Wireless USB Adapter Question!

[vandalous03]

Hello!
I have a few questions.Wi-Fi subject:
Can i use a wireless USB adapter as an Access Point or are these adapters used only for ad-hoc connection purposes?
I was thinking to use a wireless USB adapter connected to my Internet PC so i can share my internet connection with a few other wireless devices(NDS,Laptop).Is it possible to make it with this or do i need an access point to make my project succesful?

[mtrox]

Vandal that's a good one. I saw it a while ago and thought someone would chime in on this one. Off the top of my head I don't know why it wouldn't. To share the Internet the key protocol is TCP/IP....and TCP/IP pretty much just sees its Ethernet cards.....and doesn't know and/or care if they are wired, PCI, USB, whatever. So I don't know why you couldn't use ICS and use a USB wireless as the second network adapter. I gotta say though, for about the same money you could get a cheap PCI Ethernet card and a true wireless access point.

[Leonardo]

What's the difference between a wireless access point and wireless router?

[mtrox]

Access Point has no DHCP and/or NAT. Its just an on ramp to the network. Lots of em can also be turned into wireless repeaters (extenders).

[Pterocarpous]

Access Point has no DHCP and/or NAT. Its just an on ramp to the network. Lots of em can also be turned into wireless repeaters (extenders).
Lots of routers these days, too, have an option to set them to A/P or ROUTER mode.

I have a question for you, mtrox along this line. I was using repeaters to boost the signal 'round the house but found that the repeaters provided a back door w/ respect to the wireless-security-by-mac-address on the router. (did we have this discussion already??? :-/ ) Is there such a thing as a "smart" repeater that I can set up mac address level security on?

(Sorry to step on your thread, vandalous03. This is just a quick question for mtrox (or whomever would like to respond) while we're (sort of) on the subject... :smiles: )

[mtrox]

PM'd you Ptero.

[troll]

My two USB wireless adapters (DLink & SMC) can't be used as an AP.

I also have a DLink PCI card that can be used as an AP but only if I load ASUS's AP software for their card that has the same chipset as mine...

All depends on the Chipset of the unit and availability of AP software...

Wireless routers are dirt cheap today, less headaches and they work like a charm... :)

[mtrox]

Wireless routers are dirt cheap today, less headaches and they work like a charm... :)

Couldn't agree more. Why put up with the headache of ICS when you can get a good wireless router for $50?