[Doncom]

Is there a Windows-compatible 802.11b PCI card/USB device which can act as a base station for an iBook with AirPort?

I ask because I can't use a dedicated wireless router anymore, and so I was curious as to what my alternatives were.

[stevesnj]

Originally posted by Doncom:
Is there a Windows-compatible 802.11b PCI card/USB device which can act as a base station for an iBook with AirPort?

I ask because I can't use a dedicated wireless router anymore, and so I was curious as to what my alternatives were.

As long as the Windows machine can run internet sharing any b card should work.

[ghporter]

I gotta ask; why can't you use a dedicated wireless router anymore?

[Doncom]

Let's just say that it has something to do with California State Penal Code 502 ...

... and that I learned about it the hard way.

I now have PCI wireless card and am currently trying to figure out how to make it work...

[Doncom]

Wow! Got it working with a cheap $10 card I bought from Newegg. Streaming music through iTunes, and iChat works fine. Now I just have to figure out how to get Micorosft Internet Sharing to stop crapping out on me.

Thanx for the tip.

[ghporter]

Don,

What card did you get, and what steps did you take to get everything working? Particularly important is the Windows stuff-there are not enough Win-aware folks around here, and many times these "mixed" networks stump otherwise very knowledgable folks.

I did a little reading on 502... Ouch! I see why you're having to go this way.

[Doncom]

Sure thing.

1. I purchased and installed the Trendware/Trendnet 11Mbps Wireless PCI LAN Adapter Model TEW-228PI Retail adapter at Newegg.com for $9.99 after a mail-in rebate.

http://www.trendnet.com/products/TEW-228PI.htm

2. Using the included Wireless Configuration Utility, (the same program is included with a number of the other cheaper cards,) I clicked on the 'Configuration Tab' and changed the 'Network Mode' from 'Infrastructre (Access Point)' to '802.11 Ad-Hoc (Computer-to-Computer)'. (Don't forget to name your wireless Network under 'Network SSID'!)

This established the network connection between the PC and my iBook with an AirPort card, but did not re-route internet access.

3. Going to 'Network Connections' under Windows XP, I right-clicked on the properties of my LAN connection to the Internet and clicked on the 'Advanced' tab. Under 'Internet Connection Sharing', I checked the box 'Allow other Internet computers to connect through this computer's Internet connection', and walla - wireless Internet.

4. On the iBook, I used the Internet Connection app (or the AirPort Menu) to select the Computer-to-Computer network, if it didn't do it automatically - no other settings to change here.

My connection has been a little flaky; I initially had some problems with Windows ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) which were resolved simply by de-and-re-activating ICS. Sometimes the iBook shows that the connection drops and then immediately reconnects (without disruption to streaming music) so I'm not quite sure whether thats a bug or whatever... But at a cost of $15, I'm not complaining.