Using Windows 7 as a wireless AP

[TofiBaba]

PLEASE DO THIS ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IT MAY DESTROY YOUR COMPUTERS NETWORKING IF YOU DONT KNOW THIS STUFF.

Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2 comes with this undocumented feature where you can set the computer up as a wireless access point. Not many people know about it but if the computer has a Windows7 logo on it you should be able to do this.

You just need to run a few commands and you are up and running. Here are the steps:

Open up cmd prompt (you need to run this with admin privilidges)
Run this command to setup the soft (virtual) AP:

[B]Netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=Gupshup key=12345678[/B]

This code sets up a new access point on your computer called Gupshup. To connect to it you need the key 12345678

This commands starts up the new virtual AP so you :

[B]Netsh wlan start hostednetwork[/B]

And then finally this command turns off your firewall:

[B]Netsh firewall set opmode disable[/B]

[Si4e]

Re: Using Windows 7 as a wireless AP

Cool, can you bridge this wifi network with your existing wifi network (one through your router out to the interwebs) and then other devices can connect to 'Gupshup' and get on the webs too?

This would be great next time I'm at a hotel where you have to purchase internet access, that's if this technique allows other users access to the net.

[TofiBaba]

Re: Using Windows 7 as a wireless AP

Yes, ofcourse. That's the whole point of using this. Once you have the AP created you do the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) normally and others around you get the access.

[Si4e]

Re: Using Windows 7 as a wireless AP

Nice! Thanks!