OT: Wireless Modem recomendation

A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on
a village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
inside a cantenna.

He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and
not 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!

And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.

I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to
do this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.

Client mode. Where do ye look?

--
Adrian C

"Adrian C" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on a
>village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
>inside a cantenna.
>
> He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
> ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
> hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and not
> 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!
>
> And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
> of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
> chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.
>
> I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to do
> this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.
>
> Client mode. Where do ye look?

Don't think there is a single unit which will do this.

However, most simple access points can be configured as a wireless client.
This could then connect to any ethernet router which will provide the router
function.

Probably the best solution to the antenna problem is something that con be
connected via a suitable co-ax cable to the SMC connector on the access
point.

--
Graham J

On 6/20/2011 1:48 PM, Adrian C wrote:
> A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on
> a village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
> inside a cantenna.
>
> He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
> ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
> hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and
> not 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!
>
> And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
> of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
> chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.
>
> I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to
> do this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.
>
> Client mode. Where do ye look?
>
Here is a link to a device that will do what you ask. While it has
built in antennas it will also allow you to hook up an external one if
you need something special.

It supports European, Japanese, and USA frequencies and has the benefit
of already being inside an external enclosure.

It can be configured for Client or Access Point operation.

The link is rather long but it is directly to the company that makes it.
If it looks good do a google search for a place in you or your friends
country for a retailer.

http://www.engeniustech.com/index.ph...-dual-antennas

"GlowingBlueMist" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:itosak$2be$(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 6/20/2011 1:48 PM, Adrian C wrote:
>> A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on
>> a village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
>> inside a cantenna.
>>
>> He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
>> ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
>> hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and
>> not 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!
>>
>> And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
>> of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
>> chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.
>>
>> I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to
>> do this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.
>>
>> Client mode. Where do ye look?
>>
> Here is a link to a device that will do what you ask. While it has built
> in antennas it will also allow you to hook up an external one if you need
> something special.
>
> It supports European, Japanese, and USA frequencies and has the benefit of
> already being inside an external enclosure.
>
> It can be configured for Client or Access Point operation.
>
> The link is rather long but it is directly to the company that makes it.
> If it looks good do a google search for a place in you or your friends
> country for a retailer.


But is this actually certified for UK use?


Peter Crosland

On 21/06/2011 02:31, GlowingBlueMist wrote:
>>
> Here is a link to a device that will do what you ask. While it has built
> in antennas it will also allow you to hook up an external one if you
> need something special.
>
> It supports European, Japanese, and USA frequencies and has the benefit
> of already being inside an external enclosure.
>
> It can be configured for Client or Access Point operation.
>
> The link is rather long but it is directly to the company that makes it.
> If it looks good do a google search for a place in you or your friends
> country for a retailer.
>
> http://www.engeniustech.com/index.ph...-dual-antennas
>

Brilliant spot, and actually not that expensive.

As well as "Client Mode" which is really the ethernet version of a
WiFi-USB Dongle, it does "Client Router" which is exactly what we want,
and google has found a dealer for my Bulgarian friend.

Many thanks

--
Adrian C

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:36:49 +0100
"Peter Crosland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> But is this actually certified for UK use?
>
Not really relevant as the OP's friend isn't in the UK.

On Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:48:10 +0100, Adrian C wrote:

> A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on
> a village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
> inside a cantenna.
>
> He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
> ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
> hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and
> not 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!
>
> And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
> of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
> chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.
>
> I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to
> do this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.
>
> Client mode. Where do ye look?

DD-WRT is surely the right answer. Fleabay has plenty of devices pre-
loaded with DD-WRT, would that count as off the shelf ?

On 21/06/2011 16:47, Andrew Benham wrote:
> On Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:48:10 +0100, Adrian C wrote:

>> Client mode. Where do ye look?
>
> DD-WRT is surely the right answer. Fleabay has plenty of devices pre-
> loaded with DD-WRT, would that count as off the shelf ?

OK, update

He has found something off the shelf. Just not water proof!

<http://global.level1.com/Home-Products/Broadband-Routers/150Mbps/WBR-6002/751.html>

Price was the BGN equivalent of £15 (bargain!) and it supports WISPs aka
Wireless ISP.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Internet_service_provider>

Not a common term here, but www.digsys.bg (and others) run a hotspot and
these WISP supporting routers are popular in that market and several
others. This YouTube video from Brazil shows the web interface front
page where you can see the initial wizard choice between WISP and
external ethernet as internet source.

WBR-3418 / 6002 a se conectar em outro ponto de acesso sem fio com a
função WISP (AP client).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH18yt2lTik

Yeah, DD-WRT would have been my idea for hacking a solution together but
he didn't want to go there. But I liked the sound of GlowingBlueMist's
suggestion.

--
Adrian C

On 6/21/2011 1:36 AM, Peter Crosland wrote:
> "GlowingBlueMist"<(E-Mail Removed) lid> wrote in message
> news:itosak$2be$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On 6/20/2011 1:48 PM, Adrian C wrote:
>>> A friend lives in the sticks in another country and currently relies on
>>> a village WiFi hotspot service that he picks up using a USB WiFi adaptor
>>> inside a cantenna.
>>>
>>> He'd like to find an off the shelf WiFi Wireless modem that offers
>>> ethernet connections (rather than USB) and the ability to connect to the
>>> hotspot which uses encryption. It would be 'client mode' wireless and
>>> not 'access point mode' wireless - that's the otherway round!
>>>
>>> And what would be more useful, would be if the hardware had the features
>>> of a router, firewall, NAT, switch etc.... and could (though an outside
>>> chance here!) be encased inside a cantenna.
>>>
>>> I'm keen on him messing about with DD-WRT and some cheep Belkin junk to
>>> do this, but as I said he is keen with something off the shelf.
>>>
>>> Client mode. Where do ye look?
>>>
>> Here is a link to a device that will do what you ask. While it has built
>> in antennas it will also allow you to hook up an external one if you need
>> something special.
>>
>> It supports European, Japanese, and USA frequencies and has the benefit of
>> already being inside an external enclosure.
>>
>> It can be configured for Client or Access Point operation.
>>
>> The link is rather long but it is directly to the company that makes it.
>> If it looks good do a google search for a place in you or your friends
>> country for a retailer.
>
>
> But is this actually certified for UK use?
>
>
> Peter Crosland
>
>
Short answer is yes it is certified for UK use and is sold by business
in the UK, but with some restrictions. It appears that the people in
charge in the UK consider it to be a business class type device and
requires it be licensed for use.

You would have to check with a local dealer in country to find out the
exact licensing requirements and or restrictions.