Weird request: can I use my macbook (connecting to my router via wifi) as a wireless

[willryan42]

Backstory: My bedroom gets really ****** wifi reception. We've had AT&T come out and they don't know why... blah blah blah, that stuff doesn't matter. Wifi sucks, but for some reason my macbook seems to get better connection than my iphone and ipad. So I'd like to somehow use it to piggyback off my router and create a second, hopefully stronger access point.

Is this possible? I know you can turn an ethernet connected computer into a wireless router, but not sure about a wifi connected one. And no, I have no ethernet jacks in my room to connect macbook via that.

 

[sjinsjca]

It's called reverse tethering. You can do it for your iPad over Bluetooth when your Mac is on wifi. Unfortunately it is not supported for the iPhone.

 

[Tomorrow]

I know you can turn an ethernet connected computer into a wireless router, but not sure about a wifi connected one. And no, I have no ethernet jacks in my room to connect macbook via that.

The only time I've ever used a computer as a router, it was back before wireless was a "thing" - and you needed 2 ethernet NIC's to do it, so you had a LAN address and a WAN address. A single wireless device inside your MacBook may not be able to do this.

If all you want is a wireless AP and not a router, they're pretty inexpensive. Might be the better way to go.

 

[willryan42]

It's called reverse tethering. You can do it for your iPad over Bluetooth when your Mac is on wifi. Unfortunately it is not supported for the iPhone.

Weird that this isn't supported on the iPhone, but I might check it out. Do I just pair computer to iPad and choose some "internet sharing" option?

And @Tomorrow: I may look into a wireless AP. Would that just connect through a phone line jack in my room and piggyback off my main router downstairs? If I have an old router could I use that somehow? I was hoping there was an easier (and free) solution to this but maybe not.

 

[Bruno09]

You could put a wifi repeater in your bedroom.

Do I just pair computer to iPad and choose some "internet sharing" option?

Preferences / Sharing : check "Internet sharing", plus select : from wifi to PAN Bluetooth.

 

[Tomorrow]

And @Tomorrow: I may look into a wireless AP. Would that just connect through a phone line jack in my room and piggyback off my main router downstairs? If I have an old router could I use that somehow? I was hoping there was an easier (and free) solution to this but maybe not.

Phone jack? What kind of internet are you using?

If your router is wireless, your wireless access point will connect to it wirelessly. You could use a router as an access point, but if you have to buy something it's probably cheaper to get an AP instead.

 

[willryan42]

You could put a wifi repeater in your bedroom.


Preferences / Sharing : check "Internet sharing", plus select : from wifi to PAN Bluetooth.

I'm worried that a wifi repeater/access point/second router in my room would be just as ****** since things have a hard time connected wirelessly in here (besides my macbook it seems).

@Tomorrow: Haha, I have U-Verse, but I only have phone jacks in this bedroom (no ethernet ports).

 

[Dj64Mk7]

I remember doing something like this a little while ago. Your Mac needs to be connected over Ethernet, then you can go into the Wi-Fi menu and hit Create Network (or something like that.)

 

[l3it3r]

Windows 7 + Connectify. I Don't think that OS X can support the solution you're looking for.

 

[sjinsjca]

Weird that this isn't supported on the iPhone, but I might check it out. Do I just pair computer to iPad and choose some "internet sharing" option?

Yeah, pretty much. I got it working for my iPad recently when traveling in Europe and allowed only a single wifi login at my hotel.

It was once supported on the iPhone, long ago, but then the capability was removed in a subsequent version of iOS and has not returned. Bummer-- it's a nice capability.

 

[moonman239]

Backstory: My bedroom gets really ****** wifi reception. We've had AT&T come out and they don't know why... blah blah blah, that stuff doesn't matter. Wifi sucks, but for some reason my macbook seems to get better connection than my iphone and ipad. So I'd like to somehow use it to piggyback off my router and create a second, hopefully stronger access point.

Is this possible? I know you can turn an ethernet connected computer into a wireless router, but not sure about a wifi connected one. And no, I have no ethernet jacks in my room to connect macbook via that.

As mentioned before, your Mac cannot share its wireless connection over WiFi.

I suggest that you buy either a wireless repeater or another router. There are a few routers out there that can be used as a repeater.

 

[satcomer]

Your best bet would be get a good wireless dual router like the Airport Extreme then get in you hallways or bedroom an Airport Express and set it up to be an extender for your bedroom. This way your N cable Mac Book can be on a true 5 GHz wireless network (if you setup the N frequencies to use the Hundreds range) while older devices can use the G mode of the Extreme/Express.