The Internet is found almost anywhere in this day and age. In the city, at your home, even in a few rural areas. The internet connects everyone who uses it, and everyone who uses it tends to be anyone with access to a cell phone. That being said, even with the leaps and bounds of digital technology, the internet, Wi-Fi especially, can be difficult for those to access. And if you are one of those who’ve had such difficulties, you aren’t alone.
Many individuals rely heavily on the internet, along with its ability to help us stay connected. When this is compromised, whether due to poor reception or poorer service, it’s a hindrance. But what if you were told that you can find reliable internet even with all of these factors in mind, and that access to such lies within your palm? Your cell phone, dear readers, can serve as your personal router.
When you use your phone as a router, it can be a lifesaver for your internet connection. It turns your mobile data into a Wi-Fi signal for other devices. This method is handy when traveling, during power outages, or when your primary internet is down. By the end of this article, you will understand how exactly having a phone as your router is beneficial and what it can do.
Mobile Hotspots
A mobile hotspot is a feature on your phone that lets you turn it into a Wi-Fi router, which shares your cell phone’s connectivity with other devices nearby. It allows you to share your connection with other devices that use the internet, like laptops, tablets, etc. When you activate the hotspot feature on your phone, it uses your cellular data to create a Wi-Fi network. Other devices can then connect to this network to access the internet. It’s like carrying a portable internet connection in your pocket.
Different Types of Mobile Hotspots
There are different types of mobile hotspots to choose from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Built-in: Most modern smartphones have a built-in hotspot feature. This basically means that you don’t need to have any extra hardware to make it a router. This feature can usually be found in your phone’s settings, which makes it quite convenient.
- Dedicated Mobile: These come in the form of separate gadgets used to help provide a mobile hotspot. They often have their own battery and can handle more devices connected at once. These devices are great if you need a more robust and reliable connection.
How to Prepare Your Phone as a Router
Before you turn your phone into a hotspot, there are some important things to consider, all of which help decide if your phone is suitable for the task.
- Check Your Data Plan
You need to check if your data plan supports tethering. Many providers tend to offer tethering, but you should make sure it is included in your plan.
- Verify Tethering Availability: Check your mobile carrier’s website or contact customer service to confirm tethering is part of your package.
- Understand Data Limits: Be aware that using your phone as a router can quickly consume data. If your plan has limits, you could run out of data quickly or incur extra charges.
- Additional Fees: Some carriers might charge extra fees for the tethering service. It’s crucial to know these costs upfront to avoid surprise bills.
- Battery Considerations
Using your phone as a router takes a big toll on your batter life. It’s important to make sure it is as full as can be and to keep its drainage as low as possible.
- Keep Your Phone Charged: Always have your phone connected to a charger while using it as a router. This prevents the battery from draining quickly.
- Manage Phone Settings: Lower your screen brightness, turn off unnecessary apps and services to help conserve your battery.
- Use Battery Saver Mode: Most smartphones have a battery saver mode. Turn it on to extend battery life while tethering. This can extend your phone’s life by minutes, even hours.
How to Setup Phone as a Router
To use your phone as a router, or as the Norwegians say, “brukemobilsom modem”, follow the guideline below.
On the Android
If you have an Android, most of them already come with hotspot features. This makes the process of turning it into a router fairly simple.
- Open Settings: Start by opening your phone’s settings. You can do this by tapping the gear icon on your app screen, usually found at the end.
- Navigate to Network & Internet: Scroll down through the settings menu and then tap on “Network & Internet.” This might be named slightly different depending on your phone and Android version.
- Tap on Hotspot & Tethering: Once in “Network & Internet”, find the “Hotspot & Tethering” section, then tap on it to proceed.
- Enable Mobile Hotspot: You’ll see an option for “Wi-Fi Hotspot” or simply “Hotspot.” Toggle the switch to turn it on.
- Configure Hotspot Settings: Before other devices can connect, you need to set up your hotspot with these factors:
- Hotspot Name (SSID): Choose a name for your hotspot. This is what other devices will see when they look for available Wi-Fi routers to connect to
- Security Type: It’s crucial to set up a secure connection, so choose something secure like WPA2.
- Password: Pick a strong password that others will need to connect to your hotspot. Don’t share with those you don’t trust.
On the Ios
If you have an iPhone, it is also easy to set up a hotspot.
- Access Settings: Open your settings by tapping the gear icon on your home or app screen.
- Select Personal Hotspot: Scroll down until you find “Personal Hotspot” then click on it. If you don’t see this option, make sure that your cellular data is turned on.
- Toggle Personal Hotspot On: You’ll see a switch for “Allow Others to Join” Turn this on.
- Set Up Wi-Fi Password: iOS will ask you to create a password if you haven’t already. Choose something strong to keep your connection secure. And like before, do not share it with those you don’t trust.
- Share Your Hotspot: Your iPhone will now be discoverable as a Wi-Fi network. Other devices can now connect to it by selecting your iPhone’s name and entering the password you set.
Straightforward enough, right? But do keep in mind that using your phone as a mobile hotspot eats into your data usage, especially if you aren’t the only one using it. So before making your phone a router, it’s best to make sure that you have enough data-or failing that enough money, to make up the difference.
No matter what type of phone you have, Android or iPhone, setting up a mobile hotspot is a handy trick for you toknow. Whether you’re out in the wild or just need a quick Wi-Fi solution at home, your phone has you and those around you covered.
Conclusion
At this point, you should have a good understanding of how to use your phone as a router. This modern trick can be a lifesaver when your regular internet connection fails, so it’s good to know right? Whether you’re stuck in a power outage or just want some extra mobility, your phone can step in and help keep you online and connected.
