What programs exist for distributing WiFi from a laptop? Analysis of their pros and cons

The article tells about what programs exist for distributing WiFi from a laptop, how they are arranged, and their pluses and minuses are given.

The Digital Age

Perhaps digital technology is theThe modern world, which is developing most rapidly. Even some 15 years ago, even ordinary home computers could not boast of all, as well as high-speed unlimited access to the network, not to mention smartphones and tablets. Well, now they are not surprised by anyone, with each year such technologies are being improved, they are gaining new opportunities and become more accessible to people. A huge role in all this is played by the Internet, now it is not only a means for self-learning, communication and entertainment, but also an integral part of the work of many organizations. And simply most people no longer think of existence without it. And every year it becomes more accessible.

According to experts, in a couple of years will comeThe moment when the volume of the transferred traffic on wireless technologies will exceed the share transferred by wires. The reason for this is the widespread popularity of portable devices and convenience. Computers are already entangled in a lot of wires, and wireless routers are partially rid of them. However, the opportunity to purchase and install a router is not always available, or it is economically impractical when only one or two devices need on the wireless Internet and this need is rare. In this case, special programs for distributing WiFi from the laptop can come to the rescue. About what it is and how they work, we'll talk.

Distribution

Despite, it would seem, impossibility and eventhe absurdity of this method, it is real. One of its first implementations appeared in early 2010, since the release of the operating system Windows 7. This is quite simple. A special program translates the WiFi adapter of a computer or other device into the Internet distribution mode, and you can connect to it, as in an ordinary router. This is how programs for distributing WiFi from a laptop work. Naturally, for their normal operation, the laptop must have an Internet connection in order to distribute it as a router. But even if he himself is connected to WiFi, he will still be able to provide communications to other devices.

Software

For the sake of justice it is worth noting that such athe default function and without any third-party software have some operating systems, for example, Windows 7 and Linux. In Windows, this mode is enabled in the Network and Sharing Center, it specifies the name of the new network, its parameters, the type of encryption, password, and so on. But still, a special program for distributing the Internet from a laptop via WiFi copes with this much better, since the network it created is more stable and has more functions.

In Linux, the inclusion of this mode is done morein a simple and intuitive way, roughly speaking, with just one button in the communication settings. But since "Linux" is still little used as a home system and leads in this Windows, we'll consider software for it.

On the Internet you can find different programs fordistributing WiFi from the laptop, by far they differ only in interfaces and some minor functions, for example, the ability to block certain pages, filtering devices by mac-address, etc. But the most popular are Switch Virtual Router, MyPublicWiFi and Connectify. Of these, we will consider the latter in more detail, since it is the most simple to configure, intuitive and stable.

WiFi distribution from a Windows 7 laptop. Connectify program

Find this program can be on the official website,It is distributed both on a free and paid basis. The paid version has a wider range of functions, but they do not play a decisive role, and you can use it with full comfort and free.

During installation, it installs the necessarydriver, as well as create a virtual WiFi-adapter, which will distribute the Internet. Then the settings window opens, where you will be asked to specify the network name, the method of encryption, and the Internet source. For example, if the laptop receives it by cable, then you need to specify this adapter. But in case of an error, the program will inform you that there is no access to the Internet in the given source.

After all the settings, it remains only to connect to it from another device and use the Internet.

Advantages and disadvantages

A similar free program for distributing WiFi withThe laptop has both advantages and disadvantages, we start with the pluses. The first and most certain is that this way of distributing the Internet eliminates the need to purchase a router. The second is the simplicity of its configuration and the small size. And the third is that it consumes very few system resources.

The shortcomings include a small range of actionsuch a network, since the built-in laptop adapter does not have an antenna, like a router. Also the connection though infrequently, but still sometimes terminates for no apparent reason, and the program will need to be restarted.

Conclusion

The program distributes WiFi from the laptop in Russiancan be an excellent alternative to the router, especially when you need to deploy a wireless network for a short or irregular time. But still it can not replace a full-fledged router both with the range of operation and with the stability of the connection. It is worth mentioning that such software will work only in the operating system Windows 7 or Linux.

Also users noticed that the old versions of Connectify are more stable, oddly enough. Especially when working with an Internet connection via VPN.

So we considered such a thing as the program of distributing the Internet from a laptop via WiFi.