I see that Internet connection can be shared, but I wonder, let's say my computer has a hardline connection (via 10Base-T) to the Internet, can I share that connection via my 802.11g network card for someone else with a wireless setup to connect to the net as well?

 

I don't see why not. Have you made an attempt and failed?

 

yep, i tried it and it didn't work. Shared the connection, also checked the boxes for HTTP, POP, SMTP, HTTPS, etc.

 

You need a wired/wireless router.

 

Does he really NEED a router? He shouldn't.

Did you verify the TCP/IP settings on both computers?

Edit:

Also....not to insult anyone's intelligence but have any/all firewalls been setup to work with what you are trying to do as well?

 

I'll check the other settings (Windows XP has a built in firewall, or something like that).

My question is do I really need a router?

Thanks!

 

Nevermind, I figured it out: you have to bridge the connection of the laptop that is connected to the Internet via LAN, and then share the wireless connection

Very cool.

 

Im glad that you figured out how to work it. However with a 10baseT conection you wont be able to host many connections (especially wireless) before you see a masive loss to your internet connection. I mean if its just for your house or something then thats cool. Also how are you going to lock down your wireless conneciton so that unwanted people wont connect to it?

 

I say just go for the router.. It isn't NEEDED but it makes life more convenient so your hardwired computer doesn't have to on all the time in order for the wireless to work. I used to have a computer with two network cards in order to share the internet but a router made everything simpler. It also is more secure as most new routers now have transparent NAT/SPI firewalls built in along with various levels of encryption for the wireless.

You probably already know all this stuff already but I just wanted to nudge you over to getting a router.. Some recommendations- I'm using a Netgear WGT624 but I heard that you can upgrade the Linksys firmwares to illegally broadcast at a much much stronger signal.

(a little too much info but I enjoy browsing S2Ki or whatever else I want to while I'm on the John and the router makes it possible with simplicity)

 

Routers aren't required for a handful of clients. Every notice how you can have an infrastructure and ad-hoc wirless connection? All you have to do to throw up a net connection is to host an ad-hoc network from the computer with the physical network connection.

Mingster, the sharing/bridging stuff you described is the WindowsTM way to say that you are creating an ad-hoc network and running NAT (network address translation) to allow the second computer's traffic to pass through your machine to the gateway (generally, a router or proxy server).

But yes, for static networks like you'd have in a home or business a router is the way to go.

Glad you figured it out! thumbup: