Wireless NIC as WAP

I picked up a Wireless NIC (D-Link DWL-G510) for my computer in case I'd ever need one, installed it, then disabled it and forgot about it.

Recently I decided I'd try and get my Nintendo DS (NDS) working online. The handheld can connect to a WAP and then onto the internet, or to a proprietry USB adaptor connected to a PC with internet access. It doesn't seem to support ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) connectivity.

I enabled my NIC, and setup a SSID. I told the NDS to search for WAPs, and said SSID appeared. I told it to connect, and (judging by Nintendo's website's interpretation of the error code), the WEP key was incorrect.

I tried setting up a variety of keys on the computer side, each with the same result. I even disabled it - the NDS detected the change and stopped asking me to enter it, but still gave me the same error!

All throughout my PC showed no signs of incoming connections, simply stating that no wireless networks were in range throughout.

My guess is that since the computer is itself looking for a WAP, the NDS can't use it as one. So the question is, how do I tell my NIC to stop looking for a network, and act like a proper WAP?

If you have a DWL-G510 revision A it should use a Marvell chipset which means you might be able to use the ASUS WL-138g SoftAP utility as the latter card is based on the same chip. Try downloading it from http://support.asus.com/download/dow...&model=WL-138g

If it's a revision B then I think it uses an Atheros chipset (not sure though). I don't know of any free Windows based 'software AP' utilities for Atheros cards.

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Jeremy

Marlborough WiFi Project

Revision A is written on the card, but the drivers that came with it were for revision E, and the drivers that worked with it were for revision C. All I know is that it uses the RT61 chipset.

I'll google around for the term "software AP" and see what I come up with.

Edit:
Quite a few cards seem to support WAP mode, even if a few of them require it to be activated via the registry. Doesn't seem that mine does, at least with it's current driver (and it won't accept the one you linked).

It seems a company called PCTel created two bits of software, "SoftAp" and "Segue Sam". These are the only two bits of software I can find mention of which don't seem to require specific network cards, but for some reason the software itself isn't mentioned on the official site...

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You're just jealous 'cause the voices only talk to me :P

If it uses a Ralink RT61 chip try using SoftAP from this link (Gigabyte).

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Jeremy

Marlborough WiFi Project

Well, the site says that link's dead, but redirects me to the old version of the page. I downloaded both versions 1.41 and 1.5, but the utilities say there's no card in the computer.

I assume they expect me to install the included driver, but that's for a RT2500 chipset.

Perhaps if I tried the other driver packs there?

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You're just jealous 'cause the voices only talk to me :P

I noticed Ralink make out that the RT2500 and RT61 use the same driver on their website, but I could be mistaken.

I don't think any of those other drivers include the utility but it might be worth a try.

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Jeremy

Marlborough WiFi Project

Fair enough. The RT61 chipset is based on the RT2500, best I can make out...

Edit:
I got it.

The driver on Ralink's website allowed me to change the NIC to AP mode. All I really had to do after that was bridge it with the NIC I connect to my internet router, and the NDS connected right through.

Thanks muchly for your help, NZLamb!

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You're just jealous 'cause the voices only talk to me :P

Hiya.

I'm after a similar deal, except for a D-Link DWL-G520+ Rev A PCI Wireless Adaptor.

Does anyone know what chipset this is, and whether it can be used with any SoftAP programs from ASUS/Gigabyte/etc?

The DWL-520+ rev A uses a Texas Instruments ACX100/ACX111 chipset. The Ti chips have very limited driver support so the answer is unfortunately no.

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Jeremy

Marlborough WiFi Project

Oh bugger.

Guess I could always try with Linux huh?

Possibly but the Ti chips are probably the last ones you want to deal with in Linux. See The ACX100/ACX111/TNETW1450 wireless network driver project (Linux, BSD)

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Jeremy

Marlborough WiFi Project

hello
I have a D-Link G510 rev. C and I want to use my LAN internet on my DS
I downloaded the ralink utility but I can see no option to make my computer an access point
thanks for the help
keeperofakeys

i have a dell truemobile 1180 usb wireless adapter,now plz tell me either one of these drivers or software can work for.I want to connect to the net with my PSP.heellppp

hello
if it is of any consequence i managed to get the configuration to work
I bridged the wired and wireless networks together with the soft-AP running
thanks for the indirect help of you all
keeperofdakeys