Virtual Router in Windows 7

Mobile and Smart devices with WiFi access ability are common these days, and we want to use this feature access net on our smart devices and file sharing. But there is a little limitation in this. Our smart devices can only connect to a WiFi hotspot which is in Infrastructure mode, not Ad-hoc mode.

But many of us have only a Laptop or Desktop, which can create a Ad-hoc WiFi Network, and Ad-hoc mode is not supported by our smart phones. But there is a solution for it, for Windows 7 and 2008 R2 (except Starter Edition) users.

In Windows 7 if your Wifi Card driver supported then you can create a WiFi access point in Infrastructure mode. This can create a Infrastructure mode Wifi hot-spot, that can be detectable by our smart devices. Keep in mind that not all Wifi Card support this feature.

For confirmation weather you can enable Virtual Router, just go to

Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Setting

If here you are able to see second Wireless Adapter “Microsoft Virtual Miniport Adapter”, then you can enable Virtual Router.

How to Enable or Disable Virtual Router:

You can enable or disable Virtual Router in two ways, one is CLI – you should know all the commands and second is GUI applications – you need to install any GUI software.

1. Command Based :

• Open command prompt with Administrator privileges.
• Enter the following command: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Name key=Passcode. Here Name = Give your desire name for SSID, and Passcode = Your desire Passcode for the Wifi network.
• Do not close this CMD window, we need it later.
• Open the Networks and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Setting
• Select your mode of connecting to the internet (ethernet, wi-fi, cable etc.)
• Enable sharing and select special interface or Wireless Connection (i.e. Virtual Wifi miniport)
• Start the access point with the following command in cmd : netsh wlan start hostednetwork
• To stop it just give this command in cmd : netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
• To see the Wireless Hosted Network details, including the MAC addresses of connected users : netsh wlan show hostednetwork

2. GUI Applications: There are lot of applications (some free and some paid) are available on internet. This is suitable for everyone as you don’t need to remember all the commonds, and easy to manage. I am just mentioning few good applications here :

• Virtual Router
• Connectify
• Mhotspot
• Virtual Wi-Fi Router

You can check for more alternatives here at alternativeto.net

Just install any software and follow the onscreen settings, and create a Virtual Router. For further help you can visit there sites.

Note : This is a software based Virtual Router, so it have some limitation and sometimes unexpected behaviour. But most of the time it will be fix by simply off and on the router.

ALWAYS USE THE WPA2 ENCRYPTION SECURITY FOR YOUR WIFI NETWORK, SO THAT YOUR NEIGHBOUR IS NOT STARTED USING YOUR INTERNET ON HIS SMART PHONE.

This is very good alternative for smart phones and saving bucks from buying a Router. But if you need a proper and permanet solution then go for a Physical Router.