This article explains how to configure a smartphone / tablet device to act as an Internet hotspot in order to achieve the activation of a Native Instruments product installed on an offline computer.
Hardware Requirements
The following hardware components are required:
- A computer equipped with a wireless network card / adapter.
- A mobile device (smartphone / tablet) supporting hotspot. This feature depends on the system specifications of the device (usually the case for devices equipped with 3G / 4G data connection technology) as well as the options included in the carrier wireless plan. Please contact your mobile carrier and / or device manufacturer for more information.
In this setup, the mobile device will be used as an Internet access point for connection to the offline computer's wireless adapter.
Setting Up the Wi-Fi Hotspot
Before setting up a hotspot on the mobile device, make sure that the corresponding NI product has been installed on your system and is showing up in Native Access / Service Center. Additionally make sure that the Wi-Fi / AirPort services are working properly on your offline computer. If required, update the drivers for your wireless card / adapter. Please consult the manufacturer of your system for more information.
Setting Up the Hotspot on an iOS Device
- Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > On.
- Type your hotspot password (if not previously stored) and proceed to the Wi-Fi network overview.
The hotspot network is named after the iOS device, unless it has been changed to a specific name under Settings > General > About > Name. Find out more about setting up and troubleshooting Personal Hotspot in the corresponding Apple Support pages:
Setting up the Hotspot on Android
- Go to Settings > More... > Tethering & portable hotspot.
- Set up the hotspot by tapping Set up Wi-Fi hotspot. This option shows up as Configure Wi-Fi hotspot on some smartphones.
- Type in the name of the Wi-Fi network, a password and tap Save.
- Tap Portable Wi-Fi hotspot to switch on the hotspot.
While the Tethering & portable hotspot option is included in most Android phones, the wording may vary depending on the device. In some phones, this shows up under Settings > Networks > Sharing. Look for words such as Sharing or Tethering to find it in your phone. Find more information in this article.
Setting up the Hotspot on a Windows Phone
- Go to Settings > Internet Sharing.
- Tap the edit icon (pencil) at the bottom to configure the hotspot.
- Tap Broadcast Name to change the name of the network (if desired) and enter a password in its field below.
- Tap the tick mark to finish configuration.
- Flick the Internet Sharing slider to On.
Setting up the Hotspot on Blackberry 10
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Network Settings > Mobile Hotspot > Next
- You will see four warning prompts (data use, monitor users on hotspot, battery usage and inactivity timer). Tap Next each time.
- Type a password for the Wi-Fi network you are about to create. Tap Next
- Tap Configure. You can now change the name of the network if you want to. Once that's done, tap Save to create the hotspot.
Connecting your Offline Computer to the Hotspot
Connecting to the Hotspot on a Mac Computer
- Make sure that the mobile device's hotspot is enabled and place it near the offline computer.
- On the offline computer, click on the Airport icon on the upper right area of the screen. This will display all available networks.
- Click on the network named after the hotspot.
Note: If the hotspot network does not show up, try to find the network manually or contact Apple Support for more information.
- Enter the hotspot password to connect.
Connecting to the Hotspot on a Windows Computer
- Make sure that the mobile device's hotspot is enabled and place it near the offline computer.
- On the offline computer, click on the taskbar's network icon on the lower right area of the screen. This will display all available network.
- Click on the network named after the hotspot.
Note: If the hotspot network does not show up, try to find the network manually or contact Windows support for more information.
- Enter the hotspot password to connect.
Now you have succesfully connected your offline computer to the Wi-Fi hotspot network and can proceed with the product activation by starting Native Access.
Note: Older products may require a manual activation in Service Center. This article explains how to activate your product in the Native Instruments Service Center.