Setting up a personal hotspot on pc

[Sefirosu]

Hi guys, so I am trying to set up a personal hotspot on my PC so that I can connect my Nintendo 3DS to the internet. The reason for this is my university wifi is eduroam which isn't compatible with the Nintendo 3ds wireless system.

Since I have never done this before, I'm looking for a wireless card to plug into my PC to be able to create the personal hotspot. I am just wondering something as basic as this would work?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edimax-EW-7811UN-150Mbps-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B003MTTJOY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425307219&sr=8-1&keywords=usb++wifi

Advice is appreciated

 

[kanewolf]

Your university may have policies that prohibit personal WIFI networks. Check that first.

If your current PC is connected via wire, then you can Google "Virtual Router". There are a number of free and paid software bundles that can do what you want.

That WIFI adapter will have about the poorest range possible since it has almost no antenna (no physical space). I would get something a bit larger physically so that there is more antenna.

 

[g90814]

There are some wifi adapters that are meant to be either AP or regular adapter.

Most any can be set up as such.

If you can do this, you might just look into a small travel router, they are made for this, and you don't have to keep your laptop attached in order to be using the internet.

They cost nearly the same as a new wifi adapter.

Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4TZ2MU3262

List of more, by price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx

 

[Sefirosu]

Your university may have policies that prohibit personal WIFI networks. Check that first.

If your current PC is connected via wire, then you can Google "Virtual Router". There are a number of free and paid software bundles that can do what you want.

That WIFI adapter will have about the poorest range possible since it has almost no antenna (no physical space). I would get something a bit larger physically so that there is more antenna.

Okay I will look for another wifi adapter now. I found this virtual router http://virtualrouter.codeplex.com/ however it says it uses WPA2 encryption which cannot be turned off. The reason that I can't use my 3ds directly to eduroam wireless is because it asks for a WPA2 security key which the eduroam wireless doesn't use (you have to log in through browser).
Could this be a problem?

Is there any virtual routers that don't use this encryption so I can either log in to the university network by my pc and I will have connection on the 3ds or so that I can log in on the 3ds by the internet browser and it will let me play online multiplayer?

 

[g90814]

Many wireless adapters come with software to make them into an Access Point, although you can do the same within Windows itself fairly easily.

Here's one that would be pretty good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320089&ignorebbr=1

How to set up AP within Windows:

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-turn-your-windows-81-laptop-wifi-access-point

If you have Windows 7, there are plenty of tutorial for it too

 

[Sefirosu]

Many wireless adapters come with software to make them into an Access Point, although you can do the same within Windows itself fairly easily.

Here's one that would be pretty good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320089&ignorebbr=1

How to set up AP within Windows:

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-turn-your-windows-81-laptop-wifi-access-point

If you have Windows 7, there are plenty of tutorial for it too

Would this one work? http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-USB-N13-Wireless-Adapter-Software/dp/B0033C7ZAK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425311706&sr=8-2&keywords=ASUS+USB-N53

Its older but £10 cheaper.

 

[g90814]

Yes it would work just fine. It comes with the software to set up an AP.

The only difference is that it is not dual band, but that likely won't be an issue for you.

I'd still recommend a travel router, instead of the extra adapter.

 

[Sefirosu]

Yes it would work just fine. It comes with the software to set up an AP.

The only difference is that it is not dual band, but that likely won't be an issue for you.

I'd still recommend a travel router, instead of the extra adapter.

By travel router you mean something like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Dual-Band-Wireless-Broadband-F9K1107uk/dp/B006Q7FG3W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425315124&sr=8-1&keywords=travel+router

opposed to this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-USB-N13-Wireless-Adapter-Software/dp/B0033C7ZAK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425311824&sr=8-2&keywords=ASUS+USB-N53

 

[g90814]

Yes.

Or this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Universal-Extender-Set-top/dp/B007PTCFFW

Is your university network via wireless, or do you have an ethernet connection in your room?

 

[Sefirosu]

Yes.

Or this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Universal-Extender-Set-top/dp/B007PTCFFW

Is your university network via wireless, or do you have an ethernet connection in your room?

Yes I have an ethernet connection to my PC however my PC only has 1 ethernet port and there is only 1 on the wall, so maybe I can't use the travel router unless I get one of them boxes that lets you have multiple ethernet ports from one. Can I still use travel adapter with just 1 ethernet cable? Or would it be easier to go for the usb adapter wireless asus one

 

[g90814]

There are some travel routers that have 2 ethernet ports built in so you could use that. One goes to wall plug, the other goes to your PC.

Example:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WR710N-Wireless-Extender-Set-top/dp/B00APZZ30W
Reading the comments, many people use it exactly as you are wanting to, and find it perfect.

Or you could get a travel router AND an inexpensive wireless adapter for your pc (like the one you originally linked), so you'd be all set. The combined price of the TP-LINK TL-WR702N and that adapter are about the same as the 2 ethernet port router above.

 

[Sefirosu]

There are some travel routers that have 2 ethernet ports built in so you could use that. One goes to wall plug, the other goes to your PC.

Example:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WR710N-Wireless-Extender-Set-top/dp/B00APZZ30W
Reading the comments, many people use it exactly as you are wanting to, and find it perfect.

Or you could get a travel router AND an inexpensive wireless adapter for your pc (like the one you originally linked), so you'd be all set.

Okay. I think I will just get the wireless adapter alone and hope I can make it work with just the adapter since it's a cheaper option but if it doesn't work maybe i'll get a travel router.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[g90814]

The problem with the wireless adapter is that it's a flaky setup, and, you have to leave your PC on all the time for it to work.

I think you'd be much happier in the long run getting the travel router.

 

[Sefirosu]

The problem with the wireless adapter is that it's a flaky setup, and, you have to leave your PC on all the time for it to work.

I think you'd be much happier in the long run getting the travel router.

I see, well msot of the time I leave my PC on when i'm playing my 3ds so that should be ok however yeah i'm worried about the set up. I've ordered it now, i'll see how it goes. Ty

 

[sora]

Many wireless adapters come with software to make them into an Access Point, although you can do the same within Windows itself fairly easily.

Here's one that would be pretty good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320089&ignorebbr=1

How to set up AP within Windows:

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-turn-your-windows-81-laptop-wifi-access-point

If you have Windows 7, there are plenty of tutorial for it too

Would this one work? http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-USB-N13-Wireless-Adapter-Software/dp/B0033C7ZAK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425311706&sr=8-2&keywords=ASUS+USB-N53

Its older but £10 cheaper.

It should definitely work just fine.