Can someone explain personal hotspot?

kylie_madonna · 17-10-2015, 11:48

Can someone please explain personal hotspot to me for my iPhone 4s? Does personal hotspot mean I can get wifi anytime anywhere? I was looking at ways to get a wifi all the time (if there is such a way?) and came across personal hotspot but I may have misunderstood how it works. If I switch it on my iPhone 4s does this mean I have wifi access all the time. I was looking if can wifi all the time as will help me listen to spotify. I know spotify can use offline access but it takes up too much room on my phone storing songs on my phone

Pedro_C · 17-10-2015, 11:53

It means that your phone produces a wifi hotspot, so you can say connect a laptop to the internet while on the move.

rightonpard · 17-10-2015, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro_C

It means that your phone produces a wifi hotspot, so you can say connect a laptop to the internet while on the move.

It will use your mobile data allowance to do so.

In laymans terms, it effectively converts your 3G/4G signal from your mobile provider into a WiFi hotspot so that you can connect any WiFi capable device to the internet through your data plan.

Lidtop2013 · 17-10-2015, 13:11

And also if you want to connect your phone to wifi you can't do that, you can only connect other devices to your phone. I only say that because you were talking about Spotify on your phone. If you want to use Spotify on your phone over wifi you'll either need a landline internet connection at home or another phone/SIM card that allows personal hotspots

kylie_madonna · 17-10-2015, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lidtop2013

And also if you want to connect your phone to wifi you can't do that, you can only connect other devices to your phone. I only say that because you were talking about Spotify on your phone. If you want to use Spotify on your phone over wifi you'll either need a landline internet connection at home or another phone/SIM card that allows personal hotspots

Oh I see what you mean oh that's no good for my spotify. Is their anyway at all anyone know to get a perm any wifi all the time when on train or out and about at all?

corf · 17-10-2015, 15:51

Isn't 3G or 4g what you are looking for?

kylie_madonna · 17-10-2015, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by corf

Isn't 3G or 4g what you are looking for?

I have 3G on my iPhone 4s but when I'm on the move in the car or on train I going to be using my data when not connected to a wifi connection. This may sound really stupid but is their anyway to get a wifi connection anywhere when out and about like free wifi you get in McDonald's haha? Put it basically when your not at home and your not using your home internet anyway to get wifi on your phone all the time that's not using your data?

packages · 17-10-2015, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylie_madonna

Oh I see what you mean oh that's no good for my spotify. Is their anyway at all anyone know to get a perm any wifi all the time when on train or out and about at all?

Do you understand how wifi actually works?

kylie_madonna · 17-10-2015, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by packages

Do you understand how wifi actually works?

I know my tech but I'm not an IT expect I know what it is in basics

IvanIV · 17-10-2015, 16:37

There has to be an available Wi-Fi hotspot for you to use and you will have to find that ad hoc. You may get Wi-Fi on a train or a bus, but most hotspots are stationary, so when on the move your mobile data connection is the best bet. When not moving you will just have to check to see what is available.

chrisjr · 17-10-2015, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylie_madonna

I know my tech but I'm not an IT expect I know what it is in basics

To get WiFi on your phone you have to be in range of a WiFi hotspot. If you are out in the middle of nowhere then it is very unlikely you will be anywhere near any sort of WiFi signal.

There is no way at all that you can just use WiFi anywhere and everywhere. If there is no public WiFi network for your phone to attach to then you are stuffed.

corf · 17-10-2015, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylie_madonna

Put it basically when your not at home and your not using your home internet anyway to get wifi on your phone all the time that's not using your data?

No is the short answer. There are hotspot networks like by openzone or the cloud which can cost, but these are based at certain businesses and short range and very limited footprint.

switching to a higher mobile data plan is your only solution for an almost always available internet connection. Three off unlimited for reasonable costs other networks offer sizeable allowances, 20gb etc

enapace · 17-10-2015, 22:35

I use personal hotspot on a daily basis. Networks have always kind of hated it as if you on a large data plan it makes mobile data plans for tablets seem pointless.

But basically as everyone has said if you want a always on connection look into a data sim as a option networks are offering large amounts these days for fairly reasonable amounts.

17-10-2015, 11:48	#1
kylie_madonna Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 283	Can someone explain personal hotspot? Can someone please explain personal hotspot to me for my iPhone 4s? Does personal hotspot mean I can get wifi anytime anywhere? I was looking at ways to get a wifi all the time (if there is such a way?) and came across personal hotspot but I may have misunderstood how it works. If I switch it on my iPhone 4s does this mean I have wifi access all the time. I was looking if can wifi all the time as will help me listen to spotify. I know spotify can use offline access but it takes up too much room on my phone storing songs on my phone

17-10-2015, 11:53	#2
Pedro_C Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 660	It means that your phone produces a wifi hotspot, so you can say connect a laptop to the internet while on the move.

17-10-2015, 11:59	#3
rightonpard Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North Wales & Cornwall Posts: 144	Quote: Originally Posted by Pedro_C It means that your phone produces a wifi hotspot, so you can say connect a laptop to the internet while on the move. It will use your mobile data allowance to do so. In laymans terms, it effectively converts your 3G/4G signal from your mobile provider into a WiFi hotspot so that you can connect any WiFi capable device to the internet through your data plan.

17-10-2015, 13:11	#4
Lidtop2013 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: West Midlands Posts: 2,450	And also if you want to connect your phone to wifi you can't do that, you can only connect other devices to your phone. I only say that because you were talking about Spotify on your phone. If you want to use Spotify on your phone over wifi you'll either need a landline internet connection at home or another phone/SIM card that allows personal hotspots

17-10-2015, 15:25	#5
kylie_madonna Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 283	Quote: Originally Posted by Lidtop2013 And also if you want to connect your phone to wifi you can't do that, you can only connect other devices to your phone. I only say that because you were talking about Spotify on your phone. If you want to use Spotify on your phone over wifi you'll either need a landline internet connection at home or another phone/SIM card that allows personal hotspots Oh I see what you mean oh that's no good for my spotify. Is their anyway at all anyone know to get a perm any wifi all the time when on train or out and about at all?

17-10-2015, 15:51	#6
corf Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,458	Isn't 3G or 4g what you are looking for?

17-10-2015, 16:09	#7
kylie_madonna Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 283	Quote: Originally Posted by corf Isn't 3G or 4g what you are looking for? I have 3G on my iPhone 4s but when I'm on the move in the car or on train I going to be using my data when not connected to a wifi connection. This may sound really stupid but is their anyway to get a wifi connection anywhere when out and about like free wifi you get in McDonald's haha? Put it basically when your not at home and your not using your home internet anyway to get wifi on your phone all the time that's not using your data?

17-10-2015, 16:09	#8
packages Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 879	Quote: Originally Posted by kylie_madonna Oh I see what you mean oh that's no good for my spotify. Is their anyway at all anyone know to get a perm any wifi all the time when on train or out and about at all? Do you understand how wifi actually works?

17-10-2015, 16:12	#9
kylie_madonna Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 283	Quote: Originally Posted by packages Do you understand how wifi actually works? I know my tech but I'm not an IT expect I know what it is in basics

17-10-2015, 16:37	#10
IvanIV Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 25,199	There has to be an available Wi-Fi hotspot for you to use and you will have to find that ad hoc. You may get Wi-Fi on a train or a bus, but most hotspots are stationary, so when on the move your mobile data connection is the best bet. When not moving you will just have to check to see what is available.

17-10-2015, 16:40	#11
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by kylie_madonna I know my tech but I'm not an IT expect I know what it is in basics To get WiFi on your phone you have to be in range of a WiFi hotspot. If you are out in the middle of nowhere then it is very unlikely you will be anywhere near any sort of WiFi signal. There is no way at all that you can just use WiFi anywhere and everywhere. If there is no public WiFi network for your phone to attach to then you are stuffed.

17-10-2015, 19:23	#12
corf Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,458	Quote: Originally Posted by kylie_madonna Put it basically when your not at home and your not using your home internet anyway to get wifi on your phone all the time that's not using your data? No is the short answer. There are hotspot networks like by openzone or the cloud which can cost, but these are based at certain businesses and short range and very limited footprint. switching to a higher mobile data plan is your only solution for an almost always available internet connection. Three off unlimited for reasonable costs other networks offer sizeable allowances, 20gb etc

17-10-2015, 22:35	#13
enapace Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4,249	I use personal hotspot on a daily basis. Networks have always kind of hated it as if you on a large data plan it makes mobile data plans for tablets seem pointless. But basically as everyone has said if you want a always on connection look into a data sim as a option networks are offering large amounts these days for fairly reasonable amounts.

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Can someone explain personal hotspot?