networking - Share WiFi connection to another laptop
2014-04
user3066477
I have a wireless router (TP-LINK WR-702N) and 2 laptops. There is a WiFi connection that I can only connect to with one of the laptop (Acer Aspire 5810TG older model, Windows 7), due to it extraordinary strong signal receiving capability. I wish to share this connection with the other laptop (Asus X450J, Windows 8.1), through the router or not.
I have tried some of the solutions but they don't work.
- Connecting 2 laptops directly with Ethernet cable (I don't have a crossover cable, and I am not buying one)
- Using the new driver from Microsoft (Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter) that claims to be able to share WiFi connection. I guess that the reason that this didn't work because the same adapter is used to receive and share WiFi
- Connecting the Acer laptop to a router through the Ethernet cable, configure the router to be AP, and connect to it using my another laptop.
The only other solution I have found is bridging the WiFi adapter with the Ethernet adapter and then connect the laptop with my router. What do I need to set on my laptop? (Window 7) I may have got something wrong in the above attempts. It would be appreciated if you can tell me the correct way of doing it.
Mike Naylor
To address a few things:
A crossover cable and configuration of Internet Connection Sharing would enable you to share the wireless but since you are NOT buying one we move on to
Your physical wireless card would need to be able to send and receive at the same time. Many cards cannot do this but those with an Atheros chipset normally can so you may want to invest in a USB or PCMCIA Atheros card
You would need to properly configure Internet Connection Sharing and plug the Ethernet cable into a LAN port not the WAN on the router and properly configure the wireless router as an Access Point to the shared network from the laptop.
Due to the fact that your second laptop cannot receive the signal from the router I would suggest moving the router to a better location to reduce interference and distance or getting a Wireless repeater or 'range extender' in order to broadcast the signal such that both laptops can connect. Another option is purchasing a better wireless adapter for the older laptop if these options do not meet your needs.
Halo2jak
I want to connect one of my desktops wirelessly to the Internet, using my neighbours unsecured wifi (with her permission of course), and share it through the Ethernet port to my wireless router, so I can broadcast it for my use. If that's not possible to broadcast it, can I just share the Internet to the router so I can hook up multiple pcs to it?
PoorLuzer
Yes! Why not? You can hook as many PCs through the Ethernet bridge as there are physical ports and later use a wireless ad-hoc network to share even more.
Brad
Sure, you can do this but don't use your router as a router.
Log into your router, disable DHCP and UPnP.
On your PC, bridge the wireless and wired interfaces. Then, take the wired interface and plug that into one of the LAN ports on your router. Hook everything else up as normal.
What you are doing now is using the switch and access point parts of your router, and ignoring the WAN interface and routing complete. You don't need it, as your neighbor's router will have DHCP and what not running.
studiohack
You can do it in reverse with ONE ethernet port and as many wifi devices with Virtual Router or Connectify. OS has to be Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2...
FWIW...
Linker3000
Yes, you can do it, as others have said - or consider a wireless bridge, such as the Linksys WGPS606 which can be setup to connect to your neigbor's wifi and then has a 4-port switch on the back for connections to client machines or your own access point. The 606 also has a built in print server that supports two USB printers too. This would avoid having to have a PC switched on all the time for internet access.