Re: Difference between Linkys WAP54G and WET54G

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:cea0e3ln7b45u5kvn5r7m0h84pqugjj0oo@xxxxxxxxxx
"jch" <jch@xxxxxxxxxx> hath wroth:

I'm trying to hookup my son's XBox to the home network. While I'm at it, I
also want to connect the DirecTV DVR player (HR-20) to the network as
well.
There is no hardwire connection between the TV/XBox and the wireless
router
(WRT54G) upstairs so a wireless solution is sought. For the XBox I could
use a gaming adapter (WGA5G) but I've used one before and found them
unreliable and I no longer have one anyway or I'd try. Other possible
solutions are the WAP54G and the WET54G. I've read the WAP54G (less
expensive than the WET) can be used if set in client mode (which I'm
assuming must put it in bridge mode). The WET54G is a bridge and is
advertised as being XBox compliant so I know it must work as well.

1) What are the differences between the two devices (WAG54G and WET54G)?
Will either one allow me to connect an ethernet device (the XBox and the
DVR) wirelessly to a remote WRT54G?

See below.

2) Both the devices apparently only come with one port. I want to hook up
two devices. Can I just use a switch to hook up the XBox and the DVR to
the
W**54G?

Yes, but only if the WAP54G or WET54G support passing more than one
MAC address. See below.

That's one of the most common un-answered questions. Most wireless
ethernet bridges and game adapters will pass more than one MAC
address. Therefore, you can pile on the computers behind the wireless
bridge as needed, usually through an added ethernet switch. See the
list at:
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wireless_Ethernet_Bridges>
The one's labelled "multi" will pass multiple MAC addresses.

The problem is that the list is not 100.0% reliable. For example,
someone recently found out the hard way that two recent firmware
versions for the DWL-2100AP will not pass multiple MAC addresses in
client mode. I've had the same problem with combinations of the
WAP54G and assorted wireless routers. The manufacturers are of zero
help because it's not really a "supported" configuration, which really
means that the vendors can sell more client bridges if they don't
admit that you don't need one wireless bridge per computah. For the
few that will admit that you can bridge more than one MAC address,
they won't tell how many MAC's can be bridged. Usually, it's
something dismal like 16 or 32 MAC addresses.

Anyway, I've had problems with the WAP54G hanging in point to point
bridge applications and would not recommend using it. I haven't tried
the WET54G. Since you don't give a "rat's behind" about alternative
hardware suggestions, I won't offer any.

Me and the now attentive rat thank you :) I read a past post (possibly
from you) on a different subject and saw a table of the max simultaneous
connections a list of routers could handle
(http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/chart,124/)
My little WRT54G is working just fine now but I plan to quickly bring on two
more computers and of course the 2 devices listed in this post (Xbox and
DVR). Since this router maxs out at 8 connections (per the referenced
table), I'm thinking I want a new router and am considering the Zyxel X-550
also from that router list. I could go with the WRT54GL but as happy as
I've been with Linksys, I wouldn't mind trying something new. In that case,
I would use the existing WRT54G ver.5 as an AP and provide connectivity to
the XBox and DVR. From your response above, it would appear to be a crap
shoot as to if the WAP54G would support multi-MACs.

Thanks again.




--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558


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Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Difference between Linkys WAP54G and WET54G
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