Tim Higgins reports that Netgear has added the WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge to its product line. It allows any device with an Ethernet port to wirelessly connect to an 802.11g or 11b WLAN.
It features a detachable, upgradeable antenna, browser-based administration, 64/128 bit WEP encryption, and the ability to support multiple Ethernet devices (additional switch needed). The product does not yet support Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) enhanced security. The product will be available this month at street pricing around $115.
Netgear also announced the WG311, a 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter which supports 64 and 128-bit WEP encryption for about $75.
Other 802.11g “bridges” and repeaters include:
- Linksys’s WET-54 : The 54 Mbps upgrade to the segment leading WET-11. It uses an Intersil Duette chip ($140).
- Buffalo Technology’s AirStation: The 54Mbps Wireless Bridge/Base Station incorporates a 10/100M 4-port switch and the Wireless Distribution System (WDS) and a Bridge/Repeater mode for point-to-point or point-to-multi-point communication using Broadcom chips ($140).
- TRENDware’s TEW-410APB AP/Bridge/Repeater: An AP/Bridge/Repeater based on Broadcom chips.
- D-Link’s DWL-900AP+ is a 22 Mbps bridge/repeater and can operate as a wireless access point, point-to-point bridge with another access point, as a point-to-multi-point wireless bridge, as a wireless client or as a wireless repeater.
- SMC’s SMC2671W Wireless Ethernet Adapter: A 2.4GHz, 11 Mbps bridge (not “G”) ($99).
