Connec8

Connec8 is a small utility capable of creating wireless hotspots, allowing other Wi-Fi enabled devices to access the Internet by making use of your computer. It is a fast way to securely share your connection with others.

As it usually happens with such applications, the configuration process is not difficult at all. However, the command-line interface of Connec8 might not appeal to some users, although all the instructions and commands are clear and understandable.

Provided you launched the application with administrative privileges, Connec8 doesn't trigger any errors and enables you to continue creating a hotspot. The first task is to assign it a name and then, you are prompted to enter a password for access protection.

Once you confirm the creation of the hotspot, Connec8 proceeds to analyzing your network configuration and checking whether all the requirements are met. The 'WLAN Autoconfig service' must be already running in order to make your PC's access point discoverable by other devices or computers equipped with Wi-Fi adapters.

Connec8 automatically changes the SSID of the hosting network and assigns the new password to the hotspot. Afterward, you are prompted to activate Internet Connection Sharing, which is a mandatory step if you haven't performed this operation never again. This is done from the 'Network Connections' section in Control Panel. The hotspot is immediately deactivated from the main window of Connec8. Also, you can restart a hotspot or create a new one.

Connec8 enables you to turn your computer into a Wi-Fi access point, without requiring a wireless router to perform this task. While it does not provide the same feature set as its competitors, the ease of use makes it worth a try.