setup ad-hoc network connection

8/11/2019 Setup AD-Hoc Network Connection

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1. This tutorial will show you how to connect two computers using a Wi-Fi connection. We will refer the two computers asPC 1 and PC 2. You will have to configure both the computers as given below:-

PC 1:

1. Right-click My Computer and select Properties.

2. Click on the Computer Name tab and then click on the Change button. Type the computer name to whatever you

want, here we will name it PC 1 and you will also have to change the workgroup to WG. (The workgroup name shouldbe the same in both the computers) Now click Apply and close it.

3. Goto Network Connections and right-click on your wireless adapter and select Properties. Now goto the WirelessNetwork Tab and click on the Advanced button. Select Computer to Computer (Ad hoc) networking option. If you get awindow with an SSID box, you can specify the network name in it, in our example we will use Wi-Fi as the SSID. Nowclose the window and click on Add Preferred Networks.

Enter the settings as follows:

Network name (SSID) : Wi-FiNetwork Authentication : OpenData Encryption : Disabled

4. Tick the This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network, wireless access points are not used option if it isntalready ticked. To automatically connect to the network, goto the Connection tab and tick on the Connect automaticallywhen in range option. Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings, goto the General tab and select InternetProtocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button. Set the Values as:-

IP Address - 192.168.0.1Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0Default Gateway - 192.168.0.2


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5. Click OK and you have finished the steps for PC 1.

PC 2:

1. Right-click My Computer and click Properties.

2. Click on the Computer Name tab and then click on the Change button. Type the computer name to whatever you

want, here we will name it PC 2 and you will also have to change the workgroup to WG. (The workgroup name shouldbe the same in both the computers) Now click Apply and close it.

3. Goto Network Connections and right-click on your wireless adapter and select Properties. Now goto the WirelessNetwork Tab and click on the Advanced button. Select Computer to Computer (Ad hoc) networking option. If you get awindow with an SSID box, you can specify the network name in it, in our example we will use Wi-Fi as the SSID. Nowclose the window and click on Add Preferred Networks.

Enter the settings as follows:

Network name (SSID) : Wi-FiNetwork Authentication : OpenData Encryption : Disabled

4. Tick the This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network, wireless access points are not used option if it isntalready ticked. To automatically connect to the network, goto the Connection tab and tick on the Connect automaticallywhen in range option. Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings, goto the General tab and select InternetProtocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button. Set the Values as:-

IP Address - 192.168.0.2Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0Default Gateway - 192.168.0.1


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How to set up a direct Wi-Fi connection in Windows XP? (Page 1 of 6)

Overview

Preparation

Ad hoc setup on the first computer (1)

Ad hoc setup on the first computer (2)

Ad hoc setup on the second computer

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) setup

Disconnecting and reconnecting, and

troubleshooting

Ad hoc setup in Windows Vista and Windows 7

(coming ...)

Overview

Wi-Fi or wireless fidelity refers to a wireless LAN technology that is developed based

on IEEE 802.11a/b/g or the recently ratified IEEE 802.11n. Wi-Fi is commonly used in

a star configuration with a wireless access point or wireless router as a central

connection point that connects all computers (palmtop, laptop, desktop) or other Wi-Fi

enabled devices together, connects the wireless network to a wired network, and

connects the wireless network to the Internet. A wireless network that connects via a

wireless access point or a wireless router works in infrastructure mode.

On the other hand, a wireless network in which computers link directly to one another

without an access point works in ad hoc mode. A Wi-Fi ad hoc network typically

consists of two Wi-Fi-enabled computers. However, some Wi-Fi network adapters

allow more than two computers to be connected in an ad hoc network.
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A Wi-Fi ad hoc network functions just like Wi-Fi network in infrastructure mode. It can

be used to share files, folders, drives, printer, etc. It can also be used for sharing an

Internet connection or play a networked game.

What should I prepare?

1. Check your Wi-Fi network adapter standards: 802.11a adapter can only work with

another 802.11a adapter, while 802.11b adapter is compatible with 802.11g adapter

and 802.11n is backward compatible with all previous versions. When connecting two

computers with different adapter version, the connection speed will fall to the slowest

of both.

2. If your computer uses an external Wi-Fi adapter (USB dongle or PC Card), plug or

insert the adapter into each computer. Before you plug or insert a new adapter/dongle

for the first time, you'll have to install your wireless network adapter driver, usually

came in a CD or stored in the dongle (since today USB dongle also functions as a flash

drive). If your computer has a built-in Wi-Fi radio, you must activate it by switching

an on/off button or via the software utility that came with it.

3. Depending on whether you'll connect at a private room or in a public space and the

confidentiality of your communication, determine a suitable encryption scheme: no

encryption at all (not recommended), WEP, WPA, or WPA2. Both network adapters

must support the same encryption system and be configured with the same

encryption key accordingly for this ad hoc connection.

4. Place your computers within range of the wireless signal. Typically, less than 50

meters indoor. Check your network adapter documentation to find your wireless

adapter coverage or view the signal strength of a detected wireless signal during

setup.


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5. For maximum transmission, avoid placing your computers near metal barriers or

other possible sources of interference (e.g. cordless phone, microwave oven, active

Bluetooth devices).

6. You must make sure that both wireless network adapters support ad hoc (peer-to-

peer) networking and Windows XP's Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service. If

WZC is not allowed on your adapters, you can't do the step-by-step instructions in the

following pages. But you have to use the utility (software) that came with your

adapters to create an ad-hoc network.

7. To allow file/folder/drive and printer sharing, you must allow file/printer sharing in

Windows Firewall or open the relevant ports in other firewall software. Also name each

computer with a unique name and give both the same workgroup name. To do this,

right-click on My Computer icon, click Properties to open System Properties. On

Computer name tab, click Change. You will be asked to restart your computer after

making the change.

Ad-hoc setup on the first computer (1)

1. Go to Control Panel and open Network Connections folder. If you have installed your Wi-

Fi adapter correctly, you will find a Wireless Network Connection icon on the right pane

under LAN or High-Speed Internet.


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Figure: Creating a wireless (Wi-Fi) ad hoc (peer-to-peer) networkvia Wireless Network Connection properties window.

4. On the Association tab, type the name of your ad-hoc wireless network in Network name

(SSID).


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Figure: input the wireless ad hoc network name (SSID), authentication, and encryptionon the Association tab of Wireless network properties window.

5. Check "This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network" and clear "The key is provided

for me automatically" if you want to input your network key manually.

Ad-hoc setup on the first computer (2)

6. In Network Authentication, select from Open, Shared, and WPA-None. In infrastructure

mode, WPA-PSK and WPA options are available in the drop-down selection. In Windows XP

SP1, you will only find Open and Shared, unless you have installed Windows Update for

WPA.


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Figure: Selecting the suitable wireless (Wi-Fi) Network Authentication(Open or Shared (WEP) and WPA-None) on the Wireless network properties window.

7. In Data encryption, select one that is suitable for your situation. Assess your security

risk. For example, you have to be more cautious and opt for the strongest encryption if you

create your ad-hoc at a public place.

If you chose Open or Shared in Network Authentication, you will find Disabled and WEP in

Data encryption. Choose WEP if you want your data transfer to be encrypted. If you chose

WPA-None in Network Authentication, you will find TKIP and AES in Data encryption. Choose

either TKIP or AES. AES is the strongest encryption standard typically used if one wants to

connect to a corporate network with a RADIUS server handling user authentication.


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Figure: selecting the suitable Data encryption (Disabled, WEP, TKIP, or AES)on the Wireless network properties window.

8. In Network key, type your encryption key as ASCII or hexadecimal characters. ASCII

characters may contain letters, numbers, and symbols, while hexadecimal characters can

only include numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F.

If you select WEP, the network key must be 5 ASCII or 10 hexadecimal characters for 64-bit

encryption and 13 ASCII or 26 hexadecimal characters for 128-bit encryption. If you select

WPA, the network key must be 8 to 63 ASCII or 64 hexadecimal characters. Example of a

valid network key: AD083BC1A5 for 64-bit WEP encryption.

9. In Confirm network key, retype your key.

10. Click OK on the Wireless network properties window to save changes to your wireless

network.

11. Click OK on the Wireless Network Connection properties window to save changes to your

wireless network adapter.


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Figure: the ad hoc network name appears on the Preferred networks liston Wireless Network Connection properties window.

Ad-hoc setup on the second computer

1. Open Network Connections folder.

2. Locate the Wireless Network Connection icon and click "View Available Wireless

Networks".


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Figure. Viewing available wireless networks from Wireless Network Connection icon.

3. You will be prompted with Wireless Network Connection dialog box. It will show a list of

all detected wireless networks within range.


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Figure. Starting a wireless connection in one easy step via the Wireless Network Connection window.

For networks to appear on the list, the WZC service on Windows XP must be enabled.

4. Select the name of the newly created ad-hoc network. Click Connect.

5. Type the same network key as on the first computer when prompted. Click Connect. If

you did not uncheck "The key is provided for me automatically" during setup on the first

computer, leave the network key input box blank.


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Figure. Type the same network key on the prompt window to start a wireless connection.

Now the Wi-Fi ad hoc network between the two computers is connected. A message balloon

appears on the wireless LAN notification icon on the taskbar.

Figure. Wireless network status message on Windows taskbar (system tray) icon.

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) setup

On the computer that is connected directly to the Internet. Do these steps to share

an Internet connection. (You are assumed to have configured your Internet connection

before. If not, use theNew Connection Wizardthen.)

1. Open Network Connections folder.

2. On the right pane, find the Internet connection that you want to share. Right-click on it

and select Properties. While the most likely case is sharing a wireline broadband

(DSL/cable) service, basically you can share any type of Internet connection (including

PSTN dial-up, GPRS, 3G, FTTH, WiMAX, etc) using the same procedure.
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If your broadband connection is using login (PPPoE) and you log in from Network

Connections folder, you'll find the Internet connection under Broadband. If your broadband

connection is always on, your Internet connection must be under LAN or High-Speed

Internet. Find the Local Area Connection that corresponds with the Ethernet card which

connects the host computer to the broadband modem. Rename it to a name that easily

identifies your Internet connection. Follow the same procedure to enable ICS.

Figure. Opening an Internet connection properties window from Network Connectionsto create Internet connection sharing (ICS). Select the relevant Internet connection.

3. On the Advanced tab, check "Allow other network users to connect through this

computer's Internet connection" and select "Wireless Network Connection" from the drop-

down box. The drop-down box only appears if there are more than one network adapters

installed in your computer.

If you don't find ICS options on Properties window, the most likely case is your Wi-Fi ad hoc

network hasn't been connected. Try to reconfigure it.


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Figure. Configuring Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) for the Wi-Fi ad hoc networkvia the Internet connection Properties window.

4. Click OK. You can verify whether your wireless LAN (ad hoc) and ICS have been working

from the IP addresses of your Wi-Fi adapters. If the IP addresses areAPIPAaddresses in

this format 169.254.x.y (where xand yare any integer from 0 to 254) with the same

subnet (i.e. 255.255.0.0), then your ad hoc network has been active. Browse your network

configuration from My Network Places. If you have configured your personal firewall to allow

file and printer sharing (which is the default setting in Windows Firewall), you will see both

your computers in My Network Places>Microsoft Windows Network>your workgroup name.

Meanwhile, for the ICS to work your Wi-Fi network adapter on the ICS host computer

(which connects directly to the broadband modem) must have been assigned this private

gateway IP address 192.168.0.1 and the ICS client (which will connect to the Internet via
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the ICS host) must have another IP address in this format 192.168.0.z where zis any

integer from 2 to 254.

To have IP addresses assigned automatically by Windows, you just need to make sure that

your Wi-Fi adapters are set to obtain IP address and DNS server address automatically

(DHCP) which is the default configuration. To verify, right click your Wireless Network

Connection, and select Properties. On the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Properties.

Now you have finished the Wi-Fi ad-hoc network setup and enabled Internet connection

sharing. To access another computer resources (i.e. files, folders, drives, printer,

peripherals), you must enable sharing with other network users for each resource.


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Figure. Viewing details of a Wireless Network Connection via the status windowYou can see among others: number of transferred packets, duration, signal strength, and IP address.

Disconnecting and Reconnecting

To disconnect from the ad hoc network, right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon on

Network Connections folder and click "View available wireless networks". Select the ad hoc

network name, and click Disconnect.

Figure: To disconnect from an ad hoc network from the Wireless Network Connection window.

By default, your computer will reconnect automatically if both computers are within range

and the ad hoc network has been set as the first network on the Preferred network list. To

change this automatic connection especially for security purpose, open Wireless Network


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Connection properties window. On Wireless Networks tab, under Preferred networks select

the ad hoc network name and click Properties to open the ad hoc network properties

window. On Connection tab, uncheck "Connect when this network is in range".

Figure: To disable automatic connection via the ad hoc network name properties.

Known problems for troubleshooting

- Wireless Networks tab does not appear on Wireless Network Connection properties

window. You must enable Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service on Windows XP from

the wireless utility (configuration software) that came with your Wi-Fi adapter. But if your

adapter can not work with WZC, use the wireless utility to set up an ad-hoc connection. On

both computers, set the same channel number, SSID, and encryption type. Also enable

peer-to-peer networking or ad hoc mode for each Wi-Fi adapters.


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- Can not connect from the second computer to the first computer during ad hoc network

setup. This may be caused by problems in your wireless network adapters. Check whether

the adapter is working properly from the Device Manager. If you use a USB Wi-Fi adapter,

attach the adapter firmly to a USB connector or cradle.

- The ad hoc network has been connected, but you can't access the shared resources. This

might happen because both computers need more time to refresh IP addresses and other

setup details. Wait for a couple of minutes. Check the status details from Network

Connections folder on both computers. To speed up the process, you can click "Repair this

connection" under Network Tasks on Network Connections folder. You can also ping the

other computer through Command Prompt. Another possible cause is program blocking by

Windows Firewall or other personal firewall software installed in your computer.Hereis the

solution.

- Common situations that might hinder your ad hoc network setup: non-compatible Wi-Fi

adapters, physical obstructions, range, and interference from other wireless devices or

networks. And although most Wi-Fi adapters support peer-to-peer (ad hoc) networking,

some Wi-Fi adapters were not designed for ad-hoc networking.
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