Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Wi thout a Router I've received manyinquiries from Windows XP residential users asking how to wirelessly network a second or third computer without the expense of a wireless router or a router and a stand-alone wireless access point (WAP). his is sometimes called an ad hocwireless network. !uilding an ad hoc "#$.%%& wireless network using the graphical user interface in Windows XP takes 'ust a few minutes. !ecause its powered &y wireless ero configuration* you wont need to run a single ca&le or hunt for an electrical outlet+ Add ,nternet onnection haring on the host computer and all connected computers will &e surfing the net wirelessly in no time at all. Well start with a single computer that already has a wired /thernet &road&and connection to the ,nternet. hen well &uild the ad hoc wireless network in three steps0 % . he first step will &e to install an "#$.%%& wireless card in the main computer and configure it as a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) wireless connection. $ . he second step will &e to install a wireless card in a second computer. 1 . o co mplete the network and pro2ide connecti2ity to the ,nternet* ,nternet onnection haring (,) will &e ena&led on the host. As you read through the procedures &elow* no te that the accompanying images are capture d from &oth the host and client computers and that the screen shots of the host computer contain a sil2er title &ar* while the client computer screen shots contain a &lue title &ar.
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I've received many inquiries from Windows XP residential users asking how to wirelesslynetwork a second or third computer without the expense of a wireless router or a router and a
stand-alone wireless access point (WAP). his is sometimes called an ad hoc wireless
network. !uilding an ad hoc "#$.%%& wireless network using the graphical user interface in
Windows XP takes 'ust a few minutes. !ecause its powered &y wireless ero configuration*
you wont need to run a single ca&le or hunt for an electrical outlet+ Add ,nternet onnection
haring on the host computer and all connected computers will &e surfing the net wirelessly
in no time at all.
Well start with a single computer that already has a wired /thernet &road&and connection to
the ,nternet. hen well &uild the ad hoc wireless network in three steps0
%
.
he first step will &e to install an "#$.%%& wireless card in the main computer and configure
it as a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) wireless connection.
$
.
he second step will &e to install a wireless card in a second computer.
1.o complete the network and pro2ide connecti2ity to the ,nternet* ,nternet onnectionharing (,) will &e ena&led on the host.
As you read through the procedures &elow* note that the accompanying images are captured
from &oth the host and client computers and that the screen shots of the host computer
contain a sil2er title &ar* while the client computer screen shots contain a &lue title &ar.
After you install an "#$.%%& adapter (such as an 3rinoco or isco wireless network card) on a
computer* Windows XP will automatically detect the card* install dri2ers* and display an icon
in the notification area. (, am using Ageres 3rinoco il2er cards to construct the ad hoc
wireless network here. Although they ha2e nati2e* in-&ox support in Windows XP* these cardscan &e updated with e2en newer dri2ers and firmware through 4icrosoft 5pdate). ,f the
computer is in an en2ironment where other wireless networks are in range* Windows should
display a list of a2aila&le networks automatically. 6owe2er* if no wireless networks are in
range* the wireless connection icon may display a red 7X8 and may not automatically open a
!iew Wireless Networks window. o open this window* click the icon for the wireless
connection.
9o not select an a2aila&le network at this time if any are displayed in the "vaila#le networks
listing. ,f your computer pre2iously connected to a preferred access point* remo2e all
preferred access points. his will ensure that a connection is made only to the ad hoc network
that you are trying to configure.
$igure %
:ext* click the "dvanced ta& at the top of the window. elect Comuter to comuter &ad
hoc networks only and clear the "utomatically connect to non(referred networks &ox if
it is selected. his setting* along with remo2ing preferred networks* ensures connection to the
lick the Wireless Networks ta& again. 5nder Preferred :etworks* click "dd* as shown in
;igure %. ,n the Wireless Network Proerties dialog &ox* specify a Network name &))I*.
5se any name desired* &ut &e sure to use it to configure all computers. :ote that the network
type is already marked as a computer-to-computer network and that this cannot &e changed
since it has already &een specified that a connection should &e made to only ad hoc networks.
$igure +
Wireless /qui2alency Protocol (W,P) settings are not &eing configured at this time &ecause
its easier to get an ad hoc wireless network running smoothly &efore attempting to configure
W/P data encryption. he decision on whether or not to use W/P should &e &ased on your
en2ironment. ,n most cases* for optimum protection and security* after your ad hoc network isrunning properly* you should return to Wireless Network Proerties and specify W/P
settings.
After configuring the network name (,9) in the Wireless :etwork Properties dialog &ox*
the new ad hoc network will &e displayed with a P ard icon to designate that this is a
he client computer(s) should now recei2e a pri2ate class* non-routa&le ,P address in the
%@$.%".#.B address range 2ia 96P from the host computer and should ha2e full ,nternet
connecti2ity.
Configuring W,P
As connecti2ity has now &een esta&lished successfully* the next step is to return to Network
Proerties and configure W,P settings to ensure the &est security possi&le for the ad hoc
network.
3n the host computer* open the Wireless Network Proerties dialog &ox and select the *ata
encrytion &W,P ena#led check &ox. onsult the documentation pro2ided &y your wireless
card manufacturer for the key format and key length.
$igure 4
5se the highest le2el of encryption possi&le (key length) that is supported &y your hardware
and dri2ers. Ageres 3rinoco il2er cards are used here* and only support <-&it W/P (also
known as <# &its). 5sing the latest dri2ers and firmware* Windows XP actually automaticallydetects that this hardware only supports <-&it encryption and will not allow setting the key
to %$" &it. !e sure that if you use an A,, network key that you pick random characters and
letters that cant &e easily guessed. he final step is to use the same key and encryption
settings and configure the client computer(s). :ote0 for additional security* consider changing
the key on a regular weekly &asis.
Instant Private Networking
:ot only does ad hoc wireless networking pro2ide a lower cost method to share an ,nternet
connection than a more expensi2e wireless routerCrouter plus separate access point solution*
&ut it affords a fast and simple way of esta&lishing a means to share data and documents for
groups with no external >A: or ,nternet connection. With no a2aila&le 96P ser2er*
Windows XP pro2ides an automatic pri2ate ,P address &etween %@.$?<.#.# and
%@.$?<.$??.$?? to network adapters. ,f youre sitting around a conference ta&le with a group
of colleagues and find that e2eryone is in desperate need of a Power Point presentation on an
associates computer on the other side of the room* setting up an instant ad hoc wirelessnetwork can &e the solution* allowing e2eryone to copy the file to their computers o2er the
wireless network. Doull need to ha2e the same workgroup configured with appropriate
permissions for file and print sharing* and youll ne2er ha2e to wait again to get connected to
the ,nternet or a corporate >A: to recei2e copies of urgently needed documents.
Barb Bowman enjoys sharing her own experiences and insights into today's leading edge
technologies. She is a product development manager for AT&T Broadband nternet Services!