My sub-$90 Wireless 2400c Story

[Scott's Lists]

For the good of the order, here's my new wireless setup, for under 90 bucks:

Siemens SpeedStream 2623 wireless router with com port for external modem,
$40 plus shipping from TigerDirect.com, tip from dealmac.com. In order to
pass appletalk between wireless and wired side, I had to upgrade the
firmware with an SMC flasher. It's the same hardware as the SMC, but the
SpeedStream firmware out of the box didn't pass appletalk packets while the
SMC firmware did. Where I found this out is at
<http://www.socketforum.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=319>. The firmware is at
<http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?action=products_downloads&productCode=SMC7004A
WBR&prod_id=63>.

But SpeedStream has a better support website than SMC. Whatever.

I hooked to my long-existing 56K modem (fortunately not a Mac-only model). I
don't have broadband, nor will I in the forseeable future. Very few wireless
routers support modems, so I snatched this one. Downloading large files is
painful, of course, but surfing speed is adequate for me. Happened to have a
serial PC cable on hand, too.

Orinoco Silver card from 2buystore.com, $40 shipped (found via dealtime.com
search.) Had a bit of searching finding the Mac drivers. They exist on
orinocowireless's ftp servers, but aren't linked to on the support site, at
least not as I could find. Google came through again with web page with a
deep link. I understand one can install Airport to drive the orinoco card,
but I think orinoco's own drivers are a simpler, more direct solution. Plus
they support OS 7.5 to 9 without complaint, unlike Airport's OS 9 or better
snobbery. 
<ftp://ftp.orinocowireless.com/pub/software/ORiNOCO/PC_Card/MacOS/>

This setup is working very well. I have the router in the basement, but can
find a signal in every corner of my 2000 square foot house, plus the garage.

Nothing like surfing in the garage...!

Can't wait to build a deck on the back so I can surf there!

FWIW,

Scott