Routing Performance

Routing performance for the G2 and WRT54G V5 using our standard test method is summarized in Table 1. Keep in mind that the V5 design is not the same as the G2 and uses a Broadcom 5352 instead of the Broadcom 5354 in the G2. I used the V5 because I had neither the WRT54GV8 nor WRT54GV82 on hand to test.

The G2 measured around 72 Mbps in the WAN to LAN and LAN to WAN tests, while the V5 runs in the 48 - 54 Mbps range. But when both directions were run simultaneously, average G2 throughput for the 1 minute IxChariot run dropped to 45 Mbps, due to what appeared to be a battle for throughput between up and download that resulted in WAN to LAN traffic grinding to a virtual halt for most of the run (Figure 6). The V5 does not exhibit similar behavior, but interestingly enough, the WRT54GL does.

This inability to handle full-speed traffic in both directions simultaneously caused a dismal performance in the Maximum Simultaneous Connections test of only 8 connections (4 up, 4 down). This is the same as I measured for the V5.

Table 1: Routing throughput

Figure 6: WRT54G2 Routing throughput composite plot

I did some additional investigation into the G2's simultaneous throughput problem and found that if I had IxChariot limit its data send rate to around 20 Mbps, I didn't see the throughput battle. But with a send limit of 25 Mbps, the problem reappeared.

What this means is that if you are using the WRT54G2 with an Internet connection slower than around 20 Mbps, you probably won't see a problem. But if you're using it on a connection capable of higher speeds, you could see your downlink throughput go into the toilet on long downloads.

Use the Router Charts to see how the WRT54GV2 stacks up against other routers.

Tags: Linksys, WiFi, Wireless reviews,

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