Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 and Linksys Routers

speedbooster won't really help.  what are you using the connection for anyway?  you'll never notice the difference for things like internet sharing

the 'L' model should be able to run 3rd party firmware like dd-wrt.  The same would be true for the older models of the wrt54 (rev 1 through rev 4 but not the current rev5).

I'm not sure what the current status of the 'S' is -- I know the later hardware revisions got nuked like the v5 did for the wrt54g.

Personally, do some google searches and buy a buffalo router that supports dd-wrt :)

it generally offers many more features and is in my opinion more supported:  http://www.dd-wrt.com/ .

it is technically possible too use dd-wrt on a v5 (if you make or buy a jtag cable) but the very limited flash and ram on that unit mean that you don't get many of the extra features.

I personally have two wrt-54g rev2's and they work very well.

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 05-02-200604:29 PM

I'd caution you to verify that the Linksys WRTG??? router is indeed compatible with the 3945 before committing to any purchase.

I had a WRT54GX4 router which was working at top (as good as or better than wired) wireless speeds with 2 laptops having the WPC54GX4 cards. The moment I received my Inspiron 6400 (April 12th) with built-in 3945 card and turned the latter on, it disrupted all communications before disconnectibg itself. To cut a long story short (including returning the 1st router and buying a 2nd one), LinkSys has officially recognized that there's a compatibility problem and is doing testing right now. I'm receiving a WRT300N router today (still have to sell off my 2 WPC54GX4 cards...) and am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be compatible (like the Belkin Pre-N router) with the 3945. It's possible that the non-GX4 versions of the LinkSys routers may be compatible but, from what I've been reading on other threads in this Dell forum, there seem to be problems with those as well (though it's the 3945 that seems to be behaving badly...).

I plan to post a detailed and systematic report here for other 3945 Dell users contemplating LinkSys routers, but in the meantime I recommend you read the following Amazon review (the one by Ronald Epstein):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006A7X36/002-1968707-9242404?v=glance&n=172282

regards,

Sunthar

October 19, 2005

Intel (Quote, Chart)is the first vendor to be certified for Cisco (Quote, Chart)Compatible Extensions (CCX) 4.0, specifically on the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection — the chip that will be part of the next generation Centrino-based laptops shipping in early 2006. The CCX program ensures that client equipment is ready to interoperate with Cisco WLAN infrastructure equipment, and since Intel and Cisco are both at the top of their respective markets (laptop chips and enterprise WLAN equipment), they had better play nice together. CCX 4.0 is a part of the Business Class Wireless Suite announced by Intel and Cisco in August, a partnership by the companies which is meant to improve WLAN "robustness in the enterprise."

Wouldn't this mean it should be compatible with Linksys (Cisco) products???

they're all technically compatible -- that's the whole point of the wifi certification.  i've had most trouble with intel cards and atheros chipsets, but even then the problem wasn't that bad.

It's entirely possible that any specific card driver revision and router firmware revision will have issues.  Dlink's consumer 524 and 624 series (atheros) of routers have several intel problems -- which have been resolved at this point (for the most part).

While I don't have a 3945 card, my pro2200BG runs fine on my wrt54g (with the 3rd party good firmware).

My original point though was that if you're going to buy a linksys router, get one that can support this open source firmware -- you get so much extra functionality (that would normally cost a lot!).  Even if you don't have a use for it now (and don't want to void your warranty by switching), you'll always have the option.

There is a reason that the old, used linksys wrt54g's sell for as much if not more than their new, sealed v5 junk counterparts.  If you dislike ebay and want something new, I would check out the dd-wrt site and buy the buffalo router they are recommending.

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 05-02-200608:09 PM

..... anyone wants to buy a WRT54G 1.0 so I can get a new Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 in its place?

(Just kidding :smileytongue: )

Message Edited by esquire on 05-05-200612:15 AM

with the 3rd party stuff I'm sure it depends on how many rules you want to load or what apps you want to run.  I don't do p2p file sharing and almost never notice load on my rev2

I need to find out if my rev2 has the extra unlockable ram -- any ideas how to do that?

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 05-04-200612:54 PM

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@NemesisDB wrote:

the v1's were solid in that they are the only model compatible with PoE.  the downside is they have a slower CPU

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Not to mention 1.0 has a mini PCI daughter card on board :smileywink:

In reality, I hardly notice a significant performance difference between my WRT54G 1.0 and 3.1.