Internet Connection Through Another Comp's Wireless

I tried to search this subject, but unfortunately came up empty handed. If this has already been discussed, my apologies.

Currently, I have a wireless router set up in a unit downstairs from my studio. I know the guys down there and they're totally alright with me using their internet. Problem is, I have a wireless card on my laptop, but not on my desktop. Is there a way I can use the internet connection from the router that feeds to my laptop and then in feed it to my desktop through a network cable?

I've tried sharing the internet connection to other computers on the laptop, but I'm still not able to access the web on the desktop. What else is there to do? Thanks in advance!

 

I think your problem with wireless is distance. Depending on how many floors down the router is located, a directional antenna can boost the signal from one floor down. It will cost about $20 at Ebay, amazon, etc. You have to point it to the router. Just open the XP Wireless connection window, adjust the antenna, refresh the connections until you get the as many bars out of 5 as possible.

Another solution is run a 100 feet cat 5 cable through the windows/floor/stairs. It's unsightly, but the speed is the best & there'll be no interference.

 

I appreciate the information and will probably just buy either a) wireless card for the desktop or b.) run some cat5 cable. My question still remains though, is it possible for a router to give a laptop wireless internet, then have the laptop directly connected to the desktop and provide that machine with internet as well? So basically, the laptop would be acting as a wireless card for my desktop. About the distance between the router and the laptop, I was testing it right next to eachother, so I don't think thats the issue.

Router -WIRELESS SIGNAL-> Laptop -ETHERNET CONNECTION-> Desktop

 

Don't think that is possible. Your desktop will either have to have an NIC to connect to the router or a wireless NIC

 

It can be done if there are 2 NICs in the pc. Laptop or desktop. Doesn't matter. You have to read up on internet sharing on Windows. Press F1 for help & search. Basically, you enable Internet connection/sharing service. I think XP has a wizard for this. It's a walk in the park.

You don't need to buy anything other than a cable or antenna for the laptop. A short cable for hooking up laptop & pc. Keep in mind that the laptop must be on at all time the pc needs Internet.

 

It may be possible, this is just an idea I had but technically every Wireless router is called an Access Point. I use the Asus Wireless access software Asus WiFi AP Solo to connect to my wireless access point. During the set up process you have the option to enable the PC as an access point, there is also an option in the toolbar to switch to access point mode.

I would imagine in theory I could connect another PC to this one view a network cable and then set this computer to act as an access point. Of course I am able to do this since the motherboard I use has a decent wifi card plus ethernet adaptors built in to the board.

I dunno if your laptop has the hardware or the software to allow you to do this but everything I've seen suggests it IS possible.

I'll give it a go and report back.