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This is a great deal. I've been shopping around for a few days for a USED pre-version 5 WRT54G and still can't believe I can get one NEW here for less. The WRT54GL is essentially the WRT54G version 4. Buy it and flash it with Tomato, DD-WRT or whatever premium firmware you like. I personally like Tomato for my simple setup.
The router covers the whole building which formerly was a one story four room rural school with a gym. This router was purchased for our Community center. I immediately installed DD-WRT firmware. It has been in operation for about a month with out any problems. It is setup with remote web administration to avoid a trip to the building to check on it.
If I take GRC's IP out, it's as if there was no web server up at all. I went with Tomato and have been completely amazed. If you are interested at all in security and special features, this is the router to get - and then replace the stock firmware with one of the open source versions. Totally hidden.Even if you aren't sure which router to get, spend the extra $15 or so and get this one because if you ever do want to get the hot setup, this one lets you do it. It's Linux, runs IPTables, supports port knocking, logs incoming/outgoing data rates, logs blocked incoming/outgoing packets, allows you to limit incoming connections by source IP, and so on.I am using this as the router just in from my DSL modem and have a webcam linked in wirelessly and restricted to just being watched from my work IP address. Running against Steve Gibson's Shields-Up, if I allow his IP and forward the port, it sees the port just fine. Worst case, you have a really good router in its own right. But install other firmware (easy) and you can have features that commercial routers for businesses have.
I have been using WRT54GL for the past 1 month. Its good so far. I didnt see any problems.
I've flashed 4 or 5 of these guys at this point without any problems. Sure it's a great router, but at this point it's more than a bit behind the times. Open firmware is the ONLY reason to buy this router. Each time I keep expecting to get burned but it hasn't happened yet. If you don't plan on putting one of the many open source after market firmwares on this you really should look elsewhere. If you are looking to put after market firmware (ex: DD-WRT) on a router then look no further. I use DD-WRT and have found that it offers SIGNIFICANTLY more functionality and control than more modern routers costing 4-5x what the WRT54GL does.
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