Build PTP Wi-Fi links with Cheap-as-Chips "B" kit

[Alpine]

The Cheap Basket Plus one affordable 20-inch DVI/VGA LCD


CHEAP B*STARDS rejoice, in this month's Cheap Basket I've found still-new 802.11b Wi-Fi kit at dirt-cheap prices that will make the "Wi-Fi modders" and mesh network builders drool, plus an affordable 20-inch LCD.


If you are building point-to-point links in the middle of nowhere - or from building to building in the middle of a city - with directional antennae, you can usually get by with 802.11b just fine. The arrival of 802.11n and the drop in price of 802.11g kit has moved the prices of 802.11b gear still on the shelves to the "cheap as chips" category - or cheap as a burger, see below.


The WUSB11 at $14 (+SH) is a good option for point-to-point links
hacking it with a directional antenna


As usual, Amazon.com prices fluctuating by the day...

The first deal I've found is the Linksys WUSB11 802.11b client adaptor, which recently dropped in price from around $40 first to $19.39 on Amazon.com. What is so special about yet another Wi-Fi device? Well, being a USB unit it has one advantage for those building point-to-point networks with directional antennae. Instead of mounting a complete router at the rooftop and having to deal with Power-over-Ethernet, the WUSB11 allows you to use inexpensive USB cabling and USB repeater if needed to reach the rooftop, and power everything from your computer's USB port.


The WUSB11, factory sealed, going for under $10 from several Amazon.com marketplace sellers

Sadly, the low price lasted a few days and it's back at $40 when shipped directly from the online behemoth, but don't despair, the same WUSB11 can be found for just $14 - plus $7 ground shipping on average - at Geeks.com over here, and independent merchants on Amazon.com offer it starting at $8.49 here, with USPS shipping within the continental U.S. around $7, for a total of $16. Not bad indeed, specially considering this can be the price of a burger in NYC.

[Alpine]

A full wireless broadband router for $12.98

You can even find these days a full broadband router with 802.11b for about the same price as the above linked NYC burger. Take for instance the ACTM WR214E, which looks strangely like a painted-white version of the Linksys BEFW11S4, but with a single antenna. You can find this Wi-Fi "B" router at OutletPC.com for $12.98, here. And if they run out of it, StarSurplus.com features the same unit for $17, over there. It sports four LAN ports at 10/100 Mbps, one WAN port and Wi-Fi "B" wireless connectivity giving the usual data rate of up to 11 Mbps.

Finally, to end this month's column, let me mention a deal that I will not let pass personally. Having been on the lookout for my ancient Compaq TFT5000 LCD monitor, I wrote nice things about Acer's offerings in last month's column when I discovered it at $279. However a few readers wrote back telling me to go the extra mile and get one with DVI inputs in addition to analogue VGA.

Well I have listened to them and found the gorgeous Sceptre X20G-NAGAIII, a wide screen, 20-inch panel with both DVI and VGA inputs, at $287 on Amazon.com if shipped direct from it, or $240 on the same site if you choose to buy it from retailer TigerDirect - you get that price after a $60 mail-in rebate from the manufacturer. Hurry up, the rebate ends this Saturday.


This scribbler is buying one of these for his review lab Always keep in mind, all prices listed here are at the time of this writing, or now as they say in Blighty. All prices are in US dollars, and from US sellers unless otherwise noted. Thanks for the feedback and please keep your suggestions coming for next month's Cheap Basket!

The INQuirer