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On my HP Compaq 6710b there's an internal WIFI network adapter. Attached to the same laptop there's also an external USB Alfa WIFI adapter. I live near campus and can pick it's WIFI signal. The problem is that when I am connected to the Internet Wifi using the internal adapter, and then connect to the home (non-internet) Wifi network's router, I lose the connection to the internet (it stays connected, but there's no actual connection).

So how can I use the two adapters to connect to both networks successfully ?

The router is Belkin N150 Enhanced Router Model F6D4230-4 V1 The external adapter is: ALFA AWUS 036NHR

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Are the two networks a different subnet? –  Dave M Dec 17 '12 at 15:55
@Dave M, I am very sorry Dave, I am not sure what a subnet is, just read its Wiki, and didn't get the idea :) thank you –  Mouad Dec 18 '12 at 17:18
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1 Answer

What OS and version?

For Windows 7, the instructions are at:


A network bridge is software or hardware that connects two or more networks so that they can communicate. You can create only one network bridge on a computer, but one bridge can handle any number of network connections.


2) Hold down CTRL and select each network connection that you want to add to the bridge.

3) Right-click one of the selected network connections, and then click Bridge Connections. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

BUT! There is an important warning at the bottom. So think carefully about the security of what you are doing.


You shouldn't create a bridge between an Internet connection and a network connection because it creates an unprotected link between your network and the Internet, which makes your network accessible to anyone on the Internet.


So here's the thing, any network has resources on it that require protection. So when you bridge two networks together, you are often undoing or bypassing the security and control for BOTH of them.

In your case, you are trying to join one network to your university network, you are almost certainly breaking all sorts of rules that you have agreed to when connecting.

With what you are doing, you are allowing any machine on your own private network to connect to the university network without the controls that the university apply.

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Thank you very much @Julian Knight. Yet that "warning" is not clear. Are there no ways to prevent that? and what do they mean by "makes your network accessible to anyone on the internet".. which "internet" ?? I will bridge my connection to the internet through my univ. proxy, with my local wifi network.. does that warning still apply ? –  Mouad Dec 18 '12 at 17:20
Sorry, wrote that in a bit of a hurry. I'll update to see if I can make it clearer. –  Julian Knight Dec 18 '12 at 21:43
Thank you again. But so which "ctontrols" ?? Simply, on my internal network I share specific folders between the devices; if I bridge this lan network with the campus's wifi network, will other users on the campus's network be able to access these files, for instance? –  Mouad Dec 19 '12 at 22:28
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