Networking :: Dummy needs basic wireless help.

Desktop

iwconfig wlan0 mode Ad-Hoc essid james rate 11M channel 6

ifconfig wlan0 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0
route add default gw 192.168.1.1 wlan0

Laptop

iwconfig eth0 mode Ad-Hoc essid james rate 11M channel 6

ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.11 netmask 255.255.255.0
route add default gw 192.168.1.1 eth0

When I try to ping each other I get nothing.
Do I need to add IP address to /etc/hosts ?

Please help a dummy, I'd be very grateful.

Is your laptop using eth0, ath0, wlan0...?

Desktop, Debian Etch, D-Link DWL-520+ PCI card, acx100 driver,
comes up as wlan0.

Laptop, Knoppix, Belkin F5D6020 pcmcia card, comes up as eth0.

Firmwares for both cards work, no problem.
Had cards talking 6 months ago, was on the internet via DNS & modem.

This time I am starting out on a GPRS-ppp0-AdHoc-WIRELESS task, trying to get it to work manually, perhaps I will learn something, although likely I will go dhcpd & dnsmasq.

original here.