Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Linksys WET11: Bridge 30 Devices To Any Wi-Fi Network

Posted by timothy on from the dreamcast-or-whatever dept.

eggboard writes "The Linksys WET11 lets you bridge a wired network with up to 30 devices to any wireless access point that uses Wi-Fi. The utility is enormous: you could build a pseudo-mesh network by pairing cheap Wi-Fi APs with this cheap ($129) Wi-Fi bridge. Before this, the only generic Wi-Fi bridge was proprietary: you'd buy a bridge from Alvarion that paired with one of their hubs, and spend several hundred each. Even the dual-WAP11 bridge approach of last year was wonky and required extra gear (although it can handle more devices than 30 since it's a protocol bridge, not a MAC bridge). I review the WET at O'Reilly's wireless developer's site."

3 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Does this mean more insecuity for wirelessnetworks by The+Real+Chrisjc · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There is lots of traffic that doesn't really belong on wireless networks. Isn't the transfer rate bad enough without unneeded traffic clogging up the airwaves? Also, how secure is this system, will this make networks easier to break in to?

  2. ok by papasui · · Score: 2, Insightful

    why is this on the front page of slashdot? Yea its a useful consumer product but the review is lacking and the device is entry-level. It would be a much more interesting read if someone setup a linux (or any other OS) box with a wifi card in it and a wired nic that feeds a hub/switch and NAT'd a bridge. You could actually use the Linux box for some professional applications since Netfilter is now being used.

    1. Re:ok by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I don't think that you would want to use NAT, but instead use actual bridging, unless you want an overly complex network.

      I have done this, except using gigabit ethernet instead of wireless. Made for a cheap gigabit ethernet switch.