U.S. Robotics USR8054 Wireless Router

Pros: Fast. Easy to set up. Great price. Excellent range.
Cons: Bad documentation

UPDATE (July 10th, 2004): U.S. Robotics recently updated the firmware to support WPA. The new firmware also adds stability and a few other features. The speed of the router is also improved to 125mbps from 100mbps. The actual throughput isn't ...

Pros: 1) Cheap Not Personally Validated 1) Speed 2) Security (WPA hide SSID) 3) Distance
Cons: 1) Restart issues (even with latest 1.67 firmware)

After using this router for several months, and just dealing with all the restart issues I wanted to make sure other folks were aware of my problem. My definition of restart is the cycle it goes through by turning on all of the lights, and then ...

Pros: Great range. Good throughput. 2 adjustable antennas.
Cons: Not really 100Mbps. Configuration is cumbersome. Still No WPA. Port mapping is buggy.

Well, after reading on USR’s site that WPA access would be available in Sept, I went ahead and bought this unit assuming this was supported. Its not. Support claims that WPA will be available in the next firmware update. No ETA, and the current ...

Pros: Fast, good signal, removable antenaes
Cons: Extremely poor reliability, lucky to get one that works right out of the box.

I've been setting up routers for a long time, and I've never any trouble with them until I tried the USR8054. I bought it because of the signal strength and speed, but the frustration doesn't seem worth it now. The first one I bought wouldn't even ...

Pros: Cheap after rebate, nicely built, small.
Cons: Defies easy setup as a secondary router.

I have configured home networks since the DOS days, so this is not my first router, switch or hub. Out of the box, the device requires a firmware update to work right. If you have 2.4Ghz telephones at home, they will cause this router to lose signals ...

Pros: Excellent Range Excellent speed 125mps 256bit wep security support Excellent customer support and service
Cons: There are probably better options out there due to technology advancements and competitiveness.

I originally bought the USR 8054 Wireless router and 2 USR 5410 cards well over a year and half ago but didnt actually hook them up until a couple of months ago. Initally it didnt work well untill I went to the site and downloaded the recent firmware ...

Pros: Good wireless range and features. VPN works.
Cons: Resets with every config change, no Dynamic DNS update, limited firewall rules, poor documentation.

I bought this router ($111 Canadian) to start using wireless in the home using my portable PC from the office. The specs and features looked good but it was difficult to understand some of the features and how the firewall rules interacted. After some ...

Pros: Performance seems good
Cons: Major problem with PPPoE and Alcatel Modem

I have had two of the USR8054 Routers so far over the last 6 weeks. The first was diagnosed as defective by USR support after I couldn't connect to my ISP, Bellsouth, over PPPoE. I returned that Router and got a replacement which, not surprisingly, had ...

Pros: Range, Signal Strength, Performance, Cost, ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS!
Cons: Didn't get 100mbps that it advertised, BUT I do consistently get 54mbps.

I sit here typing this review on my notebook which is no longer bound to the wires that I was formerly bogged down by thanks to USR. I had originally purchased the Microsoft 802.11g router/hub and notebook card as well. What can I say? Have you seen ...

Pros: Most security rich routers. Good range, fast throughput even with encryption turned on.
Cons: Like all consumer grade routers, may over heat over time and die.

This is a great product that's served me well for over a year. WPA security is offered by a firmware update. And I've found no reset problems after the update. In fact, the security features are better than ever. VPN access works great! I use VPN ...

Pros: Looks nice on a desk.
Cons: Poor documentation, Poor support, Poor VPN support, Poor Reliability/Connectivity

I've setup dozens of wireless networks for my friends and co-workers... Linksys, DLink, SMC, Belkin, etc. When my Microsoft router finally died after a power problem, I went to the store to get an SMC2804WBR. Well, I saw the USR8054 beside it, ...

Pros: Set-up was not difficult on WinXP based system
Cons: Did not even come close to advertised speed. Big let-down.

I bought it because of the high speed claim.
What exactly does 100MBps really mean?

Under normal situation in my home with the USR8054 wireless router on the main floor and the USR5416 PCI Adapter in the bedroom upstairs - about 35 feet through one floor.

The Signal Link was 100% and the Signal Strength was 82%.

Signal throughput fluctuated between 20 to 24 MBps.

This is with the latest firmware and drivers.

Why do they BS us with claims that they can't meet?

Zed

Pros: Great stability, range, speed, and impressive security for its class.
Cons: With current documentation, may be hard to setup for computer illiterate people.

This is a great product! Excellent range, stability, and speed! The latest firmware updates support WPA protection and 125Mbps speed (with other hi-speed packet aggregation cards). Had an issue with my 2.4Ghtz phone, and found that selecting my channel on the USR8054, instead of using dynamic channel selection, and setting my phones on a channel far from chosen router channel (frequency), seemed to help with the interference problem. Tech support email has also been very helpful. Would reccommend this router to anyone! I have used Linksys in other installations and found that the security, stability, speed, and range are far better on the US Robotics hardware.

Pros: none
Cons: Corrupts downloads reboots often with current (and beta) firmware bad customer support bad manual

It has decent speed, nice features.
However, it doesn't maintain data integrity. P2P programs have MANY problems with this router, and technical support refuses to deal with them, giving the standard: we don't support bittorrent, we don't support IRC. Long story short, the router's internal firewall mistakenly identifies 'pings of death' and drops packets of data that you're downloading.
You can't recover these packets unless you plug your computer straight in to your internet feed, bypassing the router, and downloading again.
Turning off the internal firewall does not stop 'ping of death detection'
If you have microwaves or 2.4ghz cordless phones, you WILL experience interference.
Current firmware reboots multiple times a day, so don't plan any large downloads.

Don't buy this router - Get a linksys or a netgear. Both offer more technical support, and actually work properly with various internet technology.

If I could return it, I would...

Pros: Looks good
Cons: Impossible to set up.

This is the most aggrevating hardware I have ever purchased. I'm not a Techie but I'm not a Dummy either. This is Plug & Pray. I have been trying to resolve for over 90 days. I'm stubborn but this has just about wore me out.