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What can extra Wireless adapters do in a PC?

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by IvanH, 2010/05/06.

  1. 2010/05/06
    IvanH

    IvanH Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I have many Wireless G/N PCI adapters. Can I put 3 Wireless G/N adapters in one PC? How? And how they can be used?

    Long time ago, I configured a PC with 2 Wireless cards. One to the WiFi router, another used to bridge a notebook. It was the XP Prof. But on Windows 7 Prof, the second card can't be activated, or installed. Why?
     
    IvanH,
    #1
  2. 2010/05/18
    Dcrypter

    Dcrypter Inactive

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    I think this might have 2 reasons:
    1: The resources that the new Windows 7 allocates to wireless adapters for security and reliablity can only be applied to a single adapter.
    2: Its like listening to speaker with a microphone right beside times 2, in otherwords signal refelection. Each wireless adapter sends and receives a signal each their own unique signal, so instead of the computer trying to figure out who is talking to who Windows 7 just denies any other wireless adapter.

    Another thing is that Wireless Adapters are designed to be an end/start point not reroute. Wireless routers are designed to do this task. Your computer would spend more time signal routing than doing anything else as Windows is not designed as a router.

    Money wise you can usually get wireless routers/AP's cheaper than most wireless adapters.

    This atleast would be my most logical response
     
    Dcrypter,
    #2


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  4. 2010/05/18
    IvanH

    IvanH Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Dcrypter,

    I guess I can use one wireless adapter, plus the 100/1000 Ethernet port to connect a wireless router to bridge two networks/segments, as what could be done in Windows XP and Vista.

    But this R&D will be shelved for the time being... Time is precious and 2 wireless cards on one PC is not a critical component for the project on hand.

    Thanks but if there is a clue to make it work, I'd like to learn.
     
    IvanH,
    #3
  5. 2010/05/18
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    You raise an interesting point on wireless.
    1. A wireless mouse.
    2. A wireless keyboard.
    3. A wireless LAN card.
    All three operate on one comp OK. ???? Neil.:confused:
     
    retiredlearner,
    #4
  6. 2010/05/19
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Why not?
     
    Arie,
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  7. 2010/05/20
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    The above is false. Wifi adapters are designed to do all those things, start point, end point and reroute. A Wifi router does just that and, hardware-wise, there absolutely no difference between a computer's wifi adapter and an access point's wifi adapter.

    You can take any computer with a wifi adapter and use that compouter as an access point. You just need the appropriate software.

    On routers, wifi routers and access points, routing is done by software, not hardware. All such devices have an operating system with drivers for the hardware, and they all have software that performs routing tasks such as NAT, DNS, firewalls and system configuration.

    Windows 7 cannot natively bridge 2 wifi adapters, but it can bridge a wired adapter and a wireless adapter.

    Also new in Windows 7 is the abillity to have 1 wifi adapter connect to an access point whle at the same time, the same adapter can act as an acsess point of its own, allowing other wifi clients to connect to it or through it. This is called a Wireless Hosted Network.

    Linux natively supports multiple adapters, wired and wifi.

    Some adapter chipsets have additional functionality built into it and drivers are made to take advantage of the functions. For example, most Atheros wifi chipsets support a near unlimited number of virtual adapters. On my linux system I can use the same hardware to connect to the Internet and create a virtual adapter which uses the same hardware to monitor network traffic and use a 3rd virtual adapter to do other stuff.

    On any Windows operating system you can install any number of wired and wifi adapters and each can silmultaneously connect to different networks. However, only one adapter will be utilized for the Internet connection, the one that was connected first. You can have a wired and wifi adapter both connected to the same network, but Windows will only use the one that it connected first.
     
    Last edited: 2010/05/20
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2010/05/20
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    That was my point Arie. Tony has cleared it up. Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #7
  9. 2010/05/20
    IvanH

    IvanH Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Tony,
    That's what I experienced, and you confirmed that! Thanks.

    So, no false hope for 2 WiFi adapters working at the same time.
     
    IvanH,
    #8

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