I decided to turn one of my computers into a virtual router. What this means is your computer becomes a hotspot and you can transmit the internet to anyone that connects. There are two ways you can set this up, the first way is to perform command prompts as administrator, setting up a local area network. This is very effective and you can connect up to 100 devices wirelessly. The problem is that when you turn your computer off, then turn it back on and want this hotspot again, you have to do those command prompts all over again.
One way around that is to install so-called free software which lets you perform the above task and have the hotspot activate as you boot up. Fine and dandy, but I have tried six such programs, with mixed results and here's the goss':
1. OSToto
I downloaded the file from their recommended link and it would not set up or run. Nothing. I uninstalled and tried again. Same result, won't finish installation.
I should mention that I'm on an Hp 15 running Windows 10. There should be no problems.
2. Connectify
I gave this a go after getting rid of OSToto. It works, but the free version has limitations. The main limitation from where I'm sitting is it turns itself off after 30 minutes even with a client connected - that's very inconvenient. Annoying eh. The hotspot just stops right in the middle of the client doing something. And if someone turns their connected client computer off and goes away for an hour, even if the device transmitting the hotspot is still running they'll have lost their connection and the 'mother' computer needs to click 'create hotspot' again.
Then less annoying are pop up ads that try to get you to buy their Max version which enables you to do other stuff, most likely you'll never need that stuff though.
Basically, this program cannot be taken seriously and will have to go too, at some point.
But it does all work. Oh, I set Connectify to start up on boot-up, but it doesn't always start automatically, that has to be policed as well.
3. MyPublicWifi
Do not download this, it is almost a Virus, or Malware, it is really bad. What this rubbish does is install, then you cannot change the SSID or transmitted name, it is locked at MyPublicWifi, and you cannot change the key or password, it is always 12345678. Holy crap, you're sharing with the world. Then when you try to uninstall it won't let you do that. Getting it out of your system is a nightmare. It took me an hour. Yeah, this is total crap, beware.
Now when you searched for 'virtual router' in Google did those techie clever dick sites tell you any of this? Hmm? No they didn't did they. So I'm using Connectify, it isn't the best but it works. I'm looking for something reliable that stays up all the time, transmitting lovely stuff, securely, privately and is stable. Good luck with that one.
Now I do also have a WiFi connection from the router, I decided to run both, I can't be down you see, if the WiFi from router stuffs up then I can connect via ethernet and run from the virtual hotspot. Get the idea? Not that easy in fact, the devil is always in the detail.
Then onward, ever the optimist...
4. PCTuneUp Wifi Hotspot Creator
This was rubbish, it did not want to load, kept getting an error message, and it downloaded some ad malware to boot. Avoid this one.
5. WinHotspot
Would not start, was in a perpetual state of 'stopped working.'
6. Virtual Router Manager
Finally got somewhere, this actually works. It stays connected. Problem is though, it does not start on boot-up, you have to do that. But once started it works fine. Initially it did not want to start, gave the 'stopped working' message, but after a couple of tries it started and worked. It's very simple, just does the job it's meant to. We'll see if it lasts, I'm not holding my breath.
So of the six tried out, two worked; Connectify can be set to start on boot-up and this works most of the time. But you're limited to 30 minute sessions and you get ads delivered to you. Virtual Router Manager is simpler, works okay but not does not start on boot-up, stays connected it appears, and does the job with no ads or other nasties infecting your computer. Then you have the command prompts approach, which is better than most, I feel.
By all means head over to the Discussion Forum to discuss this.
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