It is not always possible to purchase a separate wireless router. In this situation, the easiest solution is to distribute WiFi from a laptop or desktop computer. It is impossible to solve this problem using standard, built-in tools of the operating system itself. Therefore, you have to install applications that turn the built-in transmitter of a mobile PC into a real virtual router.
Why is this needed?
Most residents of our country already have more than one device that works via a Wi-Fi wireless interface. It can be laptops, stationary PCs, smartphones, tablets and satellite receivers. The list of such devices can be continued indefinitely. They must somehow be assembled into a single local network. The simplest solution is to buy a router that would solve such a problem. But there is not always a financial opportunity to acquire it. And here the solution suggests itself: to use existing hardware in combination with additional software. In such a situation, WiFi distribution from a laptop or a stationary system unit can be implemented without problems. For these purposes, two programs are most often used:
- Connectify
- VirtualRouterPlus.
This material will be dedicated to their setup.
Connectify
This is one of the most popular solutions for distributing WiFi from a laptop. Connectify is a software product of the Philadelphia company of the same name. There are two options - paid and free. The first one has the index “Pro”, and the second - “Lite”. The difference between them is a certain limitation of functionality. In the professional version, more options are available, and this greatly expands the capabilities of the virtual transmitter. The setup procedure for this program is as follows:
- Download the installation version from the official website of the developer.
- Install it.
- We reboot the PC.
- We find the shortcut of this program on the taskbar and go to its settings.
- Immediately you need to set the network name and password for access to it.
- Next, you need to pay attention to the drop-down list of "Internet". Here you need to choose a source of information. That is, the connection that will be used for data transfer.
- In the next step, turn on all wireless connections. To do this, just click on the appropriate shortcut in the taskbar and use them in the window that opens.
- Then go to the “Device Manager” (Start \ Control Panel \ Device Manager). In the window that opens, you need to turn on the Wi-Fi transmitter.
After that, the distribution of WiFi from a laptop or desktop PC is ready, and you can connect to the global web.
VirtualRouterPlus
This is a simpler program than the one above. It is enough to download it from the official site and extract it from the archive. Next, run it (file with the extension "exe"). In the window that opens, enter the name of the network being created and the password for access to it. In the last field, select the source of information. Then a message appears that the launch of the virtual network was successful, and the distribution of WiFi from a laptop or PC will be done without problems. The advantages of this program in comparison with the analogue are as follows:
- a larger list of supported OS (XP, Vista, 7 and 8);
- no special installation needed.
The disadvantages of her are:
- fewer options;
- There is no official developer support.
conclusions
This material describes how the distribution of WiFi via a laptop or PC using integrated hardware resources can be implemented in software. This solution allows you to save a certain amount, but you should not abuse it and at the first opportunity it is recommended to buy a router. After all, this is an additional load on the computer, from which it generates its reliability resource. There is nothing complicated about it. Everyone can cope with this task.