[masraum]

Originally Posted by RWebb

what I'd like is a nice cheap temperature sensor that communicates via WiFi...

I guess this is only half correct?

http://www.temperaturealert.com/product_p/tm-wifi20.htm

Not much cheaper, you could use something like this in conjunction with a serial sensor.
http://www.usbgear.com/VSCOM-123WLAN.html

Still, I wouldn't call either cheap.

I think the problem is the "wifi" and "cheap" in the same sentence. Yes, you can get a cheap USB wifi adapter for a PC, but I think that's because the PC is the brains. The wifi adapter is just a tiny transmitter. It takes the PC's CPU and OS to make it work.

I believe that there are wifi USB hubs. If there are any of those cheap, then you could probably couple one with a 1-wire temp sensor and be on your way. Still, it all depends upon how much you want the sensor and what you consider cheap.

Ultimately, I think it would be great to be able to purchase a $25 wireless thermometer like you can buy at Walmart or Radio Shack that has a serial or USB connection for a computer. I wouldn't think that would cost that much extra to make and would still be pretty cheap. But I haven't yet found anything like that.