Wifi's on 2 Laptops don't detect each other even with netstumbler???

OK,thanks. But when I do hook them together, peer to peer, aren't they then both transmitters and receivers? Will netstumbler as well as the wifi themselves then be able to 'see' each other then?

Actually that is not true. You can create an "ad hoc" network on one laptop. That laptop WILL broadcast, and your other laptop will be able to connect to it. That's what I do at home, with Windows XP Pro SP2.

Follow the steps on this microsoft publication to setup your ad hoc network:

I hope this helps. Cheers!

What you are saying is true but does not answer his original question which said they were not networked.

Please let the rest of us know if it does work. TIA

The Amazing Seismo

Thanks, guys. I think I understand it better now. They will transmit, but only when networked.

I also appreciate the link given. That MS document, which I just downloaded but haven't read yet, implies something that I had been told could not be done. And that is to have an ad-hoc network AND also share an internet connection. I thought I would have to go the way of a router or cat 5 crossover to network and connect both to internet. If this ad-hoc and IC works, I'll be very happy. Thanks again ;-)

Tom, I am using an AD HOC network at home with 2 wireless cards. I am NOT using a router or dedicated access point. I am also using ICS which works fine. I can share my broaband internet connection through the AD HOC network, that's the whole point! Also, I don't know why certain people are saying that netstumbler will not pickup "small" transmissions. I can tell you that your ad hoc network (the wireless card broadcasting as the host) WILL SHOW UP ON NETSTUMBLER. It works fine with my equipment, and my wireless network does show up on netstumbler, as if it was an access point (there is no difference in the protocol between a broadcast from a dedicated access point and a broadcast from an ad hoc network I think, and I you can confirm that with netestumbler!). I hope this helps. Cheers!

Well, it's been a long day. First I put XP SP2 on my old machine (500MHz) and 3 hours later it was done. Then on to Internet Connection Sharing and ad_hoc between 2 laptops. It was a bit of a scrimmage for a while, but eventually I got it up and running. Two laptops sharing a USB connected cable internet, via wifi. Got printer sharing working after a couple of attempts. File sharing is tomorrows project. The link that Bendit provided: Follow the steps on this Microsoft publication to setup your ad hoc network:

was excellent. However, be advised that it is written and seems to work, only with MS Firewall. Some of the screen options you need to have and change are not available if you have MS Firewall turned off. So, my Zone Alarms (free) are for now turned off and MS Fire is on. PS. Now that the wifi network is operational, netstumbler sees all, as you guys predicted.

Glad things are working out for you! Also glad I could assist. CHEERS!

HI George, Well, it partly has to do with my lifestyle. Right now, I'm at home and have a cable modem at my disposal, but I'm retired and spend about 8 months traveling the country in an RV. My normal means of internet connection while traveling, is via a cell phone in the evenings and weekends, with an occasional hot spot thrown in. What I primarily wanted to do was link my wife's new computer for file sharing, as well as internet. All the while keep the power draw as low as possible. Most of the camping I do is in the boonies so my only source of power is my set of solar panels and my batteries. So a router isn't much power or money, but I figured I didn't really need it. I can't argue with you about the router firewall protection as I have no experience there. However my computers are always software firewall protected. The default is Zone Alarm free, unless I connect the ad-hoc, then I must turn off Zone Alarm and activate MS firewall. Also the wifi link is running WEP.

I really wish someone could tell me how or if I can operate Ad-Hoc ICS with Zone Alarm Free on all the time in place of MS. I prefer the two way firewall.

Tom, the Windows XP SP2 firewall IS two way. It will notify you (by a popup window) if a program tries to access the internet. You can program exceptions (it will not warn you and will allow outbound traffic for that program) in the firewall control panel. I have been running it since it came out, and I think it is pretty stable and sturdy. I ONLY run that firewall and nothing else, just in case you'd like to ditch your Zone Alarm.

Also, some people claim that HARDWARE firewalls are better (the ones found in cheap routers and access point). This is not entirely true. Those devices at heart run software also (that you can flash to upgrade with patches from their manufacturer). If you look at netgear routers for example, go online and check out their patch logs. Some of them had severe problems with their internal softwares that allowed possible attacks. My point is that software is software, and Microsoft has regular patches coming out from its testing team. Now which testing team is bigger? Netgear's or Microsoft's? Just a different angle here. CHEERS!

Thanks for the feedback, Bendit, I feel better about having to run MS Firewall when networking. But I'm still not sure it is 2 way... So I did an experiment. With ZA in charge, I open my Quicken program and downloaded some Quotes. Zone Alarm interrupted and asked for permission for Quicken Launcher. Then with MS Firewall on and ZA off, I again opened Quicken and repeated the same test. MS did not notify me of anything and made the connection. To complete the test, I activated ZA again (which automatically appears to turn MS Firewall off). Again ran the Quicken test. ZA again challenged the Quicken Launcher. I can only make 2 conclusions from this:

1. ZA does monitor outgoing communications, and allows me to control them.
2. MS Firewall doesn't notify me of an attempt at outgoing communications. Thus I have to assume that MS Firewall is not controlling outgoing and thus must be one way Firewall (inbound) Help...???

I didn't find the xp firewall easy to deal with on the work computers

when i networked them and i don't bother with them at home (as i also

use zone alarm). i think ms has enough issues and should focus more on

fixing the problems with their operating systems and such rather then

expanding into other areas. my zone alarm worked fine with my wireless

setup, but the somethings were still wrong and i've even purchased more

than one 802.11g usb network adapter (for which both worked for a short

period and then didn't all of a sudden).

I've also gotten strange error messages of all kinds from microsoft

who's sent their retarded no use reports to themselves (maybe they do

have a use, but they don't seem to ever solve the ones i've had a work;

i just work around them).

C:\DOCUME~1\Babs\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERd70b.dir00\Mini121404-01.dmp

C:\DOCUME~1\Babs\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERd70b.dir00\sysdata.xml

those would be the latest error messages. have no clue what they mean.

can't find them here either. i've now uninstalled my belkin to return

it and reinstalled my hawking (yes, i'd rather have the belkin, but

they didn't have any and i'm stuck for the money with the hawking). My

hawking now has a very strong signal and doesn't get online, but used

to get online and have a weak signal. go figure. that's before of

course, it quite working all together for the most part. the strong

signal now is due to my changing the settings to the ad-hoc (glad they

put that nifty info into the manuals for me...NOT). i'm not a computer

idiot (nor genius, but i do network 9 computers - laptops, vidoe

editing systems, graphics, administrative, printshared, etc. windows

98, ME, XPs and mac osXs together just fine) and i can't seem to fix my

single user home computer for the wireless that's available to our

condo building. apparently i'm the only dork having a problem with it

also.

i did have some issues with my aol interfering and fixed that all up

and a new modem (also presumably fixed). waiting impatiently for some

assistance from my neighbor who does computers, but his priorities and

mine aren't the same and i'm busy fixing my own issues as best i can.

I never have any issues with my zone alarm though. they've always been

top notch and easy to work with. I even had a difficult time with the

laptop xps firewalls at work because they are so hard to find in order

to change the settings and they default back several times before you

can get them to remain the way you set them up. when my co-workers

can't network that's the first place i look.

both home and work are on dchp. although i couldn't tell you much else

about my wirless connection (except i'm thinking maybe there is a mac

involved somewhere). I don't know anything about wireless yet really.

we have a T1 at work. i'm online the old fashioned way right now (with

my dial up aol).

babs

"mediadarling" wrote > C:\DOCUME~1\Babs\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERd70b.dir00\Mini121404-01.dmp

Well they are just temp files so probably got deleted when either an application closed or the pc was shut down(local setting folder is often hidden too, so you would have to set the folder options not to hide system files and not to hide 'hidden files'.

ad hoc will only pic up other pc's or items setup the same wire, surely your condo with have a wireless access point, and hence infrastructure mode? maybe with security of some kind?

My only prob with zonealarm was not recognising it as a lan(wireless that is), cos I had a network card also....Adding that adaptor as a lan sorted that out....

Apart from setting the client pc up with the right security/encryption info, it should be no different to setting up a lan. Many don't even bother setting security or encryption on their wireless...

Daniel

ok, i'm on! woo hoo!

nope, zone alarm doesn't differentiate my wireless from other networks,

it just auto adds the ip and submask info.

you are correct, after some more research i am on an infrastructure. i

had to investigate that because it said peer-to-peer and i know i

shouldn't be on that. i had a few other names coming up at different

times today so maybe i was picking up someone else's channels? i don't

know. however, my last problem (at the moment; crossing my fingers) was

as usual, a windows default back to something i was sure i already

reset before - unchecking the windows wireless network configuration

(and hence no other names or defaults come up now on my available

networks screen like before).

now, about security...dare i try messing with that or do i need to?

yes, i think our condo has dhcp or whatever type does that for wireless

as the ip changes.

babs