Do you recall a time you terribly needed to share a wireless connection? Should this situation arise and you’re on Windows 7, the challenge is easily solved with Connectify. Connectify (currently in beta) transforms any Win7 PC and laptop with those commonplace wireless network adapters into secure access points.
So to begin with, mosey over to Connectify and download the software. Execute the 1.40MB installer (such a rarity not to have bloatware these days), and provide UAC information when prompted. Yield your soul to the license agreement, and let files populate . Click Finish. By default, Connectify will start.
Setting up connectify is easy. Look at the icon first:
Should the Connectify icon be missing in the notification area, click the up arrow pointer to display additional icons. Activate the Connectify icon.
At first run, you expect error messages because Connectify needs you to provide a passphrase. Navigate to the passphrase field and enter at least eight characters for your access code. You don’t want just any Tom Dick and Harry freeloading on your connectivity, right? Luckily, Connectify offers WPA2 AES encryption to bar undesirables.
Connectify will use Connectify as its SSID. It’s a simple matter to change this to something of your choice, like “Stay Away”, or “Just Try It”.
The beauty of the setup is that while Connectify shares a wired connection and a wireless connection; the application requires just one wireless adapter to make sharing work.
Now’s the easy part. Click the Hotspot Off button to activate the access point.
Client PCs, whether using XP, Vista or Linux merely connects to the Connectify software access point using the same method to connect to any secure wireless access point that broadcasts its SSID:
- Scan the environment.
- Point at the SSID used by the network
- Provide the passphrase when prompted
- Make the connection
- Once other gadgets have connected to the access point, the host PC lists the computer connected to it via network names.
Et voila! Instant network and everyone can share not just web connection, but a direct line to collaborative gaming! Hows that for a quick fix? Have fun!
