Connect 'other' USB devices to wireless router

If you've recently been to Staples, you may have seen a NetGear Wireless Print Server.

Connecting my printer works fine.

But what if I want to connect 'other' USB devices. Like a USB quick cam for example. Or a Western Digital 500GB My Book.

Has anyone experimented with this?

Nothing...

They have a limited driver set, usually enough for peripherals with storage, USB->IDE interface (maybe), USB-flash memory, etc.  If you hack into the box, you will most likely find a linux based os.  If you can find the kernel, I'm sure you can re-compile your new drivers.  I'm sure if you like coding, you could have a webcam take snap shots and upload them to another PC.... (hacker thoughts coming out...loads of coding though)   

saporis wrote:

Nothing...

They have a limited driver set, usually enough for peripherals with storage, USB->IDE interface (maybe), USB-flash memory, etc.  If you hack into the box, you will most likely find a linux based os.  If you can find the kernel, I'm sure you can re-compile your new drivers.  I'm sure if you like coding, you could have a webcam take snap shots and upload them to another PC.... (hacker thoughts coming out...loads of coding though)   

[2] An alternative would be to write a USB printer driver for my $6 USB quick cam.

Odd?

I never thought of the "printer" driver aspect.

First thing you should do is search google msn live for your hardware to see if anyone else has done the same.

Second, if above is not successful, I would do a nice scan of all the ports that are listening.

Thirdly, you do know it is listening on port 80, try using telnet/echo client, and downloading all the files on the router.  Maybe you'll find another "wizard" page with more advanced options.

saporis wrote:


Second, if above is not successful, I would do a nice scan of all the ports that are listening.

saporis wrote:



Thirdly, you do know it is listening on port 80, try using telnet/echo client, and downloading all the files on the router.  Maybe you'll find another "wizard" page with more advanced options.

saporis wrote:



First thing you should do is search google msn live for your hardware to see if anyone else has done the same.

Apparently NetGear and Western Digital have a press release:
NETGEAR AND WESTERN DIGITAL DELIVER NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE SOLUTION FOR THE CONNECTED HOME

It's some kind of Wireless Media router that is found at Best Buy. I'll have to track this one down.


The WGT634U is close to what I want to do. But the limited driver support and lack of NTFS support doesn't sound good.

Personally, if you're spending all this money on routers, you should just consider setting up a mini itx server.  You have way more support.  For the "wireless" part, I'd just hook a cheap wireless router onto the lan port of the mini-itx.

Or, you can use an old computer you are no longer using...Takes more space and electricity, but none-the-less, WAY more efficient then a proprietary locked down box.

Just looks like what you are really looking for.

Also, my experience with IDE->USB->LAN has been very poor with these boxes.  The cpu sharing algorithm is pitiful at best, excl. the WRT54G, which defaults to a proper multi-tasking mode, not realtime, for what the hardware is doing.            

I think using virtual printer driver to access USB devices is the way to go. That way the device could have a chance to go to sleep. And that way multiple computers could access the device "safely".

Otherwise, I'd need to leave a computer running all the time attached to the device. That defeats the purpose of getting away from a single access point.

But if you are going the route of a multi-function device, I'd still say the mini-itx.

BUT, I only said that because you mentioned you wanted to plug in other devices into the USB port (harddrive, webcam, printer).

If you are JUST putting in a printer, then any of the print server brands will do...heck, even a "usb type of kvm auto-switcher" I've seen around would do well.   

saporis wrote:

BUT, I only said that because you mentioned you wanted to plug in other devices into the USB port (harddrive, webcam, printer).

saporis wrote:

If you are JUST putting in a printer, then any of the print server brands will do...heck, even a "usb type of kvm auto-switcher" I've seen around would do well.

Slashdot has a relevant article about [beefing up your wireless router].

This is exactly what I needed. Because I also have a printer/scanner/fax machine and only the print capabilities worked wirelessly.

Looking forward to putting Linux on the print server.

The dongle or adapter available from wedamart and being sold via their mywedamart ebay storefront seem to do the trick. It provides capability for upto 4 USB devices [image] or a single USB device option [image ].   I would love to hear from anyone who has had experience with these devices or dongle type. Already I have a NAS box and am using the NAS USB for my printer and I am sort for start with my legacy USB drive that has > 10 yeaars worth of data that I have picked up over the years. Thanks in advance.