Can a computer with one Wi-Fi adapter both connect to a Wi-Fi network and share Internet over Wi-Fi?

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I will explain my use case but I am asking about what is technically available with Wi-Fi technology, so please don't submit alternative solutions as answers.

I have a MacBook Air and a cheap Windows netbook, each with Wi-Fi.

My home Internet is provided via Wi-Fi with a captive portal that only allows me to long on with one device.

I want to be able to use both the Windows and Mac laptops on the Wi-Fi Internet provided where I live.

When I ask non-technical people about this they all seem to think it's not possible. I'm technical but I suck at networking.

A Wi-Fi adapter can obviously both send and receive so there doesn't seem to be a hardware reason this is not possible. But perhaps the Wi-Fi networking protocols were not designed with such a possibility taken into account?

So can Wi-Fi technically solve this problem? If so what terminology is used for this so I can read up on it? If not, what are the limiting factors that prevent it?

hippietrail

Posted 2016-05-17T10:18:20.957

Reputation: 3 699

Answers

1

You can try to connect the Wifi with your Windows PC. And if you have windows 7 or above you can share the wifi from your windows with a "hostednetwork".

This will create a new Hotspot an your WindowsPC, and you can connect your Mac to this Hotspot.

Try these commands, this will create a new Hotspot on you WindowsPC:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YOUR_NEW_HOTSPOT_NAME key=YOUR_HOTSPOT_PASSWORD
netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Run the following Commands to disable the Hotspot:

netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow

Here is a step by step tuturial. It`s in german, I hope it helps anyway.

Tuturial: http://praxistipps.chip.de/wlan-hotspot-unter-windows-7-erstellen-so-gehts_9939

Radon8472

Posted 2016-05-17T10:18:20.957

Reputation: 321

The first command to create the Hotspot succeeds. The second fails with The hosted network couldn't be started. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation. Could this be because I only have Windows 10 Starter or is there something I can tweak to get it to work? – hippietrail – 2016-05-17T10:40:56.307

@hippietrail Fix The Hosted Network Couldn’t be Started Error in Windows 10

– DavidPostill – 2016-05-17T10:45:32.610

Please check if your network card is enabled.

Or check this question for more information.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18182084/cant-start-hostednetwork

– Radon8472 – 2016-05-17T10:57:16.787

@Radon8472: The network card is enabled. I'm writing this comment via it (-; – hippietrail – 2016-05-17T10:59:39.143

@DavidPostill: At step 5 I have no Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter in my expanded Network adapters section. In Fix 3 I have no Power Management tab for my wireless network adapter. – hippietrail – 2016-05-17T11:04:30.147

I have tried restarting the computer and Showing hidden devices. I do have a "Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter" - could that be the same thing with another name? – hippietrail – 2016-05-17T11:15:30.913

Try the command:

netsh interface show interface

to display the state of your interfaces. But you should the the new HotSpot-Adapter in "adapter settings" in exporer.

Go to "network and sharing center" and click to "change adapter settings" – Radon8472 – 2016-05-17T11:18:39.467

@Radon8472: Sorry I can't find anything about HotSpot adapter in "change adapter settings". When I try the command you suggest the result is: Admin State=Enabled State=Connected Type=Dedicated Interface Name=Wi-Fi. – hippietrail – 2016-05-17T11:49:22.177

There is a specific SuperUser question about this problem and I'm going through it now: Missing Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter while setting up WiFi hotspot in Windows 10

– hippietrail – 2016-05-17T11:56:12.707

Asked: 2016-05-17T10:18:20.957

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Active: 2016-05-17T11:16:49.363