Wireless connections without a router

Wanting to know if it is possible to connect two laptops via a wireless
connection without the use of a wireless router. Reason being; is that
when I go Rving; I'll have my main laptop receiving a signal from a
access point via a Wlan 802.11g USB adapter with a antenna; and I would
like to have the other laptop receive that same signal via my main
laptop. ( only have one adapter )!

On the same subject; at home, I have a set up with a Apple TV box
connected to my Tv. The Apple Tv box streams all my movies from my
computer to the TV via a wireless connection. At home; this all goes
through my wireless router. Is it possible to do this whilst Rving
without the wireless router.

Thanks in advance.

 

Windows has a facility called Internet Connection Sharing. Assuming that
your main laptop has a free Ethernet adapter and your other laptop has
an Ethernet adapter, you could do what you want. You'll need a
cross-over Ethernet cable (*not* a standard cable). See
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/

 

Thanks for your prompt reply.
I know that you can achieve what I want via a Ethernet connection. What
I'm wanting to know is this possible via a wireless setup.

 

Try this article:

"Set up a wireless network without a router"
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/adhoc.mspx#2>

HTH,
John

 

If you only have *one* wireless adapter, how do you think the other
computer is going to connect to anything unless via Ethernet cable? Or
have I misunderstood you and your second computer actually has a
built-in wireless adapter?

It's actually very simple: your *one* 802.11g wireless adapter can
*only* connect between the wireless access point/router that belongs to
the RV campground and *one* computer. Under this circumstance, the
*only* way for the other computer to connect is to share the Internet
connection of the first one via a wired connection.

The ad hoc network suggested by John Wunderlich is not applicable to
your situation. For one thing, an ad hoc wireless connection between two
computers requires that *each* computer have a wireless adapter. For
another, if the wireless adapter connected to one computer is being used
to make an ad hoc connection to a second computer, it can't *also* be
used to connect to a different wireless network. That is, the "main" or
"host" computer would have to have *two* wireless adapters.

 

Both laptops have their own wireless adapters. The problem is that at
most campgrounds the signal is very weak and they can not connect
properly. I therefore use a Wlan 802.11g USB adapter plugged into one
of the laptops. This adapter has an antenna attached to it that I attach
to the roof of my Rv. I am than able to "Pull" in the signal from the
campground. I would than like my second laptop to connect to the first
via a wireless connection; if possible. If it can't be done without the
wires; that is okay. I am just trying to get away from using the wires.

 

This looks like it is want I want. I just have to locate the article
that refers to Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Most campgrounds; both laptops will connect. It's just that some have a
very weak signal unless you sit in the office!
The Apple Tv; I have no problem using a wired connection. It is just
with the laptops; I want to get away from using wires!!

Thanks for everyones quick replies and time spent helping me out.

 

Well, that wasn't clear at all.

In that case, use ICS as explained in the link in my earlier response.
You will connect to the Internet using your 802.11g USB adapter and the
link between the two computers will be via wireless using the built-in
adapters.

When you get to this screen, select the entry that corresponds to the
built-in adapter:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/serverbroadband/ics_serverbroadband04.gif

One thing that you will need to worry about will be interference between
the wireless link between your RV and the Camp's access point on one
hand and the wireless link between your two laptops on the other hand.
You won't have any control over which channel is used by the RV Camp
because that's set by the Campground owner. Depending on the built-in
adapter on your "host" laptop, you may be able to configure the channel
it uses for ICS. Click on the icon for that wireless adapter and select
Properties. You'll get a screen that looks something like the following
(although this is for a *wired* adapter):
http://www.ezlan.net/example/tcp.jpg

Click the "Configure" button next to the box where the name of your
wireless adapter appears and select the "Advanced" tab. If you can set
the channel, that's where the option will be. Although there are 11
channels available in the US, you should use only channel 1, channel 7,
or channel 11. If yours is settable, set it to 1 or 11; if you have
interference, set it to the other extreme.

If I were you, before setting out on your trip, I'd buy a sufficiently
long Ethernet cable -- just in case.

 

I've been struggling with poor signals for years at campgrounds. Pulling
into a campground at 2:00 P.M. when there are hardly any campers; I can
usually get a good signal. Late at night when the campground is full, is
a different story. That is why I bought a adapter that I could attach an
antenna to. The antenna and adapter is attached to the main computer via
a 15 foot Usb cable; I then place the antenna on the roof of my 5th and
all is good. That basically retricts the amount I can move the main
laptop around. That is why I would like the second laptop to connect via
a wireless connection.

Thanks!

 

Hi
Get a second USB (this can be a good choice,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...dimax_wireless_adapter-_-33-315-075-_-Product )
..
Put it as a second Wireless card in the Laptop with the "Big" Antenna.
Then do Ad-Hoc + ICS, as mentioned above.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

 

"Set up a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network"
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Set-up-a-computer-to-computer-ad-hoc-network>

HTH,
John

 

I understand.

If you want the laptop that's connected to your external antenna to
connect wirelessly to your second laptop, then that first laptop needs
*two* wireless adapters. If it has a built-in wireless adapter (in
addition to the USB adapter), you can use that as the second wireless
adapter. Or, as Jack suggests, you can buy a second USB adapter.
Altogether, you need a minimum of 3 wireless adapters: two on the "main"
or "host" laptop and one on the "client" laptop.

All I meant by the comment at the end of my previous post was that if I
were you, I'd bring a long Ethernet cross-over cable along so that if
your laptop-to-laptop wireless link doesn't work, you can use ICS via
the cable to get your second laptop connected.

As with a lot of wireless networking, you probably will have to do some
experimenting. For example, although I mentioned possible interference
between the link to the campground router and the ICS link to the other
laptop, it may well be that with your external antenna outside of your
metal RV, you won't get that interference.