WiFi Without Routers!

 

Have you ever heard of the application called GNUBOX which helps you use your laptop/desktop’s internet on the phone via Bluetooth? It’s quite a lengthy process and most people generally give up trying. However there is a much easier way to share the internet and make it available for our wifi enabled phone. Now, while you can buy a router and make this infinitely easier, guest author Jamal Abid decided to do it the harder way, WiFi connectivity without any router and in the process helped me and i hope a lot of others save money. I dont know if you already know how to get this thing working, but those of you (like me) who didn’t know, what follws is a pretty detailed tutorial.

In this write up he explains how to quickly and conveniently set up internet sharing without the need of any complicated applications or a WiFi router. It is nothing complex, just a series of very simple steps you need to follow exactly.

WARNING: I have only gotten it to work with no network security. Don’t use this in areas where other devices may connect to your computer to browse the internet. Other people may carry out illegal activities through your computer causing you to be made liable. I shall not be held responsible for any harm that comes to you as a direct or indirect consequence of your usage (correctly or otherwise) of the following steps.

GUIDE for Windows XP is here.

What You Need:

a) A laptop/desktop with WiFi capability and Windows Vista. (Windows XP users you’re on your own, my XP machine doesn’t have wireless so can’t test, however the settings are almost similar)

b) An N95 or Any Other phone with WiFi 802.11b/g compatibility.

On your Laptop/Desktop:

01) Turn on the WiFi switch on your laptop and make sure the WiFi light/indicator/whatever is on. And make sure you are connected to the internet.

02) Click on the two monitors on the bottom right. (in the system tray on the taskbar)

03) In the small window thing that pops up select Network and Sharing Center.

04) Click on manage wireless networks.

05) Click on Adapter properties (windows coloured shield icon) in the actions bar roughly 1/3 of the way down.

06) If your UAC is on, click continue. If not you won’t know what I’m talking about, just move on.

07) Click on “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

08) Click on properties.

09) Select use the following IP address: and if there is another 192.168.0.x address  and subnet mask already in there, just leave it alone otherwise enter the IP address as 192.168.0.1 and the subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 leave the default gateway blank.

10) In the preferred and alternate DNS servers you need to enter the IP addresses of your ISP DNS servers. This information is probably available on the website of your ISP or on their telephone network. If they dont give you just tell them you have an Apple Mac. (they cannot get the IP address automatically and have to be configured manually)

11) Close all dialogs and return to the desktop.

12) Click on two monitors on the bottom right (in the system tray inside the taskbar) again and select “Connect To a network”.

13) In the window that pops up, right click your internet connection and select properties.

14) Go to the Sharing tab.

15) Enable the “Allow other users to connect to through this computer’s internet connection” and in the “Home Networking Connection” box select “Wireless Network Connection”.

16) Now click on the settings button (if the UAC prompt pops up, press continue).

17) Enable the HTTP server and HTTPS server. If you want to receive/send email on your phone using any application other than the phone’s web browser, enable the POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP servers. Make sure not to enable too many, the more you enable the more chance there is of your computer getting broken into by hackers wirelessly. Especially unnecessarily enabling the SMTP is a no-no. Just use Gmail. Never enable the Remote Desktop or others unless you want someone to wirelessly access your desktop (and the whole computer by extension).

18) Close everything else and return to your desktop.

19) Click on the two monitors on the bottom right. (in the system tray inside the taskbar)

20) In the small window thing that pops up select Network and Sharing Center.

21) Click on manage wireless networks.

22) Click on Add (green plus icon) in the actions bar roughly 1/3 of the way down.

23) Click on Create an ad-hoc network.

24) Click Next.

25) Enter a network name. I entered N95.

26) In security type, select no authentication (open) <– hopefully in the future I’ll get a secure network to work.

27) No need of selecting save this network. Click Next.

28) Hopefully your ad-hoc (direct) WLAN network has been set up. Close everything else and return to your desktop.

On Your Phone:

1) Press center button on the “WLAN scanning off” link.

2) Your phone will now hopefully find your WiFi network. Press the center button on “Network Name Found” link.

3) Select start browsing.

4) Surf the internet!

That’s it really, the phone’s really nice, it configures itself automatically but it is Windows that took almost all the effort.

Happy Browsing…..!

IMPORTANT: When you are done and are moving your laptop to a place where other people might connect to your unsecured network, be sure to follow these steps:

01) Click on the two monitors on the bottom right (in the system tray inside the taskbar)

02) Click connect to a network

03) Find your WiFi network name and click it.

04) Press disconnect.

05) Close everything else and return to your desktop.

I really hope it works out for all of your as it did for me. Making VOIP calls via the phone was never easier! 

Any suggestions, comments or feedback is greatly appreciated!

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