Getting an old iMac some wireless networking?

[RoboCop001]

Hello. I've got an old G3 slot-loading iMac that, unfortunately, doesn't have a slot for an AirPort card.

That means I have to go with either a wireless Ethernet router, or one of those wireless USB things.

I've looked around for both, but I can't seem to find them in stores, and before I buy one online, I'd like to make sure that's my only option.

I don't want to buy an AirPort base station because that would be overkill. I just need that iMac to be able to access the internet wirelessly.

I'm not looking for a full router, just one that connects to the Ethernet port to provide wireless internet to a single computer. I remember seeing a small cube thing that D-Link sells that's just a small box with one Ethernet port....

Or even one of those USB adapter things. Preferably, I'd like one with 802.11n because I'm going to buy an AirPort for a different setup (it has to be on a different floor than the iMac), and don't want a 802.11g adapter to slow the whole network down.

Any suggestions?
I'm in Toronto, Canada so if you even know of a good store, that would be great too!

 

[strider42]

I personally suggest an ethernet based adaptor. They don't require drivers, wchih is a plus. USB based adaptors require drivers, and most don't have any (but some do, so do your research first). I used a linksys wet11 (now comes as wet54 for g networking, dunno if they have an n version yet). Note that these are also often sold as gaming adaptors, as they are used to connect game consoles to the internet wirelessly. Belkin, dlink, linksys and macsense all make such adaptors.

Downside of an ethernet adaptor is that it requires a wall outlet for power (except the macsense one, which uses USB for power, but ethernet for networking)

 

[RoboCop001]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, ethernet based does sound best. Especially since the iMac only has 2 USB ports, one already being used up by the keyboard.

So am I looking for something with the acronym "WET54"? What does that stand for?

I remember buying, and later returning the next day, two routers that didn't work. The guy told me it was what I needed, but maybe I explained wrong, or he didn't really know, or it was somehow not entirely Mac compatible. But I doubt it was the last one.

Anyway, it probably wasn't the right kind of ethernet router (or whatever you call the ones that simply connect to a wireless network, and don't actually broadcast a signal).

I'm not tech-illiterate, on the contrary, actually. But this is one area I'm not totally familiar with. I learn very quickly though. And I did do some research a while ago and found a Linksys model (probably the one you suggested) to be what I'm looking for. However, I just want to be sure.