Networking in the car

So, having connected my Ford Focus stalk, I've decided to get ambitious. I thought that while I've got the dashboard in pieces this afternoon, I might fit my car with Ethernet. I've got a funky adapter thingummy that Mark made up (see attached) -- it slots into the back of the cage, and positions the Ethernet jack properly for docking.

My question: my laptop's not auto-sensing for cross-over/straight-through, so I'll need a hub or switch or something in the car. Something that hands out DHCP addresses would be good, too.

So: any recommendations? I'm thinking that installing a WAP so I can use my laptop would be cool, but I'd also like, in future to be able to bridge to the flat, provided I'm within range.

Moreover, how should I power the thing?

Sorry about the non-specific nature of the questions, but I've not thought too much about this yet.

If you just want to start small and connect a wired laptop, then a simple ethernet cross-over cable along with static IP address(es) will do the job.

I normally just keep handy a 10cm length of cat5 with RJ45 plugs on each end, wired as a cross-over cable. This is used in combination with a double-ended RJ45 jack coupler, similar to the one embedded inside the docks I made/make.

CrazyMelki has a wireless router in his car, and syncs music from his apartment to the car over that link. Perhaps he'll tell us how it's all powered -- probably just a DC/AC inversion gizmo -- not the most efficient (power), but pretty simple to hook up.

Cheers

Photo of my ethernet crossover gizmo is attached. The nice thing about this style is that I can connect it (the blue 10cm thing) to a normal (non Xover) cable of any length..

Cheers

Quote:
static IP address(es) will do the job.

That's where it gets slightly complicated -- at home, I want to use DHCP. Does the empeg support 169.254 (UPnP addresses) -- I don't remember, and it doesn't appear to work with my WUSB11 adapter.