Can you help me network a single wired Internet connection at my hotel
with my
two wireless computers?

The hotel charges $30/day for the wired Internet connection, which is
OK. However, they charge for each laptop which I find to be highway
robbery especially since they only supply wired Internet so there's no
way to share between rooms.

Luckily, both Windows XP computers are wireless.

Is there any way to use the wireless part of the WinXP computers to
SHARE the initial connection?

Is this too basic a question?

Here is what I have done so far:
a) Shut down both computers and hook the wired ethernet to the
computer whose MAC address (I suspect) was registered when I bought the
Internet service from the web page.
b) Boot both WinXP laptops and check the ip address (ipconfig /all)
which shows the
computer with the wired connection has an IP address of:
     IP Address. . . . . . . . . ... . . : 192.168.2.6
     Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.248.0
c) The other computer, not on the network, had no IP address (can that
happen?)
     Media State = Media disconnected.

The question is how to use the second computer to connect to the first
computer via the built-in wireless card? Can that be done? How?

Cindy

Cindy,

Here's the information on how to connect two computers and share Internet
connection wirelessly without additional equipment:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

The info seems to be up to date.
Show quoteHide quote

S. Pidgorny <MVP> wrote:
Hi S. Pidgorny,

Oh my. You do have a great potential answer here! You are just what the
doctor ordered. A great many people would benefit from this discussion
as it applies even to home or office use to have one wired Internet
connection work with two computers in the same room (one at a time).

Reading your suggested web page about building an ad hoc 802.11b
wireless network using the graphical user interface in Windows XP was
very interesting:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

According to your document, the main steps to follow are:
1. Set the 1st PC as an ad-hoc (pc-to-pc) wireless connection
2. Ensure the wireless card is working properly in the second PC
3. Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the first PC

More specifically, it seems, first, on PC1, we:
* Ensure PC1 is hooked to the Internet via the Ethernet wire
* Start > Settings > Network Connections
* Rightclick on the wireless network icon
* View Available Wireless Networks > Change Advanced Settings
* Select the "Wireless Networks" tab
* Hit the "Advanced" button
* Select "Computer to computer (ad hoc) networks only"
* And clear the "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" box

Ooops. I hit the return button too soon. Here for all to benefit, are
the steps as I understand them (please fix where I make mistakes) to
create and share an ad-hoc computer-to-computer wireless network
without need for a wireless router or wired hub.

A) To set up the HOST computer (the one with the wired connection):
* Ensure the host PC1 is hooked to the Internet via the Ethernet wire
* On WinXP PC1, press Start > Settings > Network Connections
* Then rightclick on the wireless network icon and select
* View Available Wireless Networks > Change Advanced Settings
* Select the "Wireless Networks" tab
* Hit the "Advanced" button
* Select "Computer to computer (ad hoc) networks only"
* And clear the "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" box
* Again select the "Wireless Networks" tab
* Under "Preferred Networks", hit the "Add" button
* Enter in a "Network Name (SSID)" of "Hotel"
* Notice the grayed-out checked box indicating "This is a
computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network; wireless access points are not
used"
* For now, leave the "Network Authentication" as "Open"
* Likewise, leave the "Data encryption" as "Disabled" for now
* OK your way out of these forms

B) To set up the CLIENT computer (the one that will be wireless):
* On WinXP PC2, press Start > Settings > Network Connections
* Then rightclick on the wireless network icon and select
* View Available Wireless Networks
* You should see "Hotel" as an "Unsecured computer-to-computer network"
* Select "Hotel", press the "Connect", & "Connect Anyway" buttons
* You'll see the message "Acquiring network address"
* Soon you should see the message "Connected"

C) To Share the Internet connection:
* Go back to the host WinXP computer, PC1
* Make a note of the wired connection's name (e.g., Local Area
Connection)
* Press Start > Settings > Control Panel
* Switch to classic view > Network Connections.
* Rightclick the connection to be shared
* Under Network Tasks, click "Change advanced settings"
* Select the "Advanced" tab
* Select the "Allow other network users to connect through this
computer's Internet connection" check box.
* Disable the setting to "Allow other network users control or disable
the shared Internet connection"
* Optionally turn on the Windows Firewall
* In the "Home networking connection", select a private network
connection of "Local Area Connection" (i.e., the connection to the
wired network)
* OK your way out of the forms

If the planets align, after you've completed this ICS configuratoin,
the Network Connection window on the host PC1 should display the
original wired Ethernet connection and display the status as Shared as
well as Enabled.

Likewise, the Network Connection window on the client PC2 should
display the connection on the host as an Internet Gateway. The client
PC2 should now receive a private class, non-routable IP address in the
192.168.0.* address range via DHCP from the host computer and should
have full Internet connectivity. Multiple client PCs can be connected
in this manner.

Bear in mind, all this is theoretical. I tried it, but it didn't work
(so I'm debugging as we speak). I'll let you know what I find out.

Note: For some inexplicable reason, I lost my wired connection when I
ran the steps above but I got it back by turning off "Enable IEEE
802.1x authentication for this network" in the "Local Area Connection"
"Authentication" tab on the host PC1; and then by selecting in the
"Advanced" tab in the "Internet Connections Sharing" section to "Allow
other network users to connect through this computer's Internet
connection".

But, so many settings happened, that I'm not sure all the steps above
were exact as I still don't have PC2 connected to PC1 wirelessly
without a router.

Cindy

I now have PC1 connected again but PC2 says its connected to the
"Hotel" network but it doesn't work. I need to debug.

Maybe I'll just change the MAC address so that both PCs are the same
MAC address.

That would, of course, only work with the ethernet cable connected to
one at a time (which is OK ... just not as convenient as being wireless
in the hotel room).

I found a freeware MAC address changer here:
http://www.gorlani.com/downloads/dlchk.asp?fname=macmakeup.zip

Cindy

Cindy wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteIf you haven't got the kinks out yet, here are a couple of
suggestions/observations -- I have to admit, however, that I haven't set
up such a connection sharing system myself.

You shouldn't have to fiddle with the MAC address of PC2.  If things
work correctly, the hotel network will not be aware of your second PC --
which is the point, after all.

For almost all home wifi networks -- this one too -- the "Enable IEEE
802.1x authentication for this network" should be UNchecked.  This is
for network security using a RADIUS server.

Try setting up ICS in PC1 BEFORE enabling PC2.  Normally, when XP
computers use "ad hoc" networking, Windows assigns an "Automatic Private
IP Address" (APIPA) in the range 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254.  On the
other hand, when Internet Connection Sharing is activated, the XP system
acting as the "host" simulates a DHCP server, assigns itself an IP
address of 192.168.0.1 and assigns IP addresses to other PCs on the LAN
(wireless or wired) in the 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.254 range.  See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126/

So, if you set up PC2 as an ad hoc wireless client before setting PC1 to
use ICS, PC2 will assign itself an IP that's incompatible with the
subnet used by ICS.

To help debug, open a command prompt window on both computers and type
ipconfig /all [enter]

On PC1 (wired to the $30/day network) you should see info for two
adapters -- the Ethernet adapter and the wireless adapter.

The IP address assigned to the wireless adapter should be 192.168.0.1
and the corresponding subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0

On PC2, only one adapter will be active -- the wireless adapter.  This
should have an address such as 192.168.0.x

You can always set IP address manually, from the "properties" page for
the connection.  Highlight TCP/IP and click Properties.

microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless:

<snip>

Start -> Control Panels -> Networking -> Properties -> Configure ->
Advanced. Enter a new MAC in Network Address.

I don't think that manipulating MAC address of the PC2 will give you
something - only PC1 is connected to the hotel network, and only its MAC
address should be used to send information to the hotel's switch.

I'm afraid I can't really help troubleshooting the issue in the offline -
intercontinental mode. Make sure that PC2 receives 192.168.0.x IP address
from DHCP server on PC1 (this is how ICS works); and that Windows Firewall
is disabled for the wireless adapter on PC1. Sharing must work thereafter. I
don't see any reason why it wouldn't - hotel cannot realistically prevent
this.

Show quoteHide quote

S. Pidgorny <MVP> wrote:
Hi S. Pidgorny,
Actually, the MAC address switching did work fine.

Here, in Singapore, I bought a longer wire so I could use my second
computer on the bed.
A three meter cat6 cable cost five Singapore dollars (the taxi to go
get it cost more).

However, only one computer at a time can be connected because not only
do they both have the same MAC address now, but, there is only one wire
and I don't have a router or hub or switch.

Still, it would have been nice to get the one wired computer to
wirelessly serve the second wireless computer without a router ... so
when I get back home in a few weeks (I'm heading for Shanghai and then
Shin-Yokohama before heading home in a week) I'll try it on my home
network by unplugging my wireless router.

Thank you very much for your help and advice,
Cindy Fischer

Show quote Hide quote You might consider a small travel type wireless router. Here is an example
of one made by Netgear. There may be others...

http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/GWirelessRouters/WGR101.aspx

Sooner Al [MVP] wrote:
Hi Al Sooner (Sooner Al?),

I like your suggestion.

Not only is this deck-of-card sized wireless router an interesting
potential addition to my travel kit, but, it also would give me the
freedom to move around the room while connected.

Currently, I'm "tethered" to the desk by wire; but I vastly prefer to
work on the bed with all those fluffy pillows spread around (not to
mention my VOIP calls back to the states tethered to the computer via
headphones and a mic to avoid the pillaging and plundering that goes on
with overseas phone calls from my room).  It would be great to make
those VOIP calls lying down in my nice comfortable bed with the
convenience bar only an arms' length away.

I have one theoretical question with this method ...
I called the hotel who said they key off the MAC address. If I were to
use the wireless router (which I don't have, but I ask this to better
understand the solution) ... would the hotel then key off the MAC
address of the wireless router and not off the two wireless laptops
"connected" to the wireless router?

Would that solution be any better (or different theoretically) than if
I purchased a small hub (switch?) and some long CAT5 ethernet cable?

This is very interesting to me, so I hope you respond, so we all
benefit,
Cindy

Show quote Hide quote Yes, in this case you would give them the MAC address of the router.

Sooner Al [MVP] wrote:
Actually, we don't give the network the MAC address, the network
'grabs' the MAC address on its own.

So, I presume as long as the router is in between the hotel cat5 cable
and the PC, that the hotel network will only "see" the MAC address of
the NAT router.

Cindy Fischer

Cindy wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteIt's my understanding that the MAC address is used to verify the
equipment you registered w/ the Front Desk is actually getting the IP
address they set aside for you.

In other words, giving them the MAC address from the Wireless Router
would be the way to go; it should 'shield' your downstream laptop(s)
from view by the Hotel's Networking and 'bing, bing- Bobs your Uncle.

While the Netgear device looks sexy enough you should perhaps study and
verify if what it's putting out meets your hardware's needs or not.
(Likely it'll be OK.)

Lastly, all things being equal there remains the common experience of
wired being faster than wireless and too many cooks on the wire
spoiling the soup (there may be a time when the wireless device
represents a device too many between you and the Internet for example.
I mention it but I myself find it a _remote_ possibility.)

Enjoy, hth.
TBerk

TBerk wrote:
Hi Berk,
Thanks for that explanation. I would guess one would power up the
wireless router plugged into the hotel wired network. Then, one would
power up the wireless router. Nothing would happen.

Then one would power up one of the portable PCs. Presumably when that
portable PC accesses the NAT, it would send the MAC address of the
wireless router to the hotel network.

If this is true, then when one powers up the second PC, the NAT would
still send the same MAC address of the NAT wireless router to the hotel
network.

Presumably, this would provide exactly what I desire (with the nice
addition of a firewall) ... yet I don't have this wireless router
thousands of miles away from home.

What I'm trying to do is tie one PC wired to the hotel network and then
wirelessly connect the second PC to the first PC to the wired hotel
network. According to the google literature, it _should_ work ... but
so far I've had almost connections but no real connection.

If anyone has a good reference for how to tie a second PC wirelessly to
a first PC wired, that would be wonderful for all of us!

Cindy Fischer

I would purchase one of the small travel routers with wireless and a wired
switch.
you would then plug the hotels wired ethernet connect into the wan port of
your router. the wan ports mac then becomes registered with the hotel and
you are free to setup your own private network in your room with both wired
and wireless clients.. This would enable you to share files and have both
machines on the internet at the same time..

Adair

Adair Witner wrote:
Hi Adair Witner,

Yes, that would work. What is simpler is to spoof the MAC address. Both
would work.

The problem with the travel router approach is that I'm thousands of
miles from home sans the travel router; the problem with the second
approach is that the cable is too short to move about the room. Both,
of course, can be rectified with a shopping trip to the local
electronics emporium.

But, I'm a stubborn gal in that I would really like to obtain the
elegance of tying a second wireless PC to the first wired PC without
benefit of a wireless router. According to Microsoft, it _should_ be
possible (they even say it's easy).

Do you have another source for setting this supposedly easy network up
other than:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

Cindy Fischer

you are making it far too difficult.....

wireless router and you are done.......

or just create a vpn connection to whichever computer is online......

30 bucks a day?  Shoot, I would just find a coffee shop around the
corner.......I bet in the lobby if it is a remotely populated area, you
could jump on someones unsecured netowork....


Chuck

garciyala***@hotmail.com wrote:
Hi Chuck,

Thanks for the advice; but I don't understand two of your three
suggestions:

SUGGESTION 1:
- Wireless router
- I'm fifteen countries away from my home; where would I get a
wireless router?

SUGGESTION 2:
- Create a vpn connection.
- I do not understand this at all. Yes, I have the Nortel Networks
Contivity VPN client.
- But, without a network, how would I use this to connect my two
computers?

SUGGESTION 3:
- Jump on someone elses' unsecured network.
- I always wondered how to do that.
- If I "see" someone else's network, just connecting to it doesn't give
me Internet access.
- Am I doing something wrong?

Chuck ... I do appreciate your help. But, can you clarify how I could
use the Nortel VPN software to connect a second PC to the first PC's
wired ethernet connection?

Same with jumping on someone else's network. Once I "connect" ... why
don't I have any Internet access when I connect to someone's unsecured
connection? What am I doing wrong?

Cindy

Cindy,

You need a wireless bridge with NAT - you canuse either one of your PCs, or
an appliance for that purpose.

However, NAT (hiding two or more PCs behind same IP address and MAC) can
break IPsec VPN, including Nortel - depending on the configuration. Lately
they are fine.


Show quoteHide quote

I've used a linksys WTR54GS for this purpose for several years now.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1122062241008&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Or using tinyurl to shorten that hideously long URL:

http://tinyurl.com/b9ts2

The nice thing about this unit is it's built-in AC plug.  So you don't have
to carry along yet ANOTHER wall wart AC adapter (or forget to bring it, as
experience shows...)  Plug it into the wall and run the ethernet cable into
it.  If there's a PC already using that outlet, no problem, just plug the PC
into the second outlet on the WTR54GS.

Works great.

-Bill Kearney

Bill Kearney wrote:
Hi Bill Kearney,
Thank you for your advice. When I left on this trip two weeks ago,
that's when I should have thought of it. As it was, I had to buy a
whole bunch of British-style three square prong adapters to fit the
American-style two-blade plug of my computer.

At the moment, I'm in a strange city (Singapore) and I don't have a
clue what is where as I just arrived today. In two days, I'll fly to
the Philippines and then to Beijing so I'm trying to travel ligthly.

Next time I might pick up the router in the states as far too many
hotels have wired but not wireless Interner connections in the rooms
(and wireless is so very nice when you're relaxing in bed).

Thanks for your advice. At the moment, I'm stuck trying to get the
second computer to connect to the first via the wireless. I already
tried the MAC address change and that worked, but, it's wired and I
prefer to be wireless by far.

But, for want of a setting or two I would be wireless,
Cindy

On 9/6/2006 12:48 PM  Cindy plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said:
Show quoteHide quoteI picked up your message in rec.travel.usa-canada.  Until I opened my
reply I wasn't aware that you have cross-posted to two technical groups
as well.  I was going to suggest that you post to one.

All the same I will post a list of some non-Usenet http forums that I
have found very useful.

Windows BBS - http://tinyurl.com/rlq89
Windows Annoyances Network FAQ - http://tinyurl.com/3vkc
There is also a discussion forum for Windows Annoyances at: -
http://tinyurl.com/844gw

Hope that this helps.

You are OK with $30/day????

I ain't happy with $12/day.

Yes.

Probably.

Do it just like you do at home - use a router. It can clone your MAC address.

Curios minds wish to know - which hotel (it has got to be in NYC) charges that
much?

Binyamin Dissen wrote:
Hi Binyamin Dissen,

I should have noted these are $30 Singapore dollars per day for the
wired hotel network.

That's about 30 x 2/3 = $20 US dollars a day which is OK by me for a
wired hotel network.

What I'm taking as a theoretical study (which is eating into my
vacation because I hate to lose a technical challenge) is how I can use
my second laptop to connect wirelessly to the first laptop which is
connected to the wired network.

Achieving the most of wireless is what wireless is all about; so that's
why I'm trying this.

I've already agreed these OTHER approaches work:
a) Buy a compact wireless router to be wireless on BOTH PCs by hooking
the NAT to the hotel network and using the two wireless PCs anywhere in
the hotel room

b) Spoof the MAC address on the second PC & connect one PC at a time to
the short wired network

c) Connect wirelessly from the second PC to the wired first PC.

It is the third approach I'm trying to get working as the other two are
(by now) obvious.

It would be great to make the most of our wireless cards like God
herself intended us to do by giving us electromagnetic waves in the
first place! I'm still trying to implement the steps in the Microsoft
article cited.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

An alternative source for the same setup would be wonderful as
something is missing from the instructions at that Microsoft web site.

Cindy

On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 23:45:36 +0300, Binyamin Dissen
<postin***@dissensoftware.com> wrote:


I have never been able to get this to work in a hotel. I've been told
that it can work but the addresses have to be manipulated. I don't
have problems at home.

Have you actually done this in a hotel?

In article <h3i6g2tl2a2rsvmam4o3h586suma5ag***@4ax.com>,
Brian <drmorrisnospam@comcast.net> wrote:

I have done it several times in hotels and at home, it is a very common
thing for people to do.

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