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Wifi through hard connection?

J

jackmm

Newbie
Here's my question:

In the house I am staying, the only wifi is a hard wire cable to the computer. I want the wifi on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S II). Is there a way to get the wifi to the phone if I connect the USB to the computer? Can the wifi somehow go from the wire, to the computer, to the phone?

Thank you!
 
Slight word definition problem.....

The computer is connected via hard wire. Therefore, there is no wifi. Wifi refers to a wireless Internet transmission.

Do you know about the computer with Internet connection's set-up? There will be a cable coming from the wall into a modem. Then does the cable go from the modem to the computer?

You need a router or gateway of some kind to broadcast a wireless signal. This would be a router between the modem and the computer. Or in some cases (like AT&T uverse) the one box is a gateway (both a modem and router).

Have you scanned for wifi with your phone? Are you sure there is no wifi?
 
The ethernet cable goes from the wall into the computer. No modem that I can see. And yes, I have scanned for wifi with my phone and unfortunately there is none.
 
jackmm said:
The ethernet cable goes from the wall into the computer. No modem that I can see. And yes, I have scanned for wifi with my phone and unfortunately there is none.
Click to expand...

That sounds like our DSL service. There's an Ethernet cable coming into the premises. So you either plug it into your PC, or you provide your own WiFi router, most people do the latter.

There is a modem, but it's more than likely in the telco's local distribution point for the building.
 
If we are talking about wifi....

If he is staying in an apartment building/condo set-up and there is one modem/gateway for the building (thus all he sees is a wire coming out of the wall), he may not be able to do much.

He would need to buy a router. But then he would need the password for the account to add to the router set-up info.

Which would leave us with tethering. Which I can not help with.
 
gtbarry said:
If we are talking about wifi....

If he is staying in an apartment building/condo set-up and there is one modem/gateway for the building (thus all he sees is a wire coming out of the wall), he may not be able to do much.

He would need to buy a router. But then he would need the password for the account to add to the router set-up info.
Click to expand...

I don't know this set up but is the cable from the wall just an ethernet cable connecting to the PCs network card?

If so, I'd have thought using a switch and a wireless access point would probably work. Alternatively, one might be able to use just those parts of a wireless router.
 
jonbanjo said:
I don't know this set up but is the cable from the wall just an ethernet cable connecting to the PCs network card?
Click to expand...

That's exactly how it was here, until we purchased a WiFi router. There's an Ethernet cable coming out of the wall, and that goes to the China Unicom distribution point downstairs, which houses the modem/gateway for the whole building. This is in an apartment building/condo set-up.

jonbanjo said:
If so, I'd have thought using a switch and a wireless access point would probably work. Alternatively, one might be able to use just those parts of a wireless router.
Click to expand...

We just plugged the ISP's Ethernet cable into the WiFi router instead of the PC. But we had to enter the account number and password when we first connected the router. Once that was done the router always remembers it.

This arrangement is very common in student dorms, They get an Ethernet cable or an RJ45 socket in the wall. Connect PC or router, but have to enter the account number and password to get service.
 
"If so, I'd have thought using a switch and a wireless access point would probably work. Alternatively, one might be able to use just those parts of a wireless router."

How do I do this?

And...

What is a rudimentary AP?
 
The biggest problem you will have is if you use a router to create a wifi network - you will need the Internet access account user name an password. Can you get this from your friend?

Right now the computer is connecting directly to the Internet via the cable coming out of the wall. And the computer is automatically signing in with the account name and password. If you add a router to create a wifi network, it must connect to the wall directly and the router will need the account name and password.
 
I haven't read all the replies, but I did see some posters have you sorted out with terminology.

If you have connection to the computer (and access to the computer), depending on the operating system (windows xp, Vista, 7, 8), you may be able to activate an option that is called "Internet sharing". This takes the inbound connection (ethernet) and forces it outbound through the wireless card. This would allow your phone to connect to this new 'shared' internet connection.

I used to do this with our dialup modem so I could download ipod apps :p
 
Yes, it's my computer so I have access and I have windows 7. Couldn't figure out how to do the "internet sharing" option...
 
It is so simple. Setup a wireless connection from phone to the PC then setup internet connect sharing on the PC.
 
You people are assuming the computer the OP owns actually has a wireless card in it. Not a safe assumption, if it's a desktop it may well NOT have a wireless card so sharing would be impossible until one is added.

The the OP, when you go to Network and Sharing Center from Control Panel (Network and Internet first if using the Category view), then click Change Adapter Settings on the left, do you see more than just the Local Area Connection? If so, what do you see?
 
I see Local Area Connection, and two wireless network connections. However, they do not show up on my phone.

And I still don't know how to do this: "Setup a wireless connection from phone to the PC then setup internet connect sharing on the PC." Even though you say it's simple, which I'm sure it is.
 
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