[Feature Request] host access point/Ad-hoc

[Spidy123222]

Currently on steamOS on any version (even using version 3.5) you cannot make a hotspot for being able for other people with same or similar systems to be used for LAN usage like with games. I've read some Reddit posts about getting it to work by adding dependencies in konsole but this would be ideal to have in the operating system itself and possibly on the game ui within settings. At this moment when you attempt to enable hotspot from Wi-Fi tab with Wi-Fi disabled in desktop mode it doesn't enable because of an error.

IDW Backend only supports psk authentication in AP mode.

Checking in konsole it's clear the Wi-Fi nic supports ap and ad-hoc modes which both don't work.

[kisak-valve]

Hello @Spidy123222, technically this is a duplicate of #998, but since the other issue report was the lowest effort possible, I've closed in in favor of this issue report.

Without a cellular connection, "hotspot" isn't conceptually possible with the current generation of hardware, but the idea of setting up an ethernet on usb-c dock to wifi access point is worth pondering, so I've adjusted the issue report title to reflect that.

[Spidy123222]

Hello @Spidy123222, technically this is a duplicate of #998, but since the other issue report was the lowest effort possible, I've closed in in favor of this issue report.

Without a cellular connection, "hotspot" isn't conceptually possible with the current generation of hardware, but the idea of setting up an ethernet on usb-c dock to wifi access point is worth pondering, so I've adjusted the issue report title to reflect that.

@kisak-valve There is many older games that don't need internet to work with a lan only connection (Minecraft, worms games, quake, likely some more modern titles but I don't generally play too much modern titles and mostly just older or indie). When I say hotspot it's just how they mentioned it in KDE plasma l, which is really just AP mode. openwrt devices could host without any internet like a drone with Wi-Fi connection and be used as a lan Wi-Fi host device (not ideal but have been done before). True a ethernet adapter could be nice to host internet with the hotspot as a method also. Also thanks for compliment on the effort. I try to make detailed analysis of issues/feature requests with my testing skills from other projects I test with like xemu and dolphin.

[Kiaos]

I kinda need this feature. Because It would be nice to use the steam deck as an access point for wifi lan games. example air plane or camping. Using a Dock on a plane is not feasible. The one thing i wana do is moonlight game stream to sunshine and use my phone as a second screen for 3ds play over lan wifi. Plus other lan games. Pokemon trading with emulators and two steam decks via ad-hoc or hotspot wifi.

[Spidy123222]

I kinda need this feature. Because It would be nice to use the steam deck as an access point for wifi lan games. example air plane or camping. Using a Dock on a plane is not feasible. The one thing i wana do is moonlight game stream to sunshine and use my phone as a second screen for 3ds play over lan wifi. Plus other lan games. Pokemon trading with emulators and two steam decks via ad-hoc or hotspot wifi.

I don’t recommend this but you can turn off read only and add the required dependencies to get it running and then lock it back up. I believe it should tell you what’s needed if you try initializing it via command line. Some people report been able to do it in Reddit by modifying this way. Though it would be highly preferred if it was there by default on steamOS and have a ui for it in the gameui.

[Kiaos]

I do

I kinda need this feature. Because It would be nice to use the steam deck as an access point for wifi lan games. example air plane or camping. Using a Dock on a plane is not feasible. The one thing i wana do is moonlight game stream to sunshine and use my phone as a second screen for 3ds play over lan wifi. Plus other lan games. Pokemon trading with emulators and two steam decks via ad-hoc or hotspot wifi.

I don’t recommend this but you can turn off read only and add the required dependencies to get it running and then lock it back up. I believe it should tell you what’s needed if you try initializing it via command line. Some people report been able to do it in Reddit by modifying this way. Though it would be highly preferred if it was there by default on steamOS and have a ui for it in the gameui.

I do this all the time already its not really fesible all the time because I have to reinstall all my changes everytime. I wish steam OS had an advanced usermode where you can have a normal arch install with all the steam os trimmings. Im an advance user and flatpaks dont work for alot of what i use the steam deck for.

[Spidy123222]

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1021#issuecomment-1774212317

For most things that don't work with the immutable nature of steamOS I use distrobox.

[dragoonDorise]

@kisak-valve any chance of this getting to stable some day? I wanted to do an adhoc multiplayer mode for EmuDeck but like the OP said we are missing some dependencies to do it

[BakaKuma-uwu]

I'm gonna do a road trip with friends and we wanted to play Steam Deck while in the car, some borderlands 2 LAN action, but then we noticed that it doesn't work like that.. Should've brought a Switch.

[Kiaos]

it does if you buy this. https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/rt-ax57-go/

[BakaKuma-uwu]

I don't want to buy another device for 130 bucks for something that should already be working :/ People compare the steam deck to the switch all the time, but I can't even play local multiplayer without internet connection..

[Kiaos]

Ive setup Adhoc before but it requires installing some prerequsites and it disapears when you update but ive gotten it to work before.

[Kiaos]

a portable router is easier. If your phone supports it you can to wireless lan over your cell tethering.

[BakaKuma-uwu]

I hope we'll get a decky plugin or something official from valve eventually... It could bring in a new wave of LAN games on Steam that are gonna be available forever since they don't need a server

[BakaKuma-uwu]

a portable router is easier. If your phone supports it you can to wireless lan over your cell tethering.

there isn't always data everywhere

[Kiaos]

the router doesnt need internet Just needs to fuction as a lan.

[Spidy123222]

I hope we'll get a decky plugin or something official from valve eventually... It could bring in a new wave of LAN games on Steam that are gonna be available forever since they don't need a server

Maybe I can look into decky's developer kit. I think it just used python.