WHR-HP-G54 vs. WHR-G54S (Power and Heat Sink differences).

"HP" in the middle of the WHR-HP-G54 stands for High Power, it cost about $10-$20 more than the WHR-G54S, but for people who need extra Wireless distance it is well-spent $10-$20.

Regular Cable/DSL Router uses the chipset for RF Output; these chipsets are designed for an output of 30 to 40 mW.

Most Entry Level Cable/DSL Router emits about 33mW.

With a 3rd party firmware you can "OverClock" the output of the chipset.  However, since the chipset was not designed for higher output you “overclock” the noise as well.  The result is a stronger but Noisy signal.

See here what Noisy means to Wireless performance, What the Signal Strength Bars mean in Wireless hardware?

Each one of the “overclocked” Wireless Routers has a "Sweet Spot".  I.e. a balance between higher output and reasonable noise.

As an Example, I have a Linksys WRT54G v4 that with 3rd party firmware it is OverClocked to output of 55mW. I can "Overclock" it up to 90mW, but beyond 55mW the output becomes too noisy and there is No benefit from the additional power.

In comes the WHR-HP-G54 ,the “HP” has a build in RF amplifier that follows the  chipset output. 

The chipset is tuned down to provide to the Amplifier only 10mW.

Lower signal amplification at the middle level results with a much cleaner signal that is provided to the final Amplifier (HP).

The Amplifier Boost the 10mW, resultant in 80 to 90mW of clean 2.4GHz signal.

So, for a little more money, you get 2-3 times the regular signal, and close to two times the functional "OverClocked" Signal.  (Beware 2 or 3 times does not mean 2 or 3 times the distance).

The WHR-G54S has inside an Heat sink, the WHR-HP-G54 does not.

Some people think that the WHR-G54S is better because of the Heat sink.

However, the chipset in the WHR-HP-G54 uses only 10mW of the 33mW, so it does not need a  chipset Heat sink.

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