Share a Wireless Hotspot with Connectify
So far, we’ve shown you some excellent tools built into Windows for creating, accessing, and sharing networks. However, if you’ve been following along, you’ll notice that there’s one capability that’s conspicuously absent—the ability to share a Wi-Fi Internet connection wirelessly.
Although there’s nothing about ad-hoc networking or Internet sharing that would make this inherently impossible, the simple fact that most computers are not equipped to access more than one network at a time means that you need some extra help, in the form of a free program called Connectify.
Why would you want to share a Wi-Fi Internet connection wirelessly, you ask? Well, primarily, it allows you to share access to a network that might be hard to come by. For instance, a paid wireless hotspot in an airport or hotel. We’ll let the ethical and legal implications of that wash over you.
Even if you don’t want to share a hotspot with multiple users, you can use Connectify to use multiple gadgets on a single connection. For instance, with Connectify you can give your Wi-Fi-only smartphone access to a Wi-Fi hotspot you’ve paid for on your computer, or to a wired broadband connection.
Set Up Connectify
(Image F)
First, go to www.connectify.me, and select the download link on the right of the page, then run the installer. The installation is straightforward, but be aware that it tries to install some bloatware in the process, so keep an eye out for the “no thanks” button (image F).
(Image G)
Once you start up Connectify for the first time, it’ll automatically run the setup wizard. This asks you for basic information like network name and password, but it will also ask you what kind of shared connection you’d like to set up (image G). Here are the options:
» No Internet Sharing
This option does no Internet sharing (as you might have guessed) but it still establishes an ad-hoc network, allowing you to do file transfers and LAN gaming.
» Local Area Connection
This option shares access to the LAN that the host computer is currently connected to. Choose this option if you want to share a wired connection wirelessly.
» Wireless Network Connection
This is the option you’re most likely interested in—it allows you to share access to a wireless network, such as a mobile hotspot.
» VirtualBox Host-Only Network
This option allows you to share a special kind of a virtual network used by the VirtualBox virtualization software. You probably don’t need it.
(Image H)
After setup, when you run Connectify, it will go straight to your system tray. If you click it, it’ll open a configuration panel where you can change your network options, and also view anyone who is currently connected to your network, or who has connected in the recent past (image H). If you right-click one of these users, you can block them, give them a special icon, or click the Explore button to see shared folders on that computer.
Strengthen Your Wireless Network
Another way to use Connectify is to expand the signal strength of your home Wi-Fi network. Because Connectify can turn any computer into an access point, you can turn that old laptop into a free Wi-Fi range extender.
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