Ad Hoc network problems?

So i got an ipad yesterday. A while ago i was playing around with my computer and i made an Ad Hoc network. I have no router for it but i have a separate modem with a wireless network. Does an ad hoc network have to have a router for it to work? How do you set a wireless network to work with three computers an ipad an ipod touch and iphone? My ipad works with the ad hoc network but my other gizmo's don't. does it have to have a router for the others to work? wat is the best router? One that will work with all of them?