Running a network without a router

Our holiday cottage will soon have a Dell Small Form Factor Windows 10 Pro PC. It would be handy if visitors could access the PC via WiFi, but would that necessarily involve having a router? I've worked with routers ever since the inception of Ethernet, but I've never come across a router-less setup.
It's easy enough to plug in a USB Ethernet adapter to the Dell, but what's doing to be doing the connection authentication?
I have a couple of old Zyxel routers left behind when we migrated to FTTC, and I can use one of those to get the WiFi Server function, but that's just another box to plug in and one more to go wrong.
Is there a program I can run on the Dell that would implement the WiFi server function?

Just to clarify, you want:

(Guest WiFi devices) ~~~ (WiFi adapter) --- (Dell) --- (Ethernet adapter) ~~~ (Internet)

Is this correct?

This is exactly what the WiFi Hotspot feature does.

Aha, I'd forgotten about Mobile hotspots. But I cannot find this feature on my Windows 10 Pro PC.

I found a Microsoft support page that suggested Start -> Settings -> Network & Internet -> Mobile hotspot, but on my system, there's no sign of "Mobile Hotspot" in "Network & Internet".

This happens to me every time I try to do anything remotely unusual. I research how to implement something, but get lost during one of the stages...

Do you have a WiFi adapter installed and an active Internet connection?

Hi there

Not sure in that part of the UK but if you have decent 4G on your mobile phone and an unlimited or generous data allowance you could use your phone to set up a mobile hotspot. My memories of travelling in the UK though suggest that phone companies like the energy providers are absolutely rapacious in fleecing their customers so that might not be a solution.

If your own computer can connect to internet then you can use that to set up a wifi hotspot --disadvantage with that is you need your computer on all the time.

The best solution IMO is to get a portable router and create a private access point on it. I often use one in hotels etc when we want business meetings and you can only get one connection in the room (also if you want to share Netflix etc with colleagues in a few of the adjoining rooms !!!).

This box (I know it's another box but is very small and can easily be carried in laptop case - and can also work on battery power only).

DLINK 750 portable router can also be used as a phone charger too.

D-Link DIR-510L AC750 Wi-Fi Portable Router with Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Computers Accessories

Highly recommended "never leave home without it !!!"

Cheers
jimbo

PolarNettles said:

Do you have a WiFi adapter installed and an active Internet connection?

Here at home I have an Ethernet adapter (Cat6 connected to router) but no WiFi adapter (this is a desktop PC we're talking about).

The Dell PC that I'm planning for the holiday home will have a WiFi adapter though.

The Hotspot option will only show up if you have a WiFi adapter installed.

jimbo45 said:

If your own computer can connect to internet then you can use that to set up a wifi hotspot --disadvantage with that is you need your computer on all the time.

The holiday home doesn't have Internet access, as we don't have a telephone landline, and our nearest cellphone mast is more than 25 miles away, across the ocean. I've achieved about 100bps with an old laptop and a USB ethernet adapter on a good day, by going upstairs and hanging out the window.

But leaving the new DELL PC on is no problem. I'll plug it into the same wall-plug as my amplifier, so the entire system will come on together. Or I might just leave the Dell on all the time I'm there; I can play minesweeper then![/QUOTE]