The first, and simplest solution, is of course to run a wire from your console to your network switch/hub, but that might not be feasable. I know I have gotten pretty tired of drilling into my walls and floorboards to lay more Category V cable. So what's your other option ?

For now, there seem to be two possible options, both are the same type of device, just provided by different manufacturers. These devices, called wireless ethernet bridges, are designed to be connected by a short Category V network cable to your console's network adapter, then they connect wirelessly to your in-home wireless network. They get their name from the fact that they act as a bridge between your wired console and your wireless LAN. While you still have a little network cable in the mix, it's a pretty short length, just enough to go from your console to the bridge. From there, it's all wire-free.

There are currently two manufacturers making wireless ethernet bridges; Linksys and D-Link. Both companies are well-respected in the home networking community for making good products at incredibly low prices. While some might think that a low price compromises the integrity of the product, those of us who've been networking for awhile know these products work just fine under pretty heavy home usage.

The first wireless ethernet bridge to appear was developed by Linksys, and is called the WET11. It's relatively inexpensive ($114.95 at Amazon) and is, according to most reports, pretty easy to setup and get going. This is assuming of course, you already have configured your wireless LAN properly to allow other wireless devices to easily connect to it. According to Linksys' website, the WET11 should work fine with an Xbox, PS2 online adapter, or any other network device that normally needs a wired connection.

The latest addition to the wireless bridge category is the D-LinkAir DWL-810. This one was only released a short time ago and according to the manufacturer, will run fine with your game console. While it's not currently available on Amazon.com, a quick web search will give you prices ranging from $102-$120, so be sure to shop around. The DWL-810 looks to be a little smaller than the WET11, which might come in handy if you're short on space (the Xbox is a bit of a space hog as it is !).

We at DailyGame.net haven't gotten a chance to test these two bridges (though we're hoping to post a review soon), but we hope this brief overview of the available products will help you in your quest to take your hardwired console online in a wireless world. Reports from various discussion groups around the 'net are giving the product mixed reviews, so before you buy be sure that you do the following:

• Buy from a retailer who will easily take the item back in return or exchange
• Make sure your wireless network is already up and running before you try to take your console online
• Understand that wireless connections are still slower than hardwired connections, and things like walls can cause connectivity problems.
• Along with the wall issue to contend with, some of these devices run on the same frequency as other wireless devices in the house, so be prepared to tweak things around the house (maybe even moving some wireless devices to other rooms) to get things going properly.
• Know the maxiumum effective distance that your network devices (PC's, game consoles, etc) can be from your wireless network access point (your hub or switch) and still maintain a solid connection.