Hi Bargainers,
One of my new site office is 3 floors underground with no WIFI and phone reception.
However, the desktop PC is hooked up to the ethernet and is quite fast getting around 500-800 megabytes per second.
Can I purchase a USB WIFI 6 adapter and connect it to the PC and create a WIFI hotspot from the PC??
Please note this is a work PC so I'm not allowed to install any drivers or software. So the USB adapter will need to be plug & play friendly
Great, so I can just go and buy any Wifi 6 adapter??
Does your work PC allow rando USB devices to be mounted? Even if that works, the network might have a mac address allow-list (yes yes, it can be spoofed but it stops most casual attempts by regular users)
I don't know and thats my concern.
The desktop PC has no wifi so thats why I need to buy a separate USB one
I use my laptop in that office, which is connected to the dock that has ethernet and I create a mobile hotspot from that and it worked.
So just want to know if it will work from a desktop with WIFI USB Adapter
I doubt you'd be able to install new devices or activate a hotspot without admin privileges.
Maybe a switch and a travel router set to run as a wIfi hot spot. Though, IT might not be too happy if they discover it. Can you ask for access?
Have you got a red stapler in this office by any chance?
All the items I need to buy will be from my own pocket, so I'm not that keen in purchasing a switch or router.
No red stapler
However, the desktop PC is hooked up to the ethernet
Get a small network switch and then a TP Link Access Point and do it properly.
All done for under $150 and a better solution then setting up a hotspot.
Ethernet into Switch | PC into Switch | Access Point into Switch.
Will be more reliable and also won't need to have your PC on all the time (if that is a problem). Plus provides 2.4ghz and 5ghz networks on the AP.
Please note this is a work PC so I'm not allowed to install any drivers or software. So the USB adapter will need to be plug & play friendly
Even more reason to the above. Long term solution as well.
One of my new site office is 3 floors underground with no WIFI and phone reception.
However, I guess depends if you can connect to the network if it is a corporate/work network. Could be interesting. Should get IT to install an AP if you aren't allowed to do it yourself.
Thanks for a solution but I'm not too keen on spending $150 out of my pocket.
The PC is on all the time so that won't be a problem.
Thanks for a solution but I'm not too keen on spending $150 out of my pocket.
Time to get IT to pay for it then. WiFi 6 USB adaptor is still about $60.
Yeh i'm happy to pay around $40-$60
@Homr: A travel router would likely be able to do all that and should come in under budget. If not you may still need a switch in addition to it.
Not sure what the desired outcome is - PC already has Internet access - what other devices need to access that are unable ?
Our mobile device, we can't receive any calls due to no phone reception
Our mobiles can do wifi calling, well I can anyway
Sounds like a manager/IT problem for them to solve. Do you work in an earthscraper?
IT is not doing anything about it so I'm taking the initiative to try and solve it with the help from Ozbargain community.
I'm not too affected by this since I'm only there in that office once a week, it's for my 2 other junior team members that are there 5 days per week. I'm just trying to look after them
@Homr: Do they need mobiles to do the job ?
Opening the system to any hot spotting and sharing - and potentially opening yourself to a world of trouble by bypassing IT security - access - breach of policies etc
Escalate to team lead/ manager if phone access is a job requirment.
@Sal in SA: You gotta be kidding me!
You expect my team to work 8hrs a day down there without any sort of phone reception?
@Homr: If it is unacceptable , then as said, need to escalate up - not to IT but team leader / manager / HR etc.
But if you do just decide to bypass and open up the network segment to hotspotting (and creating a security issue) - then would also expect some interesting repercussions.
Of course, depending on size / industry / how serious security is taken or needed (compliance etc).
You gotta be kidding me!
You expect my team to work 8hrs a day down there without any sort of phone reception?
Is there is a business need for phone access?
If not then you are basically saying people employed to work for 8 hours can't survive without their electronic comforter for non-work related reasons.
Sounds to me like the 'arguments' kids present when told 'no phones' whilst at school.
The word "can", as in "can I do this" can mean either or both of "am I able to" and "am I allowed to".
We can tell you you are able to.
But the person to ask about whether you are allowed to do this is the person who can impose the condition on you that you can't install any drivers. Presumably they have been given the authority by your employers to tell you that. You will get into serious trouble if you don't tell them and get their permission.
A wifi adapter does require a driver. It just may be that the driver is included in Windows.
Run https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/tp-link-ar… or the like in access mode?
But I'd suggest checking with your employer first.
You can either turn on your laptop’s hotspot feature if it has one. I think you could connect a router / wifi extender thru ethernet and set it up in bridge mode. You could find old routers for cheap on marketplace.
As someone who works in IT… I would strongly advise against this. You are opening up the network to potential exploitation. Since you are asking this question and based on the language you are using, it would appear that you know so little about this subject that you don’t understand how big the subject is and therefore are basing your idea of the risks on the pin prick view you have of enterprise networks. I have seen people go rogue and cause millions of dollars of damage in downtime, loss of intellectual property and damage to an organisation’s reputation in its global markets. When operating outside the bounds of company IT (especially with hardware) you may become liable and best case scenario, lose your job.
Someone further up made the point to just escalate the issue. IT is answerable to the business operations manager or CFO/CEO. If your guys can’t get reception down there, tell the organisation that it’s unacceptable and that they will be working from home or up on the floors that do get reception until the problem is solved. Thats what a leader does… not try and skirt the system and put the whole business at risk.
Jeez, how is the hotspot any different to my work WIFI upstairs?
Obviously the hotspot will have a strong password on it so it won't be a public hotspot
Hacking around a network that isn't yours is a very bad idea. Go to IT, share some suggestions you have read here and see what they say.
Or just go ahead and cowboy it up. You will encounter a raging neck-beard then possibly lose your job. Feel free to create another post asking how to fight an unfair dismissal.
The reason why you don't understand why it is different IS the very reason why you should not even contemplate doing it.
Have you got an old wifi router, maybe leftover from a past ISP? Stick that between the wall and PC, and use it as your hotspot
What are you doing three floors underground?
Also people need their phones to be able to get calls these days, kids, parents, school all may need o contact you.
"Also people need their phones to be able to get calls these days, kids, parents, school all may need o contact you."
Yes, correct
This is not suitable problem to DIY and would be frowned upon. Also based on your posts and comments you do not have the necessary skills to troubleshoot and set this up. Typically the business computers will be setup to not allow you to do this. You're better to spend your time getting this done through official channels.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/use-your-windows…
This seems to be what you're looking for