Using a Wireless Game Adapter??

[Quella]

I was looking for an easier solution to set up my Linux system without having to worry about the kernel or driver versions. When looking at my local hardware store, I came accross something called a Wireless (b/g) Game Adapter (Dlink and Lynksys versions). This is used to connect a hard-wired ethernet device to an existing wireless access point (network bridge). As they show on the package, you just configure the wireless device and plug-in a ethernet devive on the other end and you are networking.

Anyone ever use one of these for a Linux, or other wired-only device? Do they work well? I have spent some time trying to get my existing wireless card in the Linux Server to work, but it is more trouble than the 90.00USD if this other device will do it as a plug and play solution.

Comments?

Quella

[Quella]

Well I got my Wireless (Netgear WG311 with Linuxant Drivers) working last night without having to open up the Wireless Game Addapter hardware. I'm now thinking that I will return it to the store, why have two wireless connections in the same machine.

I still wonder if anyone has used these Wireless Bridges (Game Adapters) to hook up a Linux system, so as to not require a wireless card or configuration on the box itself. Anyone?

Quella

[dickinsd]

Sorry no experience, this is the first time I have ever heard of them - and WOW - that sounds like an ace idea.

I guess that the machine only sees the wired ethernet card, which most distro's have pretty good support for a wide range of standard network cards, the card talks to the wireless part and it does the rest?

That is an excellent idea, and if they become a little cheaper than $90 I would definately want one of those.

I have the following wireless cards and a rating system of my own (out of 5)

BenQ AWL 100 PCMCIA card :4
Dlink DWL-520+ (PCI) :3.5
Lucent Silver Orinoco PCMCIA card with PCI adapter :5

My ratings are based on ease of installation under Linux - 5 = Very Easy

The BenQ card has some long winded instructions, but once you know what to do, everything works as you might expect, I have no problems with this card dropping connections. (installed on FC3 laptop)

The Dlink PCI card is a little like the BenQ card, it has a real longwinded way of getting it to work under FC3, but once it works, it works very well, again rock solid never loses connections to the Access Point (Installed on FC3 desktop) - a little tricky to manage as it does not appear in the network configuration screen, everything has to be done at the command prompt.

The Lucent Orinoco Card: Well its an Orinoco based card, which as I understand it; has great support built into loads of distro's. I installed this one yesterday into a desktop (using the PCI adapter) and then installed Ubuntu 5.04 (Hoary) and it worked perfect and first time - I had to do nothing, the card was even detected during the install process (none of my other cards have been detected at install time) and even asked if I used a WEP key at install time.
This is a great card, and I am expecting little trouble from it.
I have only had it installed for a short time, but so far it has also been rock solid, not dropped a single connection!

Dave

PS: if there is a website for the wireless game device you mention, can you please post details - cheers

[Quella]

Here are the products that I spoke about in my past post. It just seems like an obvious solution to the issues and difficulties of getting Linux up and running quickly on Liniux. Why not let the Wireless Hardware device do all of the work? Nothing to configure on the Linux box, but the wired card (and almost all are supported in 10/100 modes) I have not seen anyone post about these, and I only saw them for the first time on Friday in the store. It looks like they were first designed to place your game console (xbox, PS2, etc.) on a wireless connection.

D-Link
http://games.dlink.com/products/?pid=383
http://games.dlink.com/products/?pid=241

Linksys
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=38&prid=558

Hope these help, and if anyone has used them in the past, let us know how it went.

Quella

[philpar]

I used a Linksys WGA54G wireless game adaptor. It uses a web based setup, supports WEP, and worked great out of the box. No problems at all. Only issue with the game adaptors is its another box next to each computer. the plus is the cable can be whatever length, so you could put it some distance from the computer for better reception if needed.

[Quella]

Do you use it for Linux or a GameMachine? I just think that using this for Linux makes Wireless issues (Kernel Version, Modules, etc) a thing of the past. So, do you use it with you Linux machine?

Quella

[philpar]

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I use it with one of my Linux computers. And it works great. I agree with you, it gets past all the difficulties of trying to understand what network cards are supported, and how to get them working. My only regret is no support for WPA with this unit.