I'm trying to determine if someone makes just a plain old wireless hub... They make PCMCIA wireless cards, and PCI and USB, but what about for plain old 10BaseT? Like if you want to do wireless to your TiVo?

- Jon

You mean you want to attach a device that's normally just 10BaseT to a wireless network? You want an ethernet converter. Until very recently, the only one available was from Orinoco/WaveLAN/Lucent/AT&T/whatever, but there have been some new ones announced. Check out the Wireless empeg just got cheaper thread.

The easiest way to do wireless to the TiVo would be to use a Tivo AirNET (Note: You'll also need a Prism 2/2.5 based 802.11b card). Otherwise, you could use something like the WET11 to bridge the Tivo to the wireless network.

Hmm, I think bitt ansewered your question, but I just wanted to add some more... 802.11b "hubs" are divided into two types, those with NATing routers built in, and those without. If you want to connect wireless stuff to your preexisting ethernet network that either has real IP's or it's own NAT box, you just need a strait Access Point. If this is your one box for your one IP, you probably want something that'll handle NAT too.

Now, the unfortunate part is that you don't get much of a discount if you just want a strait access point, but you do in theory get a bit more flexibility. FedEx has my all-in-one netgear FM114P, and I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival...

Matthew

The AP that has the ability to NAT and other stuff would be more flexible than the one wirhout... right? I have 1 static IP address with my DSL service so I use private 10. addresses with NAT...

The WET11 looks good, but I'd rather have one with a built in hub... So I guess I'll just be getting a second Access Point...

- Jon

Oh wait, I just finally got what you mean by wireless hub, and I'm not so sure NATing relates at all. Most everything besides the orinoco ethernet converter (and i'm not even sure about that) is only good with one device on the ethernet side, and that functionality is questionable and usually requires the same brand for everything.

What i'm getting is that you already have an access point, and you want to buy a "wireless hub" that has a wireless uplink and x number of ethernet ports that you can plug things in? You're really in the marget for a "wireless bridge" which is probably going to require 2 seperate netgear ME102's or the equivalent linksys, and you won't end up with any access point for a laptop... I'm over my head here, anyone want to cofirm/deny/modify?

Matthew

Hm. Yes, so I have...

DSL coming into the house plugged into the untrust port of a NetScreen 5XP which is doing NAT for all my stuff on the trusted port. The trusted port is plugged into a switch. I have a Linksys WAP11 plugged into the switch as well as a bunch of PCs, empegs, etc. The WAP doesn't have an IP address at all. It's just a bridge.

I can use laptops with 802.11b cards just fine. I just want to be able to wirelessly connect to my TiVo, a PS2 (if I get one) etc. in another room without running another cable to that other room...

I think you were right... Another WAP device running as a bridge should work. The NAT from the NetScreen should assign IP addresses as needed. Right? There shouldn't be an issue with multiple devices hanging off the second WAP as the WAP is just a bridge...

- Jon

I maybe wrong, but I believe you could just get a cheap hub/switch, and use a WET11 to brigde wirelessly to your network. From the specs I've read on them, it seems this is possible, and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be....Anyone?


EDIT: According to this, it will work as I stated, since that is what it was intended for. Why else would they call it a "bridge?"