Turn your laptop into a virtual personal Wi-Fi hotspot and seamlessly implement Wireless Home Networking in few minutes. This process should work equally even if your laptop is already wireless connected to internet/network or Ethernet. You can simultaneously connect to a number of gadgets or computer using your own personal Wi-Fi hotspot with WPA2 encryption. (If you want to create wireless ad-hoc network not a virtual router, then read this article.)
The users of Windows 7 & Windows Vista (running Intel’s Centrino 2 Processor with My WiFi technology – don’t worry about these words, your laptop will be able to work with this process in most of the cases) except the Starter Edition of Win 7 should download and install Virtual Router – Wifi Hot Spot for Windows 7 / 2008 R2 from Codeplex site. After installing this software, Virtual Router Manager will run automatically. Ensure your Wireless adapter is turned on (if you are connected via Ethernet otherwise if you are already wirelessly connected adapter is already on).
FYI: According to Codeplex, Virtual Router is a free, open source software based router for PCs running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Using Virtual Router, users can wirelessly share any internet connection (Wifi, LAN, Cable Modem, Dial-up, Cellular, etc.) with any Wifi device (Laptop, Smart Phone, iPod Touch, iPhone, Android Phone, Zune, Netbook, wireless printer, etc.) These devices connect to Virtual Router just like any other access point, and the connection is completely secured using WPA2 (the most secure wireless encryption.)
Enter the Network Name (SSID) and password (8 characters min for WPA2 encryption) in the Virtual Router Settings wizard. Then Start Virtual Router. Now, try to connect to this Network (SSID) from your mobile phone or another laptop or Wireless adapter installed desktop.
Step 1. Setting up Virtual Router WiFi for Home Wireless Networking
Connecting with Virtual Router - Virtual WiFi Hotspot
The Virtual Router Manager shows a list of Peers Connected. In above screenshot, an iPhone, a Mac and a Desktop computer has been connected to the wireless home or private hotspot we just created.
Right click to change icons of Peer devices connected to the virtual Router
The complete documentation and frequently asked questions about Virtual Router Manager, supported Wireless Network Adapter and other issues can be tracked from Codeplex’s Virtual Router page.
