An ad hoc network can be useful when working with network gaming, sharing Internet

connections without a router, or when you need to quickly transfer files. Microsoft Windows
makes it easy to set an ad hoc network up in a matter of minutes.

Creating Your Network

1. You will first have to install your wireless network adapter. Assuming that you
have properly installed the device, navigate to your system's Control Panel >
Network and Internet Connections > Network Connections. A window will
appear that lists all your current network connections. Right click your
"Wireless Network Connection" and click "Properties." Change to the "Wireless
Networks" tab, and click "Add." Under the Association tab, enter what you
want to name your ad hoc network and any network keys to secure access.
Finally, check the box at the bottom of the window that confirms that this
network will be an ad hoc network. Click "OK" to confirm and "OK" again to
close the dialog box. The ad hoc network has now been created.

Connecting To Your Network

2. Any computer with a wireless adapter in range can now connect to your
network. To connect, scroll down to the status bar and right click "Wireless
Network Connections" icon. Click "View Available Wireless Networks" to bring
up a dialog that should list your new network. Select that network and click
"Connect" to add that computer to the ad hoc network.

Tips
3. If you have one computer connected to a wired Internet connection, then you
can enable Internet connection sharing over your ad hoc network. This will
allow any machine connected to the network to access the Internet through
the other machine. Also, creating shared folders on your machine will allow
you to transfer data quickly over an ad hoc network.

Identification
1. Ad hoc network, also called a computer-to-computer network, only comes in
wireless form as opposed to a wired Local Area Network (LAN) which uses a
physical connection such as a server or hub, reports Gloria Boyer of Microsoft.
Any computer with a wireless transmitter can create and act as an ad hoc
network for other PCs in its range, without the need for a wireless router.

Benefits
2. Ad hoc networks are much more convenient for temporary network needs
than having to set up a physical connection for each individual computer,
reports Boyer. Setting up an ad hoc network requires following software based
instructions that take only a few minutes to complete. Other computers just
need a wireless adapter to connect.

Common Uses
3. Ad hoc networks are most commonly used to transfer files locally or share
Internet connections with other computers, according to Boyer. A traveling
user may have Internet access somewhere with other computers that do not,
such as a business meeting. In this case, it is easier to just share a connection
than provide separate access channels. Video game players also create ad
hoc networks for private, competitive matches in a setting such as a dorm or
 apartment where the space for wiring computers together in a single room is
neither there nor practical.

Considerations
4. Versions of Windows starting with XP and later have a built function to handle
ad hoc networks, according to Microsoft. Computers with wireless adapters
can add a wireless network by going to "Network Connections," usually under
the Control Panel in Windows. The user then only has to change the properties
of their wireless connection to ad hoc network and input their desired settings.

Warning
5. Microsoft highly suggests that users enable a Wireless Encryption Protection
password on any ad hoc network they set up. Without WEP, any computer in
range of the ad hoc wireless adapter can connect and view sensitive files and
documents or install malicious software. Enabling WEP only requires choosing
a security key, usually 13 characters long.

How to Create a Network

Creating an ad hoc network will allow you to share devices, files and an Internet connection
between computers without the need for a router. Computers within the same house can connect
to one main computer as long as they all have wireless cards. Windows users can create their
own ad hoc networks within minutes. In addition to easy creation, ad hoc networks allow you to
create a password in order to access the network. This can help protect you from outside users or
strangers trying to steal information from open networks.

Creating the Network

1. Step 1
Select which computer you want to use as your router. This computer must be turned
on and connected to the Internet whenever other computers wish to connect or share
files.

2. Step 2
Click on "Start -- Connect To -- Show All Connections." You can also go to "Start --
Control Panel -- Network Connections."

3. Step 3
Right-click your wireless connection, usually named "Wireless Connection," if you're
using Windows XP. Select "Properties" and click on the "Wireless Networks" tab.
Windows Vista users can skip to Step 5.
4. Step 4
Click on "Add" to set up a new ad hoc network. Choose a name for your ad hoc
network in the "Network Name" box. Choose "WEP" from the "Network
Authentication" box and select a password for your network. Type your password into
the password boxes.
Ensure the checkbox saying "This is a computer to computer (ad hoc) network" is
checked. Press "OK" to save your changes.
Right-click your Internet connection--the name will vary based on your connection--
and choose "Properties." Choose the "Advanced" tab and check the checkbox saying
"Allow other users to connect through this computer's Internet connection." Choose
"Wireless" for your connection type. Press "OK" to share your connection.
Skip to Step 6 at this point.
 5. Step 5
Choose "Set up a connection or network" for a Vista operating system. Click on "Set
up an ad hoc network" and choose "Next." Follow the ad hoc creation wizard steps to
create the network. The two main steps will be choosing your network name, or SSID,
and a network password, if you choose to use one.

6. Step 6
Connect another computer to the ad hoc network. You can connect other computers
as well. Open the computer's "Network Connections" window. Refer to Step 2. Right-
click the wireless connection and click "View Available Wireless Networks." Select
your ad hoc network's name and press "Connect."

How to Set Up an Ad Hoc Wireless Network

An ad hoc network is a type of wireless connection that allows you to connect directly to another
computer, instead of going through the Internet. While Internet-enabled connections are useful for
most tasks, the capability to interface directly with another wireless-enabled computer can make
file transfers and local networking much easier and quicker.
Ad hoc wireless connections are supported by Microsoft Windows and are relatively easy to set
up.

Windows XP
1. Step 1
Open the Windows Control Panel, which can be found in the Start menu.

2. Step 2
Double-click the "Network Connections" icon. This will open the Network Connections
window.

3. Step 3
Find your wireless connection in the list of network connections. Right click the
wireless connection and click "Properties" in the drop-down list. This will open the
Wireless Network Connection Properties window.

4. Step 4
Select the "Wireless Networks" tab and click the "Add..." button near the bottom of
the window. This will open the Wireless Network Properties window.

5. Step 5
Enter the name of your new ad hoc network in the box labeled "Network Name
(SSID)."

6. Step 6
Deselect the "The key is provided for me automatically" check box, and select "This
is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network." Enter a 13-digit password in the
"Network key" box. Click OK.
 7. Step 7
Connect to the ad hoc network from another computer in the same way you would
connect to a normal wireless connection, using the 13-digit password.

Windows Vista
8. Step 1
Open the Windows Control Panel, which can be found in the Start menu.

9. Step 2
Click the "Network and Internet" link, and then click the "Network and Sharing
Center" link.

10. Step3
Click the "Set up a connection or network" link, which is in the Tasks panel on the
left-hand side of the window.

11. Step4
Select "Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network." Click the "Next"
button at the bottom of the window. Click the "Next" button on the next screen as
well, as it is just an explanation of ad hoc networks.

12. Step5
Choose a name for your new ad hoc network and type it into the "Network name"
field.

13. Step6
Select "WEP" in the "Security type" drop-down menu. Enter a 13-character password
in the "Security key/Passphrase" field. Click "Next" to set up your wireless ad hoc
network