Sony VAIO 802.11a Ethernet Converter (PCWA-DE50)

Rating:
Summary: Great device!. Expensive but trouble-free
Review: I am a computer geek. I have a lot of devices, many of those with ethernet ports. For instance, I have a PRISMIQ Media Player. That device has a PCMCIA slot to insert a wireless networking card, but it must be of a given brand and model (from a list of supported cards).

Instead of that, just plugged the sony PCWA-DE50 to the Prismiq ethernet port and Bingo!, instant wireless connectivity!. Not only that, with one of these devices you can say GOODBYE to WIFI driver issues. You just need a WIFI access point, and a PC or other device (could be a game console!) with an ethernet port. You plug the Sony ethernet-to-wifi converter and ... instant wireless connectivity. As far as the PC or other device is concerned, it's talking to a wired ethernet, even while it's not, as the sony devices bridges wifi to wired ethernet networks!.

Setup is a breeze. Just point your browser to the devices's IP address and enter your wifi configuration data (supports wep up to 128 bits), the IP address that you want assigned to it, and that's it!. Then when you plug this unit to any device with an ethernet port, that device will immediately connect to your wifi network!. I even used one of these boxes to get instant WiFi connectivity on my old lan server running IBM OS/2!.

Another bonus: switch operating systems painlessly, don't worry about the availability of wifi drivers!. I test software for a living, so I often find myself installing several flavors of Linux. However, availability of Wifi drivers for Linux varies. So, instead of having to thinker with the computer, I just tell linux to use the PC's ethernet port, and I then plug the SONY ethernet to wifi converter and that's it. Instant connection and no need to drill holes on the walls.

The downside: It's expensive, like most Sony gear. You can probably find several less expensive "ethernet to Wi-Fi" converters on the market, but to my knowledge the Sony ones are the ONLY that support the 5 Ghz 802.11a standard!, all cheaper devices work ONLY in the 2.4 Ghz frequency, using either 802.11b or 802.11g. I choose 802.11a because, while older, the 5 Ghz band is less prone to interference from 2.4 Ghz cordless phones, microwave ovens (did you know your microwave oven operates at 2.4 ghz?), and wireless security cameras, all of which pollute the 2.4 Ghz frequency spectrum.