How to get wifi without ethernet cable

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Wi-Fi extenders help you get full Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. They eliminate areas that hardly get any Wi-Fi signal. They can also help you get Wi-Fi in other hard to reach places, like the basement, your backyard or garage.

You can set up Wi-Fi extenders with an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. While a wired setup is reliable every time, there’s no doubt that a wireless Wi-Fi extender is more convenient. But keep reading to see if wireless or wired is the best option for you.

How to use Wireless Wi-Fi Extenders

  • Biggest pro of a wireless Wi-Fi extender:
  • Biggest con of a wireless Wi-Fi extender: Signal interference.

Essentially, to use wireless extenders you need to get the devices, pair them with your router and watch your Wi-Fi range improve. Well, in an ideal world that’s how smoothly it would go.

When you set up a wireless Wi-Fi extender, placement is everything. This is because anything wireless is susceptible to obstructions and interferences. You have to make sure that your extender is in line with your router but also near a power outlet (the same can be said when you use a cable, however you know your connection is going to work).

Likewise, wireless extenders often have antennas that need to be in direct line of your router to send and receive the signal.

The advantage of a wireless extender is that you can pretty much place it anywhere (given the few restrictions above). Which is great, because to work well, a wireless Wi-Fi extender needs to be close enough to your router to grab the signal and far enough away to re-broadcast it to the problem areas in your home.

So, while wireless may seem like the way to go, there is something to be said about sticking to the Ethernet cable.

Why you still might consider Ethernet cable set up:

  • Biggest pro of a wired/Ethernet Wi-Fi extender: Reliable connection.
  • Biggest con of a wired/Ethernet Wi-Fi extender: Limited placement options.

With the convenience of wireless comes a price: signal interference. With wireless Wi-Fi extenders the connection is not always reliable.

However, with an Ethernet connection, you know that you are getting a solid Wi-Fi connection every time because it is a direct connection between router and extender. No need to worry about slow speeds, lag or sketchy signals.

Wired extender options like powerline adapters, MoCA network adapters or MoCA Wi-Fi extenders utilize the electrical cabling that already exists in your walls.

MoCA Wi-Fi Extenders are the best of both worlds.

The reason that MoCA technology is the best of both worlds is because it gives you that wired connection with a bit of the wireless feel. We’ll explain:

MoCA devices like the network adapters only require one “exposed” wire: Ethernet cable. When people hear “wired connection,” their minds go to “mess of wires” to clutter their home. This simply isn’t the case. Since these devices use your electrical cabling, everything is hidden behind your walls.

All you have to do with this adapter kit is plug one adapter into the outlet near your router and the other near the device you are using. Then take an Ethernet cable to connect your device to the adapter not hooked up to your router. This will give you the solid internet connection you’re looking for.

A more likely scenario is hooking up your personal or work laptop or your gaming console, all of which require you to be stationary for periods of time. A small price to pay for strong Wi-Fi? We think so.

Check out ScreenBeam’s Complete Guide to MoCA to learn more about MoCA Network Adapters and how MoCA technology it works. For more Wi-Fi news, tips and tricks, head to ScreenBeam’s blog.

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All you need is a smartphone and USB cable

Updated on October 5, 2021

What to Know

  • Plug your phone into your PC using a USB cable and set up USB tethering.
  • On Android: Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot & Tethering and toggle on Tethering.
  • On iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot and toggle on Personal Hotspot.

This guide will walk you through connecting your desktop to your local Wi-Fi network without the need for a wireless adapter or dongle.

How Do You Connect a Desktop Computer to Wi-Fi?

Most desktop computers come with a built-in Ethernet port for connecting to your local network and the internet via an Ethernet cable, but not all with Wi-Fi connectivity pre-installed. You can use a Wi-Fi adapter, of course, but you can also connect a desktop to Wi-Fi without an adapter.

The easiest way to do it is using your smartphone's built-in USB Tethering.

For our screenshots below, we'll use Android, but we'll include the steps needed for an iPhone.

  1. Make sure your PC and smartphone are running the latest versions of their respective operating systems.

  2. Ensure your smartphone is connected to your chosen Wi-Fi network.

  3. Connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable. It may be Micro-USB or USB-C if you're using an Android device or a lightning cable if it's an iPhone. If your smartphone asks, give the PC permission to access it.

  4. Open your phone's Settings menu.

  5. On Android, navigate to Network and Internet > Hotspot & Tethering and toggle on Tethering. On iPhone, navigate to Cellular > Personal Hotspot and toggle on Personal Hotspot.

Your PC should have connected to your local Wi-Fi network via your smartphone. You can confirm its active network connection by selecting the Taskbar Icon arrow in the bottom right of your screen, then select the network icon. It will appear as a rectangular screen—not a Wi-Fi symbol, as the computer is technically connected to Wi-Fi over a wire).

Select the Network you're connected to (in our screenshot, Network 5) to go to the Network and Sharing Center. There you'll see your newly connected network as being Connected. If it says No Internet, confirm that your smartphone is on the Wi-Fi network. If it is, but you still don't have internet, follow router troubleshooting steps to get yourself back online.

How do I Connect My Old Desktop to Wi-Fi Using Internet Sharing?

If you have an older laptop with an Ethernet connection, there is another method you can use for connecting your desktop PC to Wi-Fi: Internet Sharing. You'll need to connect your laptop to your chosen Wi-Fi connection, then connect it to your desktop PC using an Ethernet cable.

When ready, follow these steps on how to share your internet connection.

Can a PC Connect to Wi-Fi Without Ethernet?

Ethernet is a wired connection, so if you want to connect to a wireless Wi-Fi network, you don't need Ethernet at all.

The best way to connect to your Wi-Fi network is by using a Wi-Fi adapter. Some desktop PCs and most laptops have them built-in, but there are add-in ones you can buy. They are relatively affordable and offer the best speeds without being limited by battery life. Alternatively, you can use a smartphone and USB tether it as in the instructions above, but you'll need the correct USB cable, and you won't be able to unplug your smartphone if you want to retain that Wi-Fi connection on your PC.

How Can you Connect a Desktop PC Without Internal WLAN to a Wireless Network?

If your desktop PC doesn't have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, then your best bet is to add one yourself. They are affordable and easy to install and offer the best wireless performance. Alternatively, you can use USB tethering to connect your smartphone to get you on the Wi-Fi network relatively quickly. The only downside is that you must leave your smartphone plugged in to take advantage of it.

FAQ

  • How do I connect to Wi-Fi on a Windows 7 desktop?

    To connect a wireless network in Windows 7, go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Select Connect to a network, choose your wireless network from the list, and select Connect Automatically > Connect. If prompted, enter the network password.

  • How do I connect a Dell desktop to Wi-Fi?

    To access Wi-Fi on your Dell desktop, your computer must have a wireless network adapter built-in, or you'll need to connect an external Wi-Fi adapter. To connect to your wireless network, go to the Windows taskbar and select the wireless network icon. Next, choose your Wi-Fi network > Connect > enter your network password, and follow any additional prompts.

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