eeef2

I am wondering if it is theoretically possible to connect my desktop and laptop to my ISP at the same time. I primarily use the desktop, but would like to keep both connected for when I am using the laptop.

My internet service
http://www1.airimba.com/
This is a wireless subscription based ISP. My apartment happens to have this service available. I get one login name for a monthly fee. When I try to login with my laptop it boots the desktop offline. The company would be happy for me to pay extra for a 2 user plan, but I think it would be a waste of money. Plus I wouldn’t be able to network my printer for use with the laptop and file sharing. (the computers at my complex aren’t really supposed to file share and printer share with the airimba service.)

Desktop
Win XP MC edition SP2
Netgear wireless PCI card.
Ethernet port

Laptop
Win XP Home SP2
Dlink wireless notebook card
Ethernet port

WHAT I WANT: I would like to share the connection of the desktop to the laptop. Either wirelessly or through the Ethernet. I would prefer NOT to purchase a router. Are there any software settings that would allow me to share the connection to the laptop without any additional equipment????


PS I have tried the internet connection sharing with no success

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

DEI37

If you're wanting to split the connection, a router is mandatory.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

alpha phi

I would second that
Watch for a sale and you can pick one up fairly cheap.

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cyrnel

They will not both be able to access Arimba wireless at the same time unless you fake out Arimba with an Access point/router, or slave one system to the other with something like ICS.

ICS would be the easiest way. You said it didn't work but gave no symptoms.

How did you connect the two computers? How did you configure addressing? ICS needs the "serving" system to be available at 192.168.0.1, but that's usually possible.

It sounds as if you have a WiFi card of some kind to connect to Arimba. What address does your system use when connected? (Start->Run->cmd, then "ipconfig" for the address.) Does your system have an ethernet port you could use to connect your laptop?

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

alpha phi

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=346
$59.99
D-link router/AP DWL-G730AP
That router/Ap would work

I may be wrong but I think with ICS you need two cards
one to connect with the ISP and the other to serve as an access point
If you use the WIFI card to connect to the internet
then the other computer would be wired to the ethernet card in the first
unless you have two wireless cards in the computer acting as a Access point.

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cyrnel

Yes, I'm assuming WiFi from desktop to Arimba, then Ethernet from desktop to laptop. It could be that easy (even if cables aren't the intended goal).

They've thought of what we're thinking of. They've either decided to allow people-in-the-know do their thing, or they've built restrictions. Depends on the company philosophy. It's easy to block access from alternate clients like that DLink or one of the many cheap client wpa's (openwpa, etc).

We could come up with a bunch of alternates but the simplest may be to try to get ICS working. Next on my list would be googling for other people who've beat the challenge. broadbandreports.com might be useful.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

eeef2

I do use a wireless pci card to connect to Airimba and I also have a wireless card on the laptop.
Ive tried to connect the ethernet of the desktop directly to the ethernet of the laptop using a standard ethernet cable. Neither computer would even recognize that the cable was plugged in. They both said "Network cable is unplugged" no matter how many times i tried replugging and restarting. The ICS wizard would not work because of this. ie. it couldnt share a connection across an unplugged connection.
Any more advice?

cyrnel

One of the Ethernet ports are disabled/turned off/bad, or you need a crossover cable. Many computer Ethernet ports don't automatically switch.

Save the packaging in case this goes nowhere. It's a $2 cable but most stores put it in a blister-pack and charge 5-10x that much.

You could also find/borrow another known-good Ethernet device and make sure both systems are at least seeing it. Don't restart each time you plug in the cable. Just plug it in and look for a link. If either end shows a link light or "plugged in" status then both are talking at the lowest level. If both seem okay to another device but not to each other then assume you need the crossover.

Edit: I forgot. You still need to determine what ip address your system acquires when connected. (ipconfig above) If airimba WAPs are handing out 192.168.0 addresses then it'll conflict with ICS.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Jack1.0

You should really reconsider your position on not using a router. Crossover cables work but tend to slow transmission rates and increase errors. If you have any Geek friends there is a really good chance that one of them has an old router just "laying around" in which case you could try it for little to no cost. If you are geek challenged then you should be able to find a bargain router for well under $50. I have seen basic routers new for $20.

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Jack1.0
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I've learned to embrace my inner Geek.
I haven't found anything else I'm good at.

eeef2

Thanks for the advice everyone! Ill try to go get myslef a crossover cable sometime this week.
Thanks again.