Portable Hubs?

Nahdude asks: "A friend of mine and I tend to have frequent mini-LAN parties in odd places like diners or parks with our laptops. We've been using a crossover cable with no problems, but recently we've attracted some attention from friends, and even some strangers, who want in on the action. So I've looked (without success) for a portable networking solution. Has anyone found and had luck with a battery powered network hub? Keeping in mind that wireless, although neat, will probably be a bit difficult because the expense of mobile wireless cards could be out of range of a lot of the people interested (we had 15 people last week in a bar, woot, but only 2 player games with crossovers because they wouldn't let us plug in a hub)." I haven't seen many of these now, but maybe if someone plants the idea in people's heads we'll see these several years from now...

Comments

Re:The more I think on it...

[Captain Pedantic]

Nothing personal Cliff, but shouldn't their be a "Google Filter" for postings to Ask /.?

For example, this is the device you're looking for.

How did I find it? Like this. Note the search words; battery powered ethernet hub. Ok, so its a hub, not a switch, but still!

Ask /. is probably the most interesting part of the site (apart from trolltalk of course) but you also get some of the lamest submissions!

Wireless expensive? Give me a break!

[uradu]

You can pick up a basic 802.11b card for $30, so price is a flimsy excuse. If they can't afford $30, maybe your friends should play battleships on paper instead? Or maybe they can't afford that fancy paper either?

Re:Wireless expensive? Give me a break!

[uradu]

> Or maybe they have a family and are more interested in
> doing things for them instead of wasting money on luxuries.

Oh, but they do have laptops?! Hey, just because I own a Porsche doesn't mean I can afford to gas it up, right? I'm sorry, but that's screwy logic no matter how you look at it, especially considering the $30 price point.

They wouldnt let you plug in a hub?!?

[Unknown Poltroon]

Maybe the bar across the street would.
I never ask if im plugging in somenting small and non dangerous, like my cellphone charger or laptop, and noone has ever had a problem with it. It also helps that i generally go to places im at regulary, and i always tip well. Wen i usually drop 30 buks an evening, and a pretty good tip on top of that, i dont think thryre going to worry about the 25 cents of electricty im getting.