Set WiFi Access Point (Hot Spot) on Windows 7 based Laptop and share Internet with other Laptops, and Mobile Phone. Virtual Router setup.

If you have got Windows 7 based Laptop with Broadband or Cable Internet or 3G USB Modem, and want to share this internet on other devices having WiFi features such as other Laptops, Netbooks, Smart phones, Android Tablets, Kindle Readers and iPads,/iPods etc, then you can install and set up a Virtual Router base WiFi Access Point.

 

Virtual Router

 

 Virtual Router from www.virtualrouter.codeplex.com a free, open source software. It can turn any Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2 Computer into a Wifi Hot Spot using Windows 7's Wireless Hosted Network (Virtual Wifi) technology.

Connections to devices are secured using Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) (one of the most secure wireless encryption.)

Installing and setting Virtual Router on a Windows 7 Laptop

Step-1: Turn-on Wireless connection on your Laptop. Each Laptop has got some Function key for enabling/disabling Wireless connectivity. Laptop manual can be referred for turning-on the Wireless connection.

Step-2: Download and install Virtual Router from http://virtualrouter.codeplex.com/ to your Windows 7 based Lapto. (The Laptop, where you have got Internet Connection and want to use it as Access Point (Hot Spot) for sharing Internet with other devices.)

Step-3: After installation Open Virtual Router GUI:  

• Set the network’s SSID to whatever you would like or leave it to default. SSID is the name of the Access Point (Hot Spot) you are setting. It will be visible as network name to devices, which   want to connect to connect to Access Point for Internet Access.

• You should be careful while setting password for Access Point. In order to secure your access point against password cracking attacks, the password should be  at least 8 characters long. Password should be  combination of upper-case and lower-case letters, digits and special characters.

• Select a connection, which you would like to share from the drop-down menu (Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection) and click the Start Virtual Router button to start your connection. This is the Broadband or Cable Internet or 3G USB Modem internet connection interface.

Tip: Go to: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center

You will find Wireless Connection network (Access Point (Hot Spot)) set by Virtual Router:

go to:

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections

Here you can find details of the Access Point (Hot Spot) set by Virtual Router:

if you wish you can check network properties:

Virtual Router enables " ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)" at the selected Broadband or Cable Internet or 3G USB Modem internet connection interface:

The Access Point (Hot Spot) is ready!

Configuring WiFi enabled to use the Access Point (Hot Spot)

Now, you can connect your WiFi enabled Laptops, Netbooks, Smart phones, Android Tablets, Kindle Readers and iPads,/iPods to use the Access Point (Hot Spot).

Just enable the WiFi on your device and search & connect to the SSID of the configured Access Point (Hot Spot). It will aske for the password, which was set  through Virtual Router setting.

Tips: At client Laptops: you should use DHCP not the Static IP-addresses:

you can configure it through: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections

To connect to the Access Point (Hot Spot): Go to: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections and right click to WLAN: "connect/disconnect".

Connect to the Access Point (Hot Spot) as set above. it shall ask for password!!give it.

 


Tip: If you are used to with windows command line, then you can play around following command and set Access Point without help of Virtual Router:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourAP key=YourPassword

(run command prompt with Administrator rights)