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sunhux

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Enable laptops to tether (become Wifi AP) using softwares

I have a LAN point only in a reading room (that enables my laptop to
connect to Internet).

Is there any way that I can make this laptop an AP (without buying
extra devices, ie no AP router etc) to make this laptop a Wifi AP so
that other PCs/laptops/phones could connect to it to access Internet?

I could consider TPLink's device below but the piece I just got online
(from China) could not even be detected by Windows but I need to
get this thing up quickly:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-WN725N-wireless-network-Adapter/dp/B008IFXQFU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535714397&sr=8-3&keywords=TP+Link+soft+AP&dpID=31kxatlM2tL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The laptops I have are X230t and X61 with wireless modules  built into
them so I'm wondering if there's softwares to make the laptops to have
wifi 'tethering' function.

Let me know also if I need to configure the laptops windows to make it
 a router (by adding persistent routes) using
  'route add -p ... '
Avatar of masnrock
masnrock
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How exactly are the laptops connecting to the internet?

The one of the simplest solutions might be Internet Connection Sharing (there's a feature I haven't used in years).

If you go to Network Connections, right click on the connection you want to share, and choose Properties.
On the window that pops up, you should have a tab that says Sharing.
Check the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection" option.

However, if I remember correctly, you have to make use of two network adapters. Basically, if you're connecting to the internet via wifi, then you'd need a second wireless adapter. If the laptop is getting the internet connection via Ethernet (or other device like a WWAN card), then you'd be good to go.
Internet Connection Sharing (suggested above) may expose your machine to intruders and I do not use it either. You could make a very strong password.

The T-Link device you posted is just a Wi-Fi adapter, so it will not help.

Better to get a small device that can work as an Access Point for all the computers. But that requires configuration.

Cheap and dirty - try Internet Connection Sharing with a very strong password.
Avatar of sunhux
sunhux

ASKER

> How exactly are the laptops connecting to the internet?
The reading room's LAN port is connected to a broadband router
somewhere & I don't have to go through any proxy ie direct access
from browser without setting anything in browser.

>have to make use of two network adapters
Yes, laptop has a LAN adapter (for wired) & one Wifi adapter

>On the window that pops up, you should have a tab that says Sharing
Saw 'Sharing' tab in Win 7 for the Wifi adapter I wanted to share;  but
can't locate this tab in Win XP.
Ok, in the Win 7 laptop, I've checked
  "Allow other network users to connect thru this comp's Internet cnx"
with "Home netwkg cnx" set to 'Wireless Netwk Cnx"  &
  "Allow oth netwk users to ctrldisable the shared Internet cnx"

but from my phone or the other laptop's Wifi, can't see this shared
SSID.

Under "Using ICS", I've checked  Http & Https
I think you must be hooked up with Wi-Fi for wireless Internet Connection Sharing to work.

You may need to get a small, and inexpensive, personal router that you can connect to the LAN in the room.

Otherwise get a WAN wireless USB stick (I use HUAWEI) and it can be a hotspot for up to about 5 users. Works great. But it is not free.
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

Attached is how my screen (on the Win 7 laptop) looks like:
I've also tweaked to share out another Wifi adapter:
I actually have 2 Wifi adapters plus one wired LAN adapter
on this laptop.

I'm still hoping if someone can test it out on his laptop that
has one wired LAN & one Wifi adapter (without getting anything
extra) to see if this "Sharing" thingy works.

Can John provide a link of the Huawei device?  How much does
it cost?  It's my last resort.

I have another device in mind but it's costly at USD37:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZMYMSK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
SharedWifi.JPG
Internet Connection Sharing is for the Network device with Internet. You cannot (so far as I know) share Wired LAN Internet out the Wi-Fi NIC.  

HUAWEI stick is from your ISP and there is a purchase cost plus running cost. You need to ask your ISP because they will service it.

I have not used the device at Amazon you have pointed to but that might work. The concept is correct but I cannot vouch for the device.
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

I still think the TPLink device below is a solution, just that
the piece that I got is faulty ie not even detectable by laptops'
USB :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008IFXQFU/ref=psdc_13983791_t1_B00Z08VH8G
There's a line in the above link that says:
  SoftAP Mode
  Turn a wired internet connection to a PC or Laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

>Internet Connection Sharing is for the Network device with Internet. You cannot (so far
> as I know) share Wired LAN Internet out the Wi-Fi NIC.  
So what does ICS share out actually?
All you can do is try because you are seeing that you need third party gadgets to make a Wi-Fi hotspot on a PC with a LAN connection.

Natively is does not work, so you must try the gadgets.
ICS shares out the Wi-Fi from the Wireless card in the computer
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

>I think you must be hooked up with Wi-Fi for wireless Internet Connection Sharing to work.
I've also tried the above: my Wifi adapter is hooked up to a Wifi but don't see the 'shared out' SSID.

> ICS shares out the Wi-Fi from the Wireless card in the computer
By the above description, I'm not seeing what ICS is sharing out so
far ie I can't even see any SSID being shared out.   Still missing
something on ICS.

I certainly will go for gadgets but it's going to take time for me to
buy one.  Am hoping something native within Windows will get
me going first.

I'll look into item below much later (when my bro flies to USA) as
my home broadband TV device (which doesn't run Windows) can
possibly be shared out as Wifi so that family members can watch
movies/TV from their bedrooms :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZMYMSK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Peter Sidor
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ASKER

In Win XP, there's no "Sharing" tab & found it under "Advanced" tab:
refer to attached.

However, after using ICS to share out, don't see any new SSID being
broadcast or is it the very same xxOnly SSID that my Wifi adapter is
connected to that's being shared out??
ICSharedWifi.jpg
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

Just noticed Peter's reply:

https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=virtualrouter
The above zip file when downloaded (virtualrouter.zip) does not contain
any .exe or .msi : all .json files,  looks like it's for Linux?

Hunting for others but let me know in meantime if you've got a tool that
you've tested working on Windows (Win 7 & Win XP0
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

"Wifi for PC" can't be downloaded;

"Deal Wifi" from url below gave an error "not a valid Win32 app" when I tried to install
 https://en.softonic.com/download/dealwifi/windows/post-download
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

Got the "Connectify Lite" working by sharing out my home's Wifi:
I'm going to the reading room to connect to LAN & test it out this evening
before closing this thread.  Just that the Lite version kept prompting to
upgrade to the Pro version.

MyPublicWifi is all in German : can't see the SSID that's shared out,
possibly Connectify-Lite overwrites MyPublicWifi.
Sorry, link to CodePlex is not what I wanted to send, this one should work:
https://virtual-router-manager.en.softonic.com/?ex=CAT-752.2

It's working with W7. I was using it for a while but currently, I don't have the option to test it on XP.
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

Yes, got that Virtual Router downloaded & it works for Win 7, but not for Win XP.

Link below indicates it has Connectify for Win XP but it doesn't work too:
https://connectify-hotspot.en.lo4d.com/download

Got the older versions 8 & 9 of Connectify below & both says they need Win 7 or
newer & launched browser that says Win XP not supported:
https://connectify-hotspot.software.informer.com/
Nothing much is going to work with XP except possibly some third party hardware. You need to get off XP
Avatar of sunhux

ASKER

Ok the following 2 works on my Win XP:

https://www.free-wifi-hotspot.com/  <== by a company called Rui Qing
http://www.mhotspot.com/download/