It's probably happened to all of us at one point or another: You visit a friend or friends visit you and someone needs Wi-Fi access on the other's network. Maybe you don't even remember what your Wi-Fi password is or maybe it's just a hassle to type in or say a long, strong password like {3d9tmE8y3:tT3sw(M. Whatever the case, you can share your internet access without too much trouble with one of the options below. ~ February 10, 2014
Many wireless routers these days offer an option to set up a guest network. This is an additional Wi-Fi network that guests can connect to--either with a unique password different from your home network or no password--to get online. It provides internet access but separates the guests from your home network, so you don't have to worry about files being accidentally (or purposely) being accessed by unauthorized people.
To enable it, head to your router's configuration page (usually something like 192.168.2.1 in your browser) and look for something called Guest Network. (FYI, this screenshot is from the Asus RT-N66U, which I wrote about here and am quite fond of.)
If your router doesn't have the guest network option or you prefer an alternative to creating another network, consider the geeky QR code method. Here, you generate a QR code for the Wi-Fi login using an app like QR Stuff (works with Android) or QR Code generator, print out the code and your friend only needs to scan the code with a barcode scanner, such as the free Barcode Scanner app on Android, to log in.
Note, however, that iOS barcode apps will see the login information, so this is more for the convenience of not having to tell/type in a cumbersome password than for security. If you can trust your friends with your network password or all of your friends are Android users, this is a fairly easy solution.
Pylon is a new system raising funds on Kickstarter. It's a device that gives guests access to the home Wi-Fi network by waving their phone over the Pylon, a 3-inch by 3-inch station you can hang on your wall. On Android, the connection is made using Near Field Communication; on other devices, guests bump their phones to the Pylon to get connected.
In addition to the network access, Pylon facilitates sharing videos, movies, and photos over connected gadgets, and the Pylon owner has control over who has access to the network, the type of access they have, and how long they can use the network.
The downside: It requires guests to download and install the Pylon app for access. The system costs $85 (early bird) or $100 on Kickstarter for the Pylon (which can be placed anywhere) and the base station, which connects to your router.
Also, since this is a Kickstarter campaign that's set to expire March 1, 2014, there's no guarantee as of this writing that you'll actually get one.
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