{"id":616,"date":"2021-09-02T15:33:27","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T15:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/?page_id=616"},"modified":"2021-10-05T16:59:59","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T16:59:59","slug":"create-a-mobile-hotspot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicallynetworked.com\/create-a-mobile-hotspot\/","title":{"rendered":"Connect On the Go With Your Own Mobile 3G\/4G Hotspot"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Eric Geier<\/b><\/p>\n

Though 3G and 4G Internet is all about mobility, most providers try to sell you just a single adapter or service to just one phone. However, you don’t have to tie yourself down to using just one laptop or device. We’re going to discuss a couple of solutions to get that single connection shared among multiple devices and\/or users.<\/p>\n

You certainly won’t need to buy a\u00a03G<\/a>\/4G<\/a>\u00a0subscription for each device. First, we’ll discuss techniques that try to use tools you already have to keep the cost down. Then we’ll look at true mobile routers, specifically designed for this application.<\/p>\n

Create a wireless hosted network in Windows 7<\/h3>\n

If you have a 3G\/4G adapter and you or someone else nearby has a laptop loaded with Windows 7, you can make use of a new feature and create what Microsoft calls a\u00a0wireless hosted network<\/em>. It’s basically a virtual wireless router. Since the Windows 7 machine must always be on to share the mobile Internet, this technique might be best for just temporary or occasional use.<\/p>\n

First, you’ll want to plug in the 3G\/4G adapter into the Windows 7 notebook and make sure you can browse the Internet. Then you can setup up a hosted wireless network. You choose a network name and encryption password, and it will look just like a regular Wi-Fi network to other wireless laptops, phones and devices. The best part is that the one hosting the network can share its Internet access, even a 3G or 4G connection.<\/p>\n

You can download a third-party GUI, like\u00a0Connectify<\/a>, or manually create and manage the wireless hosted network via a Command Prompt.<\/p>\n

To go the command-line route, bring up a command prompt by clicking\u00a0Start<\/strong>, entering “cmd”, and hitting\u00a0Enter<\/strong>. Then type the following command to set the network details:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=YourNetworkNameHere<\/em>\u00a0key=YourNetworkPasswordHere<\/em><\/strong><\/tt><\/p>\n

Be sure to replace the SSID and key placeholders with your desired network name (SSID<\/a>) and the WPA2-PSK encryption key.<\/p>\n

Now before activating the wireless hosted network, you can set Windows to share your Internet connection using the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS<\/a>) feature.<\/p>\n

Navigate through the Control Panel or Network and Sharing Center to bring up the Network Connections window. Then right-click the network adapter that’s providing the 3G or 4G access and select Properties. Select the Sharing tab, check\u00a0Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection<\/em>, choose the wireless hosted network Connection from the drop-down list.<\/p>\n

Now to activate the wireless hosted network, enter the following in the command prompt:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan start hostednetwork<\/strong><\/tt><\/p>\n

To deactivate the network, you’d enter:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan stop hostednetwork<\/strong><\/tt><\/p>\n

To see the network details:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan show hostednetwork<\/strong><\/tt><\/p>\n

To change the WPA2-PSK encryption key:<\/p>\n

netsh wlan refresh hostednetwork\u00a0YourNewNetworkPassword<\/em><\/strong><\/tt><\/p>\n

Start an ad-hoc wireless network on any laptop<\/h3>\n

This is similar to the hosted wireless network approach, but you can create a wireless ad-hoc or computer-to-computer network in any Windows version (even in Mac OS X and Linux). However, you’ll probably be limited to using WEP encryption, which is not secure like WPA2. Additionally, this may limit the data rate or speed of the network to 54 Mbps, whereas Wireless N can deliver 100Mbps or more.<\/p>\n

First, plug in the 3G\/4G adapter into the laptop or netbook and make sure you can browse the Internet. Then you can start creating the wireless ad-hoc network. Here’s exactly how to do it in Windows XP:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog and select the Wireless Networks tab.<\/li>\n
  2. Click\u00a0Add<\/strong>\u00a0to create a network profile.<\/li>\n
  3. Mark the checkbox on the bottom,\u00a0This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network; wireless access points are not used<\/em>.<\/li>\n
  4. Enter a unique network name (SSID) and optionally set up encryption.<\/li>\n
  5. Select the Connection tab and make sure the checkbox is\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0marked. Due to security reasons, it’s not recommend to enable automatic connections to ad-hoc networks (or regular networks).<\/li>\n
  6. Click\u00a0OK<\/strong>\u00a0to save the network profile.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to start an ad-hoc network in Windows Vista:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Open the Network and Sharing Center via the icon in the lower right of Windows.<\/li>\n
    2. Click the\u00a0Set up a connection or network<\/em>\u00a0link.<\/li>\n
    3. On the window that pops up, select\u00a0Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network<\/em>, and click Next.<\/li>\n
    4. Read the info on these networks, if desired, and click\u00a0Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    5. Enter a unique network name and optionally enable security.<\/li>\n
    6. Click\u00a0Next<\/strong>\u00a0and wait a minute or so for Windows to create the ad-hoc network.<\/li>\n
    7. Once it’s completed, click\u00a0Close<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Now you must configure Windows to share your mobile internet access:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Open the Network Connections window.<\/li>\n
      2. Right-click on the 3G or 4G connection and select\u00a0Properties<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      3. Select the Advanced tab. Now mark the ICS checkbox,\u00a0Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      4. Click\u00a0OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Now you can activate the ad-hoc network by selecting it from the list of available wireless networks, just like when connecting to normal Wi-Fi network. Finally, the network should be broadcasting and other devices should be able to connect.<\/p>\n

        Use your mobile phone<\/h3>\n

        If you have the Internet on your mobile phone, you might be able to share it right from it. Availability and functionality greatly differs from phone to phone, so check your specific phone model and operating system. Some just do tethering, giving just one laptop a connection. Some act like a wireless router, sharing to multiple Wi-Fi devices.<\/p>\n

        The Android-powered Nexus One can be a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 8 devices, in addition to tethering. The iPhone 4 supports USB and Bluetooth tethering, and there are third-party apps (such as\u00a0MyWi<\/a>) for Wi-Fi sharing.\u00a0WalkingHotSpot<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0WMWifiRouter<\/a>\u00a0offer Wi-Fi sharing for Windows Mobile and other phones.<\/p>\n

        Buy a mobile router<\/h3>\n

        If you want a more permanent solution, you can lay down some cash for a mobile 3G or 4G router. They’re similar to regular wireless routers, like you might have at home. The difference is that you don’t plug it into your cable or DSL modem; you insert your 3G\/4G adapter. Some even have a built-in battery, so it’s truly mobile.<\/p>\n

        Here are a couple of routers you might want to check out:<\/p>\n