Windows 8.1 - Internet Connection Sharing - USB 3G Modem

Hi Folks,

After too many hours of reading and trying various things. It appears that Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) from USB 3G Modems has been broken in Windows 8.1.

On my Desktop PC, which uses Windows 2000 Server, I am able to share a Huawei E156B USB 3G Modem to 1 of the Ethernet ports to which is connected a Netgear Router with 4 LAN ports and a Wireless Antenna which broadcasts a signal that can be used by my smartphone.

On my recently acquired Lenovo B590 Laptop, I use the same SIM chip in a Huawei E3131 USB 3G Modem but have not been able to share the connection with the Ethernet port. I get the dreaded Unidentified Network and Limited connection statuses.

I tried the older modem but it doesn't appear to be compatible and I couldn't find any drivers for it for Windows 8.1.

I also tried sharing to an Ad Hoc Connection as the Laptop also has a Wireless NIC (Network Interface Card). The phone can see the signal broadcast by the Wireless NIC but is not able to communicate with the Internet.

I have tested the E3131 USB modem with the Netgear router with a friend's Dell Inspiron 1545 that has Windows Vista installed and I was able to establish the sharing of the Internet Connection to the Router and hence could also access the Internet with the smartphone.

As soon as I am able I will perform the same test on the Laptop, of another friend, which has Windows 7 installed.

Given that adding an Ad Hoc connection was removed from the GUI interface of Windows 8.1, I am wondering if Microsoft have made a huge "faux pas" in overlooking the need for, or eliminating without consultation, this functionality which has worked fine in previous versions of the Operating System. The following web page may also be related to this topic.

About the Wireless Ad Hoc API (Windows)

However, maybe there is a possibility that this problem is being caused by the modems needing updated firmware or "Connection Management Software", provided by the Internet Service Provider, to be fully compatible with API changes in Windows 8.1. Can anybody shed some light on this possibility?

So, what alternative solutions are there?

It appears that Connectify allows the sharing of an Internet service between a USB 3G Modem and an Ethernet port. If so, what API would they be using to achieve this and could the same thing be achieved through the Command Prompt (with Administrator Privileges) using "netsh" (Network Shell) commands?

Does anyone know if Virtual Router Manager is compatible with Windows 8.1 and is a viable solution to this problem?

Instead of an Ad Hoc connection being created, using the wireless NIC, can a secure Access Point be created to which the Modems connection could be shared? Can "netsh" commands be used to achieve this?

I have also seen articles about creating an Access Point but they are using the same "netsh" commands that I have seen mentioned for the creation of an Ad Hoc Network connection.

Therefore, can someone point me to a reliable and accurate resource for the creation of an Access Point using "netsh" commands?

If there is no reliable/convenient software solution to this problem, are there hardware related solutions?

Are there Routers with Wireless Output Antennas that can receive an inbound connection from a USB 3G Modem and then pass that connection to the PC/Laptop via the Ethernet port of the PC/Laptop as well as re-broadcast the signal via the output antenna?

If so, how do you manage activating the connection to the service provider of the USB Modem?

Can the connection software, that was installed when the USB Modem was connected to a USB port of the PC/Laptop, recognise that it is connected to the external router?

Even if it could, maybe the sharing of a connection would again be thwarted due to changes in the APIs of Windows 8.1.

Thanks, Michael.

Update

Following up on the idea that maybe the Firmware or Connection Manager software needed updating, I did some more searching in this regard. I didn't find any recently listed drivers for my modem but on searching for a Windows 8.1 version of Mobile Partner, Huawei's Connection Manager, I discovered the following page.

Mobile Partner Version 23.009.09.02.910 Released | HuaweiNews

This provided a later version than the customised version provided by my ISP. With mention of WiFi Direct on the above page, I was cautiously hopeful that I may have found the solution I was looking for.

So, I installed the latest version and configured it the same as that which was provided by my ISP and BINGO.

I was able to share the connection with my Ethernet port and hence the smartphone could access the Internet via the wireless signal from the router.

I still need to test whether I can also share the connection to the Wireless NIC. I'll report back soon.