Web Tip Wednesday: ‘No AP Mode Supported’

A ‘No AP Mode Supported’ warning means that your wireless card does not support running in Access Point mode.

Some people confuse Access Points with Ad Hoc networks. Ad Hoc networks use a connection between two or more devices without using a wireless access point. This way, the devices communicate directly when in range.

Windows 7 added some new functionality in their network driver model, which is how Connectify is able to create an infrastructure-mode, Access Point mode hotspot, same as a hardware router or AP. It does require both Windows 7 and a Windows 7 compliant network device driver.

If you’re a Windows 7 user and you see this warning, you are running network drivers from Vista or even XP. Some devices are updated regularly by their manufacturers; others are essentially “abandoned”. Connectify has no control over this, but we do maintain a list of devices that are reported working, and others not so well supported.

You may find updated drivers via Windows Update. Many times, however, Windows Update does not have the latest drivers and you may need to check with your laptop or wireless device manufacturer to find them. Connectify Support Engineers often suggest checking this website for downloading the latest drivers.

If you’re running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you have no options: you cannot run in infrastructure mode, because Windows doesn’t provide the interfaces to create that kind of hotspot. You may still find Connectify very useful. Pretty much all personal computers, and many devices, can connect over Ad-Hoc hotspots without any problems.

For more details, and a list of known supported devices, please consult the Supported Cards and Devices section.

Happy Connecting!

-The Connectify Team

p.s. If you have any ideas for next week’s tip, leave us a comment on our Facebook!