We are all accustomed to the fact that the router is responsible for distributing the Internet and creating a home network. Has anyone thought that it is possible to create a Wi-Fi network without it?
To do this, you can use any computer equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter. This article will look at options for distributing Wi-Fi from a computer running Windows XP, because... It often happens that this computer does not have very “strong” hardware and newer versions of Windows may simply “not work” on it. So let's get acquainted with how to make a virtual router for Windows XP.
Three options for creating a virtual router are offered for consideration:
- Using the VirtualRouter Plus application.
- Using Windows XP itself.
- Using the D-Link AirPlus XtremeG Wireless Utility app
First option
Download the program from the Internet. To do this, enter “virtual router windows xp download” or “VirtualRouter Plus” in the search engine. This application is free and does not need to be installed. We launch the program by clicking on the executive file “VirtualRouterPlus.exe”.
Program menu
Setting up "VirtualRouter Plus"
To run the program, perform the following steps:
- In the SSID line we write the name of the network being created.
- In the “Password” line, enter the password to enter the network being created (at least 8 English characters or numbers).
- In the line “Shared Connection” we look for the name of your connection to the Internet.
Click the “Start Virtual Router Plus” button, the application is automatically minimized to tray and begins to “distribute” the Internet to any Wi-Fi devices.
Network created on "VirtualRouter Plus"
Second option
If suddenly the “VirtualRouter Plus” application does not work, and you need to create a network, then you can try the second option and build a wireless network in Ad Hoc mode.
In this mode, computers communicate directly with each other. A peer-to-peer connection is made using the “point-to-point” type; computers communicate without using an access point.
Ad Hoc mode operation option
The main advantage of this mode is its ease of implementation (no additional access point is required). This mode can be used to build a temporary data transmission network.
Please note that this operating mode transfers data at a speed not exceeding 11 Mb/s. But the actual speed will depend on the number of devices on the network; the more devices there are, the lower the speed.
Setting up Ad Hoc mode
For example, we use a wireless USB adapter. When using other Wi-Fi distribution devices, the settings remain the same. When you turn on the adapter, we install the necessary drivers. Open the “Network Connections” window, which should display a new “Wireless Network Connection”.
Network connections window
We will create a wireless network from a desktop computer and laptop, and in the future you can connect other devices to it. Open our wireless connection, go to its properties - the “Wireless Networks” tab and turn on “Use Windows to configure the network.”
Wireless menu
To establish a wireless connection, you need to register static IP addresses. This is done in the properties of the wireless connection - in the “General” tab, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
Internet protocol settings menu (TCP/IP)
On a desktop computer we enter the address: 192.168.0.1, on a laptop: 192.168.0.2, on both “machines” the subnet mask: 255.255.255.0.
Next, we start the Windows service by double-clicking on our wireless connection. On a desktop computer, launch the “Set up a wireless network” mode. The Network Setup Wizard will open, where you will need to enter the name of your network (any in English letters) and the access key. After this, setting up the desktop computer is completed.
Wireless Settings Menu
Now we also turn on the Windows service on the laptop, and in the window that appears, go to our network. The Windows service will ask you to enter a key and if it matches the key entered on the desktop computer, the devices will connect and create a network. To connect other devices, you need to perform all the steps that we did with the laptop, the only difference is that the static address will be different.
Third option
To use this program, you need to disable “Use Windows to set up the network”, click on the properties of the wireless connection, then wireless networks, uncheck the box we need. We launch the program on a desktop computer and go to the “Settings” menu.
Settings menu
In the SSID field, enter the name of the network to be created, select the Ad Hoc mode, and in the “IP Settings” menu enter the address and subnet mask (exactly the same as in the second option). Leave the “Authentication” and “Encryption” fields open.
On the laptop we also launch this application and go to the “Browse networks” menu.
Network overview menu
In this menu, select our network and configure the laptop’s IP address by clicking the “Configuration” button. After that, click “Connect”, enter the access key and our devices are connected. To connect other devices, repeat the above steps, just don’t forget to change the IP address.
Now you know how to create a wireless network without using an access point. This can be useful in “field conditions”, for example at the dacha, when you need to connect two computers, but there is no router at hand.
