"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:cea0e3ln7b45u5kvn5r7m0h84pqugjj0oo@4ax.com...
> "jch" <jch@nospam.com> 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/compo...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@cruzio.com
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558