wifi - adhoc

[Russ]

Just ordered my Axim yesterday (can't wait).

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out the best (cheapest) way to set up to connect to internet via wifi when it arrives. Had been planning to buy a wifi CF card and wireless router, until I read a few posts about using something called "adhoc mode". If I understand correctly, this will allow me to use a PCI wifi card in my PC (about $20) instead of buying a router (about $100). Is this correct? Any disadvantages in setting network up this way?

fwiw: current home setup is single computer (Athlon 1800 XP), with Windows XP Pro and Norton Internet Security, connected via ethernet to ATTBI cable modem.

Advice appreciated.

Russ

[Fritz]

Yup, all you gotta do is setup your desktop as a router -- simply use the internet-connectin-sharing in Windows.

I have used an ad-hoc setup b/w my notebook and desktop back in the days when a wifi AP costs like $250+, so a p2p setup like that was cost efficient.

Cheers.

[rittervonali]

your kidding me......I went to Best Buy the other day and asked the sales guy if it was possible to share a broadband connection between 2 pc's and the axim via to pci cards and a wifi cf card (or ad hoc)..he said it wasn't possible. Is he lying or is this not ad hoc...

[Russ]

I rarely ask (and never rely on) the opinions of the sales clerks at Best Buy or any other store.

I was in BB a few days ago, and I asked the guy selling the Pocket PC's if he knew anything about setting up a wireless network, and he said, "Absolutely! I used to be a IT technician before I got this job". So I asked him a fairly simple question, and he said, "Well, we sell a CD for $20 that can answer all your questions." No wonder he (supposedly) left a $50/hour job for a $8/ hour job.

Anyway, is there any disadvantage of using ad hoc mode? Lower range maybe? Once it's set up, will I be able to connect without doing anything with the PC? (my primary reason for setting this up is that my kids are on the PC using IM pretty much continuously). Security issues?

[jda5id]

Russ,

Check out this link - It seems to have decent info and is right on point for what you are trying to do:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e.../02april08.asp

J

[rittervonali]

Does using ad hoc reduce bandwidth available to the pc's?

[Fritz]

Technically it shouldn't; but I would speculate that a dedicated AP with 2 huge antennaes sticking out will provide a stronger connection, so it would not drop to lower transmission rates (ie: sustained 11mb/s as opposed to dropping it down to 1mb/s). Also, some AP allows the option of adding signal boosters.


Cheers.

[rittervonali]

I have 2 pc's networked with a wired router.....If I add a wireless pci card to one pc....can a wifi equipped axim share that broadband connection through the pci card equipped pc?



thanks

[Iceman]

Originally posted by rittervonali
I have 2 pc's networked with a wired router.....If I add a wireless pci card to one pc....can a wifi equipped axim share that broadband connection through the pci card equipped pc?



thanks

rittervonali - Yes, you just need to share the internet connection from that one PC. Depending on what operating system you have, Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing may already be included. Otherwise you can get a third party program to do the sharing on your PC.

[jtrandolph]

Can I do an Ad Hoc connection using Windows ME?

[Fritz]

jt: yes you can setup AdHoc in WinME

ritter: also, if you want to access your other network resources other than the desktop with the WiFi, you need to bridge the WiFi with the desktop NIC.

Cheers.