WiFi question.

[weemadando]

I would like to set up a small WiFi point that need to range no more than about 5 metres or so (so range is not an issue here).

What I would ideally like to do is use an existing PC as the "base station" for this and have a USB WiFi dongle or similar so I can avoid cluttering up a desk with a full scale router.

Does such a solution even exist - even in the world of hacked firmware? Or am I stuck with having to use a full-scale router for this?

[Vendetta]

What I would ideally like to do is use an existing PC as the "base station" for this and have a USB WiFi dongle or similar so I can avoid cluttering up a desk with a full scale router.

How big are routers down under? They're hardly "clutter", given that most are about the size of two DVD cases.

You probably could do this, but by the time you've finished arsing around doing it you'll be thinking "I could have had this working months ago if I'd bought a router".

[Shadow6]

The term for this is an 'ad-hoc' network. If you're using Windows, guides are available from the Microsoft Support website.

Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7

I'm sure there is a similar process for OS X and Linux.

[Executor32]

Get a USB WiFi dongle that supports Soft AP, and you'll be golden. I have a one that does, a Planex GW-USB54Mini2, which I use for my Wii and DS since they don't get a good signal from the router upstairs, and because the DS doesn't support WPA encryption.