To create a hotspot, the most commonly used method is to use Wi-Fi router (access point) to share Internet access to devices that have Wi-Fi (laptop, Blackberry, Smartphone, iPhone, etc).
And if we want to connect 2 computers that have Wifi connection, most people do is by assigning one computer to act as an ad hoc server while the other become client.
However if we want to share our connection with devices like Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, Playbook , etc we cannot use ad hoc because it wont detected by the devices, in short explanation this occurred because they needed a more secure connection.
Technical facts: One of the biggest differences between the ad hoc and Access Point is that the Access Point mode allows you to actually share the Wi-Fi connection, the Wi-Fi cards are the same as you use to access the Wi-Fi networks. Ad Hoc requires internet connection coming from another card (Ethernet, cellular or Wi-Fi card in your computer the second).
However, nowdays we can use our laptop / PC to share our internet connection (tether) to devices I said above using a program called Connectify. That way we can convert our Wifi card to functions like Wi-Fi Router.
We can download Connectify here. After installation completed, turn on your Wi-Fi laptop and click the notification icon located near the clock (see image below).
After you click the icon, Connectify configuration window will appear, insert the box belom according to your setting.
- Wifi Name, Name of the connection
- Password, 8 characters password
- Internet, Connection device that that will be used to share Internet connection.
- WiFi, Your Wifi device
- Mode, Access Port, WPA2-PSK
Click Start Hotspot to begin sharing, after that connect your device (smartphone, tablet, dll) by providing information that you already entered in Connectify setting.
Viola ... Now you can tether your internet connection to a Blackberry, iPhone, Smartphone, and basiclly anything that use wifi.
System Requirements:
- Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
- Wi-Fi card that compatible with Windows 7
- AR5xxx/AR9xxx Atheros cards, driver version 8.0.0.238
- Broadcom 4310-series (in many Dell laptops)
- 4321AG/4322AG/43224AG Broadcom WLAN adapter, driver version 5.60.18.8 (here)
- D-link AirPlus G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter, driver version 3.0.1.0
- D-Link DWA-140 RangeBooster N USB Adapter, driver version 3.0.3.0
- Dell 1510 Wireless N adapter, Broadcom version, driver 5.60.18.8, (here)
- Intel 5100/5300, driver version 13.0.0.107
- Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N USB Network Adapter (WUSB600N), driver version 3.0.10.0
- 108 Mbit Netgear WG311T
- Ralink RT2870 (in many 802.11n USB dongles)
- Realtek RTL8187B (Win7 driver ver.1178)
- Realtek RTL8187SE (with the drivers that came with Windows 7)
- RTL8192u with Realtek 1370 (Beta)
- Sitecom Wireless USB Adapter 54g WL-608, with Ralink RT2870 drivers, version 3.0.9.0
- Belkin F5D7050UK
- Belkin Wireless G MIMO devices (as of version 3.1.2.0)
- D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122
- Gigabyte GA-WPKG 802.11g
- Intel 3945/4965, 2200BG (most Intel cards, unfortunately)
- Mac Book builtin Broadcom devices
- Realtek RTL8187 (like in older 802.11bg USB dongles)
- Zydas ZD1211 (also in 802.11bg USB dongles)
TroubleShooting Connectify
If you have problem(s) to create hotspot access point using Connectify, please search the solution below
1. Check your wifi card brand and model, make sure you already update the driver to the latest version.
2. Make sure you installed and using Connectify with a User Account that has Administrator rights
3. Check Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter status in device manager.
- If there is a yellow exclamation mark beside Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter, right click choose properties and then switch to Driver tab. Click Disable and re-Enable button.
- If there is no Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter appeared in Device Manager, go to command prompt and type this to enable Wifi Miniport.
netsh wlan start hostednetwork4. Check you Firewall setting and make sure you add exception for these program and port below:
- Connectifyd.exe : UPnP – 1900 (UDP), 2869 (TCP), 5000 (TCP)
- ConnectifyNetServices.exe : DHCP – 67 (UDP), 68 (UDP), 1317 (UDP), DNS – 53 (UDP), 1303 (UDP)
5. There is a VPN bug in Connectify 2.2 that will show error messege related to your modem “Error 651: The Modem (or other connecting device) has reported an error”. To solved this issue you can install Connectify 2.1 from http://connectify21.4shared.com