Can you have two wireless adapters and connect to two networks ? Does windows allow it ?

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As shynet said that is not true.

You can have 2 different networks just fine.
Now what you are trying to do with it may or may not be possible.
Windows can use both networks but it will only use 1 for the internet unless you use software like the one shynet suggested to tell program A to use connciton 1, program C to use connection 2, etc, etc
If you are using the dual wifi networks to connect to 1 network for internet and the other for a accessing computers on a seperate network you will be just fine.
Now if you are wanting to use the 2 connections to merge them into one faster connection that is not possible.
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That simply is not true.

Multiple network interfaces can be used, that's not a problem. Problem is - how system will decide, which network packet to send through which network interface?
In this case, specialized network routing software must be used - like Kerio Winroute Firewall for example.
 
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As shynet said that is not true.

You can have 2 different networks just fine.
Now what you are trying to do with it may or may not be possible.
Windows can use both networks but it will only use 1 for the internet unless you use software like the one shynet suggested to tell program A to use connciton 1, program C to use connection 2, etc, etc
If you are using the dual wifi networks to connect to 1 network for internet and the other for a accessing computers on a seperate network you will be just fine.
Now if you are wanting to use the 2 connections to merge them into one faster connection that is not possible.
 
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Solution


This is exactly the information I was looking for. But I need to ask an additional question:

I have one WiFi adapter connected to my internet-connected WiFi access point. But I also need to connect to a wireless VGA adapter via a second WiFi adapter. As with the OP's situation, these cannot be the same WiFi network because the VGA adapter doesn't have a connection to the internet, and I need to give a presentation while connected to the internet. (Yes, I could connect directly to the VGA port at the presenter's stand, but I want to be able to walk around with my Surface Pro 4 and give my presentation from anywhere on the stage.) I already know about only setting a default gateway for the adapter that will connect to the internet. I even know about the "Metric" setting. My concern is with how I choose the appropriate WiFi network (SSID) for each adapter. Will Windows 10 give me two separate lists, one for each adapter?

I don't want to go and order all this hardware, only to find that Windows 10 is so dumbed down that it only knows what to do with one WiFi adapter.

Thanks
 
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Can you provide a link to this "VGA WiFi" adapter.
The only display connection that uses wifi like that would be a miracast, and you need at least one device to be miracast capable (and the adapter goes on the other device).
If you are talking about a wireless VGA adapter then that has nothing to do with WiFi. WiFi is just one of many frequency bands and data messages used to send data over radio waves. This adapter is no more WiFi then am/fm radio is WiFi.

In either circumstance you would not have a second IP address
 
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Just to add:

I highly advise not using wireless for display for a projector.
Miracast and wireless-display technologies are not reliable enough for the conference room, you will end up spending a good amount of time dealing with connection issues. use
If siting then just use a wireless keyboard/mouse and if walking around then use a wireless presenter mouse (with thumb joystick and buttons).

One other option is connect a pc to projector and use remote desktop so you can control with laptop.
 
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Here is one such device: https://www.startech.com/AV/Extenders/HDMI/Wireless-Presentation-System-HDMI-VGA-1080p~WIFI2HDVGA I have read the user manual and it does, indeed connect via WiFi. Their instructions even give you the SSID to connect your WiFi to. So, in the situation I am describing, one would, indeed, have a second IP address. One for the internet and one for the additional USB-WiFi dongle that would communicate to my VGA-WiFi device.

There are also many other options available here: https://www.google.com/search?q=wifi+vga&num=50&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEiMrb6oDZAhUBx2MKHZeaAUEQ_AUICigB&biw=1440&bih=830&dpr=1.5

I am specifically avoiding any non-WiFi solutions because I know they are unreliable, especially if I am walking around. The devices I have linked to are specifically designed for giving presentations.

As to my original question: Do you know if Windows 10 will allow me to choose one SSID for one WiFi adapter and then a separate SSID for a second WiFi adapter.
 
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Many people giving presentations do not have the option of adding software or even hardware to the presentation computer. It is often connected to the projector and all connections are locked away in a cabinet, with only a VGA input (and MAYBE a USB port) mounted on a plate on the front of the cabinet or at the presenter's stand.

So, it MAY be possible to connect a wireless mouse or keyboard dongle to the presenting computer, but then one would be limited to what software is installed on said computer, because most universities and conference-sites lock down those computers to avoid malicious software.

This, then, would make it impossible for me to demonstrate software that is installed on my own computer, but is not installed on the presentation computer.

Nevertheless, this is not the question at hand. This thread is about connecting to two separate WiFi networks with two separate WiFi adapters, with one for the internet and one for some other, non-internet use.

Thank you.
 
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The first link is an adapter that plugs into the TV/projector and can use wifi-direct or miracast/widi.

The second link is mostly generic wireless display devices that transmit the display over an RF radio frequency and require both a a sender and receiver module.

So the first link does do pretty much what you said.
You install a software, connect via wifi-direct to the receiver and then run the software.
Here is how to select different adapters: https://www.drivethelife.com/windows-10/change-to-multiple-wifi-adapters-in-windows-10.html
Internal adapter should have higher metric by default but wont hurt to manually make internal wifi top (and use secondary for display connection).
IP address does not matter because the device you are making a wifi direct connection to will supply you an IP, if you change it, you wont get a connection.

Your surface does have miracast/widi built into it (which means you could have wifi and miracast with the internal wifi adapter), however many users have had nothing but problems with it.

Your parts list is right that you need the display adapter, and a 2nd wifi adapter for laptop.

As stated earlier though, reliability may be less than desired, just have to see. Only 2 reviews on startech's site and 4 on amazon.

 
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OK, it is becoming apparent to me that you are more interested in APPEARING to be helpful than in actually being helpful. I'm sorry, but I did not ask for help in connecting to a projector. I only asked about using two different WiFi adapters at the same time. Everything else is a waste of time and is off-topic for this thread.

For the benefit of future readers of this thread: The link above DOES NOT tell how to use two separate WiFi adapters to connect to two different networks. INSTEAD, it tells how to turn OFF one adapter so you can use the other one. This, then appears to contradict what the above person has said about it being possible to use two different WiFi adapters at the same time. Why this person linked to an article that does not say what he claims is beyond me. Perhaps he didn't actually read it.

That said, there is no need for me to continue this conversation.
 
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I know this thread is old but it is the only thread I can find where anyone is asking this specific question. So, I will attempt to answer it here.

I have obtained a USB WiFi adapter that I can use (along with my laptop's internal WiFi adapter) to test this all out. I do not currently have access to two separate WiFi networks with which I can test it out, but I will tomorrow. I will report back with what I find.
 
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The original question wondered about 2 WiFi devices, and 2 networks.

Your question seems to be 1 WiFi network, and 1 wireless connection to a projector (which may or may not be via the WiFi protocol)
Not the same thing.
 
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My original post in this thread included the sentence, "But I also need to connect to a wireless VGA adapter via a second WiFi adapter." I only mentioned the WiFi VGA device to give context, because people always ask, "But what are you doing it for?" I needed to make it clear that the second WiFi adapter would not be connecting to the internet, or any other networking service. This should have isolated the question down to just the two WiFi adapters.WiFi adapters. It appears that you and this other guy are friends, and are both more interested in either derailing this thread or bolstering each other's reputation. I really don't care. If you can't or won't answer the question, why are you even here?
 
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Your right, the link does not bluntly spell out how to switch it. What it does show is how to switch wifi adapters from the task bar panel. I admittedly should have been clearer, since you understood IP and metrics and thus seemed to be more savy, I got a little lazy did not go into more explanation of what I was showing vs what the text was saying.

I have a usb wifi stick and an isolated WiFi network at home so this was easy to do for testing purposes
Mo02pSH.jpg

I simply plugged in adapter and let windows find driver, opened wifi menu in taskbar, selected network for wifi adapter 1 (internal), then from dropdown menu selected wifi 2, then connected to my issolated network. As yo can see from my ipconfig above I have 2 wifi network connections on 2 subnets

So yes you can connect to two different wifi networks in windows 10.
Connecting to a wifi-direct network will be no different.
 
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