A
Andy
If I ran an ethernet cable from my laptop which has a wifi card to a desktop system, will the desktop be able to connect to the Internet ?
Thanks.
Thanks.
T
Tim Slattery
Andy said:
No. The laptop would have to be running a router-type program I
suppose. Easier to just get a router and plug that into the Internet
connection, then connect both computers to it.
A
Andy
I have a wifi card, nothing to plug into.
Andy
P
Paul
Andy said:
On computers with two NICs (or equivalent), you
can use ICS for networking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Connection_Sharing
But it requires the middle computer in the diagram,
to be powered up and running, when the right-most
computer wants to use the Internet.
ICS
203.123.221.32 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.2
Cable_modem ------------------ PC#1 ----------------- PC#2
(two nic
cards)
That's why ICS isn't such a great idea. Like Tim says,
a router means the PCs are independent of one another.
There are some cable modems, that include a router, and
then there is room to plug four computers right into the
cable_modem_plus_router box. Older cable modems, might
not have a router, and then you can use an old router
box to finish the project.
Cable_modem ---- router ---- PC#1
---- PC#2
Where ICS might be a great idea, is if PC#1 has a
dialup modem on the left hand side, a NIC on the right,
and you're sharing one dialup modem with two computers.
With today's bandwidth demands though, that's not such
a great option. (It means two people are sitting there
staring at the ceiling, waiting for their browser
to finish loading.)
I've tested ICS for short periods of time, but
wasn't impressed enough with it, to make it a
part of a regular setup.
Paul
G
Good Guy
You could try with Ethernet crossover cable NOT plain ethernet cable. I
have used it in the past to create a network with Windows XP machines.
You could try it if you have a spare cable handy.
Good luck.
G
Good Guy
When you have the aforementioned cable, then you need to follow these
instructions:
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126>
G/L
M
micky
If you had a wireles router, you could continue to use your laptop
wirelessly and you could plug the desktop into the router. Then each
computer can work on its own, without having to have the laptop
running in order for the desktop to have internet. Where do you get
the wifi signal now, from some sort of box right? Are you sure
there are no ethernet jacks in it, into which you can plug the desktop
system. My knowledge is limited but I've heard of and seen routers
with jacks but no wireless, but I've not heard of routers with
wireless but no physical jacks. So maybe there are jacks.
Unless you're using your neighbor's wifi.
Even then you could
run a cable from your home to his!!
I'm sure if they sell Ethernet crossover cables, they also sell
Ethernet crossover adapters, which would be only a couple inches long
and work with a standard cable to be the same as a crossover cable.
That way, when Andy stops doing this, he'll still have a normal
ethernet cable for other uses.
wirelessly and you could plug the desktop into the router. Then each
computer can work on its own, without having to have the laptop
running in order for the desktop to have internet. Where do you get
the wifi signal now, from some sort of box right? Are you sure
there are no ethernet jacks in it, into which you can plug the desktop
system. My knowledge is limited but I've heard of and seen routers
with jacks but no wireless, but I've not heard of routers with
wireless but no physical jacks. So maybe there are jacks.
Unless you're using your neighbor's wifi.
Even then you couldrun a cable from your home to his!!
I'm sure if they sell Ethernet crossover cables, they also sell
Ethernet crossover adapters, which would be only a couple inches long
and work with a standard cable to be the same as a crossover cable.
That way, when Andy stops doing this, he'll still have a normal
ethernet cable for other uses.
A
Andy
Before I bought the wireless router, I had been told it would work as a wifi card on my desktop system.
After many hours of work, it never worked.
I got a refund.
Before I buy a crossover cable, I will want some feedback from someone who actually used the cable to get internet access on another computer which has no wifi card.
Andy
M
micky
I don't know what that means. Did you mean to say it would work WITH
a wifi card....?
Do you have a wifi card on your desktop system? Mine didn't come with
one. I bought it separately and had to open the case and plug it in.
There can be problems setting it up, especially if you want to use
some kind of secuirty. Esp. if one tries to set up the security at
the same time. (I set mine up with no security, then later added MAC
filtering. People tell me that MAC filtering isn't enough (I don't
know why) , but I've never gotten around to doing anything more.)
I get frustrated too with the computer. Did you ask in a newsgroup
who to get your wireless router working. What model is your desktop?
Have you ever opened up the case? (Do you know about first
discharging to a ground the static electricity from your body?)
So if you returned the wireless router, what transmits the wifi that
the laptop uses? Maybe it has jacks that will connect it to the
desktop computer. Do you have DSL or Comcast cable or other cable?
If you run the laptop off of wifi, why can't you run the desktop off
of wifi?
Before I buy a crossover cable, I will want some feedback from someone who actually used the cable to get internet access on another computer which has no wifi card.
For the record, I said "I'm sure if they sell Ethernet crossover
cables, they also sell Ethernet crossover adapters," *IF* they sell
them. I don't know if they sell them, much less if they work. They
might but I have no experience, and if I read about them outside this
thread, I can't remember.
A
Andy
My laptop has a wifi card.
Andy
Andy
P
Paul
Andy said:Before I bought the wireless router, I had been told it would
work as a wifi card on my desktop system.
After many hours of work, it never worked.
I got a refund.
Before I buy a crossover cable, I will want some feedback
from someone who actually used the cable to get internet
access on another computer which has no wifi card.
Andy
The need for the crossover cable, varies with equipment
situation.
The connection from computer to router, uses a straight cable.
The connection from router to broadband modem, uses a crossover
cable.
The connection from a computer to another computer (ICS mode maybe),
uses a crossover cable.
Those are the old rules.
*******
There is a thing called Auto-MDIX that sorts the cables
with less hair loss for the user.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Dependent_Interface
MDIX should be present on all GbE NIC interfaces. That's
the ones that support 10/100/1000. The 1000 interface uses
8 wires, and the MDIX logic has all the crossbar logic, to
swap the wire pairs around, inside the NIC chip.
Select 10/100BT devices can have the feature too, but that
would be less common. If they went to all that trouble,
it would be easier to just make the chip a GbE instead.
10/100BT can use as few as four wires (differential TX,
differential RX). If you connect a 10/100BT interface
to a GbE NIC, then you would not need to worry about
the cable type. The GbE MDIX can swap them around,
until there is signal.
The end result is, in a home with more GbE computers,
there is less and less need to stock a crossover cable.
I think I keep one spare crossover cable here, for connecting
ancient equipment (according to the rules at the top). For
most other things, I have a few spare 8 wire straight-thru
cables, for connecting computers to routers. The only time
I might acquire an additional crossover cable, is if one
came with a new broadband modem (for connection to the WAN
interface on a router).
You can probably find a web site detailing Ethernet wiring,
that can do a better job of writing the above, than I can.
The above is just from memory.
You keep a single crossover cable in the house (doesn't
have to be a long one), for the sole purpose of determining
whether some "ancient rule" is at play in your interconnect.
Most other times, if you stock straight-thru 8 wire cables
with RJ-45 on the end, those will work. If you were
doing ICS between two 10/100BT computers (surely a
temporary setup), then that would be a time your crossover
cable would get used. I can't remember the last time
I needed the crossover, since my three latest computers
all have GbE (and I hardly fire up the older ones).
Paul
M
micky
Does your desktop? If not, that's why it never worked with the
wireless router.
Ebay has loads of wifi cards used or cheap, as little as 11 dollars
inc. shipping. One requires an empty PCI slot and I don't know if
you have one, or if you know what kind of slots you have. Some are
not tested or guaranteed, and others are. One I see has no antenna.
even though it should. You can see them in the pictures of most of
them.
This one is under 5 dollars with free shipping and uses a USB port. I
guess it should be at least USB2???, and I don't know how one knows if
he has USB *2*. How old is your computer. USB-1 hasn't been used
for ?? years.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-USB-15...=100010&prg=1076&rk=5&rkt=15&sd=200950171327&
No need to open the case or find a slot. Does use up a USB port, but
the desktop might have two in the front and more in the back. ???
Check if you have an empty USB port.
He sells otter things, and has a 98.6% favorable rating over a quarter
million ratings!
I think I should get one of these, since my router is 2 flights up
from my work bench.
It's shipped from China. How do you all think that works? They put
200 things in a few cartons and ship to the US, where someone who
works for or is contracted to them, opens the cartons and remails
everything?. Or they have a special contract with the airline to
ship individual items from China at the same low rate as if they were
in cartons?
A
Andy
I saw those in Ebay.
I am reluctant to buy it recalling my father's advice that "You get what you pay for."
Andy
I can also get a PCI wifi which would probably be a little faster and won'ttie up a USB port.
Andy
M
micky
Your father said that before they started making electronics in China,
I presume.
And did he never buy anything second hand?
As I said, Ebay has things both new and used. I pushed cheap because
a lot of people are inhibited by price.
But I've bought plenty of stuff, new and used, on ebay and it's all
worked fine. Same thing for other vendors, although I think they've
only had new. And some has been incredbly cheap, like the thing (I
forget the name) that communicates wirelessly with my cell phone for
data transfer, that cost a dollar, shipping included.
So get one.
I just suggested that in my previous post. Then your problem will
probably be solved. (I'd know for sure if you'd answer my questions)
I suggested USB because you've told us nothing about your ability to
add a card to your computer, or if you have empty slots, or what kind
of slots they are. And because you couldn't make the router work,
and didn't address any of the suggestions I made in my first post, or
any of the questions I asked in either post. It all made you look
like you didn't know how to deal with the suggestions or answer the
questions. You won't even say what the source of the wifi that
connects your laptop is, though I brought the subject up twice.
Three of your five posts were one line long, another was five lines
long, and the one I'm answering was 4 lines long, (and these 12 lines
manage to include lots of junk unrelated to your problem) and you've
still told us almost nothing. You don't answer questions, you just
raise objections. Until you ask better questions, answer my
questions, and provide much more info, I'm done with you.
Hmmm. I looked around and I see you're like this a lot.
Another poster said to you, after you insulted him for no good reason:
"I.E. I have quite a few clues, but I'm not in the mood to engage in a
game of "tease-the-meagerest-bit-of-grudging-information-from-the-guy-
who-constantly-breaks-his-computer." If you really wanted help, you'd
give people something to go on, not such useless vagaries,
Every time you do this, which is almost every day, you're asked for
complete and pertinent descriptions and information. You refuse to
help yourself or your helpers. The only explanation I can think of is
that it's really all about getting attention."
Grow up.
N
Nil
In Transactional Analysis, this is known as the "Why Don't You/Yes
But" Game. It involves Party #1 asking a question, then countering
Party #2's every suggestion with excuses why they won't work. The
motivation could be any number of things, but it's certainly NOT
about actually solving the problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transactional_analysis#Why_Don.27t_You.2FYes_But
A
Andy
No problem, I learned a lot.
Andy
G
Good Guy
Now that you have returned your WI-FI router, how are you connecting to
the internet? You need a modem-router which also has WI-FI transmission
ability. Your laptop can't connect if you don't have a router.
Second, the crossover cable does work because I have used it when I had
some XP and Windows 98 machines. The cables are still being sold in the
UK. See this link:
<http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/CROSSOVER+CABLE.htm>
You are in the United States so you need to search in your country or
contact Belkin or Amazon if they have any. In fact any computer shop
should have it or they can make one for you. I used to make my own
because I always liked to get my hands dirty when it comes to computer
stuff. I don't trust technician's knowledge when it comes to
computers. It is just me because of my background. I can read manuals
and books while most technicians can't. that's the difference.
But first you need a Wi-FI router for laptop to connect and your desktop
can connect to your laptop. This is not the norm because people
normally have desktop connected to Internet and other devices connect
via the desktop but your setup is very different and interesting!! In
fact when you get a WI-FI modem-router then your need of getting a
crossover cable is diminished because all modems have connection ports
and so desktop can be connected using the normal ethernet cable that
comes with the router and laptop can connect wirelessly. Not sure what
the problem is here.
It looks like you are making the problem for nothing. It is very
straight forward IMHO.
Hope this helps.
B
Bob Willard
Maybe not the first WiFi. AlohaNet was operational in 1971, using
inter-island radio to allow access to the time-shared computer at the
main campus of U.Hawaii.
AlohaNet was influential in the creation of Ethernet. For more info,
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALOHAnet.
A
Andy
My laptop has a wifi card.
Andy
G
Good Guy
I think you are missing the point. A Wifi card without a router to
connect to is completely useless. Can I ask you whether you have access
to Internet at present? If so then you MUST have a router and
[presumably] wifi transmission mechanism. Most modem-routers these days
have wifi transmission facility.
If you currently don't have internet at home then forget it because it
is a non-starter to do anything.
By the way ALL laptops have wifi cards these days so we took it for
granted here. However, all desktops DON'T have wifi card and that is
why you need a cable of some sort to connect to the internet when you
are using your desktop.
The scenario I was thinking was that your laptop can connect to the
internet because you already have a modem-router; Your desktop can
connect to the internet using the cable of some sort that is connected
to the modem-router. It seems this is not the case in your case or that
you haven't told us everything about your setup.
Merry Christmas.