How to Use a Wi-Fi Receiver As a Transmitter

By James Woudon

The wireless antennae in various consumer devices are usually just scaled down versions of the antennae that are used to transmit radio wave signals.
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Wireless networking involves using radio signals to send and receive packets of data, whether through local networks or the Internet itself. Typically, this is done with internal wireless modems in laptops, cellphones and tablets picking up signals from wireless routers and repeaters. Many typical users of wireless networking don't realize that the hardware of wireless modems can be used as wireless repeaters to extend the range of a wireless signal, due to the existence of the transceiver, which both transmits and receives RF.

Step 1

Plug an Ethernet cable from the modem or Internet-connected patch panel to the laptop. Since this process essentially converts your laptop into a router, you'll need as much bandwidth available as possible.

Step 2

Go to "Start," then "Run," then type "ncpa.cpl" to bring up the Network Connections menu. Click "Add New Connection," then select "Wireless Connection" and name it whatever you like. For simplicity's sake, don't use network authentication.

Step 3

Return to the Network Connections menu, then double-click on the LAN (wired) connection. Click the "Advanced" tab, then check off the option to "Allow other network users to connect though this computer's Internet connection." You may be asked to reboot, if the service wasn't previously installed. Your wireless computer is now transmitting RF, so it will have the IP address of a local gateway.

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