WRT54GL replacement?

[Ben Scott]

On 4/16/07, Drew Van Zandt <drew.vanzandt at gmail.com> wrote:
> Runs Linux, 5 USB ports... possibly I'll replace my trusty 54G with N now.
> http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/16/belkin_80211n_usb_hub/

  The article is short on details, but it appears that box is
basically a USB hub with an 802.11n link (plus a Linux-driven CPU to
provide the "bridge").  It does not appear to contain access point,
router, or Ethernet (wired) functionality.  So it would not so much
replace an WRT54GL as provide alternative functionality.

  The article also makes no mention of actually being Linux friendly.
Indeed, it explicitly mentions that Belkin only has Windows software
planned at release, with even Mac OS X support coming later.  It could
end up being another closed Linux box.  One would hope Belkin would
see the possibilities of opening it up, but even LinkSys still
doesn't, really, even after the WRT54G made them a fortune.

  Still, one can hope.  If Belkin does make it an open platform. it
does look like something with real potential.  I can envision using
something like that at work.  It could turn a cheap flatbed scanner
into a network scanner, or possibly let me connect USB instrumentation
to the network more easily.  I almost wish it had a wired port, though
-- that would eliminate the security and reliability headaches of
wireless.

  One other thing: AFAIK, the 802.11n spec hasn't been finalized yet,
and isn't scheduled to be finalized until well into 2008.  This would
thus be "pre N" or "draft N" gear.  The first generation of "pre N"
gear ended up being incompatible with the current draft spec, so I
would be careful before buying more "pre N" gear.  You might end up
with a dead-end product.

  IEEE 802.11 schedule:

http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/Reports/802.11_Timelines.htm

-- Ben