Linksys WRT54G series


 * Linksys WRT54G series on Wikipedia Mobile site
 * Linksys WRT54G series on Wikipedia Full site

Linksys WRT54G models

 * Linksys WRT54G v1.0
 * Linksys WRT54G v1.1
 * Linksys WRT54G v2.0
 * Linksys WRT54G v2.2
 * Linksys WRT54G v3.0
 * Linksys WRT54G v3.1
 * Linksys WRT54G v4
 * Linksys WRT54G v5
 * Linksys WRT54G v6
 * Linksys WRT54G v7.0
 * Linksys WRT54G v7.2
 * Linksys WRT54G v8.0
 * Linksys WRT54G v8.1
 * Linksys WRT54G v8.2

Linksys WRT54G series
Linksys WRT54G (WRT54GS, WRT54GL, WRTSL54GS).

WRT54GS
The WRT54GS is nearly identical to WRT54G except for additional RAM, flash memory, and SpeedBooster software.
 * Versions 1 to 3 of this router have 8MB of flash memory. Since most third parties' firmware only use up to 4MB flash,
 * a JFFS2 based r/w filesystem can be created and used on the remaining 4MB free flash.

This allows for greater flexibility of configurations and scripting, enabling this small router to both load balance
 * multiple ADSL lines (multi homed) or to be run as a hardware layer 2 load balancer (with appropriate third party firmware).

WRT54GL
Linksys released the WRT54GL in 2005 to support third-party firmware based on Linux,
 * after the original WRT54G line was switched from Linux to VxWorks, starting with version 5.

The WRT54GL is technically a reissue of the version 4 WRT54G.

WRTSL54GS
WRTSL54GS is similar to the WRT54GS while adding additional firmware features and
 * a USB 2.0 port (referred to as StorageLink) which can be used for a USB hard disk or flash drive.

Unlike other models, the WRTSL54GS only has one antenna.

WRT54GX
WRT54GX comes with SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion), which uses True MIMO technology by Airgo Networks.
 * It has 3 antennas and was once marketed as a 'Pre-N' router, with 8 times the speed and 3 times the range

over standard 802.11g routers.

WRT54GP2
WRT54GP2 has 1 or 2 antennas, and a built-in ATA with 2 phone lines, but only 3 network ports.
 * "Vonage" WRTP54G has 1 antenna, 2 phone lines, 4 network ports - Same S/N Prefix

WRT54GX2
WRT54GX2 has 2 antennas, and was advertised to have 6 times the speed and 2 times
 * the range over standard 802.11g routers. Chipset Realtek.

WRT54GX4
WRT54GX4 has 3 moveable antennas, and is advertised to have 10 times the speed and 3 times
 * the range over standard 802.11g routers.

WRT54GX4-EU: chipset Realtek RTL8651B, radio chipset Airgo AGN303BB, flash: S29GL064M90TFIR4

WRT51AB
WRT series with 802.11a support. (First Generation)

WRT55AG
WRT54G series with 802.11a support.

WRT54GS
A compact wireless travel router with SpeedBooster support, it only has 1 LAN + 1 WAN RJ-45 output.

WRT54G2
The WRT54G2 is the newest iteration of the WRT54G. FCC ID: Q87-WRT54G2V1

Current known authorized firmware versions found in the wild:
 * Version/Date:


 * 1.0.00 build 012/Jan. 24, 2008
 * 1.0.01 build 003/Mar. 26, 2008

WRT54GC
WRT54GC series with 802.11b/g support. This unit has a four port 10/100 switch and one WAN port. The "C" in the router number stands for compact, as the unit measures 4" by 4" by 1" with an internal antenna. The unit can be expanded with addition of HGA7S external antenna to boost range. Hardware Version 1.0 is the only option available in the United States since introduction in 2005.

Version 2.0 is shipping in, amongst other countries, the United Kingdom. This unit has 1MB flash, 4MB RAM and a non-detachable external antenna.

The internal hardware is based on a Marvell ARM914 ("Libertas") reference design which is probably identical to the SerComm IP806SM, Xterasys XR-2407G, Abocom ARM914, Hawking HWGR54 Revision M, and the Airlink 101 AR315W. By appropriately changing the value of the firmware byte 0x26, the WRT54GC can be cross-flashed with firmware based on the same reference platform.

There are reports that a sister platform of the WRT54GC (the AR315W) has been hacked to run Linux.

WRT54G3G Mobile Broadband router
A variant which has 4 ethernet ports, 1x Internet Wired port (For DSL/Cable connections)
 * plus a PCMCIA slot for use with a Cellular Based PC Card "aircard".

Other Cellular Providers

To use this router with other Cellular providers, you MUST use an Alternative Firmware provider. The Stock Firmware does not support Cellular Providers even though you do have the exact supported aircard. eg: Telus Mobility (CANADA) uses the Sierra Wireless Aircard 595 which is supported by this router but because it is from Telus Mobility and not from Sprint (USA), it will never load the card into the router to make it operational.

WRT54G-TM
The WRT54G-TM (TM stands for T-Mobile) is also called the T-Mobile "Hotspot@Home" service. It allows calls to be made via T-Mobile's GSM network or via WiFi (UMA - Unlicensed Mobile Access), using the same telephone and phone number (a special dual-mode phone designed for the service is required i.e. Blackberry Pearl 8120). Additionally, once a call is in progress, one may transition from WiFi to GSM (and vice versa) seamlessly, as WiFi signal comes and goes, such as when entering or exiting a home or business. A special router is not needed to use the service, but the T-Mobile branded routers are supposed to enhance the telephone's battery life. This is the only known tweak to the TM version of the firmware. The hardware appears to be like WRT54GL however has 32 ram and 8 Meg flash, with five RJ-45 ports (four LAN plus "internet"). There are no RJ-11 telephone ports nor SIM slots on the v1 model. Upgrading to third party firmware via JTAG method, upgrade CFE to WRT54GL 1.1, allows flash upgrade as the stock WRT54G-TM CFE prevents third party firmware upgrades.

Third-party firmware projects

 * Although listed here under Linksys, many of these will run on other brands of Linux-based devices,
 * such as the Buffalo network-attached storage series. The extent of support for (and testing on)
 * particular hardware varies from project to project.

Major Projects

 * OpenWrt - A very customizable firmware written from scratch with a JFFS2
 * file system for package management aimed mostly toward advanced users.


 * DD-WRT - Based on OpenWrt code. Paid and free versions available.
 * Includes lots of different features.


 * LEDE Project - is founded as a spin-off of the OpenWrt project and shares
 * many of the same goals.


 * FreeWRT - Experimental firmware based on OpenWrt.
 * X-Wrt - Extension of OpenWrt for the end-user with a web-management
 * console with more than 40 control and status pages for a router.


 * Tomato - HyperWRT-based firmware aimed to be easy, stable and fast.
 * Features advanced QoS and a number of web innovations such as Ajax
 * and SVG graphs. The Tomato Manual is available at Wikibooks.

Minor Projects

 * AutoAP - AutoAP is an add on to DD-WRT that allows routers to continuously
 * scan for and connect to open (and predefined WEP) wireless networks.


 * BatBox - RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware.
 * Bluebox - Automatic open Internet scanning and bridging software that runs on WRT54G with OpenWrt.
 * Chillispot - Captive portal software that runs on WRT54G and other platforms, available under GPL.
 * Coova - OpenWrt based but with focus on Wireless Hotspot functionality.
 * Earthlink IPv6 Firmware - IPv6 feature added to original Linksys firmware (beta-test version)
 * EzPlanet - Enhanced firmware based on DD-WRT v24 and including Layer 2 Load Balancer.
 * FON - Chillispot-based worldwide Hotspot network. After unsuccessfully attempting to develop
 * a version that supports 2 SSIDs (one private, one public), FON abandoned the WRT54G series,
 * and now distributes a router called La Fonera, which does support 2 SSIDs.


 * Freifunk - German software supports wireless mesh networks with OLSR, based on OpenWrt.
 * Meraki - Mesh Networking Wifi AP developed thru Roofnet project, based on OpenWrt.
 * Neighbornode -
 * OpennetFirmware - Firmware based on OpenWrt and parts of Freifunk.
 * PacketProtector - OpenWrt-based security distribution that includes IDS, IPS, VPN, and web antivirus capabilities.
 * TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware.
 * Tarifa - Based on stock WRT54GL firmware.
 * UseMyNet - Captive Portal and Hotspot software that runs on OpenWrt.
 * WiFi-Box - No documentation available as of January 2006.
 * WiFiDog Captive Portal - WiFi Dog by Ile Sans Fil, a Captive Portal software that runs on the OpenWrt platform.
 * WifiTastic - Hotspot solution for home or small business use. Features credit card billing. Runs on the OpenWrt platform.
 * Wirds.net - A project which uses Freifunk firmware with chillispot captive portal and worldspot.net authentication.

Commercial Projects

 * HotSpotPA - A configurable OpenWrt-based HotSpot system with PayPal and credit card billing.

Deprecated Projects (no longer maintained)

 * EWRT - Enhanced WRT, with integrated captive portal based on NoCatSplash.
 * HyperWRT - Original power boost firmware project by Avenger 2.0 to stay close to official WRT54G
 * and WRT54GS firmware but add features such as transmit power, port triggers, scripts, telnet, etc.
 * HyperWRT + tofu - Based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT and some additions.
 * HyperWRT Thibor - Firmware based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT + tofu and other additions.
 * Rupan HyperWRT - Based on stock WRT54G firmware and HyperWRT.