Setting up a wifi network for Mac and PC?

My family has a two story house and just recieved a new computer to put in the downstairs and want to put internet on it. We have a computer upstairs that is a Mac OS X with a mediacom cable internet connection. The new computer downstairs is a Window XP. So my question is, is it possible to get internet on the XP from the Mac OS X upstairs. And if so could I do it wirelessly? Please Help!

Dave's Answer:

My recommendation would be to go directly to buying a wireless access point and hook it up directly to your cable modem. You can buy a pretty decent 802.11g access point for your system for under $60 (for example: this Netgear unit from Amazon).

You can also experiment with setting up what Mac folk call a computer to computer network, as detailed in an excellent Apple tech note, Setting Up a Computer to Computer Network.

If you want to save reading that document, simply launch Network from the "System Preferences" menu (it's off the Apple menu, but I'm sure you already knew that!) Now choose "Airport" from the Show menu at the top, and then choose "Show airport status in menu bar."

Now, on your menu bar, you'll see a little airport icon. Click on it, and you'll see something like this:

Airport menu icon: Create a computer to computer network in Mac OS X

Choose "Create Network..." under the Computer to Computer area and you'll be able to quickly configure an open public network:

Creating a computer to computer network in Mac OS X

If that's all you want to do, name it, click "OK" and go find it on your new Windows XP system.

If you want to add a password (which I recommend), click on "Show Options" first, which produces the following set of choices:

Creating a secure computer to computer network in Mac OS X

To start out, I suggest a simple, easily remembered password. Once you have everything connected properly, you can change the password to something more complicated that neighbors and others aren't likely to guess.

One way or another, this will let you experiment with using your Mac simultaneously as a connected node to your cable modem and a wireless access point. I still recommend the separate piece of hardware, however, so that you can, for example, turn off your Mac and still access the net from the PC.

Either way, good luck with this configuration!

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 7091, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: computer to computer network, mac os x, secure wireless, windows xp, wireless networking
Previous: How can I block Internet access on a Sony PSP?
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Reader Comments To Date: 16

Nick said, on March 6, 2007 4:34 PM:

Thanks! This verifed what I needed to know since the Apple site didn't!

Kaushik Nagarajan said, on August 10, 2008 12:35 AM:

I just purchased a Macbook. I have a WiFi network in my college. Now, Airport detects the network,connects to it and also sws a signal strength. But then I can't seem to access the web through Safari! Should I try a different browser?

Mathew said, on November 20, 2008 12:43 PM:

Question:

I have an old thinkpad t23, running windows 2000, and netgear adapter WG511T...

I can connect fine on PC WiFi's

However, there is one place where they have a MAC Server (LaCie Server) when i try to connect to the wifi it shuts down the neargear driver. Closes it after a few seconds.
I have the correct password, and I tried a Macbook Pro at the same location, works fine.

I tried to map the drive with the ip address but it didn't work.

Thank you,
Mathew
Do you have any idea what the problem is?

Would greatly appreciate any help offered.

Larry Jakub said, on January 13, 2009 12:22 PM:

can I call landline phones clearly

Evan said, on January 22, 2009 2:51 PM:

i just purchased a mac and i cant seem to get on my dsl hi-speed connection with it. i have the airport wireless adapter and now i am lost! i use to have a dell. it was so much easier than a mac to hook up to my wireless connection.

can anyone help by providing hints or directions on what to do in the correct sequence?

tony said, on August 5, 2009 11:30 PM:

Hi Dave,
I recently bought a media player for the bedroom tv and it has a wifi dongle which SHOULD allow me to drag and drop from the imac downstairs. The unit sees and can connect to my wifi network through the dongle and Sky modem thingy, but I cannot see it on my imac, nor can I see it if I ethernet it.
Clearly I don't know how to set up the imac to "see" it.
Could you advise me please - in VERY simple terms.
I thank you for your time and consideration.
regards
tony

Dave Taylor said, on August 5, 2009 11:59 PM:

Tony, can you tell me exactly what product you've purchased? It's a bit too vague for me to have a clue how you could proceed. Oh, and do use Google to dig around too: enter the name of the product you're talking about and a few choice key words, like "mac" or "home network" or similar.

RON said, on April 4, 2010 2:47 PM:

Hello Dave. I have an iMac connected to a Time Capsule. I also have an iPad which I want to use in another part of my house.

The iPad is on another floor 60ft away. I have another 'Airport Extreme', can I use it as a 'repeater' to get a better signal?

And HOW??

Renee said, on June 19, 2010 5:28 PM:

Hello,

I have wi-fi from Port Networks in Baltimore on my Mac thru airport. I always have a problem with getting internet connections everytime I want to use the internet. This is getting frustrating. I have called their internet help peeps and they always are great help. BUT my connection never last.

Is there something I should register or program with my Mac in order for wi-fi to work better and identify me with Port Networks? Or should I just get another service provider?

Thank you, Sincerely, Renee

yiid said, on December 14, 2010 3:35 PM:

Does anybody know how to delete or configure these networks? pls help

Gina said, on March 21, 2011 3:46 PM:

Hello, today I switched from qwest dsl - which we've used successfully with our airport for 2 years - to mediacom cable. I am able to use it on my iPad but my 3 other macs can't seem to connect and the cable guy seems clueless! It seems to be something with my IP address: mediacom checked it remotely and says they get the correct address at their end but it's not correct in any of my emac or 2 PowerBooks. Everyone I call is clueless and keeps passing me off to someone else. Help!

Tyler said, on August 27, 2011 5:03 PM:

So, i just bought a macbook pro and have just moved into college. for some reason, i cant connect to their wifi. my airport recognizes the network, and when i type my password and username in, it accepts it. but whenever i go to actually use the internet, it says that the server is not found.

Dave Taylor said, on August 27, 2011 10:39 PM:

Tyler, first thing that comes to mind is to open System Preferences -> Network and see if the wifi connection is reported "Self-assigned IP Address". If it is, you're not getting the proper data from the server and that probably means the password's not right or the server is misconfigured. Try using a "$" in front of the password (just try it, trust me) and see if it fixes things.

If not, I am sure that your college has an IT or tech support team. Call 'em up and you'll find that they probably already have some Q&A posted on how to get onto the campus network with a Mac.

Komal said, on October 29, 2011 9:29 AM:

thanx...I was stuck on this last part for a while...after this it took me a second to finish....thanx again

Fadric said, on February 14, 2012 1:42 PM:

Hello,
In my apartement we use the same system but if we put a password it doesn't work for my windows7. Is there a wifi program I could use to fix that problem.

Caterina said, on March 28, 2013 8:39 AM:

Hi Dave,

I have a Homegroup Network set up with my PCs hardwired to a Netgear router. The router allows wireless internet access, which works just fine with my Android tablet and phones. I'm running Windows 7. When my daughter and son in law come over with their Apple lap tops, they've signed onto the wifi and works fine for them, but then somehow the IP address for my PCs gets changed, deconfigured, or something like that. The only fix is to kick her computer off and then restart the router.

Is there a better way to either configure her system's connection or my network so that this doesn't take place?

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Setting up a wifi network for Mac and PC?

Reader Comments To Date: 16

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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