[Gee4orce]

Here's the problem: I have an ADSL router and an (original, graphite) Airport Basestation in an upstairs office. An iMac is connected by ethernet to the router, but it also has an airport card. A powerbook is able to reach the network from anywhere in the house. All is good.

Now, I want to connect an XBox, downstairs to broadband. My first thought was to simply move the router and BS downstairs (there is a phone point my the XBox), and set the desktop to connect with Airport. The XBox worked fine, but the iMac was unable to see the Airport - even though the Powerbook had about 80% signal level in the same location !!

Question 1) Is there any way to boost the reception on the iMac (Flat Panel), or the signal from the Airport (no antenna socket on this model) ?

Possible solution 1) Buy an Airport Extreme + Antenna. Expensive.

So, I moved the router back upstairs, and eventually managed to get the Xbox online by using the Powerbook to create a bridge to the Airport network. This works, but is not ideal (ties up the Powerbook).

I managed to get hold of a second hand Linksys WAP11 access point. What I thought I could do would be to connect the Xbox to this and use it to create a bridge. I've tried pretty much every way of doing this and no dice.

I have read indications that this is possible to do - but then I have also heard that it's not. I've also read that the Linksys doesn't support AppleTalk, so I don't want to use that as a direct replacement for the Airport, and move it all back downstairs.

Has anyone bridged a WAP11 to an Airport network ? What configuration options did you use ?

Connecting the XBox to the WAP11 anyway gave a 'cable error' - do I need a cross-over cable ?

I need to get this sorted by next week because I have to give the Linksys back if I'm not going to buy it.

Thanks !!

[ghporter]

A WAP11 will only bridge from another WAP11 running the same firmware version. You can use the WAP11 as an access point, but since you already have a Graphite ABS, it's probably not the most effective solution.

There is a Linksys product called the WET11, which is a dedicated wireless to ethernet bridge, that would do what you need. They also make a gaming bridge that's just smaller and handier for about the same cost. Of course other companies do this as well, so you have a selection to choose from.

You could also go with a third party wireless router, also available from a lot of places. I'd get the Netgear MR-814 simply because you can get it for only about $30. It has a 4-port wired router as well as an access point, so for very little investment, you can play with it and see if it helps you out. FYI, the MR-814 has an external antenna, so it should cover a much wider area than an original ABS.

For gaming you don't have to worry about support for AppleTalk or anything else, just ethernet and 802.11b.

[Gee4orce]

Yep - that's pretty much what I thought. I am able to get the WAP11 to talk to Airport, but in one direction only ! (ie. in 'Client Mode', I can ping the WAP11 from the airport network, but not the other way around).

Of course, I'm writing this from 'rip off Britain', where the hardware you mentioned costs more like £60 than $30 ! I may go for the WET after all, or the similar Netgear one (I've had good experiences with Netgear kit, not so good with Linksys so far ). Trouble is, both are expensive for what is effectively a WAP11 fixed in client mode....

[ghporter]

Originally posted by Gee4orce:
Yep - that's pretty much what I thought. ...
Of course, I'm writing this from 'rip off Britain', where the hardware you mentioned costs more like £60 than $30 ! I may go for the WET after all, or the similar Netgear one (I've had good experiences with Netgear kit, not so good with Linksys so far ). Trouble is, both are expensive for what is effectively a WAP11 fixed in client mode....

I feel for you. I got started in this stuff when it was really dear here in the States; my first access point cost over $120, my first laptop card cost $100, and so on. Now later stuff got cheaper, but that meant MORE spending on upgrades. Ya can't win! At least it's supposed to be fun to play with, right? (You're pretty quiet there with your reply...)

[Gee4orce]

Well, I stumped up £80 for the Netgear 101 Ethernet-Wireless bridge - and it works a treat ! I just plugged it in, and after setting the IP address on the XBox I was online and gaming. Absolutely no hassle.

I don't mind paying a reasonable price if it saves me a lot of hassle and heartache. That's why I use Macs after all !

Anyway - I highly recommend the Netgear hardware.

[ghporter]

COOL! That's how stuff should work-without a lot of fuss and hassle. Your experience is another mark in Netgear's "positive" column.