Linksys RT042 is crap
If you are familiar with the RT042, and I am pretty certain that not one of you is, then you probably agree with me.
I pulled this router from the cabinet here at the lab at Intel where we store the shiny new stuff. I was looking for a small, reliable router that I could mount on my desk so that I could connect multiple computers to one Internet port. The RT042 is a very nice looking piece of hardware, and the box makes it sound like any other router – with the addition a second Internet port and QoS.
I admit, I have no idea what QoS stands for, but it sounds like a good thing. Be as it may, the RT042 is not.
The router has been plagued with unexplainable fits of un-cooperation. It would work for a while, even dolling out IP addresses – but then it would just stop. The first thing I tried to do was access the DHCP settings and found none whatsoever. A router with no DHCP settings page? My manager thought I was crazy for suggesting such an omission – but in fact he found none himself. In the end, the only solution I ever found was to factory reset the router and then configure everything back to the way I had it before.
Today I had had enough and googled for “RT042″ and at the top of the list was a blog entry titled “Linksys RT042 is crap.” Agreeing with title I followed the URL. There I found that I was not alone in hating this piece of junk.
The blog writing and one of his posters had sent Linksys scathing emails, both provided for easy viewing. One of the posters even uploaded his instant message chat conversation with Technical Support. That’s what best addressed my dilemma.
Jerry Kindall: Linksys RT042 is crap
Hi, my name is Karol Joseph V(19288). How may I help you?
Richard: Hello I just received my RT042 QOS router and I am having a problem with it
…
Richard: I have done that
Richard: I have 5 machines total
Richard: this is number 5
Richard: the others work
Karol Joseph V(19288): Please give me a few moments. I am currently doing some research and will return shortly. I apologize in advance for the delay.
…
Karol Joseph V(19288): The router can actually accomodate a maximum of 6. Are all the computers QoS set to high?
Richard: dont know
Richard: what about DHCP
Richard: whats the limit on that
Karol Joseph V(19288): 6 DHCP including static.
…
Richard: hang on
Karol Joseph V(19288): Ok sir.
Richard: still there?
Richard: Are you saying six (6) computers only or six static IP addresses
Richard: Because I have about 8 machines total
Richard: and I was using a Linksys BEFSR81 with no problems
Karol Joseph V(19288): Yes sir 6 IP addresses (DHCP and static).
Richard: thats absurd
Richard: this is NAT
Richard: I should be able to put as manay machines as I want
Richard: as long as I have the bandwidth
…
Richard: guess I will be refunding this one
Richard: that is absurd
Richard: my BEFSR81 had an 8 port switch and could handle as many machines as I could put behind it and cost 1/2 as much
Richard: where dose it state this in the specs on the unit
Karol Joseph V(19288): The BEFSR81 is different from the RT042. Since the RT042 has QoS the number of clients that it can handle is limited.
Richard: again where does it state this in the specs…had I read this anywhere I would never have ordered it
Karol Joseph V(19288): Currently Linksys is working on that one. It was not included in the data sheet. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Richard: I am assuming I can send it back to Amazon for a full refund.
Karol Joseph V(19288): You may check if their warranty allows refunds.
Richard: If not then Linksys is liable
Richard: as the serious limitations of the router were omitted from the specs
…
A router that can only connect up to 6 computers to the net? What the hell? And this thing isn’t cheap. The router is about a year old and still costs around $100 at many sites. And then the joke is that no where on the box does it mention the limit of “up to 6 devices.” Granted the most I’ve put on the router at once is 5 – but here is the thing, the thing that was causing the problems I was experiencing: The router would assign IP addresses to the first 6 devices that connected to it and wouldn’t release any of the devices that were no longer connected. So all this time the router would work 6 times, and then stop working. Damn, good thing now I know that I need to manually release IP’s from the interface. Now if only I could configure the DHCP to lease IP’s for a shorter interval… oh yeah, there is no DHCP settings on this thing!
Below is a concise user review I found.
Ratings and Reviews – Broadband Router with QoS (Linksys-RT042) – PriceGrabber.com
Do not buy this piece of garbage!
Strengths: – it does function as a router, in a very limited sort of way – the case is sleek and sort of attractive
Weaknesses: – by default prevents internet access from all PCs – you cannot disable the dhcp server – only supports 6 PCs
Summary: Also, you cannot manage it from the web interface, it also requires using an unwieldy piece of junk software.My main problem with this router is that its capabilities are totally unlike those of all the other Linksys routers (and I’ve worked with many, many). And there is no warning on the box that it is different.
