Wireless Serial Adapters 33
Foxxz writes: "I was looking for a wireless solution to link 2 PCs wirelessly at a short distance (less than 300 ft). I thought about wireless NICs but decided they would cost too much and provide more speed than needed. Alternatively, I began searching for wireless serial adapters thinking they may provide a cheaper solution but found surprisingly most were more expensive. Is there a cheaper way to go wireless?"
IRDA (Score:1)
Google is your friend (Score:1)
Wireless modems? (Score:4)
I don't think you're gonna get much cheaper or easier than 802.11b stuff. You can get USB cards for less than $100 each, 300' is pushing their range but definately possible out of the box. With custom antennas, people get miles outta the things. Bonus advantage, you get the network stack and all the software that works with that.
If you feel like hacking hardware you might be able to come up with other solutions. Do you have line of sight? Then how about modulating a laser diode? Low bandwidth requirements? How about an old modem and a cordless phone?
Chris Cothrun
Curator of Chaos
Re:WiFi cards are cheap and easy (Score:2)
http://www.pcliquidator.com/pcmciadrivebay.htm [pcliquidator.com]& item=1252635232 [ebay.com]
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem
forums.anandtech.com thread on these cards [anandtech.com]
Do you have line-of-sight? (Score:1)
Not sure about the bandwidth, but it'll cost you about $30 total, plus some work.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/71
Yes, but no... (Score:4)
Digikey [digikey.com] sells the Linx RF modules which cost $200-$250 for the evaluation kits with all the parts you should need. That's about as cheep as you will get. Note you will need some more hardware linke cases and power supplies. The EV kits just provide 9 volt batteries. Works for testing but not for long term use. After you get the physical link working, now you need to get the software working. That means more effort. Oh, as an after thought. If you are doing this for yourself (not a company) you need to get yourself a HAM license to muck about with RF devices. Otherwise if it's for work, go get only FCC approved devices. Dealing with the FCC regs will quickly cost more than the fancyest gear on the market.
Possible Solution (Score:2)
Check out this item. (Score:2)
BTW: no I do not work for them, nor am I related in any way that I know of.
Answers (Score:2)
A flat blade shovel (to lift up the grass chunks carefully) and a bit of work to lay a PVC conduit would work fine for this.
My friend's apartment, one floor down and on the other side of the hallway.
Tougher, but doable given enough ingenuity (pop the cable out a window, perhaps?) - possible use unused phone lines, and rewire the junction box (just don't get caught).
The garage
Surely you can run a wire to the garage through the attic, right?
The coffee shop I live upstairs from
Tougher, but if you are a regular customer, and they aren't a Starbucks (what I mean is if they are a mom-n-pop joint), maybe you can get them to allow you to run the cable. Or perhaps set up an arrangement, get a fractional T1 and supply internet access to the coffee shop? This one would take some work...
I am not saying that a wire is right for all applications - but for most apps, it easily and inexpensively does the trick, provided you are willing to go to the effort and sweat to install the thing.
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Re:Answers (Score:2)
BTW - we are talking serial comms here, not ethernet. According to this [csgnetwork.com] FAQ:
The RS-232 specification defines the the maximum length of serial cable to be 75 feet at 9,600 bps. This is a pretty conservative figure and has been stretched as far as several thousand feet, especially at this baud rate.
Even if we were talking 10BaseT or 100BaseT here, you still have 100 meters as spec, and I am certain that is conservative as well - but that is over 300 feet!
As far as the garage is concerned, it should be possible to reach it in some manner - but given the situation, I would forego the access - it just doesn't sound worth it. Still, it could be done - it wouldn't be easy, and you might need to get help from neighbors (to string the cable on the outside of the building) - but it could be done (the hard part would be getting the building owner or landlord, depending on the situation, to allow you to do it, or to sneak it past them).
Your point about the ethernet outlet is taken - but that is why every self respecting geek brings along a battery powered hub before jacking in.
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Why? (Score:4)
If you absolutely have to have wireless, look into radio modems (also known as packet radio [baycom.org]). Most of these are relatively inexpensive, small, and easy to use. Most require some kind of backend transmitter/receiver - a cheap hacked CB would work.
Also, look up homebrew lasercomm systems - some of these use actual lasers (here [geocities.com] is one such project) - I have seen one (Ronja [mff.cuni.cz]) that uses high brightness LEDs.
There are many solutions to this problem - but the cheapest (not to mention easiest, and quickest) one is a cable.
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Wireless serial.. (Score:2)
Troll ebay..
Re:Check out this item. (Score:2)
Do you have any experience using this setup with non-MS OS environments? I have a laptop I'd like to use next to my whiteboard to write simple files and have them write back to NFS shares so this thing's speed is fine, and the price looks fine, however the laptop is old (does have PCMCIA) and I just boot to a console login and fire up vim so I don't want an MS GUI hogging up the place.
What is your use experience? How does it compare to my intentions?
Re:Doh: Bluetooth? (Score:1)
Lynx Chips (Score:1)
They also have a couple other series with different characteristics (some with quite a bit higher speeds).
Re:Doh: Bluetooth? (Score:1)
Doh: Bluetooth? (Score:2)
Aren't there supposed to be products out already?
If bluetooth really lives up to its claim of USD5-10 buck devices, then go for it. But if it's not cheaper than WiFi forget it- don't pay more for less.
Cheerio,
Link.
how about modems? (Score:1)
Re:Build it yourself (Score:1)
Re:Pricewatch (Score:1)
Build it yourself (Score:3)
WiFi cards are cheap and easy (Score:3)
First get two WiFi PC cards [buy.com]. Yes I know you dont have laptops. Add two PCI-PC card adapters [buy.com] and you're set. Total cost $140 per computer, and you get 11MBPS. Also includes encryption if you feel paranoid.
This is industry standard gear, so if you ever decide to upgrade to a 'full' wireless lan you can get a base station and add as many computers as you want.
More on Old Ricochet Modems! (Score:2)
The newer Ricochets are 128kbs, but run about $50 each on ebay.
Kalrand
-The Voice of Reason
Old Ricochet Modems! (Score:4)
This might require you to hack a bit of software, but it is a true wireless serial link.
Here's a link on how the whole thing works.
Ricochet Modem FAQ [enlightenment-engine.com]
Kalrand
-The Voice of Reason
Re:Why not IR (Score:1)
Why not IR (Score:2)
Pricewatch (Score:1)
www.pricewatch.com
Re:Why? (Score:1)
A simple answer would be something like:
The shady spot under the tree in the backyard.
Others include:
My friend's apartment, one floor down and on the other side of the hallway.
The garage.
The coffee shop I live upstairs from.
etc.
Siemens does it! (Score:2)
Rigged modems and cordless phones? (Score:1)
Then you just grab 2 modems, you should be able to get those free or for a few dollars each.
I'v wanted to do this for the longest time.
Re:Answers (Score:1)
Re:Doh: Bluetooth? (Score:1)
Surplus Proxim Modems (Score:1)
Timeline Inc., Torrance, CA, Tel: 310-784-5488, FAX: 310-784-7590 is now selling "surplus" PROXIM RF Modems for $99.00 each. "Installation schematics and application details" are also available from Timeline.
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