Windows – WiFi-sharing with Windows XP Pro (similar to “mobile hotspot”)

hotspotroutingwindows xpwireless-networking

When on vacation, I always buy a local SIM card and use Android's "mobile hotspot" feature to provide Internet access to two Windows XP Pro laptops (mine and my wife's).

Unfortunately now the Google Nexus One phone I've been using this way is broken.

I also have an old Nokia D211 PCMCIA card, which I can insert into my wife's Thinkpad X61s. You can insert a SIM card into it and it provides GPRS Internet:

Nokia D211

Is there something I can set up on my wife's computer so that she can share/provide/forward Internet access to me?

Best Answer

You should be able to utilize ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) against a wireless Ad Hoc or physical ethernet crossover network.

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Windows – Can’t create wifi hotspot with Windows 10

Found this solution for those who are wondering. First, I have the following in a .reg file (I'm aware that the last modification is not recommended by sys admins):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Network Connections]
"NC_PersonalFirewallConfig"=dword:00000001
"NC_ShowSharedAccessUI"=dword:00000001
"NC_AllowNetBridge_NLA"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableBkGndGroupPolicy"=dword:00000001

Then I have these commands in a .bat file:

REM ----- Run regedit silently to add the necessary network sharing settings -----
regedit.exe /S NetworkSharingSetup.reg

REM ----- Add the hotspot -----
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Hotspot1 key=123456

REM ----- Start the hotspot -----
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
REM ----- Show the hotspot details -----
netsh wlan show hostednetwork

timeout -t 10 /nobreak

REM ----- Bounce the Cellular connection -----
netsh interface set interface name="Cellular" admin=disabled
netsh interface set interface name="Cellular" admin=enabled

pause

I ran into an issue where, after starting the hostednetwork, my cellular connection kept connecting and immediately disconnecting in an infinite loop. I discovered that if I waited (timeout) and bounced the connection, it fixed the issue. Not sure why the cellular connection got into this status or why the wait was required.

After creating this batch file, I create a shortcut to it, then right-click > Properties > Shortcut tab > Advanced > check the box for "Run as administrator". This is required for the lines where we bounce the cellular connection.

One final thing: During this process, the tablet was kept off the organization's domain.

Cellular hotspot used for hosting server

Most mobile IPv4 service is behind ISP level NAT. So you can't accept incoming connections.

One option may be using a different provider. With some searching you may find a boutique provider who can offer public IPv4 on a cellular connection in your area. For example in the UK Andrews and Arnold offer this service.

Another option if your provider offers it and your stuff supports it may be IPv6. T-Mobile in the USA certainly offer public IPv6 addresses to their handsets though I don't know how that interacts with mobile internet routers/tethering.

The final option is to use a VPN like Daniel suggests.

Best Answer

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Windows – Can’t create wifi hotspot with Windows 10

Cellular hotspot used for hosting server

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