Turn Your PC into a WiFi Hot Spot
Written by Alan Thursday, 27 October 2011 07:00
No matter if you’re at home or on the road, having a WiFi connection is handy because almost everyone has multiple devices hungry for that connection. If you are stuck with a wired connection to your computer, but want to use the connection for another device then you have a few options. One is to invest in a router – a basic router will work just fine in the home, or a special travel-size router can be handy on the road.
Now there is a cheaper alternative, because Windows users can turn their PC’s in virtual WiFi routers with a free app called, no irony, Virtual WiFi Router. You can install it on a desktop for home use or put it on your notebook and take it on the road.
To get started you will need to do a little preparation work on your computer. Click Start => Control Panel => Programs.
On the left side of the screen click on Turn Windows features on or off.
Scroll down to Microsoft .NET Framework and enable both HTTP Activation and Non-HTTP Activation by checking the boxes next to each option. Click OK. This change does NOT require a restart of Windows.
Now click Start => Control Panel => Network and Internet => Network and Sharing Center.
On the left side of the window click on Change adapter settings. Right-click on your network connection and choose Properties. Click to enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.
Finally, you are done with the preparation of your computer. Now download and install Virtual WiFi Router (currently version 2.0.1.1). Make sure you right-click the .EXE file and choose Run as administrator. Almost instantly a small “R” should appear in your system tray.
Right-click the icon and choose Start WiFi Router. Choose the connection you want to share from the drop-down list, then click Configure to enter a name and password for your network and the click Start.
Once “Start” is clicked a new WiFi network instantly become available, and your new network will even be password-protected thanks to the previous step. To view devices connected to this network, click on the Clients Connected tab.
In my tests I had no problem connecting to the new network with Android and Windows Phone 7 devices, so it seems that everything works well with no set-up hassle. As long as you follow the preparation steps outlined you should be up and running in five minutes. Even better, the app is free. You can download a copy by visiting VirtualWiFiRouter.
Related posts:
- Help: Windows has Detected an IP Address Conflict
- Netgear Introduces Next-Gen Powerline Connectivity Solutions
- Changing Your DNS
- A Quick Way To Access Your Network Connections In Windows 7
- Router Safety
