first of all im a newb to networking so dont be hatin... ok right now me and my bro's computers are lan'd together with a crossover cable. I want to turn that into a WAN (wireless area network.) If both computers had wireless cards, could I LAN them? ~matt AMD athlon 2800+ 512 pc3200 80gb SATA ATI Radeon 9250 - 883 3dmarks baby!!

Yes, you could create what would be known as a n ad-hoc network. When you install the software, you'll probably be asked if you want to set up an ad-hoc or a network using an access point. Larry

Just for you information for future reference. WAN in a network context stands for Wide Area Network as opposed to LAN which mean Local Area Network. For most people a WAN is the Internet although it can be a corporate network. There is no such thing as a wired area network. It either a wired network or a wireless network. Could save some confusion in the future if you are trying to explain something. Stuart

Thanks guys. So with wireless cards in both comps could I have a LAN and could each comp sap off my neighbors wireless router signals? (I already know they can be 'sapped') ~matt AMD athlon 2800+ 512 pc3200 80gb SATA ATI Radeon 9250 - 883 3dmarks baby!!

Unless you're doing so with your neighbours knowledge and permission (you could offer to pay your share of his internet bill in return for access) that is reprehensible behaviour! I doubt your neighbour would let you as they may have shared folders and resources they wouldn't want you to access. I do have open shares on my home LAN and would not allow anybody that type of access. But then I wouldn't run a wireless network either as it keeps people like you from even asking much less accessing. If he has any knowledge of wireless security, you won't be able to without his knowledge and permission as his wireless will be secured against just such abuse and if you try to crack his encryption to do so regardless, you'll be doing something illegal....hopefully nobody with integrity or an ounce of professionalism in this forum will help you hack an unsuspecting person.

Well said Curt. Couldn't agree more. Stuart

Quote: "I already know they can be 'sapped'" I guess what I meant by this was, I already know they can be sapped. In other words, they are completely unprotected AOL users who dont have any business messing with a wireless router anyways. ~matt Abit KV7-V AMD athlon 2800+ Barton 512 pc3200 80gb SATA ATI Radeon 9250