How to make a router a Wi-Fi access point? How to connect TP-Link TL-WA5210G to an access point How to use an access point
Quite often, many users who have a wired or wireless connection to the Internet ask pressing questions about how to make a computer as an access point, which would allow distributing the Internet directly from a PC or laptop, bypassing various kinds of routers (routers and ADSL modems). Why such actions are needed and how to perform the necessary settings using several simple methods on Windows systems, we will consider further. Not all proposed methods are equivalent to each other, however, we will try to determine which of the proposed solutions is as simple as possible and most acceptable for any user who is unfamiliar with the necessary settings.
Why and how do you need to create an access point?
It’s worth mentioning right away that we will use desktop solutions as an example to describe some solutions. Windows versions installed on desktop computer terminals and laptops. By and large, you can also perform such actions on a smartphone or tablet with the same Android OS, but this is a separate conversation, since the main focus is still on computers.
And before deciding how to make a computer an access point, let's think a little about what, in fact, all this is needed for. Imagine the simplest situation when you have a wired Internet connection at home, but you need to access some resource from another computer or mobile device. Well, you won’t constantly switch the cable and set up a new network connection on the connected devices? The same applies, for example, to cases when friends come to visit you and you want to provide them with access to the Internet or even play some kind of game over the network using a wireless connection.
Keep in mind that, despite the simplicity of some of the proposed solutions, you need to clearly understand that distributing a WiFi access point from a computer if it itself does not have the appropriate one installed wireless adapter, will not work. This is the main condition.
How to connect a WiFi hotspot on a computer using a standard Windows tool?
So, now let's see what actions may be required if you intend to use only the tools available in the operating systems themselves for distribution. We will not consider creating a WiFi access point on a computer with Windows XP due to the obsolescence of this OS, but will focus on the seventh modification of the system and higher. True, some methods and programs can also be applied to XP.
First you need to create a wireless network. This technique is suitable for both existing wired and wireless connections. First of all, go to the network management section and shared access, which is located in the standard “Control Panel”. You can create a WiFi access point on your computer or laptop using the tools available here quite simply.
To do this, you need to use the option to create a new connection, and from the proposed options, select the “computer-to-computer” wireless connection section. After the configuration settings appear, you should specify a custom network name, set the security type to WPA2-Personal, and also set your own connection access password, which must contain at least 8 but no more than 63 characters. After clicking the continue button, a WiFi access point via your computer will be created automatically.
Note: if for some reason your network is not detected or connecting to it is impossible, try changing the security system type from WPA to WEP (in this case you will need to create a new 5-digit password). Also, for the security type, you don’t have to use a password at all. In this case, you will need to set the value to open network without authentication.
Additional settings
Now we assume that a WiFI access point has been created on a computer running Windows 7 or higher. In theory, at this stage you can already connect to it. However, to be sure, you need to check the possibility of access.
In the properties of the created connection on the access tab, you need to mark two points regarding permission to access the Internet via this computer and ability to manage connection sharing. Now you can connect to the access point during an authorized communication session without problems.
How to make a computer as an access point using the command line?
Another, albeit somewhat more complex, technique is to use the Shell to quickly create a connection. Command line must be called exclusively with administrator rights. How to make a computer an access point using this tool? Quite simple too!
To do this, in the console you need to enter the command “netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NAME key=PASSWORD keyusage=persistent” (of course, without quotes), in which NAME corresponds to a randomly specified connection name, and PASSWORD is an 8-digit combination in in the form of an access password to the established connection. After this, the network must be activated by entering the command “netsh wlan start hostednetwork”.
Upon completion of these steps, as in the previous example, it is necessary to activate the above permissions. If you need to shutdown, instead of the “start” statement in the second command, you should enter “stop”.
Main problems when creating an access point
As for some of the inconveniences when using the described methods, the most important problem is that in the first case there is often a situation where the network is not detected. In addition, computer and mobile devices should be located at a distance of no more than 10 meters from the terminal on which the access point was originally created. For the second case, the main disadvantage is that it is not always possible to save the settings for creating and activating a connection without additional user intervention. That is, you will have to enter the appropriate commands every time you want to arrange a distribution.
Using a ready-made BAT file
Nevertheless, some experts find a way out here too. By and large, in Notepad you can create a special text file with the content shown in the image below, and then save it in BAT format, for example, directly on the “Desktop” for easy quick recall.
Again, you will have to run it exclusively as an administrator. As you can see from the text, the executable script uses the input of the network name and password, but when you run it, you have a choice of the desired action. In this case, the connection is activated by pressing the key with the number 2, and disconnected by pressing the number three.
Hotspot in Windows 10
Speaking about how to make a computer a WiFi access point in the tenth modification of Windows, you don’t have to resort to all the methods described above, since the system itself has a built-in unique tool in the form of a mobile hotspot. You can call it through the settings menu and go to the network and Internet section.
In the settings, you just need to switch the fader to the active position, allowing the use of the current Internet connection, after which you can use it. If necessary, you can change the default parameters (connection name and password) by clicking the corresponding button. By the way, when using a hotspot, actions related to enabling additional permissions, as described above, are absolutely not necessary.
Finally, if you are not satisfied with the tools of the Windows operating systems themselves, you can use third-party software to make creating an access point more convenient and faster.
So, in the program, which, as the name implies, a certain necessary connection is created automatically. By and large, except for entering a name and password, all user actions are reduced only to activating and disabling the distribution.
Connectify Hot Spot PRO app
This application works almost identically to the previous utility and hotspot of the tenth version of Windows. However, there is a little more action in it.
In addition to specifying the network name and password, in a special list you will need to select a network adapter (hardware or virtual) from which access to the connection will be allowed. To ensure reliable protection against malware, it is also advisable to activate the built-in firewall. Well, to activate and deactivate access, the same quick control buttons are used.
Conclusion
It remains to summarize all of the above. As many have probably already realized, using third-party applications to quickly create and manage an access point looks like a much simpler and more attractive solution, since the basic automatically installed parameters do not need to be changed. If such programs are not at hand, the best option will create a BAT file of the executable script. But for all those users who are working with the tenth modification of Windows, you don’t even have to think much about the manipulations performed to open a distribution based on a wireless connection, since the hotspot provides both ease of setup and excellent communication quality. It goes without saying that all wireless adapters, including installed hardware and virtual devices, require correctly installed drivers (preferably the latest ones). To update, if suddenly such a problem arises, resort to updating the manager software means operating system completely unnecessary, since automatic update programs like Driver Booster provide more effective results by updating drivers for absolutely all devices, and only from the official resources of hardware manufacturers and driver developers, which completely eliminates the penetration of malicious codes in the form of various types of viruses onto computers.
For deployment wireless network First of all, you need to configure the access point ( wireless router). It is assumed that all computers on the wireless network are using the Windows XP Professional SP2 (English version) operating system.
Setting (changing) the computer's IP address
In order to deploy a local network, it is necessary that all computers on the network have the same IP address of the same subnet. Since the access point is also part of the local network, it is necessary that its IP address be included in the same subnet as all other clients on the network.
As a rule, the sequence of actions in this case is as follows: first of all, you need to find out the IP address of the access point and the default password. Any access point or router, being network device, has its own network address (IP address). In order to find out the IP address and password, you will have to scroll through the user manual. Let's assume that the default IP address of the access point is 192.168.1.254.
Next, you need to connect the access point to your computer using a traditional Ethernet network interface (for this, an Ethernet network controller must be installed on your computer). If you use a wireless router, the computer is connected through the LAN port of the router.
To configure an access point, it is necessary that the computer to which the access point connects has an IP address from the same subnet as the access point. Since in our case the access point has an IP address of 192.168.1.254, the computer must be assigned a static IP address of 192.168.1.x (for example, 192.168.1.100) with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
To assign a static IP address to your computer, right-click on the My Network Places icon and select Properties from the list that opens. In the Network Connection window that opens, select the Local Area Connection icon and right-click on it and go to Properties again. This should open the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box. network connection), which allows you to configure the network adapter (Fig. 1).
Rice. 1. Local Area Connection Properties Dialog Box
On the General tab, highlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button. A dialog box will open in front of you, allowing you to set the computer's IP address and subnet mask. In this dialog box, check the Use the following IP address: box and enter the IP address and subnet mask in the appropriate text fields (Fig. 2).
Rice. 2. Setting a static IP address and subnet mask
Setting up a wireless connection
After you have set a static IP address for your computer, you can directly access the settings of the access point itself. To do this, enter the IP address of the access point (192.168.1.254) in the address field of your Web browser. If everything is done correctly, the access point (router) settings dialog box will open in front of you. You may first need to enter your username and password (they are available in the documentation).
Using the access point settings dialog box, you can set a new IP address of the access point (if necessary), but remember that after the end of the communication session with the access point, you must also change the IP address of the computer (otherwise a new connection with access point will become impossible).
If the access point is used only to organize a local wireless network without access to the Internet, then there is no need to change the IP address of the access point. It may be easier to change (or set) the IP addresses of all wireless clients. However, in some cases, changing the IP address of the access point is necessary. For example, to implement shared Internet access using an analog modem, the computer to which the modem is connected is assigned a static IP address of 192.168.0.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. In this case, you have to set the IP address of the access point from the same subnet (192.168.0.x). An example of organizing shared wireless Internet access using an analog modem will be discussed below.
In addition to changing the access point's IP address using the access point's settings dialog box, setting up a wireless network requires the following settings:
Wireless network type. If your access point supports multiple wireless standards, you must explicitly specify the wireless network standard (for example, 802.11g+). However, it should be taken into account that a strict standard setting excludes clients that do not support this standard. Therefore, in some cases it is advisable to specify a mixed protocol type, for example, 802.11b/g.
Channel number. For wireless connection access points with network clients can use different frequency channels. For example, in the case of the 802.11g protocol, you can use channels from the first to the thirteenth. You can explicitly specify which channel will be used to establish a connection, or you can set automatic channel selection (Enable auto channel select), and automatic channel selection is preferable.
SSID Each wireless network has its own unique SSID, which is the code name of the wireless network. For a wireless network to function, it is necessary that the SSID of the access point and the SSID of the wireless connection profile on the network clients be the same.
Rate. The access point allows you to explicitly specify the speed (Rate) of the connection being established. However, this is not recommended, and it is best to set automatic detection of connection speed (auto/best).
So, after all the basic settings of the access point have been made, you can begin to create a wireless connection profile on network clients.
Create a wireless connection profile
Configuring a specific wireless adapter, of course, depends on the version of the driver and management utility used. However, the setup principles themselves remain the same for all types of adapters. In addition, there is a general method, independent of the type of management utility for a specific adapter, - to use the Microsoft client (built into the operating system) to configure the wireless adapter Windows system XP wireless adapter configuration utility). Let's take a closer look at both configuration methods. In addition, given the popularity of laptops based on mobile technology Intel Centrino, an integral part of which is the presence of a module wireless communication, we will describe setting up a wireless connection using the example of the Intel PROSet/Wireless driver (version 9.0.1.9), used in laptops based on Intel Centrino technology.
So, first of all, you need to install the wireless adapter driver. In the case of a laptop based on Intel Centrino mobile technology, open the Intel PROSet/Wireless dialog box (the icon of this window is located in the system tray), with which you will create a profile for a new wireless connection (Fig. Fig. 3. Wireless connection settings dialog box
Click on the "Add" button to create a profile for a new wireless connection. In the “Create a wireless network profile” dialog box that opens (Fig. 8), enter the profile name (for example, HOME) and the wireless network name (SSID) that was specified when setting up the access point.
Setup using the Microsoft client
When using the Microsoft client to configure a wireless adapter (a universal method that works for all wireless adapters), you should first make sure that you are not using another adapter management utility.
Right-click on the My Network Places icon and select Properties from the list that opens. In the Network Connection window that opens, select the Wireless Network Connection icon and right-click on it and go to Properties again. This should open the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, allowing you to configure your wireless network adapter (Figure 5).
Going to the “Wireless Networks” tab, click on the “Add...” button and in the “Wireless network properties” dialog box that opens, enter the name of the wireless network (SSID) (Fig. 6). Leave the remaining fields (security settings) unchanged for now.
Regardless of which of the following methods is used to create a wireless connection profile, once it is created, the wireless adapter should automatically establish a connection with the access point.
It is more convenient to view browser pages and edit documents from a laptop than from a smartphone or tablet. Use your Android gadget as a wireless modem to set up and distribute Wi-Fi using an access point.
What is a Wi-Fi hotspot
Dot Wi-Fi access- a station that provides access to a wireless network for several devices. A gadget with the Android operating system can act as an access point. Device requirements:
If your smartphone or tablet does not support GSM/3G, but works with OTG technology, that is, it detects connected flash drives, you can connect a USB modem to it and use it as a wireless access point.
The modem interacts with the tablet via a cable using OTG technology
When turning on an access point, remember: by distributing Wi-fi, you spend mobile traffic. If the tariff is not unlimited, monitor your balance after surfing the Internet. And, active point access increases battery consumption.
How to distribute the Internet from a phone, smartphone or tablet
There are two ways to distribute Wi-fi from a smartphone or tablet - standard means Android or using third party application. Please note - you can only distribute mobile traffic from the connectionGSM/3G. It is not possible to configure the access point usingWi-fi network connection.
Setting up an Android device as a router
The Android system, starting from version 2.3.x, allows you to broadcast Wi-fi to other devices. To set up an access point, make sure that it is turned on Mobile Internet and go to the gadget menu. LG G3 setup example, Android version 5.0:
You can enable mobile Internet (data transfer) by using the menu item “Settings - Wireless networks - Mobile data”.
For Android earlier versions to configure the access point:
Once the connection is activated, you will see the corresponding icon in the notification bar at the top of the screen.
It is enough to set up an access point once; for subsequent connections, it will be enough to activate the function in the network settings or by pulling out the notification shade at the top of the screen and clicking on the “Access Point” button.
Photo gallery: setting up an access point in the Android menu
Step 1. Open Settings Step 2: Select “Tethering & Networks” Step 3. Select “Access Point...” menu Step 4. Create a Wi-fi hotspot Step 5. Configure hotspot settings Step 6. Enable hotspot When reconnecting no need to configure an access point
Using Applications
Use applications for sharing Wi-Fi access if your smartphone or tablet does not support standard settings. Well-known programs: Osmino, mHotspot, MyPublicWiFi.
Setting up a Wi-Fi connection using the Osmino program as an example:
The smartphone or tablet will switch to modem mode. To disable the access point, go to the application and click “Stop distribution”.
Photo gallery: how to enable Wi-Fi distribution in the Osmino application
Step 1. Download the application Step 2. Specify network parameters and enable distribution Appears when you turn on the program for the first time
Why does the Internet not turn on and work through the access point?
After connecting the mobile Internet and activating the hotspot, the user may encounter difficulties. There are three reasons why a Wi-fi access point may not work correctly.
An antivirus that protects your smartphone in real time can block network connections. Go to the application, disable the firewall and activate the access point. If there is no connection, delete antivirus program and try again.
Installed applications make changes to the operation of the operating system. Check your smartphone with antivirus and block malicious files. Using Application Manager, find out which program has rights to control network connections and remove it. Then turn on the access point.
If the previous methods do not work, reset your gadget to factory settings. For this:
By performing a factory reset, you will lose all data saved in the device memory. Create a backup first.
Can block traffic distribution via Wi-Fi mobile operator. If you set up an access point on Android according to the instructions and eliminated the errors described above, contact the contact center and ask them to check network settings and the presence of blocking.
Routers are combined into networks of any coverage area with an unlimited number of devices and on any of them they can have a common high-speed Internet, which is distributed by the previous model. Thus, we can easily connect and configure one of them through the other or even others.
Essence of the question
It often happens that in an apartment or country house one router is not able to reliably cover the entire territory. The question becomes even more pressing in private companies, where the office, store and warehouse are located in the same building, and wireless Internet is needed throughout the company. This is where unification can help. Wi-Fi routers into a single network with only one Internet access on one of them.
How to connect and combine routers into a common network
There are several of them - different methods via cable and Wi-Fi. The last method is the most popular and has varieties: bridge mode, repeater mode, client mode (both simple Wi-Fi module) without distribution (distribution only via LAN cables), etc.
Some commands step by step instructions translated into Russian.
Creating a WDS-based bridge
WDS technology allows you to deploy local networks of any coverage area without a LAN cable, consisting exclusively of routers with Wi-Fi. Such a device simultaneously receives data and distributes it further to other routers. You can create wireless line or a “tree” of routers of any length, allowing you to enter the settings of any of the previous routers through a connection to any next one.
As an example - TP-Link routers. This is one of the most popular brands. Almost every second user has D-Link routers and distribution points.
Free exchange of data between routers and network clients
For example, the IP address 192.168.1.1 is taken from the TP-Link 11n device, and 192.168.1.2 from the access point (Root AP). Each device in the wireless network is assigned its own address - otherwise there will be a conflict of IP addresses and communication will be disrupted. IP is changed by going to the router settings and entering the desired IP address.
Changing IP on the router
To change the IP address, do the following.
If there is no connection to the router’s local network, the TP-Link stub page will be displayed
Upon successful login to tplinkwifi.net or via local IP, the router will request a login and password
Go to LAN Settings
Enter the desired address and click the save buttonConnected devices must be reconnected. The connection settings on the PC or gadget from which the IP was changed on the router also need to be changed.
Setting up a WDS network on a TP-Link router
Depending on the router firmware version, options and lists in the settings are arranged in different orders. The functionality remains the same, not taking into account innovations when updating the device’s firmware or replacing it with another model.
Recommended Wi-Fi settings on TP-Link routers
Enable WDS for Wi-Fi Bridged Networking
Selecting channel number, technology and connection speed
Find the SSID from the second router and connect to it
Protection recommended
Automatic IP selection (DHCP) often prevents connection
Click Reboot to restartThe creation of the WDS network bridge is complete! To check the network, do the following.
Launch command prompt under account administrator
If the instructions are followed to the smallest detail, the network bridge should workYou can use your network bridge. Routers from other manufacturers are configured in a similar way - they all support WDS, and the menus and submenus in the settings are not much different.
Installing and configuring a wireless access point that will connect to your existing wireless network can be a little complicated. In the following article, the various steps required for an access point setup are divided into broad categories and listed. For broadcasting or extending the range of a wireless network or allowing a wired network to wirelessly broadcast, one piece of network equipment is used and a wireless access point (WAP). Below is detailed description on setting up a wireless access point for your home network.
How to install a wireless access point
Instructions - how to set up a wireless access point:
Network information
Your WAP acts as an intermediary between the device, between the router and the computer, and tries to connect to your home network. Therefore, in wireless settings Your router must have your WAP entered so that the wireless access point can pick up and transmit the correct signal. Before you do anything with the access point, you will need the following information from the router:
Router IP address
DHCP address range
Wireless connection:
Wireless network name SSID
What wireless channel is being used?
Security mode (WEP, WPA, etc.)
Password or security key (copy all parameters such as number of keys, encryption, etc. to be safe)
Please write down the above information correctly. Minor changes to the settings and nothing will work. To get this information, you will need to go to the router's settings page. If you are familiar with the process or know the settings, skip the following steps:
I. Using any computer, get a hard wired access to the router. Do not connect to your wireless router page.
II.Open Command Prompt and in a black screen, enter the ipconfig command.
III. Look in the Default Gateway field. An example of what this might look like is: “192.168.1.1”. Write down this is the IP address of your router.
IV. Close the command prompt window, and open any web browser. Delete any URL in the address bar and enter your router's IP address. Press Enter.
V. A dialog box will appear asking for your router's login and password (not associated with a wireless network). If you have any opportunity, please enter it now. The default login for most routers is an empty username and administrator password. Click on Ok.
VI. In the main screen of the setup program, look for DHCP-Range and DHCP start and end addresses. Write it down.
VII. Now look for the tab at the top of the screen that says Wireless or Wireless Network Settings. Click on the tab, there may be sub-tabs such as basic setup, security and advanced. Look for the wireless network data and information above (SSID, security, etc.) and write it down.
VIII. Check if you have network name broadcasting enabled, i.e. your network name has been seen and connected, select it. This parameter is usually called SSID broadcast and is located in the wireless settings page.
WAP connection
1.Now it's time to deal with this access point. Connect the Ethernet cable to the port on the WAP, and the other end of the wire to the Ethernet port of your computer, so that the WAP and the computer are connected together. Turn on the access point.
2.Open Command Prompt and enter ipconfig /renew. Then enter ipconfig. Look for the Default Gateway address at currently WAP address that needs to be changed.
3.Open a web browser and enter this address in the address bar. Login to the page (username is blank, password: admin) and you are now taken to the WAP installation page.
4.The default mode for the operation of the Access Point in most routers. If such a specification is on the WAP settings pages, make sure that only the Access Point mode is set.
5.The first IP address of the router must be assigned. Look at the IP address term and there should be four filled boxes next to it.
6.To better understand what an access point address is, the address should be like this - an example:
Let's assume that your router IP address is 192.168.1.1 and the DHCP start address and end address are 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.15
7. Since the DHCP range is 10-15, the access point address should not be any of these numbers, it should be something else. The ideal address for the access point is 192.168.1.2. That is, within the router's subnet range, but not within the DHCP range. Enter this type into the IP address field. Do not enter the Default Gateway field.
8.Look at any option that says DHCP enabled and possibly a checkbox or “yes/no”. Disable DHCP. With this change in address, the web browser may attempt to refresh or a message may be displayed. Close all windows.
Setting up a wireless network
10.Creating a WAP address, now the physical connection must be changed. Connect the router or local network Ethernet port to port on WAP. Connect another cable between the computer and the port router. Apply power to the access point. Now your computer and WAP are connected, but not to each other, instead the router is working.
11.Now on your computer, open a web browser and enter the WAP IP address that was just assigned (in this case, 192.168.1.2) and enter the settings page. Look on the main tab to see what it says Wireless.
12.In this tab, enter the SSID and wireless channel. Look for the sub-tabs that say Wireless Security and click on it. As part of this, select the correct security settings and enter the password or key that is used for your network. This step is to enter the wireless router settings on your access point. After this, close your browser.
13.The LEDs on the access point should be working. Check the WAP manually to see if they are lit correctly - WAP. If you are connecting to a wired router, leave the connections as they are for now. If you have a wireless router, then you can unplug the WAP from the router and install it in a location, such as where it picks up the router's signal and transmits it Right. This process has a bit of "trial and error" in nature, as you must test the signal strength to place the wireless access point at the optimal location.
The above WAP installation procedures may seem very tedious, but you just have to be patient and read the instructions carefully before doing anything. Keep in mind that the access point is now configured with your router's wireless setup software, so if you don't change them to the router, you must change them to the access point.
