is there a way to connect my s3 directly to my laptop with an ethernet cable? I'm using a shared wifi connection public
Not sure what you are looking to do.
S-3 to laptop to router to internet is not a normal setup.
below are more standard
S-3 to ethernet switch to router to internet
S-3 to router to internet
Sounds like you are
laptop- wifi- router- internet.
you could do
s-3 to wi fi bridge -router-internet
let me find a link
and maybe your idea is possible if your laptop has a wifi bridge(most likely no)
I never did this item below but it may work
http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Dreambox-Network-Printer-Microsoft/dp/B005OIB6XI/ref=sr_1_8?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1435419618&sr=8-8&keywords=wifi+bridge&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011you would
A) use your laptop with a cat 5 cable directly to the s-3
B) program the s-3 via the gui to use the bridge
this is all beyond my pay grade in that I never done it ,but have read posts here and there on this site that talk about it.