I have two lap tops that both have wireless capabilities and share the same room. The Host computer can go online using the Sprint broadband USB. I can set up an ad hoc network from the host computer and they can both share. The other computer cannot access the internet. Can this be done without a router?

Are you saying you have a Broadband wireless Modem?

It is a sierra wireless broadband modem, yes.

You should both be able to access the router, I think Ad hoc is connecting between 2 computers, couple of good computer people here can walk you through, or look through old post.
I can do it, can't explain most efficient steps.
Do you have the wireless switch on?

Yes

Can you see any wireless networks with that computer? Both XP?

Yes. Host Vista. Other is XP.

If that is like an Air card, you can plug one in at a time, they do make Air Card Routers, to allow both to connect.

According to what I am reading on my instructions on the computer, I should be able to do an ad hoc meeting with another computer. This allows the other computer to share files and the internet connection of the host. The other computer picks of the network that I created, but cannot access internet. Maybe I just need to check with Microsoft on how to do this.

Do you know of any way to do this without purchasing a router? Thank for trying to help me.

I was not aware you could have 2 computers access the internet with 1 card.
Hopefully there will be some other input?

Sorry, had an Emergency, I don't know of anything else.

Someone else may have an idea.

I have two lap tops that both have wireless capabilities and share the same room. The Host computer can go online using the Sprint broadband USB. I can set up an ad hoc network from the host computer and they can both share. The other computer cannot access the internet. Can this be done without a router?

I've done this with a Verizon USB modem and a router. If you set up an ad hoc network, and use Internet Connection Sharing, you can use the same modem for both computers.

How to configure Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126)

Using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) - Windows Vista Help (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/bfd3bd31-82f0-4b9c-9cde-fb92bc2b14771033.mspx)

Internet Connection Sharing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Connection_Sharing)

It can be tricky and sometimes it requires a lot of fussing around to get the right parameters.

If you wish to connect wirelessly, you must have some sort of wireless access point -- a wireless router, for example. This is how I did it. The USB modem is plugged into the host computer, and the NIC from the first computer is connected to the router using a crossover ethernet cable (into one of the LAN ports -- not into the WAN port). Finally, in the router, you have to turn OFF DHCP because the host computer will act as the DHCP server (and give out IP addresses 192.168.0.###

You can set up a wireless ad hoc internet share with that device, you have to ensure wireless is turned on on both pc's. Then make sure they are on the same IP range (such as 192.0.0.2 and 192.0.0.3) that can be set in your properties on the wireless connections under internet protocol version 4. then ensure the host computer(the one with the sprint card) has shared internet access on. I did this a while back and it worked flawlessly. Also avoid Microsoft on this issue, because last time I did this their was an official statement from Microsoft saying that it was impossible to do. (which considering I got it to do it rather easily is obviously wrong.) if you need more detailed steps let me know ill see what I can do :)