Creating a Wireless, Computer-to-Computer Network to Share Internet Access

There are many reasons why one would want to set up a computer to computer (also known as an ad-hoc) network. An ad-hoc network can be used to transfer files between two or more computers, to share hardware such as printers among several computers, and to share an Internet connection among several computers in the absence of a wireless router. This article focuses on the latter. If you don't have a router and only have a single Ethernet port on your cable modem, Internet connection sharing can come in very handy as it will allow other computers within range to connect to the Internet through the host computer's connection using Windows XP.

Step 1: Hardware Requirements and Configuration

In order to share an Internet connection via an ad-hoc network, you will require 2 or more computers with wireless cards, an Internet connection with DSL/cable speeds or faster, and one Ethernet cable. The host computer (the computer that is going to be sharing it's Internet connection) should be directly connected to your DSL/cable modem via an Ethernet cable and should have some type of wireless network adapter.

Step 2: Configuring the Host Computer

After setting up the hardware, the first thing you'll want to do is to open the control panel on the host computer, switch to classic view if you haven't already, and open up Network Connections. If you have your hardware properly installed there should be a local area connection and a wireless connection. Be sure to disable any other connections you may have for the time being. Once you have done this, right click on your local area connection and select properties from the drop-down menu. A new window that has "Local Area Connection Properties" in the title bar should appear and you should see 3 tabs. Click on the advance tab and then check the box next to the words "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection." Click OK and the window will close. A hand should now be visible in your local area network icon, indicating that the connection is being shared.

Next, right click on your wireless connection and select properties. Once the properties window opens, click the Wireless Networks tab and then click the add button. This will open another window. Where is says Network name(SSID), enter whatever you wish your wireless network be called. Select open for Network Authentication and select disabled for Data Encryption (this is option, you may encrypt your network if you wish but it is not covered in this guide). Check the box next to the words "This is a computer to computer (ad-hoc) network; wireless access points are not used" then click the Connection tab and check the box next to "Connect when this network is in range." Click OK and the host computer should automatically broadcast a wireless network named after what you entered for the Network name.

Step 3: Connecting to the Ad-Hoc Network

Now that you've configured the host computer to share it's Internet connection via wireless network, any computer or laptop equipped with a wireless card that's within range should be able to connect to the host computer and share it's Internet just like any normal wireless network. To connect, open the control panel on the client computer (the one you want to connect to the host) and open network connections. Right click your wireless connection and select View Available Wireless Networks. Find the network who's name matches the SSID you entered for the host computer and click connect. If you followed all the steps in this guide correctly, your client computer should now be connected to the Internet though the host computer's Internet connection! If there are any problems connecting, go back and repeat these steps.