Cisco-Linksys WET11 Wireless Ethernet Bridge
by Linksys

Our Price: $199.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: CE
See more product details

Digital Photo Product Details

• Converts wired-Ethernet devices to wireless network connectivity
• Works without drivers on Macintosh, Windows, PlayStation2, Xbox, Linux, network printers--anything with an Ethernet port
• Provides wireless, cable-free bridging between remote workgroups
• Easily configurable through your Web browser
• Capable of up to 128-Bit WEP encryption

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WET11 Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Customer Review: Xbox Systemlink works with new firmware!
Summary: 4 Stars

The home office usage worked well from the beginning. Setup was simple and quick. My only problem with the home network was that I was losing my connection every two hours or so for a few minutes.

The home network requirement was important, but the reason that I chose Linksys over other wireless options was because of the potential of using the WET11 for Xbox systemlink play. I have two Xbox consoles that are too far apart to conveniently string a cable. The downstairs Xbox is on a wired router (also happens to be Linksys), but the upstairs Xbox was disconnected. To my disappointment, a technical issue prevented the WET11 from being the systemlink solution that I was looking for.

Things have changed! Linksys recently provided new WET11 firmware (version 1.5.4) for download. The notes included a cryptic reference to supporting Xbox systemlink play, but no details beyond selecting a new checkbox in the browser setup screen. Last week I finally had a chance to update to the 1.5.4 firmware in my WET11 and test system link. It works!

Here is my setup:

DOWNSTAIRS
(Xbox #1)
. |
. |
(Linksys 4 port wired router) --- (Cable Modem)
. |
. |
(Linksys WAP 11)

UPSTAIRS
========
(WET 11 #1) --- (Xbox #2)

(WET 11 #2) --- (Laptop Computer)

I played around an hour of systemlink Halo with this setup. I noticed a couple of minor glitches, but overall it was a very smooth experience. This is what I have been waiting for! The trick after upgrading the firmware is to then use the WET11 web setup utility to enable the MAC cloning feature before plugging the WET11 into your Xbox. I am running in Infrastructure mode.

As a warning, I did not do thorough testing of all wireless scenarios. I have no reason to think that this isn't a solution for all Xbox wireless systemlink play, but try the scenarios below at your own risk.

(1) I have not tried to use 2 WET 11 units for systemlink. I have one Xbox wired to a router and one using a WET11.

(2) I have not tested Ad Hoc mode (since 2 WET11 units would be needed for that). I am running in Infrastructure mode since I am hooking into an existing network. Ad Hoc mode would allow the 2 consoles to be connected wirelessly without any other networking hardware.

(3) I did not test wireless Xbox Live with this setup. However, other reviews indicate that the WET11 was already a solution for that. I run Xbox Live from my wired Xbox.

The upgrade also seems to have improved my home office disconnect issues. I haven't had enough time to tell, but I seem to get disconnected less often and the signal seems to be available again almost instantly. I still have some troubleshooting to do and the new firmware has a signal testing tool that should help. For example, I found out that there are other wireless networks in range that are probably causing interference with my network. Based on that, I expect that I should be able to change some settings to improve my home network reliability even further.

Even though I have had some minor issues with Linksys technical support over the last couple of years, they have generally been very helpful. Also, even though the new MAC address closing feature was not well documented it was easy enough to figure out. Therefore, these issues did not lower my product rating.

Description of Cisco-Linksys WET11 Wireless Ethernet Bridge

It's completely driver-free, so it works on any platform and with any operating system. Because there are no drivers to load, setup is a snap--just plug it into your device and configure the network settings through your Web browser.

You can also use the Linksys wireless Ethernet bridge as a kind of "cableless cable" to connect remote areas together. Maybe the Shipping department is all the way across the warehouse from Receiving. Or maybe you want to set up a home office in your detached garage. With a wireless Ethernet bridge in the garage and an other one (or a wireless access point) in the house, you're connected--without the hassle of cabling.

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. Which Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.