Simple Tips to Build a Wireless Network Without a Router

Build a Wireless Network Without a Router can save money, but isn't always as reliable as a standard wireless router. A lot of people don’t know that if you run Windows 7, Windows Vista or even Windows XP, it is possible to build your own wireless network at home or office without using a wireless router or a wireless access point. Most new desktops and laptop computers are already equipped with internal network adapters so you are ready to go without a router. If your computer doesn’t have built-in wireless capabilities, you can either buy a USB network adapter that plugs into the USB port of your desktop or go for a wireless adapter that directly plugs into your notebook’s PC Card slot. Desktop users can also opt for an internal wireless PCI card but you’ll have to open the computer case in order to install this network adapter. In order to build your own wireless network you will need the following: A broadband Internet connection; A wireless network card installed on each computer that you want to connect to your wireless network; In this tutorial we will show you step-by-step how to build this kind of wireless network, also known as ad-hoc. Using the Microsoft Windows operating system, go to "Start -- Connect to -- Show All Connections." Right-click on the wireless connection, and choose "Properties." If you don't see an option for "Show All Connections", go to "Start - Control Panel - Network Connections."

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Click the "Wireless Networks" tab. Choose "Add" to create a network. Type a name for the network in the "Network Name (SSID)" box. Choose whether to use a wireless network key or not. Use "Open" for "Network Authentication." Choose either "WEP" or "Disabled" from the "Data Encryption" drop down. Choosing "WEP" will allow you to create a network key that will be required to connect to the network. This method is more secure. Enter a 5- to 13-character network key in the "Network Key" and "Confirm Network Key" boxes. You alternately can check the "The Key is Provided for Me Automatically" check box if you want Windows to create and use a key for you automatically.

Check the "This is a computer to computer (ad-hoc) network" check box to create the ad hoc network. Click "OK" when finished. If the box is grayed out, press "Advanced" in the "Wireless Networks" tab and choose "Computer to computer (ad hoc) network."

Enable ICS on the router computer, which will allow you to share your Internet connection.

Right click your Internet connection while still in the "Network Connections" screen. Choose "Advanced." Check the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection" check box. Choose "Wireless Network Connection" and press "OK."

Select the shared network from other computers to connect. Right click the wireless networks icon in the notification tray. Press "View Available Networks." Select the appropriate network name and press "Connect."

Note:

Ad-Hoc wireless networking is available on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 while Virtual WiFi, which is much easier to setup, is available on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008.

To set up Ad Hoc networking, your main computer needs to have an Ethernet based Internet connection as well as a Wireless (WLAN) network adapter. In the case of Virtual Wi-Fi, the Ethernet card is optional so you can turn a laptop into a hotspot even if your laptop itself is connected to a Wireless network and not to an Ethernet cable.

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