Linksys Wireless-B Media Adapter reviewed

Introduction and Basic Info

Linksys' WMA11B Wireless-B Media Adapter is one of the fruits of a deepening relationship between Intel and LInksys, and definitely a different animal than we've come to expect from Linksys. Rather than just another boring old box to get bits from one place to another, the Media Adapter instead connects between your network and couch-potato input devices, i.e. your audio and video equipment, letting you simultaneously view still pictures and listen to music stored on various hard drives around your LAN.

The attractively styled dark grey and silver package is about the size of a VHS cassette (remember them?) plastic storage box, and sports the Cisco logo on its front panel and Linksys imprint on its top and bottom covers. Ready, Wireless, and Ethernet lights, IR remote window and Power switch grace the front panel with a full complement of stereo audio, video (including S-video), 10/100 Ethernet, power and 802.11b antenna connectors (plus Normal / Uplink switch for the Ethernet jack0 bringing up the rear.

Linksys includes all the cables needed to attach the WMA to your audio / video gear, a handy remote that - along with your TV or video monitor - you'll use to navigate the user interface, and even throws in the two AAA batteries for the remote!

Based on Intel's XScale PXA250 application processor (the PXA255A0C400 clocked at 400MHz to be exact), the WMA uses a Focus FS450 video scan converter to handle video duties and SigmaTel STAC9750 full duplex AC'97 audio codec to get the audio from digital form to something more pleasing to your ear.

The 802.11b wireless connection is provided via a Z-Com XI-325 PC card radio with patch antenna removed and one antenna connector cabled to an external RP-SMA connector.