Set Up a Wireless Network without a Router

Wireless networks are helpful because they let you use your computer and connect to the Internet anywhere in your home or office. However, most wireless networks use a wireless router, which can be expensive. If you have more than one computer, you can set up a wireless network without buying a wireless router and save yourself some money. In an ad hoc network, computers and devices are connected directly to each other, rather than to a hub or router. People generally set up these networks to temporarily share files, presentations, or an Internet connection among multiple computers and devices. Computers and devices in ad hoc networks must be within 30 feet of each other. Ad hoc networks can only be wireless, so you must have a wireless network adapter installed in your computer to set up or join an ad hoc network.
An ad hoc network is a temporary connection between computers and devices used for a specific purpose, such as sharing documents during a meeting or playing multiple-player computer games. You can also use an ad hoc network to temporarily share an Internet connection. Ad hoc networks can only be wireless, so you must have a wireless network adapter installed in your computer to set up or join an ad hoc network. Ad hoc wireless networks work more like walkie-talkies, because the computers communicate directly with each other. By enabling Internet Connection Sharing on one of the computers, you can share Internet access.
Ad hoc networking might seem like a much smarter alternative to using a wireless router, but it does have some disadvantages:
1. If the computer connected to the Internet is shut down, all computers that are part of the ad hoc network lose their Internet access.
2. To connect to the Internet, one computer always needs a wired network connection.



To connect your computers to the Internet using an ad hoc wireless network, follow these high-level steps.
1. Enable Internet Connection sharing on the Internet-connected computer. You can skip this step if you don't need to access the Web.
2. Set up the ad hoc wireless network on the Internet-connected computer.
3. Add your other computers to the wireless network.


How to enable Internet Connection Sharing
On networks with wireless routers, the router has the important job of forwarding communications from the computers on your home network to the Internet. On ad hoc networks, you must assign one computer to serve this role. The computer you choose must have a wired connection to the Internet, and it should be left on whenever you want to be able to use your other computers.
How to set up the first computer
To set up an ad hoc wireless network that allows computers to share an Internet connection without a router
1. If necessary, install a wireless network adapter.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Under Pick a category, click Network and Internet Connections.
4. Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Network Connections.
5. Right-click your wireless network connection, and then click Properties.
6. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, click the Wireless Networks tab.
7. On the Wireless Networks tab, under preferred networks, click Add.
8. In the Wireless network properties dialog box, on the Association tab, type the name of your ad hoc wireless network in Network name (SSID) box (shown in step 10).
9. Clear the key is provided for me automatically check box and select the ‘this is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network’’ check box.
10. Create a 13-digit password and type it in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes. For the best security, include letters, numbers, and punctuation. Then click OK.
11. Click OK again to save your changes.
Notes:
o If one or more of the networked computers is joined to a domain, you need to have a user account on that computer to see and access shared items on it.
o An ad hoc network is automatically deleted after all users disconnect from the network or when the person who set up the network disconnects and goes out of range of the other users of the network, unless you choose to make it a permanent network when you create it.
o If you share your Internet connection, Internet connection sharing (ICS) will be disabled if:
 You disconnect from the ad hoc network.
 You create a new ad hoc network without disconnecting from the old ad hoc network for which you enabled ICS.
 You log off and then log back on (without disconnecting from the ad hoc network).
o If you set up an ad hoc network and share your Internet connection, and then someone logs on to the same computer by using Fast User Switching, the Internet connection will still be shared, even if you didn't intend to share it with that person.


How to set up additional computers
If the computer you want to add to your network does not have built-in wireless network support, install a wireless network adapter.
Windows automatically detects the new adapter and notifies you that it found a wireless network.
Now connect your computer to your wireless network
1. Right-click the Wireless Network icon in the lower right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks.
2. The Wireless Network Connection window appears and displays your wireless network listed with the SSID you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh Network List in the upper left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower right corner.
3. Windows prompts you to enter a key. Type your encryption key in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.
Windows shows its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can close the Wireless Network Connection window.
Repeat these three steps on each computer that you want to connect to your ad hoc wireless network.
Now you can browse from any computer you added to your home network.