Computer Related > Ethernet wireless adapter Computing Issues
Thread Author: Rudedog Replies: 15
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 Thu 24 Nov 11 22:46 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Rudedog
I just wondering if anybody has seen a wireless network adapter that has an Ethernet plug rather than the ubiquitous USB one?
The problem I have is that my new network laser printer only has an ethernet socket which I used to connect to my home network via an old iMac that was wireless enabled, unfortunately the iMac is no longer viable and I'm unable to move the printer to the wireless router and make the connection there, therefore I been trying to find a small adapter that I can plug in and make a connection to my network.
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 Thu 24 Nov 11 22:54 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - RattleandSmoke
I have one, is sometimes handy but is a little tricky to setup, if you have TCP/IP knowledge you will be fine.

Works very well once it is setup. This is the one I have.

www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/49647/TP-Link-54Mbps-Extended-Range-Wireless-Access
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Thu 24 Nov 11 at 22:55
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 00:10 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Rudedog
I was thinking more of the small USB network stick type adapters that you see, I'm assuming that if my printer had a USB port then I could convert it to wireless just by plugging in the adapter and adding it to my home network, my problem is that the printer only has an ethernet socket.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 00:22 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - RattleandSmoke
Not sure if they exist, as it would need a processor. On a USB stick the driver does most the processing work for the WIFI card. An Ethernet port can only send raw binary data via TCP/IP so this device has to then convert that data into a wireless signal, it requires a degree of processing which usually means a processor capable of running a Linux based operating system.

While I am sure such a small product may exist, I would imagine it would be very expensive.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 07:17 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Hard Cheese

If you plug you printer into your wireless router you should be able to see it on the network.

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 Fri 25 Nov 11 07:43 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Hard Cheese

Sorry ... I missed your comment that you are unable to move the printer near to the wireless router, a second wireless router could be used as an access point.

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 Fri 25 Nov 11 08:25 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Mike H
What about one of the ethernet over mains adaptors, where it sends the ethernet through the mains supply? Lots of choice, just google "ethernet over mains".
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 11:05 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - RattleandSmoke
Might be worth trying, but it does depend on how the circuits are wired up. I have had mixed success with Ethernet over mains.

Is the printer near a PC? Another option would be to bridge the PCs ethernet port and connect that to the printer, but its not ideal as the PC would need to be on for the printer to work.

Edit what about one of these?

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5580855.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=tsid:11527|cc:|prd:5580855|cat:office%2C+pcs+and+phones+%2F+hard+drives%2C+usbs+and+data+storage+%2F+external+hard+drives+%2F

Would do the job nicely.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 12:43 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - spamcan61
>> Might be worth trying, but it does depend on how the circuits are wired up.
>> I have had mixed success with Ethernet over mains.
>>
I agree they can be pretty crap, as someone here said last week, mains wiring wasn't designed for RF above 50Hz (and they make good broadband RF jammers). However I would suspect a printer will be pretty undemanding bandwidth wise, so Powerline might well work.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 13:42 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Rudedog
Rattle - that was exactly what I had been doing using my old iMac, but the old iMac can't now run with my upgraded broadband signal (30Mbs VM) as the Airport card doesn't support the wifi signal (it's only 802.11b)

I think the best option looks like buying a small wireless router and connecting it to that as has been suggested.

A silly question.. but the new 30 Mbs signal aparently only works with a 802.11n spec wireless router (that's what they have given me), therefore I guess I'll have to look out for another 'n' type router to connect with my printer and not one of the older 'g' specs.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 13:57 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - rtj70
You can't buy any old router to extend your network wirelessly. You are looking for one that can act as a bridge.

The VM 30Mbps service is probably Wireless N because even Wireless G won't be fast enough to take advantage of the 30Mbps. I do wonder however if the router provides (probably a Netgear?) can be switched to work as Wireless b/g/n and not just n?

Another thought, can you get a USB Wireless N network adapter for the old iMac. I know it's old from what you say but it means the Mac is useable on the Internet too.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Fri 25 Nov 11 at 13:59
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 14:00 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - RattleandSmoke
From experience no, you may be able to buy something from Apple but it will cost a fortune. The problem is nearly all USB sticks only support Mac OSX, I got the impression this machine wasn't MAC OSX but maybe I am wrong.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 14:07 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - rtj70
>> I got the impression this machine wasn't MAC OSX but maybe I am wrong.

It will be MacOS X. But will be on PowerPC. I don't see why the router won't support wireless b, g and n at the same time. Might take a bit of a performance hit if you don't set it to handle just wireless N. Anyone else with this router on here - smokie will for sure.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 14:05 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - rtj70
The router you have from VM is probably the WNB21000-100UKS? That does support Wireless b, g and n. So have you tried connecting the iMac?
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 13:59 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - RattleandSmoke
No reason why a 30mbps broadband signal won't work with 80211.g as the max speed of G is 54mbps, however in the real world you will get better performance with N if you have a 30mbps broadband connection.

And yes I remember fun and games in my early days trying to make early Imacs work wirelessly.
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 Fri 25 Nov 11 14:55 
 Ethernet wireless adapter - Rudedog
Yes I did think that g should work but something just doesn't let it receive the internet signal, I think I'm going to find a cheap small wireless N router to act as a bridge for the printer, hopefully less hassle, my iMac is on OS X and ran happily on VM's 10 Mbs but it seems no go since I upgraded yesterday.
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