Need help to share Internet connection

[abrodski]

Hello!
I need some help in establishing Internet connection sharing. I've got 2 laptops. Both are WiFi and Ethernet enabled. The 3rd piece of hardware is a WiFi router (I call it a "modem"), which acts as a bridge basically at this point. It's this one here:
HUAWEI wireless home gateway HG 530 (its official title)
The Internet connection to the ISP is a wired PPPoE one. There's RJ-45 cable that enters our apartment from the outside (I assume that there's a major router that serves the whole building with Fiber Optic all the way down to ISP itself, but I'm not sure and it's irrelevant to my issue here). I used to connect that RJ-45 cable into an appropriate jack on one of the laptops and I have a PPPoE W7 connection (called a High Speed Connection in Windows environment). So I just "dial" that Internet connection with username and password provided to me by my ISP. It's a regular Ethernet connection as far as HG530 is concerned. Then I started using laptop's WiFi to reach the HG530. I still use the same Windows PPPoE connection for dialing. It saves me having a cable on the floor which (the cable) was reachable by my cat who likes to chew stuff. So that's what I have right now.
I want to make it clear that it's NOT a WiFi Internet connection (there're zillions of threads all over the Net how to share it -- I wouldn't be asking it AGAIN here!). Internet connection is still a wired one. It's the LINK between the router and one of the laptops that is wireless!!! The router acts as a bridge only. Now we've got to the core of the matter. My wife owns the 2nd laptop and she wants to be able to browse the Internet simultaniously (hope I got it right) with me. It would've been a piece of cake case IF my own laptop had a wired Internet connection as it used to have. Then I would simply connect both laptops with WiFi and that's how I would share the Internet. But then there's a cat problem... That's why I want to connect the laptops with a cable directly without buying an additional piece of hardware (another bridge or a router). And, of course, then to share Internet connection that way. Is it a feasible idea at all???

 

[XavierMace]

I've never used a DSL connection so maybe I'm missing something here. You have a combo DSL modem/wireless router. Why can't you just have both computers connected to the routers WiFi?

 

[abrodski]

I've never used a DSL connection so maybe I'm missing something here. You have a combo DSL modem/wireless router. Why can't you just have both computers connected to the routers WiFi?

It's not a DSL connection -- it's a PPPoE VPN one over RJ-45 cable. We don't have a problem to connect a dozen of computers to the router's WiFi. Though no one would enjoy Internet. Wireless connection in OUR case is just that -- a link from a PC to the router/bridge. That's it!

 

[JackMDS]

I have No clue what the VPN does in all of this mix.

That said if you plug any Wireless Router that is configured as an AP with wire to the Network (same way you would plug a Laptop) it should OK.
Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[abrodski]

I have No clue what the VPN does in all of this mix.
That said if you plug any Wireless Router that is configured as an AP with wire to the Network (same way you would plug a Laptop) it should OK.
Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Thanks for your reply!
Yes, you're right -- I kinda forgot official terminnology. The device does act as a SWITCH right now. Though it's kinda bridges (connects) my laptop and the ISP's cable.
PPPoE is a VPN connection, isn't it? But let's forget the VPN part (to keep things simple). Let's just stick to PPPoE term if it makes more sense here.
The ezlan link you provided doesn't make any sense to me, since I only have ONE piece of hardware (HUAWEI hg530). Therefore there're no 1st router and the 2nd one...
We're probably talking about different things here alltogether!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

You should be able to configure your HG530 to handle the PPPoE connection. Then it shares the connection to the two laptops.

If the HG530 doesn't support PPPoE, then you need a different router that does. (It's not particularly uncommon, I'd be surprised if this was the case.)

 

[smitbret]

Thanks for your reply!
Yes, you're right -- I kinda forgot official terminnology. The device does act as a SWITCH right now. Though it's kinda bridges (connects) my laptop and the ISP's cable.
PPPoE is a VPN connection, isn't it? But let's forget the VPN part (to keep things simple). Let's just stick to PPPoE term if it makes more sense here.
The ezlan link you provided doesn't make any sense to me, since I only have ONE piece of hardware (HUAWEI hg530). Therefore there're no 1st router and the 2nd one...
We're probably talking about different things here alltogether!

Wow, I read through your OP about 3 times and I think you are using a lot of terminology that is completely incorrect and making it difficult to get an idea as to what the problem really is.

#1 - If you are connecting with your Huawei hg530 from your laptop without using an ethernet cable, then it is a WiFi connection.
#2 - The hg530 is a router/gateway. I am assuming that it was issued by the building or by the ISP......? If so, it should take care of the DHCP assignments and the WAN->LAN as your laptops connect/disconnect to the internet connection. That would be the 1st router in the EZLAN article. The other possibility is that the DHCP assignments are being handled by the ISP. If that's the case, you may not be allowed to have more than one device at any given time. That would be very odd in this day and age, though.
#3 - Are you saying that you are able to connect to the internet when the laptops are connected with an ethernet cable but not when you use the WiFi connection? Is the WLAN lit up on the hg530?

I think what you are referring to as a VPN is actually L2 Protocol Tunnelling (someone correct me if I am wrong, though). Quite frankly, it probably has nothing to do with your issue, anyway.

***Read OP again***
Are you even having an issue at this point or are you just asking if you will be able to use the WiFi on both laptops to connect to the internet simultaneously?

 

[JackMDS]

since I only have ONE piece of hardware (HUAWEI hg530). Therefore there're no 1st router and the 2nd one...
We're probably talking about different things here alltogether!

I do not know where you are at. In the USA you can get s Wireless Router to use as an AP for less than $20.

 

[abrodski]

I do not know where you are at. In the USA you can get s Wireless Router to use as an AP for less than $20.

Twenty bucks in the US and $20 here are totally different chunks of cash, unfortunately for me... 20 here is more like 100 in the US for Americans (taking into account salaries and prices). But it's not even the main issue here. Buying an extra piece of hardware won't magically make it all work all by itself. I have to know what I'm doing.

 

[abrodski]

You should be able to configure your HG530 to handle the PPPoE connection. Then it shares the connection to the two laptops.

If the HG530 doesn't support PPPoE, then you need a different router that does. (It's not particularly uncommon, I'd be surprised if this was the case.)

If in the computer world everything that SHOULD work WOULD, then who's gonna need tech support teams and forums like this one?

 

[abrodski]

#1 - If you are connecting with your Huawei hg530 from your laptop without using an ethernet cable, then it is a WiFi connection.
#2 - The hg530 is a router/gateway. I am assuming that it was issued by the building or by the ISP......? If so, it should take care of the DHCP assignments and the WAN->LAN as your laptops connect/disconnect to the internet connection. That would be the 1st router in the EZLAN article. The other possibility is that the DHCP assignments are being handled by the ISP. If that's the case, you may not be allowed to have more than one device at any given time. That would be very odd in this day and age, though.
#3 - Are you saying that you are able to connect to the internet when the laptops are connected with an ethernet cable but not when you use the WiFi connection? Is the WLAN lit up on the hg530?

I think what you are referring to as a VPN is actually L2 Protocol Tunnelling (someone correct me if I am wrong, though). Quite frankly, it probably has nothing to do with your issue, anyway.

In that ezlan article they're talking about TWO (you know duo, dva, zwei etc.) devices when I've got only ONE. ONE isn't TWO, is it??
L2TP, PPTP, PPPoA, PPPoE... what's the difference? Are we here to discuss technical jargon or to solve a simple applied problem?
It is NOT Internet WiFi connection. I know what people mean when they refer to WiFi. They mean that you can just connect to that WiFi and you're online. That's NOT the case here. Connecting to the router won't let me browse the Internet, I still have to dial to connect. Therefore I can't just bridge WiFi and LAN as many propose on YouTube.
Well, I could, but there wouldn't be any shared Internet.
I have no idea about that HUAWEI hg530. I didn't even buy it. It was given to me as a gift by a woman who had sold me her apartment. And that was not even in the country where I live now. I simply use it as a switch to bridge my laptop and the ISP's cable because of the cat.

 

[smitbret]

In that ezlan article they're talking about TWO (you know duo, dva, zwei etc.) devices when I've got only ONE. ONE isn't TWO, is it??
L2TP, PPTP, PPPoA, PPPoE... what's the difference? Are we here to discuss technical jargon or to solve a simple applied problem?
It is NOT Internet WiFi connection. I know what people mean when they refer to WiFi. They mean that you can just connect to that WiFi and you're online. That's NOT the case here. Connecting to the router won't let me browse the Internet, I still have to dial to connect. Therefore I can't just bridge WiFi and LAN as many propose on YouTube.
Well, I could, but there wouldn't be any shared Internet.
I have no idea about that HUAWEI hg530. I didn't even buy it. It was given to me as a gift by a woman who had sold me her apartment. And that was not even in the country where I live now. I simply use it as a switch to bridge my laptop and the ISP's cable because of the cat.

Right, forget the EZLAN article for a moment. We will come back to that after you answer the next question.

Are you plugging a phone line into the DSL port of the Huawei hg530 or are you just running an ethernet cable from the wall and into one of the yellow LAN ports on the gateway?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have no idea about that HUAWEI hg530. I didn't even buy it. It was given to me as a gift by a woman who had sold me her apartment. And that was not even in the country where I live now. I simply use it as a switch to bridge my laptop and the ISP's cable because of the cat.

I think that this is a key point. I think that you may need to purchase a "real" router, with an ethernet WAN port, that can handle PPPoE login in the router, and then share that internet connection via the ethernet LAN jacks and the wifi.

Most standard wireless routers will handle this. Recommend an "N" router if you are price-sensitive, and don't have an "AC" devices.

Edit: Btw, your terminology is wrong. You repeatedly refer to the Huawei device as a "bridge", when you are using the wired ports simply as a switch. Also, a PPPoE connection is not considered a VPN, because it's not encrypted (among other reasons). Just because it requires a login and password does not make it a VPN.

You can connect to the Huawei over Wifi, it appears, but that just makes it act as an AP, and not a router, so you would need to establish a separate PPPoE login session for each PC, which may or may not be allowed by your ISP.

Generally speaking, one purchases a single Wifi router, to share one internet IP address assigned by your ISP, by using NAT and routing to share it, both over the wired ports and wireless ports. Most good routers support PPPoE login for WAN, over the WAN ethernet port.

http://www.bestphone.com.ar/comerci...G530_Home_Gateway_Product_Description (1).pdf

Yes, your current hardware will not do what you want. It has an ADSL WAN port, and not an ethernet WAN port. You need to buy another proper wifi router.

 

[JackMDS]

And that was not even in the country where I live now. I simply use it as a switch to bridge my laptop and the ISP's cable because of the cat.

I think that we all ame false assumptions.

We are looking for solutions stemming from the way Internet connections are used in the USA while the OP is somewhere else and does not explain in proper technical terms the exact way his system works (or Not).

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If in the computer world everything that SHOULD work WOULD, then who's gonna need tech support teams and forums like this one?

Since you didn't mentioned configuring the router with PPPoE, I assume you didn't try.

Directions on how to do that should be in the manual.

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/378057/Huawei-Hg530.html

Section 3.1

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's not going to help. He's got an ethernet line coming into his apt., which requires PPPoE login. The Huawei only has an ADSL WAN port, not an ethernet.

That is, if the OP can tell the difference between an RJ-11 (phone line, ADSL), and RJ-45 (ethernet) connector. Which, given their other technical faux pas, may not be true.

Edit: As I have understood it so far, OP has an ethernet jack in his apt. It requires plugging in an ethernet cable, and then using a PPPoE login to get an internet IP address. He is currently using the Huawei as an ethernet LAN switch only, to connect a cable to the wall, and then a cable from the Huawei to his PC.

He wants to now share the internet connection.

The proper solution, is to purchase a normal wifi router, with the capability to do WAN PPPoE login (they pretty-much all do), and then connect it's WAN port to the ethernet jack in the wall, and configure it to do PPPoE login in the router config, and then plug the PCs into either the ethernet LAN jacks on the router, or connect to it via wifi.

 

[abrodski]

Are you plugging a phone line into the DSL port of the Huawei hg530 or are you just running an ethernet cable from the wall and into one of the yellow LAN ports on the gateway?

Where did I mention DSL in this thread, may I ask? Show me... Have I said a single word about a telephone cable, RJ-11 or anything like that? Is my English unclear?

 

[abrodski]

I think that this is a key point. I think that you may need to purchase a "real" router, with an ethernet WAN port, that can handle PPPoE login in the router, and then share that internet connection via the ethernet LAN jacks and the wifi.

Edit: Btw, your terminology is wrong. You repeatedly refer to the Huawei device as a "bridge", when you are using the wired ports simply as a switch. Also, a PPPoE connection is not considered a VPN, because it's not encrypted (among other reasons). Just because it requires a login and password does not make it a VPN.

You can connect to the Huawei over Wifi, it appears, but that just makes it act as an AP, and not a router, so you would need to establish a separate PPPoE login session for each PC, which may or may not be allowed by your ISP.

Generally speaking, one purchases a single Wifi router, to share one internet IP address assigned by your ISP, by using NAT and routing to share it, both over the wired ports and wireless ports. Most good routers support PPPoE login for WAN, over the WAN ethernet port.

Yes, your current hardware will not do what you want. It has an ADSL WAN port, and not an ethernet WAN port. You need to buy another proper wifi router.

Thanks a lot for your reply!
Yes, probably that's why! See, that woman who gave me the device used to have DSL Internet connection in her office (the apartment I bought from her). Here I don't have DSL at all.
I've already corrected myself in post#5 about switch. I don't know much about protocols. If it's not VPN, so be it. Let's just call it PPPoE and that's it.
I should buy a regual WiFi router with 1 Ethernet WAN jack and a few LAN ones. Not DSL.
Here they cost under $20 as was mentioned in this thread. And what I have I can only use as a switch/AP most likely for now...

 

[abrodski]

I think that we all ame false assumptions.

We are looking for solutions stemming from the way Internet connections are used in the USA while the OP is somewhere else and does not explain in proper technical terms the exact way his system works (or Not).

And how Internet and anything else computer related are different from country to country?
I said everything correctly, except that I called PPPoE a VPN connection, which is immaterial to this topic. I corrected myself in post#5 about "switch" term.

 

[abrodski]

That is, if the OP can tell the difference between an RJ-11 (phone line, ADSL), and RJ-45 (ethernet) connector. Which, given their other technical faux pas, may not be true.

I could tell the difference between RJ-45 and RJ-11 before you were born (IF you're young enough to be in college right now). And in my 1st post I CLEARLY mentioned RJ-45 and Ethernet and NEVER DSL and a phone line with its RJ-11's... I might NOT be an expert in networking, but I know all the basic stuff like that!

It's been like 6-7 years since I even held a normal router in my own hands and I simply FORGOT about RJ-45 WAN port in it. Big deal...

 

[smitbret]

Where did I mention DSL in this thread, may I ask? Show me... Have I said a single word about a telephone cable, RJ-11 or anything like that? Is my English unclear?

Yes, it is unclear and you are using a Huawei that is a a DSL Gateway. You didn't tell us where you got the device and you are using terms and phrases incorrectly and adding confusion to the situation.

We are more than happy to help you out, but you need to be willing to answer the questions we ask and you seem more interested in being hostile than giving us the information we need. I understand that English may not be your first language and that you may be frustrated but you need to be patient.

 

[QuietDad]

Follow the set up instructions here: http://setuprouter.com/router/huawei/hg530/manual-157.pdf

 

[abrodski]

Yes, it is unclear and you are using a Huawei that is a a DSL Gateway. You didn't tell us where you got the device and you are using terms and phrases incorrectly and adding confusion to the situation.

We are more than happy to help you out, but you need to be willing to answer the questions we ask and you seem more interested in being hostile than giving us the information we need. I understand that English may not be your first language and that you may be frustrated but you need to be patient.

Everything is super clear! Otherwise VirtualLarry wouldn't know the answer and he does speak English same as everyone here. Same English and same stuff YOU READ. So don't try to put a blame on me for nothing. My English is more than adequate for this simple stuff we exchange in this thread. It's not Shakespeare, not even near! If I professionally supported in English, most of my life used english OS's, my daughter is a US citizen (I've spent enough time in the States) and I'm an English tutor, then who are you to complain about my English?
As per business... I've solved the problem w/o buying a new equipment. I found a way to simply share my Internet connection NOT on the router level, but "lower down the chain" so to speak -- the only PC that's connected to the Internet shares its connection with the other PC over LAN. I connected both of them with LAN Ethernet cable, then in High Speed Connection's settings of the one that's connected I made neccessary adjustments (basically chose sharing, chose the LAN network and added the protocols to be shared, like HTTP,POP3 etc.).
Then I saw that in my wife's laptop the Internet icon appeared and W8 asked me whether I want sharing, I answered YES and that's it. Now both PC's share Internet connection and the same external IP. End of story!! Thanks everyone for good advice

 

[NesuD]

No it was not clear. Virtual Larry took a shot in the dark assuming you weren't capable of concisely describing what you had and got it right. JackMDS is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable people here in networking and like me found your confusing use of incorrect terms undecipherable. A little more appreciation for those trying to help you and fewer insults would stand you in good stead here should you need assistance in the future. Your insulting responses to some of those here is what some us of really hate about users we are trying to help.

 

[VirtualLarry]

As per business... I've solved the problem w/o buying a new equipment. I found a way to simply share my Internet connection NOT on the router level, but "lower down the chain" so to speak -- the only PC that's connected to the Internet shares its connection with the other PC over LAN. I connected both of them with LAN Ethernet cable, then in High Speed Connection's settings of the one that's connected I made neccessary adjustments (basically chose sharing, chose the LAN network and added the protocols to be shared, like HTTP,POP3 etc.).
Then I saw that in my wife's laptop the Internet icon appeared and W8 asked me whether I want sharing, I answered YES and that's it. Now both PC's share Internet connection and the same external IP. End of story!! Thanks everyone for good advice

Well, I'm glad you found a solution. The Windows Internet Connection Sharing ("ICS"), is basically semi-equivalent to a poor-man's router setup. That is, it functions like a router in software. You might also check out "My Wifi Router" or "Virtual Wifi Router", if you have a spare wifi adapter and want to share an internet connection via wifi, through the PC. (Personally, I haven't had very much luck with "Virtual Wifi Router" in Windows 7 64-bit.)