Setting Up a Software Access Point

If you decided to use a software access point rather than a hardware AP, you have to set that up to get your WLAN up and running. The setup and installation depend on the SAP software that you have chosen and are different for every vendor. The parameters are similar to those required to set up a hardware AP and include:

- SSID

- Channel

- Encryption

-Network information

SAP software works by configuring your wireless adapter to act like an access point. Usually this means that the card handles radio functions, and the software handles most of the access point functions (routing, encryption, MAC address). Not all wireless adapters work with SAP software, so you have to make sure that you have a compatible adapter.

Because network adapters do not have the same power output as hardware access points, you may not be able to achieve the same speeds with an SAP that you would experience with a hardware AP.