Thread: Computer networking question

I have a question about connecting my old desktop computerto the internet by networking it to my laptop which has an air card. I’m hoping someone here will know somethingabout wireless networking because I don’t want to join another forum just forthis question.

About 2 years ago, I bought my laptop (with Vista), got an air card for it and disconnected my DSLsince the air card was working so good. The old desktop with XP Mediadoesn’t have a wireless card in it and my laptop has a Verizon air card. What do Ineed look for on my computers as they are and buy in order to get my desktopconnected to the internet via wireless? Will I need to install a wireless card on the desktop or is theresomething that simply plugs into one of the USB ports to serve the samepurpose?

I’m sure I can go to Bestbuy and ask, but you never know ifthe person you are talking with actually knows what they’re talking about or ifthey are just trying to sell you something and I would like to try to learn asmuch about this before I start forking out money. I hope someone in here has some knowledgeabout this. Please let me know if youneed some more info to help you determine what I need.



Thanks!

You can buy a hotspot that will connect to your aircard and act as a wireless router for up to five computers. Verizon wireless should have them; I think I've seen them advertise it on TV.

Good luck!

Back in the old days, we use to call that a multi homed computer. When routers were still very expensive you could take a PC with twin NIC’s, hook one to the internet, the other to the internal switch. You address your internal network to use the PC as your gateway then have the multi home computer route the packets out the secondary connection to the internet. It has been a long, long time since I did that. You could google multi home computer or multi home network or even PC as router and probably get the config.

Multi homing is a bit difficult with air cards, and don't know how reliable it'd be with Windoze. It could work, I'm not saying it couldn't... Basically you are using the computer as a router. The hotbox is basically that; it connects the aircard to the net, and broadcasts wi fi for up to five computers. Easy clean solution, IMHO.