HOT4ME: SMC2670W ETHERNET TO WIRELESS BRIDGE 802.11b

[msulazy]

Found this originally at J&R. It's about the size of a deck of cards, but is necessary to plug your ethernet cable into say from a PS2 or XBOX to use it wirelessly. Similar product would be the WET11 from Linksys. Here's the deal. Finally found at provantage.com for 73.69 + 5.95 shipping (YMMV based on Location) =79.64 minus $25 MIR = 54.64.

Compared to the WET11 (average price on froogle et al = $95 and up), this is a damn good deal for someone looking to add a ps2 to their wireless network.

I tried PM'ing it at J&R both by email and by phone to PC Mall who had it for 59.99 (+10.75 ship), but they said that their DEALER COST was 77, so they wouldn't go any lower than 83 + 7.20 ship. so at that rate, I'd have been at 90 - 20 MIR (smaller rebate at j&r) = 70; so I obviously went with provantage.com at 55.

according to pricegrabber, provantage has a decent rep for an online dealer, but we'll see. It says they have 294 in stock, but I'll update when they give me a forecasted ship date.

 

[zeddic]

I've been waiting for a deal on one of these and one finally hit my budget price... thanks!!!

 

[arx]

Is this actually a bridge? i.e. - Can I plug a hub (ethernet device) into it and have all of the systems connected to the hub connected to my wireless network? I've been looking for an affordable one of these for some time now. Whenever friends come over, I hate having to roll out the spool of ethernet cable from the back end of the house to the front. I got some USB wireless adapters, but it'd be nice to have an actual bridge.

Anyone have any experiences with these devices?

 

[msulazy]

here's their site

I might have the terminology wrong. I assumed it was similar to the WET11, but it looks like it might be a straight ethernet to wireless converstion rather than a full-on bridge.

 

[eeman]

Arx - I have never had any difference between a "Bridge" and Ethernet Conversion explained to me. Therefore I assumed that functionally they are the same thing. The bottom line on this device as well as the SMC Ethernet-to-Wireless Adapter is that you configure it with a PC and plug it into any Ethernet port to convert to wireless.

Pretty neat box actually. It is bascially a PCMCIA card plugged into a Ubicom Processor. They just announced a 802.11g version of this device too.

 

[msulazy]

Originally posted by: eeman
Arx - Yes this is a Bridge.

WOOHOO! Existence: Justified.

thanks

 

[bradolson]

I won't guarantee it, but this would probably work with all those ReplayTVs that are being bought by people on this forum as well.

Brad

 

[Swanny]

Looks like a good deal.

BTW, I've ordered from Provantage numerous times and they are a great site!

 

[msulazy]

If it's anything like the WET11 (which it looks to be), it's totally software-less, so it'll work with ANYTHING that has an ethernet connection that can otherwise be plugged straight into a router/modem/etc.

I figure I'll use it for my PS2, but I might also test it out and see if I can get lucky and stick my GF's mac on the network as well. Heck of a lot cheaper than those Air*** cards that mac's selling.

And thanks for the nerve-calming vote for provantage...always sketchy about new online dealers.

 

[Braxus]

Just an FYI, the Refurb Belkin Access Points (seem to pop up every once in a while/oos atm) are a better deal. You can set those suckers to infrastructure/AP, bridging, roaming, and client modes (turn your regular NIC to a wireless one). Best of all, they can be hacked to output at 100mW. They were going for $20 bucks or so about a month ago.

 

[tomho]

The price has gone up to $75.23

 

[FPSguy]

Originally posted by: Braxus

Just an FYI, the Refurb Belkin Access Points (seem to pop up every once in a while/oos atm) are a better deal. You can set those suckers to infrastructure/AP, bridging, roaming, and client modes (turn your regular NIC to a wireless one).

According to Belkin's FAQ for its wireless access point (http://web.belkin.com/support/faq_qa.asp?pid=15&cid=0#240), you can use the WAP to connect a wired Ethernet device to other wireless NICs in ad-hoc mode, but you cannot use the WAP to connect to another WAP or a wireless router. I suppose you could get Internet to your PS2 or XBOX using the Belkin WAP and a PC in wireless ad hoc mode with Internet sharing turned on, but the PC would have to be on whenever the XBOX/PS2 needed to access the Internet:

Q: Can a WAP (Wireless Access Point) be used with an existing Ethernet port or card in a computer?
A: Yes it can. You would need to use a CAT5 crossover cable to connect the WAP to the Ethernet port. The limiation to this is that only computers would be able to communicate with the WAP and the computer that is connected to the WAP. The computer with the WAP on it would not be able to talk to another WAP or to a wireless Router because WAP's cannot talk to WAP's.

 

[Braxus]

Actually it looks like it can. I believe the Belkin util/firmware only supports point to point. But if you update the firmware with the amtel generic one (1.4j1 iirc) and use the amtel snmp util, you can set it up as a access point client (it asks for the SSID).

I have yet to try it but it does look like it'll work. I'll do it over the weekend and then post a heads up.

 

[ericboo]

I flashed my WAP11 to Dlink's firmware and am using it as a bridge for my PS2. A bridge has some advantages like being able to use more than one device but this seems like a good deal.

 

[weepul]

woud u be able to use 2 of these and have 2 switches/hubs talk to each other?

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[cremefilled]

I think Braxus meant "Atmel". I'm bumping to see if he or anyone else can update on using an access point to connect to another access point/wireless router.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

You can just buy a wireless router and turn off the DHCP. BAM, instant wireless access point.
There are usually rebates on wireless routers that make them more economical to buy than a wireless access point.

 

[HarryK]

Originally posted by: GnatGoSplat
You can just buy a wireless router and turn off the DHCP. BAM, instant wireless access point.

Really??? Let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly.

A WAP connects to something like a laptop or ReplayTV via an ethernet cable and allows that laptop/Replay to wirelessly 'connect' to my wireless router that it connected to my cable modem. (am I doing alright so far?)

But instead of paying ~$100 or so for a WAP, I could get a *Second* wireless router, turn off the DHCP, connect it to my laptop/replayTV via an ethernet cable and then it (wireless router #2) would allow my laptop/ReplayTV to wirelessly 'connect' to the wireless router I've got connected to my cable modem?

No strings attached?

What about software setup? These WAPs (if I'm understanding) just plug in and you're ready to go. If I was to want to hook up the wireless router (as a WAP-type device) to my ReplayTV, would I have to first connect it to a computer to set it up? Beyond disabling DHCP, whatelse would I need to do?

Thanks

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Yes, that's my understanding that it should work.
Right now I have a non-wireless router, and it supports dialup networking and overall, I just like its routing software.
I wanted a 11/22mbps WAP (802.11b+), but I couldn't find a standalone WAP that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I found a nice SMC2404WBR 11/22mbps wireless router for something like $50 AR. I plugged it into my machine, disabled DHCP, plugged it into my non-wireless router, and voila! The SMC wireless router now acts as a nice 22mbps WAP.

There are 2 caveats:
1) I must plug the wireless router directly into a PC to first turn off DHCP in the first place.
2) If I choose to upgrade the firmware, I must plug the wireless router directly into the PC AND reset the router to factory defaults in order to get DHCP working, which is required to get into the Administration screen to access firmware upgrade functions. Once a firmware update is complete, I must turn DHCP off again.

It's really not that much trouble though.
It worked exactly the same way to turn a Panasonic HPNA+Ethernet router into an HPNA-Ethernet bridge! In this case too, it was cheaper to buy a router than a dedicated HPNA bridge. So right now I have both wireless and HPNA routers with DHCP disabled which are acting as simple bridges controlled by a separate router.

 

[Vincent]

For information about wireless networking and the difference between bridges, access points, routers, etc, look here:

http://www.ezlan.net/

 

[cremefilled]

GnatGoSplat, I don't doubt that what you have described is working for you, but how do you explain people's lack of success with a wireless access point, which doesn't have DHCP? How do you explain the Belkin quote above?

 

[cremefilled]

Btw, thanks, Vincent, for that link. It'll take a while to digest that info.

 

[msulazy]

just an update fellas, I ordered this bad boy on friday and it arrived to me this morning. Unfortunately the rebate already expired, but thought I'd put in my approval of Provantage in case anyone else is curious. SMC puts up their own list of rebates here, but they haven't updated for june yet (as of 11:53 CST 6/2). just a heads up in case anyone wants to find a similar deal for june.

 

[Kwad Guy]

If anyone can confirm that the Belkin wireless access points will do the job somehow, that'd be appreciated. I have a couple of those sitting around waiting for a use...Belkin says they won't work (as someone quoted above), so any demonstrated evidence that that's not the case would be mucho appreciated!

kwad

 

[Rab]

But instead of paying ~$100 or so for a WAP, I could get a *Second* wireless router, turn off the DHCP, connect it to my laptop/replayTV via an ethernet cable and then it (wireless router #2) would allow my laptop/ReplayTV to wirelessly 'connect' to the wireless router I've got connected to my cable modem?

Not unless it supports bridging. If it does, then you can do as you said.

Belkin routers with the firewall & DHCP disabled will function as a WAP when connected to an ethernet router, but they can't act as a bridge (to connect an Xbox or Replay to the AP off the ethernet router), and thus can't communicate with other WAPs.

You're better off with the SMC2670W, WET11, or a similar bridge.