| Why and when would you want to install a | | | | advanced tab. Check the box that says enable |
| wireless adhoc network? Well you would want to | | | | ICS. Once you have setup your ICS, go to every |
| install a wireless Ad HoC network when you do | | | | computer and configure their wireless adapter like |
| not have the equipment for a wired network; you | | | | you did the first one. |
| lack a wireless router and want to share an | | | | ICS will act as a DHCP server and assign private |
| internet connection, or a temporary meeting place | | | | TCP/IP address to your ad-wireless network |
| where you need to share information. | | | | clients. Each computer will receive a TCP/IP |
| The first type of set up will be if you do have an | | | | address from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.254. ICS will |
| internet connection but you lack a wireless access | | | | also tell the computers on the network the |
| point or a wireless router to share that | | | | location of their default gateway which is the |
| connection. This could be a very common | | | | computer you set up ICS on. |
| scenario at a business meeting or during a | | | | Trouble shooting a wireless ad-hoc network can |
| classroom study session. | | | | be a head ache. Make sure you set up the ICS |
| First, each computer will need a wireless adapter. | | | | computer and one client computer. You will want |
| Next click the advance tab near the bottom right | | | | to check to make sure that the first client |
| and click (computer to computer ad-hoc networks | | | | computer has the correct IP address so type |
| only). Second you will need to add your ad-hoc | | | | CMD into the run box to bring up the command |
| wireless network so click add. Fill in the network | | | | line. Next, type in ipconfig, you should see a |
| name (SSID) and choose WEP encryption. You will | | | | number of 192.168.0.2 or something similar. Next |
| want to use WEP if are using older adapters and | | | | type ping 192.168.0.1 or the number of your |
| use WPA if you are sure all the computers on the | | | | default gateway. If you can ping it you should see |
| ad-hoc wireless network can handle it. It is not a | | | | four reply messages. |
| requirement to use encryption but just remember | | | | Once you have the first two computers |
| that anyone will be able to join your network. | | | | connected correctly, just go to all the other |
| Because we will want everyone to share our | | | | computers and configure the wireless adapters |
| wired Ethernet connection you will need to enable | | | | the same way. Other common mistakes are: |
| ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on the wired | | | | leaving the firewalls on, wrong encryption and just |
| network adapter not the wireless adapter. This | | | | general typos. |
| seems like common sense but I have seen many | | | | In my next article I will describe how to set up a |
| people trying to setup ICS on their wireless | | | | wireless ad-hoc network with-out a wired LAN |
| adapter. Just go to your network connections and | | | | internet connection. |
| right click the Ethernet connections and press the | | | | |