The Linksys Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one small box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect both screaming fast Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) and Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps) devices to the network. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Connect four PCs directly, or attach more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. Once your computers are connected to the Router and the Internet, they can communicate with each other too, sharing a printer, digital music, picture and document files, and multiplayer or on-line games.
The WRT54GC measures approximately 4" x 4" x 1" (HWD), which makes it roughly the thickness of, and slightly larger than, a desk of cards. On one side of the unit, you'll find four RJ-45 LAN ports and a WAN port. There's also a built-in stand that slides out perpendicular to the unit for use in vertical orientation (when not in use, the stand conceals the WRT54GC's reset button). To maintain its compact shape, the WRT54GC uses an internal antenna, but one corner of the unit has a hidden panel that pivots out to reveal an SMA connector for an optional Linksys HGA7S high-gain antenna.
