Todays post is on a nifty little gadget I picked up to solve a problem I had with a demo design (needed to bridge wireless to an Ethernet port providing DHCP without using laptop Sharing so I’m in front of a VPN). The tool is the ASUS WL-330N3G Wireless Router and retails for around 60 dollars.
It’s pretty small and looks like a cheap hub but so much more. There are six different settings you can use it for.
1) Wireless Router – Connects to the modem through a network cable and shares the wireless network. In this mode, NAT, firewall, UPnP, DHCP server and default enable
2) Access Point – Connects to a wired/wireless router through a network cable to establish wireless signal sharing. In this mode, firewall, IP sharing , and NAT functions are default disabled.
3) Repeater – Connects to an existing wireless network to extend the wireless coverage. In this mode, the firewall, IP sharing, and NAT functions are disabled.
4) Network Adapter – Connects any Ethernet-enabled device to your wireless network with WL-330N3G.
5) WI-FI account sharing – Connects to a wireless hotspot that requires authorization / payment (e.g Hotel, Airport and Coffe shop WIFI services). With only one payment, you can share wireless signal to all other WIFI devices. Saves on the cost for multiple devices
6) 3G Sharing – Plug a 3G/3.5G USB adapter into WL-33N3G to turn it into a mobile router.
The ASUS comes with a power adaptor however can be powered using USB (awesome). Once powered on, connect it using the Ethernet port and access its GUI using 192.168.1.1 (The ASUS will provide you DHCP address). Log in to 192.168.1.1 with admin admin and you will be presented with six different configuration options as explained earlier. Once you chose one, you will see the GUI below. Its pretty straight forward to setup.
So far I’ve used it as a wireless repeater (extend my wireless to my 3rd floor office), Network Adaptor (provide a Ethernet port from my wireless network to a OEAP600 that requires ethernet DHCP) and WI-FI account sharing (extended a expensive hotel network to my iPad and Laptop using one account login). I’m sure there will be other situations that this tool will be useful. Pick one up on Amazon. Totally worth it
