This question is not so much about compatibility as I will probably be installing the hardware on the MS computer rather than the Linux computer. But it could go either way. BUT what I dont know is if I have the right concept for what I want to do.

Currently I have a wired network with a MS computer and a Linux computer being fed by wire from a Linksys NR041 4 port router that is fed from a Motorola SB4200 cable modem.

I am adding a Dell laptop and want to operate it in wireless mode as it has built in WiFi capability.

Rather than replace the Linksys router with a WiFi router that would require more hardware at each of the desktops I would like to "extend" the wired network by adding a transciever in either the Linux box or the MS box (probably the latter as there are more compatible units) but I don't know the first thing about whether this will work or not. I have been looking at a unit that is a pci card with an antenna on it that plugs into a desktop computer, a Gigabyte AirCruiser G Desktop Router GN-BC01 - wireless router
that sells for $14.

Can anyone tell me if this is the appropriate hardware to use for extending the wired network to my laptop?

Hello Jim Isbell

I think that the easiest thing to look for is a simple Wireless Access Point that will plug into one of the spare ports on your Linksys 4 Port Router.

I don't know what there is in their range, but if you want to see the specification of a suitable device a Netgear WG602 is the sort of device I mean so that you can compare specifications.

Incidentally, just because you have a Linksys Router there is no need to look for a Linksys Access Point. As the connection is Ethernet it's all compatible.

If you use the AirCruiser G Desktop Router GN-BC01 I would imagine you would have to install it in the Windows machine as I doubt any linux drivers would exist for it.

Thanks, that is just what I was looking for, but I didnt know what it was called. So when I saw the one that went into the computer I thought maybe that would work. But an external transciever makes much more sense and I have two spare ports on the linksys router that could be used.

Now that I know its called a "Wireless Access Point" I can do some searching for it.

OOOPs, I just looked the Netgear WG602 up and the cost is $70. Thats a far cry from the $14 for the Gigabyte AirCruiser G Desktop Router GN-BC01.

If the AirCruiser will work....thats a better choice economically.


Thanks.

Hello Jim Isbell

Possibly I'm able to be a bit more adventurous than you, I get most of my wireless kit off e-bay and the Netgear often comes up reconditioned at decent prices.

However, as I said, just about any wireless access point will work and in the UK I can see generic ones for about $50.

Still more than the Gigabyte I grant you. But I can't see that available here, maybe it hasn't got here yet - or perhaps its being discontinued?

here is one reference to it:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?Inv...ci_sku=GN-BC01