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= 3. Setting up your own hotspot                                               =
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- 3.1. Configuring your PC with an access point as a hotspot                   -
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Requirements
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* Windows 2000 or XP PC with a broadband internet connection. 
* Available network adapter to plug access point into.
* 802.11b/g Access Point.  I recommend the Linksys WAP54G Access Point

* Ethernet crossover cable long enough to reach from your PC to the
  access point.  This may come supplied with your access point.

Administrative rights are required to perform this procedure.

WARNING: This method should not be used if your PC is connecting to a router or
other residential gateway.  If you are using a router then you should see
section 3.2 for how to configure either a wireless router or router + access
point.

WARNING: This method should not be used if your PC is connected to a Domain as
the wizard will break your connection with the domain.  Domains are only used if
you have one or more Windows NT/2000/2003 servers, therefore this should only
apply to business laptops or business networks.  You can check whether your PC
is connected to a domain by looking at the Computer Name tab of System
Properties (Control Panel, System).

Setup the hardware
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Connect one end of the crossover cable into the PCs available network card and
the other end into the access point.

Configuring Windows
-------------------

Run the Network Setup Wizard on the Windows PC to configure it as a software
router. This wizard can be found in Control Panel, Network Connections and is
accessed either by selecting “Set up a home or small office network” from the
task panel, or by selecting File, Network Setup Wizard. 

Technical note: The "Network Setup Wizard" in Windows will configure the network
card with the access point connected to the address 192.168.0.1, subnet
255.255.255.0 and will provide internet access, DHCP and DNS services to any
devices that attaches to it (via cabled or wireless network).

The following table contains an overview of the steps of the wizard, as well as
the answers I recommend choosing:

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step                            | Description                                |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step 1-2                        | The first two steps of the wizard will     |
|                                 | describe the wizard’s purpose and show a   |
|                                 | checklist that you should read thoroughly  |
|                                 | before continuing. It is possible that     |
|                                 | that you will be warned about network      |
|                                 | adapters that have the cable disconnected  |
|                                 | at this point - if so, then ignore the     |
|                                 | warning and continue.                      |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 3                          | You are presented with a number of         |
|                                 | possible configurations.  Select “This     |
|                                 | computer connects directly to the          |
|                                 | Internet. The other computers on my        |
|                                 | network connect to the Internet through    |
|                                 | this computer.”                            |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 4                          | Select your internet connection from the   |
|                                 | list                                       |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 5                          | Put checkmarks next to the network         |
|                                 | adaptors that will be allowed to connect   |
|                                 | to the network.  You must check at least   |
|                                 | the network adapter that the access point  |
|                                 | is connected to.                           |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 6                          | You can change the name of your PC and its |
|                                 | description.  These do not usually need    |
|                                 | changing.                                  |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 7                          | Enter the workgroup name (name for a group |
|                                 | of connected computers) here.  This can be |
|                                 | safely left as “MSHOME”.                   |
|                                 |                                            |
| Step 8 (Windows XP SP2 only)    | You are asked if you want to enable file   |
|                                 | and printer sharing.  Enable this feature  |
|                                 | only if you wish to share files and        |
|                                 | printers between PCs on your network.  The |
|                                 | PSP will not be able to use this feature.  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

You are shown a list of the selections you’ve made, simply confirm your
selections to finish the wizard.  You may be asked if you wish to create a
network setup disk, you can create one if you wish, but you do not need one.