Can I use a wireless card to make a network?

[pdubs1995]

Hi,

If I have a pci-e wifi card and an ethernet connection, can I use the wifi card on my pc to broadcast a network?
What I want to do is use my ethernet connection on my pc when I am using my desktop and then if I am using my phone or laptop, then use that ethernet connection to make a wifi connection without buying a separate router.
I saw something like using two network cards and use one to make a network, but could not find much information about it.

Thanks

 

[boosted1g]

Yes it can be done. You need to bridge the two network adapters, enable internet connection sharing to be a dhcp server, and I believe a couple other config changes.

Now with that said there are times that software is a substitution for purpose designed hardware, and times when it is not. This is the latter. At the end of the day you will be much much better off spending $25 on a cheap N150 router over doing this. The propose built chips in even a cheap router will do a much better job then your PC. Not to mention that wifi card will not broadcast/receive signal as well as a router.

Just do yourself a favor and buy a cheap router from netgear, tp-link, belkin, or asus.

 

[Solandri]

On Windows 7, what you want to do is called Internet Connection Sharing. I've heard it's still possible in Windows 8, but requires messing with the command line and registry.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-internet-connection-sharing#1TC=windows-7

It's really only useful in emergencies. If you're thinking of doing this to set up a permanent wifi hotspot, don't. The extra electricity your desktop computer will burn because you're leaving it on 24/7 to provide wifi for your phone and laptop will cost you more than a cheap router. Probably about $50/yr if you have a reasonably new desktop. Just get the router.