Very cheap wireless networking products (Micor Plus)

[axskkyline]

thank for the inputs ...... and careful proof reads

 

[sillymofo]

Damn... and I thought I just found this deal... I posted another one today. I think their website is somewhat fixed... check this out...

 

[edfcmc]

I ordered. I will update when the shipment arrives.

 

[edfcmc]

ok folks. I bought the wireless access point and the pcmcia card. what do you want to know as I received my shipment this evening.

First thoughts:

Everyrthing works under XP.

However, I am somewhat dissapointed on the access point configuration screen, as it isn't accessible via a standard http address. I must load a program to access the AP's configuration screen (via a SNMP utility) and/or a usb cable which I here was quite standard for several ATMEL based wireless products. Everything is working (i said that..) The products are marked as coming from Micro-plus but the PCMCIA card showed up as an ATMEL card. I believe the access point is just a rebadged TELLUS as the documentation is the same just the micro-plus docs have been cut and pasted to remove tellus and replace with micro-plus(see link above where I guessed the manufacturer.) anyways, the access point comes with two removable external attennas which is pretty nice. THe PCMCIA card seems like a well built unit and I guess you can check out the specs either at the Micro-plus website or the tellus. The funny thing, is that at one point in time, IIRC, the Tellus AP sold for $299.

Update: the access point seems to be an ATMEL based access point with the 1.4j1 firmware if anybody cares. and I have been able to access the snmp configuration with the Dlink DWL-900AP utility, an SMC utility, and a generic atmel utility. I am assuming the AP is very similiar to the WAP-11 as I was able to change the snmp.ini settings to allow a host of different options not available in the standard set-up as described in the Seattle Wireless page for the WAP-11.

 

[ub4me]

How is the quality of those?
Are those equivalent to the major brand wireless equipment?

 

[sillymofo]

Check the specs... they updated the site. Still waiting for mine.

 

[sillymofo]

Ok... Got the stuffs.

I got both the card and the USB with the router, both are installed on XP, but the drivers that came with the products don't work with XP. You have to get the XP diver for the PCMCIA card or XP diver for the USB adapter to get the utility to work.

Love the USB adapter, but the card is ok, not as good, I guess I'll save teh card for those Starbucks escapades.

 

[sillymofo]

Ooops.... I meant XP diver for the PCMCIA card

 

[sillymofo]

Shiet, I'm sleepy, this IS the link for the usb ->XP diver for the USB adapter

 

[Hi8]

edfcmc,

With a firmware change can this AP be converted in to 802.11B to ethernet bridge? For 29.99 that would be really sweet. I have an audrey that I want to move away from a router.

 

[RobsTV]

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
Ok... Got the stuffs.

Love the USB adapter, but the card is ok, not as good, I guess I'll save teh card for those Starbucks escapades.

Those are the same two items I just ordered.
What is not as good about the pcmcia adaptor? Range?
What seems to be the range you are getting with both, straight shot, and also through walls?

Thanks for posting!

 

[sillymofo]

Range seems to be better with the USB, check the specs on the PCMCIA card or USB adapter. It's a little more powerful on the transmitting side and I think the USB cord has something to do with it. But the card is not as cumbersome and will be good for moving around more.

Their wireless AP is 802.11b, finally some one's listening and posted up specs. Other than that, this stuffs works just like everything else, may be better cuz its cheaper.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I'm a WIFI newb so let's get that outta the way right now. I currently have a standard 4-port Linksys router. I was wondering, if I order the access point does that mean it would simply hook in to one of the ports in my router? Or would I have to lose the Linksys?

Basically, I would still be using the Linksys as a firewall for my main desktop computer and the AP would be for whenever I want to use my laptop somewhere else in the house.

Any information would be appreciated!

 

[cremefilled]

Fingolfin, you've got the right idea -- the access point plugs into the router, and then you use a PCMCIA or USB wifi adapter for your portable. However, since the price for the wireless router & the access point are essentially the same, you might just want to sell your current router and replace it with a wireless model.

If you want more of a namebrand, you can find numerous deals for Netgear & D-Link wireless routers.

 

[Soopaced]

anyone get their usb wireless adaptor yet...if so how is it? ..most usb adaptors from linksys or netgear are pretty expensive..so if this adaptor turns out pretty good..im gonna grab two for my home..

 

[Fingolfin269]

Well, the main reason I want to keep the wired router (Linksys) is because I am already accustomed to its use as a firewall and know that it does its job well. I guess I could splurge for a Linksys/Netgear/etc. branded wireless router, but I'm just trying to cut costs wherever I can.

I've never used Netgear or D-Link so I don't know just how reliable they are. Are they just as good or better than Linksys? What about these Microsoft networking products I've seen at BBY within the last couple of months?

 

[cremefilled]

You are probably going to need to get more specific about the firewall functionality that you need. Are you shutting off specific ports? Are you only allowing specific MAC addresses? Are you implementing stateful packet inspection? Then you will need to ask someone with more hands-on knowledge than I have, or read some reviews. I do know that D-Link and SMC routers seem to win "best of class" awards.

If you just need NAT, I think that every single router does that. Anyway, if you are happy with your Linksys, sticking with that is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. If I am speaking Greek to you, if you just plugged the Linksys and know that it is somehow functioning as a firewall, that is NAT = Network Address Translation. The quartet of numbers that comprises an IP address also has a port number appended to it. NAT uses the port number to turn one IP address into many.

 

[weepul]

those firewire/usb enclosures are one of the MOST EXPENSIVE on the market. the same products can be found almost everywhere for cheaper.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: Soopaced
anyone get their usb wireless adaptor yet...if so how is it? ..most usb adaptors from linksys or netgear are pretty expensive..so if this adaptor turns out pretty good..im gonna grab two for my home..

Dude, I got a USB adapter from them, and I think a couple of people here got it also... I absolutely love it... My router is upstairs, and I'm always downstairs, so my USB goes to the desktop in the den, and I also have a PCMCIA card to move around with the laptop... check the specs... the linksys and netgears and their's are same...

 

[cremefilled]

I could have sworn that the USB 5.25" drive enclosure was $28. I think that the price jumped up for some reason.

 

[cpboy99]

I also got the USB adapter and it installed in a snap. The shipping was very fast because I only live about an hour away from the company. The driver given worked with XP and I was online in 3 minutes tops. So far I have no complaints about this USB adapter. It is worth the price and you didnt have to deal with rebates.

 

[Zambonni]

I am still curious as to if any of this stuff could be used to connect my xbox in the livingroom to my main system. wireless AP or router on xbox to a wireless usb on my main system? Would that work?

 

[GeneValgene]

i got my usb adapter too. for some reason, i coudln't get teh thing to work with the drivers taht came in the box...but i used the drivers posted on teh website adn so far it's working without a hitch. thanks ub4me, a working usb adapter for ~20 is a nice buy.

 

[cremefilled]

Zambonni, I don't think your method would work. The access point has to work by assigning an IP address to the linked network nodes (such as a USB wireless adapter). But what you describe is the reverse, with the access point pulling (instead of "pushing") the IP address, which is then translated through NAT to the Internet.

It seems like this would be easy enough to configure, and in fact it is, but what you need is called a wireless bridge, and these are unfortunately higher in price (~$70 and up) at the moment. For a wireless game system hookup, the wireless bridge in turn must be connected to a wireless router or a wireless access point connected to a router (and the router connected to broadband).

Wait a few months, and wireless bridges will get down to this $30 or $40 pricepoint.

If there were another cheap "hot deal" way around this, people would have found it long ago.

 

[tm37]

WIreless Access point for under 50 shipped.

802.11a . I have this AP and I really like it.