My first home wireless network ?!?

Snufkin · 01-16-2009, 01:49 PM

Hi, wondered if someone could help a wireless noob?

I've had a computer connected to a Virgin cable box (through a wire) for a few years. I recently bought a computer with a wireless card, and I've also aquired a wireless dongle.

Is it possible to hook the new computer (it's got Vista Home) wirelessly to the dongle on the old one (XP Pro) so it can get it's internet connection?

This should be easy with just NIC's, but wireless is strange :)

I can see my neighbour's secure connection on both machines, so I know both devices are working, but I'm a bit of a noob at creating a network.

I've tried in both XP and Vista (of which I'm ignorant) and once I managed to make a network that the other computer saw but the pass code wasn't working. I'm a bit clueless about WEP and stuff like that.

Can somebody help me through this?

Thanks

alpenadiver · 01-16-2009, 02:34 PM

If your Virgin box dosen't have wireless capabilities or can act as a router all you need is a wireless router to share your internet connection throughout your house. The wireless signal your picking up is your neighbors and he has a WEP passphrase, depending on your relation with the neighbor he may give you the passphrase. But it would be best to get your own router, the Linksys WRT54GL is a rock solid router.

Snufkin · 01-17-2009, 03:48 AM

So I really do need a router?

I thought I could set my XP machine up as a router. The computers are in the same room, there's only two of them and if I was connecting with a CAT cable and NIC's, it would be:

Internet <----cable----> PC1 <----cable----> PC2

and PC1 has two NIC's, so PC2 should get the internet.

But I want it to be:

Internet <----cable----> PC1 <- - -wi-fi- - -> PC2

PC1 has a NIC and a wifi, PC2 has wifi.

I don't actually want on my neighbour's network, I just mentioned it to say both my WiFi's are working.

I did set up a network on the Vista machine that the XP machine found but the passcode was wrong. There was one character I couldn't type at the end as the input form ran out of space. So I might be mixing up my encryption algorithms.

Then again, if spending on a wireless router might be simpler, I'll maybe phone Virgin and see if they'll upgrade my router. I've got the same Motorola Surfboard I've had for about 8 years. Because it's an ancient Telewest package we get 20M broadband and if I upgrade my service that might go down, strange as that sounds :)

Thanks for the help

alpenadiver · 01-17-2009, 06:06 AM

In my opinion the router will be the easiest, you can try setting up ICS in windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126

I've never used it, so I don't know if it will work with both wired, and wi-fi

**johnwill** · 01-17-2009, 07:31 AM

Here's a tutorial about exactly what you're talking about. ICS - Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Router

Snufkin · 01-17-2009, 11:53 AM

Thanks for that, it was (almost) exactly what I was looking for.

I have successfully set up a network, but it doesn't actually do anything. The instructions for setting up the client computer are for XP and the client has Vista. I've now got an unsecured network between the two, and signal strength is excellent.

All the balloons pop up on the XP host when I connect and disconnect on the Vista client, so I know they can see each other, but I don't know how to set the host up as a gateway on the client.

Vista is strange and new and things animate themselves at you...

**johnwill** · 01-18-2009, 11:43 AM

Vista is very similar to XP as far as configuration, please be specific which parts of the procedure you are having an issue with?

Snufkin · 01-21-2009, 01:58 PM

It's the fig 4 configuring the client computer.

The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialogue doesn't exist on Vista as far as I've found. I've been all round the control panel. It has a different network setup and I can't find it. I know I'm probably missing it somewhere.

If I can't solve this, I think I will go with the extra cost of a router.

PC = A hole in your desk you pour money into :)

01-16-2009, 01:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snufkin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 5 OS: Main: XP Pro SP2, 2nd: Vista Home	My first home wireless network ?!? Hi, wondered if someone could help a wireless noob? I've had a computer connected to a Virgin cable box (through a wire) for a few years. I recently bought a computer with a wireless card, and I've also aquired a wireless dongle. Is it possible to hook the new computer (it's got Vista Home) wirelessly to the dongle on the old one (XP Pro) so it can get it's internet connection? This should be easy with just NIC's, but wireless is strange :) I can see my neighbour's secure connection on both machines, so I know both devices are working, but I'm a bit of a noob at creating a network. I've tried in both XP and Vista (of which I'm ignorant) and once I managed to make a network that the other computer saw but the pass code wasn't working. I'm a bit clueless about WEP and stuff like that. Can somebody help me through this? Thanks

01-16-2009, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
alpenadiver Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alpena, Michigan Posts: 346 OS: Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 My System	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? If your Virgin box dosen't have wireless capabilities or can act as a router all you need is a wireless router to share your internet connection throughout your house. The wireless signal your picking up is your neighbors and he has a WEP passphrase, depending on your relation with the neighbor he may give you the passphrase. But it would be best to get your own router, the Linksys WRT54GL is a rock solid router.

01-17-2009, 03:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snufkin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 5 OS: Main: XP Pro SP2, 2nd: Vista Home	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? So I really do need a router? I thought I could set my XP machine up as a router. The computers are in the same room, there's only two of them and if I was connecting with a CAT cable and NIC's, it would be: Internet <----cable----> PC1 <----cable----> PC2 and PC1 has two NIC's, so PC2 should get the internet. But I want it to be: Internet <----cable----> PC1 <- - -wi-fi- - -> PC2 PC1 has a NIC and a wifi, PC2 has wifi. I don't actually want on my neighbour's network, I just mentioned it to say both my WiFi's are working. I did set up a network on the Vista machine that the XP machine found but the passcode was wrong. There was one character I couldn't type at the end as the input form ran out of space. So I might be mixing up my encryption algorithms. Then again, if spending on a wireless router might be simpler, I'll maybe phone Virgin and see if they'll upgrade my router. I've got the same Motorola Surfboard I've had for about 8 years. Because it's an ancient Telewest package we get 20M broadband and if I upgrade my service that might go down, strange as that sounds :) Thanks for the help Last edited by Snufkin; 01-17-2009 at 03:50 AM.

01-17-2009, 06:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
alpenadiver Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alpena, Michigan Posts: 346 OS: Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 My System	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? In my opinion the router will be the easiest, you can try setting up ICS in windows http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126 I've never used it, so I don't know if it will work with both wired, and wi-fi

01-17-2009, 07:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? Here's a tutorial about exactly what you're talking about. ICS - Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Router __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-17-2009, 11:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Snufkin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 5 OS: Main: XP Pro SP2, 2nd: Vista Home	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? Thanks for that, it was (almost) exactly what I was looking for. I have successfully set up a network, but it doesn't actually do anything. The instructions for setting up the client computer are for XP and the client has Vista. I've now got an unsecured network between the two, and signal strength is excellent. All the balloons pop up on the XP host when I connect and disconnect on the Vista client, so I know they can see each other, but I don't know how to set the host up as a gateway on the client. Vista is strange and new and things animate themselves at you...

01-18-2009, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? Vista is very similar to XP as far as configuration, please be specific which parts of the procedure you are having an issue with? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-21-2009, 01:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Snufkin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 5 OS: Main: XP Pro SP2, 2nd: Vista Home	Re: My first home wireless network ?!? It's the fig 4 configuring the client computer. The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialogue doesn't exist on Vista as far as I've found. I've been all round the control panel. It has a different network setup and I can't find it. I know I'm probably missing it somewhere. If I can't solve this, I think I will go with the extra cost of a router. PC = A hole in your desk you pour money into :)