Sharing the Internet connection with the mobile by creating an access point is now very easy. This way you can share your data by creating a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or wired connection, but what if you want share Wi-Fi by creating another Wi-Fi with the mobile?
Although this may seem like redundancy, use the mobile as a Wi-Fi repeater It can get you out of various problems. The good news is that while in the past you needed root access and specific hardware, now it’s a little easier to use the right apps.
What is the use of using the mobile as a Wi-Fi repeater
Having the mobile connect to one Wi-Fi network and broadcast another Wi-Fi at first glance doesn’t seem very useful: why doesn’t the other device connect directly to the same Wi-Fi as the mobile? However, the Wi-Fi connection sharing has several advantages for specific uses such as the following
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When the Wi-Fi coverage is very bad, use a cell phone as a repeater to get it to go a little further.
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When you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network that only allows you one device, such as in a hotel or airport.
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When the available Wi-Fi connection is 5 GHz but your device can only connect to 2.4 GHz networks.
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When you are using a VPN or similar and you want another device to use it as well (and you cannot install or configure it on it for some reason).
What apps can you use
Android doesn’t let you create a Wi-Fi hotspot when you’re already connected to a Wi-Fi network (as soon as you do, it disconnects), but luckily there is applications available on Google Play with which you can do it.
The oldest in the place may remember fqrouter2, one of the pioneers in this field of Wi-Fi connection sharing. The app is no longer available on Google Play, although you can find it on UpToDown. It hasn’t been updated for years, but it’s a good alternative if you have an old mobile (like with Android 4.4) and want to breathe new life into it as a Wi-Fi repeater. need root.
For current mobiles, NetShare, which has a version of its app for root users and another that doesn’t need root is a good option, although it’s a paid app. You can use it for free for a few minutes, but then you will need to make a one-time payment of 8.49 dollars.
NetShare works fine, but if you don’t want to pay, a great alternative is Wi-Fi repeater, which is free, allows you to do the same and is compatible with both rooted and unrooted mobiles, from Android 4.2.2. This is the one we’ll be using in our tutorial, although the process is similar with other similar apps.
NetShare – no root connection sharing
How to extend Wi-Fi with an Android mobile
After installing the Wi-Fi repeater, the first step is to create the Wi-Fi connection on the mobile that will share it. To do it, tap the Wi-Fi network icon and agree that the app has access to the location. This is necessary for the operation of the application.
If all went well, a QR code will appear at the top of the app that you can use to connect to Wi-Fi directly with another mobile. If your other device does not have the function, you can also manually connect to the specified network, including the password below.
Of course, it’s important that you don’t just log in with the username and password, as there won’t be any connectivity. Instead, you need to adjust the advanced settings and change section Proxy a manual. In the form, put what appears in IP adress and Wi-Fi repeater and Proxy hostname, and what he puts there HTTP port in Puerto proxy.
If you have connected to the network using the QR code, the configuration is automatic. In this case, you need to go to the Wi-Fi configuration in the mobile settings and change the proxy afterwards. As soon as you do, you will have connectivity on the mobile or any other device that you have connected.
This mobile-created connection is relatively short in range, so it’s more useful than anything for emergencies or isolated cases, but the truth is, it works relatively well. From the Wi-Fi repeater, you can also see the list of connected devices at this moment.
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