IPv6 support
no
This router does not support IPv6. 91.4% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
yes
This router supports dynamic routing. 54% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
no
This router does not support inter-VLAN routing. 24.5% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
no
This router does not support VLAN tagging. 66.6% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
yes
This router includes QoS controls. 2.4% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
4
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 34.2% of routers and the same as 59.3% of routers.
LAN port speeds
100 Mbps
This router offers 100 Mbps on its LAN ports, which is slower than 74.5% of routers and on par with 25.1% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 0.8% of routers and the same as 89.4% of routers.
N. of USB ports
0
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 0 USB ports, which is fewer than 60.1% of routers and the same as 39.9% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
This router does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 1.7% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
Management interface
Web UI
This router uses Web UI for management, which is less advanced than 78.5% of routers and equal to 21.2% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI
This router supports Web UI firmware update methods, which are less convenient than 75.5% of routers and equal to 23.9% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
no
This router does not include traffic monitoring. 86.3% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
no
This router does not offer a guest Wi‑Fi network. 92.9% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
no
This router does not offer captive portal features. 22.4% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
CPU clock speed
0.2 GHz
This router runs at 0.2 GHz, which is slower than 99.8% of routers and on par with 0.3% of routers.
RAM capacity
16 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 16 MB of RAM, which is less than 95.8% of routers and the same as 3.5% of routers.
Internal storage
0.003906 GB
Market range: <0.0039 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.003906 GB of internal storage, which is less than 87.3% of routers and the same as 12.7% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
no
This router does not offer hardware acceleration. 75.3% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
2
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 2 external antennas, which is more than 41.2% of routers and the same as 16.5% of routers.
Show more

Linksys WRT54GL vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA2, WPA, WEP vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • 3.7 W lower power consumption
    This router uses less power than the average router (4.4 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
    4.4 W vs 8.1 W
  • Removable antennas
    This router has removable antennas, while the average router does not. 27.8% of routers have removable antennas.
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA2, WPA, WEP vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • 3.7 W lower power consumption
    This router uses less power than the average router (4.4 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
    4.4 W vs 8.1 W
  • Removable antennas
    This router has removable antennas, while the average router does not. 27.8% of routers have removable antennas.
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Older Wi-Fi version
    This router uses an older Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • 31.2% lower review score
    Reviews score
    5.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 99% of models

    5.3

    Mark 8.0 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.5

    Average grade

    20%

    6.3

    Popularity

    Grades by review (2)
    2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    5.3 vs 7.7
  • Slower LAN ports
    This router has a lower LAN port speed than the average router (100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
    100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    0.2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 96.9% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (54 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    54 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • Fewer Wi-Fi bands
    This router supports fewer Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
    2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
  • 31.2% lower review score
    Reviews score
    5.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 99% of models

    5.3

    Mark 8.0 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.5

    Average grade

    20%

    6.3

    Popularity

    Grades by review (2)
    2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    5.3 vs 7.7
  • 11.9% worse value for money
    Linksys WRT54GL has worse value for money than the average router (7.22 vs 8.1).
    7.22 vs 8.08
  • Older Wi-Fi version
    This router uses an older Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • 96.9% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (54 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    54 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • Fewer Wi-Fi bands
    This router supports fewer Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
    2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
  • Narrower channel widths
    This router has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    20 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • No MU-MIMO
    This router does not support MU-MIMO, while the average router does. 54% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • No band steering
    This router does not support band steering, while the average router does. 57.6% of routers support band steering.
  • No beamforming
    This router does not support beamforming, while the average router does. 62.1% of routers support beamforming.
  • No WPS support
    This router does not support WPS, while the average router does. 89.8% of routers support WPS.
  • 32 fewer connected devices
    This router supports fewer connected devices than the average router (32 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    32 vs 64
  • No VPN server support
    This router cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 68.8% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • No PPTP server
    This router cannot act as a PPTP server, while the average router can. 66.2% of routers can act as a PPTP server.
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    This router does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 91.2% of routers support IPv6.
  • No DHCP reservation
    This router does not support DHCP reservation, while the average router does. 99.2% of routers support DHCP reservation.
  • 11,000 fewer NAT sessions
    This router has fewer concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (4,000 vs 15,000). The average router supports 15,000 concurrent NAT sessions.
    4,000 vs 15,000
  • Slower LAN ports
    This router has a lower LAN port speed than the average router (100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
    100 Mbps vs 1 Gbps
  • 1 fewer USB ports
    This router has fewer USB ports than the average router (0 vs 1). The average router has 1 USB ports.
    0 vs 1
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Weaker management tools
    This router uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App
  • No traffic monitoring
    This router does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 86.1% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    This router does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 92.7% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • No DLNA support
    This router does not support DLNA, while the average router does. 50.4% of routers support DLNA.
  • Less capable NAS services
    This router includes none NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    none vs SMB, media server
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    0.2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • No hardware acceleration
    This router does not offer hardware acceleration, while the average router does. 75.2% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
  • 93.8% less RAM
    This router has less RAM than the average router (16 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
    16 MB vs 256 MB
  • 96.9% less internal storage
    This router has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.1 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.
    0.003906 GB vs 0.125 GB
  • 14 years older release date
    This router is an older model than the average router (2005 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    2005 vs 2019

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

9.0
Kc Yukon
≈ estimated
09/04/2015
Short review · features and long-term experience
Verdict
Linksys WRT54GL suits basic home networks or a very small office and is easy to set up.
Overview video
Overview video
Not graded

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Linksys WRT54GL

  • Highly reliable and 'rock solid' hardware that can run for years without restarts
  • Excellent support for open-source firmware like DD-WRT, Tomato, and OpenWRT
  • User-friendly web-based management interface with helpful built-in guides
  • Removable antennas allow for easy hardware upgrades and signal boosting
  • Solid range and coverage for standard home environments
  • Affordable price point, often described as great value for money

What customers don't like about Linksys WRT54GL

  • Outdated Wireless-G (802.11g) technology with slow speeds (~15-54 Mbps) by modern standards
  • Lacks support for modern 5GHz, Wi-Fi 6, or IPv6 networking features
  • Limited RAM and storage can cause performance bottlenecks with modern security or heavy traffic
  • Does not handle high-bandwidth tasks like 1080p/4K streaming or multiple device gaming well
  • Initial setup for ADSL connections can be frustrating and require manual configuration
  • Stock firmware may lack advanced features found in third-party options

Verdict

The Linksys WRT54GL is a legacy 802.11b/g wireless-G broadband router operating on the 2.4 GHz frequency band with maximum wireless speeds of 54 Mbps. It features four 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet LAN ports, one WAN port, and dual external omni-directional antennas, all powered by a Linux-based architecture. Its primary advantages include its legendary compatibility with third-party open-source firmware like DD-WRT, which unlocks advanced business-class networking features, and its highly reliable, durable build quality. However, its main drawbacks are its severely outdated performance compared to modern standards, being limited to a single band and relatively low throughput speeds that struggle with contemporary high-bandwidth internet connections.

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