wMVP is wireless worth it?

[StanO]

I have been using two Belkin F5D7230-4's for over a year now without trouble for the most part (at least not as a result of throughput). One is setup as a straight NAT wireless router the other is set up as bridge mode.

I got mine for less the $40(USD). They are only 802.11g, Fry's had a MIMO game adapter for $30 the other day in their ad.

My problem, I'm running in WEP and want to use WPA. Has anyone had problems like mine? Everytime I try, the MVP doesn't work (the other pc does). Any clues?

[ww4397]

I have two MVPs (wired versions) each of which is plugged into its own Zyxel P-330W wireless router setup for use as a wireless bridge. This gives me two "wireless" MVPs on a 54g wireless network (with WEP encryption). The wireless router that the P-330Ws bridge to is a Belkin product (notice that the manufacturers are different, this can be an issue with some hardware, but not in this case) and is located in the basement. The MVPs are on the main and second floors. This setup works GREAT and the P-330W can be had at CompUSA for between $5 and $20 (after rebates) during periodic sales events.

[djtaylor]

My problem, I'm running in WEP and want to use WPA. Has anyone had problems like mine? Everytime I try, the MVP doesn't work (the other pc does). Any clues?

You can only use WPA if the device supports, from reading this thread it would appear that the MVP does not and therefore you can't select WPA, trying to select it at one end and not being able to do on the other is why it won't work.

David.

[sub]

I don't fully agree. Hauppauge would need even less than what's on a PCI card because they probably just integrated the chip into their PCB, and they definitely need less than what's on a bridge.

I'm fairly sure I read there was a regular compact flash wireless adapter slid into a socket on the wireless MVPs.

[bungle]

We're starting to talk apples/oranges here. I brought up the $50 wMVP>MVP premium to point out that an additional $80 Ethernet/WiFi bridge or gaming adapter was not the most cost-optimal way to get the MVP working in a WPA protected LAN.

It's the only way, at this point, but your point was understood.

PCI wireless cards are IMO not a good basis to judge fundamental wireless cost. They require a LOT of driver hand-holding and often don't work with all PC operating systems (Linux support is spotty). I finally sold off my HTPC wireless PCI card and replaced it with a Buffalo wireless bridge which works great (and it lets me reposition the antenna for best reception).

I don't fully agree. Hauppauge would need even less than what's on a PCI card because they probably just integrated the chip into their PCB, and they definitely need less than what's on a bridge. My card works fine in Linux because there's a driver. Most manufacturers just don't support Linux or Macs because Windows is 90% of the market. Hauppauge should have just chosen a chip that already has some Linux support, like the one in my $20 card. Most routers and bridges are just little hardware boxes that run a stripped-down version of Linux, so a wireless chip in the MVP running Busybox Linux with some driver doesn't seem much different than a bridge containing some wireless chip running some custom Linux. And the MVP only has to have enough software to work as a client, not do all the other stuff the bridge is doing. I'm just speculating - I've no idea for sure.

[mvallevand]

I don't fully agree. Hauppauge would need even less than what's on a PCI card because they probably just integrated the chip into their PCB, and they definitely need less than what's on a bridge. My card works fine in Linux because there's a driver. Most manufacturers just don't support Linux or Macs because Windows is 90% of the market. Hauppauge should have just chosen a chip that already has some Linux support, like the one in my $20 card. Most routers and bridges are just little hardware boxes that run a stripped-down version of Linux, so a wireless chip in the MVP running Busybox Linux with some driver doesn't seem much different than a bridge containing some wireless chip running some custom Linux. And the MVP only has to have enough software to work as a client, not do all the other stuff the bridge is doing. I'm just speculating - I've no idea for sure.

The problem is the mediamvp is designed closer to a PDA then a computer from some aspects, specifically no PCI, which is one of the reasons for the the poor wired ethernet performance. For wireless all the smarts are in the Compact Flash and really finding linux CF WLAN drivers with reliable WAP support is challenging and I've been looking since I won't use WEP.

Have a look here for some pictures if you are interested.

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms...or_pdf=pdf

Martin

[bungle]

Compact Flash? That's a bit odd. I would not have expected that. I guess that explains the price difference a bit more. It's good to componetize, but that's not the way I would expect. Did the old MVPs have the CF slot? I would have expected them just to change out the network chip from the old board.

[mvallevand]

Compact Flash? That's a bit odd. I would not have expected that. I guess that explains the price difference a bit more. It's good to componetize, but that's not the way I would expect. Did the old MVPs have the CF slot? I would have expected them just to change out the network chip from the old board.

It looks like the board was designed for the CF slot but doesn't have actual hardware, and I don't know about the on board circuitry. The wireless model actually has both wireless and the wired ethernet (same chip) and the 3 newer "standard" MVP's I've opened, do have a CF slot so I think the difference is largely the CF card and antennae.

Martin

[djtaylor]

Anyone fancy trying to plug a CF card of the same type into the plug?

5 cards for $20

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lot-of-5-Samsung-M...dZViewItem

[mpking]

I have two MVPs (wired versions) each of which is plugged into its own Zyxel P-330W wireless router setup for use as a wireless bridge.

Hmm... Very odd.

I've got a Zyxel P334 that's been overheating, and shutting it's wireless lan down. I've liked the Zyxel for the last year until this has happened. (last 2 months)

I'll have to look for one of these 330W's
I might just get one of the WRT54GS and run the hyperwrt software. Everyone has good luck with those