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.
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