Connecting to College Internet for Pokemon?

Entralink doesn't use the internet though, its wireless communications with other people that have the game in your area.

Doesn't the C Gear need to be on in order to access other DS? And in order for the C Gear to be on, it needs to connect to the internet...right?

Also unrelated question: Has anyone figured out how far a DS can be from the other in order to Entralink? It's been bugging me ever since the thing was first talked about and no one ever had an answer.