Wireless Networking\Double NIC\Internet Access

Thanks Kevin,

Actually, the time I was able to connect my Laptop to the Internet via the wireless router and my desktop I was NOT using the AdHoc setup. I checked that to be sure.

I think COX has something in place that prevents my putting the router between my computer and my cable modem. That is why I went to the double NIC idea. Both NIC's work fine, and both will work with my cable modem and/or the router. The only need for the router is that it allows my wireless connection.

So, while I was able to configure my desktops network to allow my laptop to use the Internet, I could only do so by changing all the network settings around, and in doing so, the desktop lost Internet access. As soon as I removed the bridge, my desktop had Internet Access, and the laptop lost access.

It is rather a pain to have to change network settings everytime I want to use the wireless connection to the laptop, so I'm wondering if there is a setting, process, or program that could allow me to somehow preserve the Internet connection on the Desktop, while allowing wireless connectivity.

I've put the entire Netgear product back in the box to return, as there is no use paying a premium for 108 mps access when it actually requires additional hardware on the computer. It appears that 54 mps is fast enough for my purposes. I don't suppose Starbucks and other WiFi providers are at 108 mps. So, I'm going to try again with another brand tommorow. Thank goodness Fry's has a friendly return policy.

If you have any suggestions to accomplish the connection - or recommendations regarding the brand of hardware to purchase, please let me know.

Thanks,

JC


So,

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Followup To
Question -
Hello,

I am a COX Cable Internet user. Using WindowsXP Home.

I tried to set up a Netgear Wireless router between my Cable Modem and Computer and failed.

I then added a second NIC to my computer, plugged the Wireless Router into the new NIC, and once I set up a "network bridge" and added the other NIC, and the Network Connection to the bridge I was able to access the Internet through the Wireless Router and the adapter I installed on my laptop - HOWEVER - I no longer had Internet Access from the main computer.

I disabled the bridge, and removed the connections from the Brigde, and once again could access the Internet from the main computer, but not from the Laptop with a wireless connection.

I then simply tried to "share" the Internet connection for the NIC associated with the cable modem - but was still unable to connect to the Internet from the Laptop and wireless connection.

Am I missing something, or is this just not possible?

Thanks for any assistance.

JC

Answer -
You would not use a Windows bridge or Internet Connection Sharing if you have a router. That is what the router does. It's primary funtion. The methods you've tried so far are methods you'd try if your didn't have a router. Troubleshoot what your problem is with the laptop. If you were able to connect to a wireless card on your computer rather than the Router's Access Point, you would have to of had the wireless card in Ad Hoc mode, meaning it would never look for an AP. Make sure any wireless card you have is in Infrastructure mode so it's looking for an AP. Beyond that I'd have to know exactly what you've done, configuration, and tried to do to troubleshoot the problem, the original problem. Like is the laptop associating to the AP, does it get an IP, can you ping the router(gateway), things like that. Good luck.