Wireless networking eliminates most cabling concerns but few desktop PCs come with wireless capabilities and you still need a fixed local area network (Lan) to share devices such as printers.

Not, though, if you use this Instant Wireless Ethernet Bridge (WET11), which enables any fixed network device to communicate wirelessly.

The WET11 plugs into the Ethernet port of the device concerned using a short UTP cable. A built-in 802.11b interface provides the wireless interface, with transparent bridging between the two Lans.

It bridges rather than routes traffic, so the WET11 can be used with any network running any protocol and no special drivers are needed. However, you have to configure wireless settings.

A simple set-up program locates the Linksys bridge and assigns which Service Set Identifier of the wireless Lan to use; the channel (except if communicating via an access point); and security parameters, with support for both 64bit and 128bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.

Any further changes are done by pointing a browser at the manual IP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol address also assigned to the device.

We tested the WET11 on a PC with a built-in fixed Ethernet interface, avoiding the hassle of installing an internal wireless adaptor. We then attached it to an Ethernet hub, connecting a remote workgroup to the wireless Lan.

Finally we shared a network printer on a wireless Lan, a task that would otherwise require a dedicated wireless print server. We had to upgrade the firmware, and the lack of support for Fast Ethernet could be an issue when connecting a whole workgroup.

Otherwise the WET11 does exactly what it claims, which is to bridge fixed and wireless Lans with the minimum of fuss.

DETAILS
Price: £88.12 (£75 ex VAT)
Contact: Linksys 01493 748 904
www.linksys.com

SPECS

• Single fixed 10Base-T port; bridged 802.11b wireless Ethernet interface
• External antenna
• Up to 11Mbps wireless bandwidth
• Auto-switching to lower rate in low-signal conditions
• Indoor range of 50m
• Support for64bit and 128bit WEP security
• 94 x 125.5 x 31mm (w x d x h)
• 200g