Laptop To Infrastructure Router via WiFi

Epyon · 11 May 2010 at 10:20

Hey guys,

I am going away for a few weeks and will require internet access, no problem as I can buy an unlocked USB dongle but I will also need to update certain devices which have wi-fi. Is it at all possible to turn my laptop into an infrastructure router so multiple devices can connect? Thanks.

Epyon · 12 May 2010 at 11:49

Come on guys ... someone out there must know how to work this ...

Arsey 2 · 12 May 2010 at 11:51

hi mate,

Am i right in saying your going to get a 3g mobile internet Usb Stick?

and you want to share this 3g mobile internet which is currently plugged into your laptop to be able to share its connection with other devises via WI-FI?

If this is the case then yes this is possible.

The best way to do this would be to buy a Dual WAN router something like this:
http://www.billion.uk.com/product/3g/7800gz.htm
Then plug in your 3g Dongle straight into the router

Appreciate this is probably overkill for your needs though, so there are several tutorials into how to share your 3g Dongle's connection via wi-fi on your laptop. However this won't be an infastructure network but rather a AD-HOC network.

Here are some links into how to do this:
http://forums.devshed.com/networkin...usb-3g-dongle-internet-connection-647036.html

http://mobilesociety.typepad.com/mobile_life/2006/08/how_to_share_yo.html

http://maketecheasier.com/share-3g-wireless-connection-in-windows-7/2010/01/06

Hope this helps

Tom

#Chri5# · 12 May 2010 at 11:53

Does it have to be via your laptop?

3 have an interesting bit of kit - http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi_plus_iPod_bundle

Edimax do a router which can use a 3G USB dongle : http://www.edimax.co.uk/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=267&pl1_id=3&pl2_id=18. I set one of those up on Orange and it worked fine (after a bit of faffing).

paradigm · 12 May 2010 at 12:05

You could do it one device at a time, setting up an ad-hoc network with one wireless device and bridging the connection on your laptop between wifi and 3g dongle.

I've not ever tried to set up a laptop as a fully fledged access point, but I guess there will be some distro of linux out there designed to do just that.

Epyon · 12 May 2010 at 17:09

Arsey 2 said:
hi mate,

Am i right in saying your going to get a 3g mobile internet Usb Stick?

and you want to share this 3g mobile internet which is currently plugged into your laptop to be able to share its connection with other devises via WI-FI?

If this is the case then yes this is possible.

The best way to do this would be to buy a Dual WAN router something like this:
http://www.billion.uk.com/product/3g/7800gz.htm
Then plug in your 3g Dongle straight into the router

Appreciate this is probably overkill for your needs though, so there are several tutorials into how to share your 3g Dongle's connection via wi-fi on your laptop. However this won't be an infastructure network but rather a AD-HOC network.

Here are some links into how to do this:
http://forums.devshed.com/networkin...usb-3g-dongle-internet-connection-647036.html

http://mobilesociety.typepad.com/mobile_life/2006/08/how_to_share_yo.html

http://maketecheasier.com/share-3g-wireless-connection-in-windows-7/2010/01/06

Hope this helps

Tom

That is correct Billion looks great but expensive and overkill for the shortness of my trip.

#Chri5# said:
Does it have to be via your laptop?

3 have an interesting bit of kit - http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi_plus_iPod_bundle

Edimax do a router which can use a 3G USB dongle : http://www.edimax.co.uk/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=267&pl1_id=3&pl2_id=18. I set one of those up on Orange and it worked fine (after a bit of faffing).

Thanks again, same ussue generally of buying something expensive for a little use

.

paradigm said:
You could do it one device at a time, setting up an ad-hoc network with one wireless device and bridging the connection on your laptop between wifi and 3g dongle.

I've not ever tried to set up a laptop as a fully fledged access point, but I guess there will be some distro of linux out there designed to do just that.

From what I can tell ad-hoc is my only solution. Interestingly enough I am pretty sure when I tried it with my Zune it didn't see my laptop

. I will try again. I mainly need my HTC Desire to see the laptop via wifi, I assume other devices like an iPod will see it then also.

Kol · 12 May 2010 at 17:24

My mate bought a MiFi device. It's essentially a 3G router. Computers/devices connect to it via wifi and use the 3G connection. It's not expensive and easy piece of kit to use.

edit - #Chri5# already suggested this.

Epyon · 13 May 2010 at 07:09

Kol said:
My mate bought a MiFi device. It's essentially a 3G router. Computers/devices connect to it via wifi and use the 3G connection. It's not expensive and easy piece of kit to use.

edit - #Chri5# already suggested this.

How much and from where? I find unlocked 3 branded ones for £80.

Epyon · 14 May 2010 at 16:48

Kol said:
My mate bought a MiFi device. It's essentially a 3G router. Computers/devices connect to it via wifi and use the 3G connection. It's not expensive and easy piece of kit to use.

edit - #Chri5# already suggested this.

Sorry Kol you didn't say ...