Newegg TRENDnet TEW-640MB N300 Wireless 4-Port Media Bridge $25 F/S

Went out of stick as I was checking out.

Grrr... Dead while I was checking out

same happened to me

Quote from CummingsSM : A wireless router is a combination of a wireless access point (which allows you to connect wireless devices to a network) and a router (which allows you to connect one network to the other, in most cases your own home network to the Internet). This device allows you to connect wired devices (via an Ethernet cable) to a wireless network. It has 4 Ethernet ports to connect devices to, and when those devices communicate with it, it re-transmits their packets onto the wireless network. So if you have an Internet enabled TV or set top box (or in my case, a VoIP phone) that does not have wireless capabilities, this essentially makes them wireless.

Some wireless routers can be configured as a wireless-bridge. If stock firmware doesn't support this, (given that your router is supported) third party firmware can help. So basically this device is a wireless router configured as a bridge.

Can someone explain what exactly is the use of this, e.g. TV, ps3, laptop, smartphone etc all of them are wifi enabled and they connect with the wireless linksys router. So what is the role of this device?

OUT OF STOCK just as it hit FP

Quote from Pantalaimon : if you guys don't mind a stupid question... how is this different from a wireless router?

Maybe this will help all the confused people without getting too detailed.

AS A BRIDGE - This product BRIDGES wired devices to your router. It's a shared wireless link for up to 4 devices that don't have wireless networking capabilities. Think of it as adding your PS3, XBOX, TV, and PRINTER to the wireless network via ethernet ports.

ROUTERS - These products primarily ROUTE traffic between your network and another network (ie, the innerwebs as provided via Comcast, ATT, Verizon, etc). They also typically function as ACCESS POINTS, FIREWALLS, and SWITCHES.

SWITCHES - These products SWITCH traffic between internal devices on your own network. In general, you are better off using a dedicated switch (the adage is "Switch when you can, route when you must" but in home use as devices get better it's not as true as it used to be).

ACCESS POINT - The wireless radio that links devices so that they can speak together.

FIREWALL - Keeps unexpected connections away from your network.

Quote from irod87 : This is exactly what I was looking for and at the lowest price....Now to convince the wife to let me buy it! Thanks OP.

It is easier to ask for forgiveness... Or just ignore everything seems to work better IMO

In 4 2. Great deal and perfect timing. Thanks OP.

Quote from trza : Maybe this will help all the confused people without getting too detailed. AS A BRIDGE - This product BRIDGES wired devices to your router. It's a shared wireless link for up to 4 devices that don't have wireless networking capabilities. Think of it as adding your PS3, XBOX, TV, and PRINTER to the wireless network via ethernet ports. ROUTERS - These products primarily ROUTE traffic between your network and another network (ie, the innerwebs as provided via Comcast, ATT, Verizon, etc). They also typically function as ACCESS POINTS, FIREWALLS, and SWITCHES. SWITCHES - These products SWITCH traffic between internal devices on your own network. In general, you are better off using a dedicated switch (the adage is "Switch when you can, route when you must" but in home use as devices get better it's not as true as it used to be). ACCESS POINT - The wireless radio that links devices so that they can speak together. FIREWALL - Keeps unexpected connections away from your network.

Thanks but what confuses still is that PS3, TV, Printer all have wi-fi and they connect directly to the wi-fi router. So is there still a use of this device?

Quote from eibgrad : A switch allows you to network devices over wired ethernet. If you already have a router, you can daisy-chain that switch to your router to add more switched ports. This TrendNet media bridge is also a switch, but it also has the ability to connect its wired devices to your wireless router via wireless. IOW, it's a wireless bridge. So obviously you would use this wireless bridge in those situations where connecting your secondary switch via wire to the primary router is impractical.

Got it. I have 2 PCs on the 2nd floor. Right now, I have them connected to the primary router via usb wireless connectors. So if I understand correctly, I could buy this bridge to receive a signal from my router and send the signal via ethernet to the 2 PCs.

Quote from OregonDealz : This is very good deal. But they do have a new model out with gigabit switch. TEW-680MB

I have the one in the OP. It is limited to 2.4GHz band, which is slower than the 5GHz band in my experience. So to get the fastest possible speeds, the dual band TEW-680MB is the way to go.

Quote from slicksder : Got it. I have 2 PCs on the 2nd floor. Right now, I have them connected to the primary router via usb wireless connectors. So if I understand correctly, I could buy this bridge to receive a signal from my router and send the signal via ethernet to the 2 PCs.

Yes, that is how it works.

Quote from slicksder : Got it. I have 2 PCs on the 2nd floor. Right now, I have them connected to the primary router via usb wireless connectors. So if I understand correctly, I could buy this bridge to receive a signal from my router and send the signal via ethernet to the 2 PCs.

Why do you need this device since you said that you use USB wireless connector (dongle) to connect your PC to your router?

Quote from boosterjm : Quote from trza : Maybe this will help all the confused people without getting too detailed. AS A BRIDGE - This product BRIDGES wired devices to your router. It's a shared wireless link for up to 4 devices that don't have wireless networking capabilities. Think of it as adding your PS3, XBOX, TV, and PRINTER to the wireless network via ethernet ports. ROUTERS - These products primarily ROUTE traffic between your network and another network (ie, the innerwebs as provided via Comcast, ATT, Verizon, etc). They also typically function as ACCESS POINTS, FIREWALLS, and SWITCHES. SWITCHES - These products SWITCH traffic between internal devices on your own network. In general, you are better off using a dedicated switch (the adage is "Switch when you can, route when you must" but in home use as devices get better it's not as true as it used to be). ACCESS POINT - The wireless radio that links devices so that they can speak together. FIREWALL - Keeps unexpected connections away from your network. Thanks but what confuses still is that PS3, TV, Printer all have wi-fi and they connect directly to the wi-fi router. So is there still a use of this device?

If all if your devices are wifi capable, then you don't NEED this device.

My PS3 has G speed wireless. I hardwired it into my N format bridge (which hits my N format router wirelessly), thereby essentially making my PS3 N speed wireless (but with a wire). My main router is on a different floor so I can't hardwire straight from it to my PS3.

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