On of the problems with Linux is lack of good support for 802.11g cards due to lack of native driver support.
I wanted to run my MiniMyth based MythTV Frontend wirelessly, but MiniMyth didn't include any wireless driver support.
I decided to try a wireless gaming adapter instead of trying to build a custom MiniMyth build with support for a wireless card on Linux.
A wireless gaming adapter isn't just for game consoles. Basically a wireless gaming adapter is really a single port wireless network bridge. I think using one of these may very well be the easiest ways to get a Linux machine on an 802.11g wireless network.
I chose a D-Link DWL-G820 Wireless Gaming Adapter
Although not obvious, the initial setup was not hard. I plugged the DWL-G820 into the ethernet port on my laptop to configure it. I configured my laptop's network configuration per the instructions and was able to connect to the gaming adapter with my web browser.
Once connected, the configuration of the DWL-820 was fairly straightforward. Basically I needed to select which wireless network I wanted to join (it detected the neighbor's as well), and set the pass-phrase. A reboot (of the gaming adapter) was in order and it was all set to go.
I plugged it into the ethernet port on my MythTV Frontend, turned it on, and it just worked.
As far as performance, MythTV works fine for SD video, although I'm only one wall away from the wireless router (a Linksys.)
I'm very happy with it as my solution for 802.11g access from my MythTV Frontend.
If you're looking for an easy to implement solution where you don't need to muck around with linux drivers and ndis wrappers, this is certainly a solution worth considering.
I have the same adapter
This adapter does a decent job for SD and TV program guide downloads (I had one on my frontend for a while) but don't expect to do any HD video or big file transfers. Even with a D-link router and "boost mode" turned on (108mps) HD video was skipping at best.
go with this adapter if you have to but nothing will beat a wired connection for stability and speed
Cheaper Alternative
I've tried that route myself, but just found those dedicated bridges to be overly expensive. Using the Linksys WRT54G, you can install a custom firmware onto it called DD-WRT, and convert it into a bridge, or if you set your entire house up with it, can design a WDS(wireless distribution system). Great aspect of the WDS is that it would boost the wifi connection and act as a range expander, but also give you up to 5(WAN can be mapped to the LAN) wired ports. I've been finding used/returned/"broken" wrt54g routers at my local MicroCenter. Normally $50, returned/opened boxes are half off, and it's 99% of the time due to user error/ignorance. The WRT router is probably one of the easiest to set up with the custom firmware, but it does support a collection of other routers, and a few are cheaper. Some people have also used the La Fonero freebie routers for their needs. Takes maybe an hour to reprogram a wtr54g router, took me about 3 hours to reprogram my La Fonero router because it takes forever to boot back up.
My single wifi network now spans the entire hill i live on. Haven't taken the time to figure out the distance, but using the WDS i can start out at my pool side with my laptop/pda, walk around the house, get into my car, and get to roughly... the end of my street, and never get disconnected.
DD-WRT WDS
Agreed. DD-WRT is a great way to go if your only option is wireless. The 4 port Buffalo G125 with the new Broadcom chipset is now supported and you can pick these up for $25 at Circuit City when they run rebates. I have a La Fonera as well, but i find it kind of a hassle for only a 1 port payoff. YMMV.
WRT54G(L) + OpenWRT + WDS = Amazing
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