What Is a Hotspot and How Does a Hotspot Work?
Summary: This article explains what a hotspot is and the types of hotspots available. WiFi hotspots can keep your devices connected when you are away from your home or office.
Mobile connectivity through cell phones, tablets and laptops has become a way of life for most of us for both business and personal travel. Many cell phones have built-in hotspots. However, there are a variety of mobile hotspots available you take along that can support connection speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.
How Does a Hotspot Work?
Hotspots are wireless access points that allow your mobile devices to connect to the internet when you are away from home or the office. Smartphones have built-in hotspots, but using a separate mobile hotspot device makes faster connection speeds possible.
With speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, hotspot devices offer a secure and more seamless connection than built-ins, but they come with limited data restrictions and rarely offer unlimited data plans. Mobile hotspots connect to 4G LTE networks and provide signal speeds of up to 30 Mbps. However, next-generation hotspots with 5G networks offer speeds up to and exceeding 1,000 Mbps. As with all wireless connections, speeds can fluctuate with signal interference. The signal can be affected by the distance from a cell tower, trees, mountains, canyons and inclement weather conditions. Therefore, we do not suggest replacing your home or office internet just yet. Hotspots require cellular service to initiate a WiFi connection. So, if you have a weekend cabin in a remote area without cell service, a mobile hotspot will not work.
Using your cell phone’s built-in hotspot is by far the easiest and least expensive option. In fact, your built-in hotspot is free.
How To Use a Hotspot on Cell Phones
Connecting to WiFi using your phone’s built-in hotspot is a simple process. However, the process is different for Android vs. Apple devices:
- Android Devices:
- On your phone’s “Settings” menu, find hotspot or “tethering.”
- Depending on your phone or tablet, you’ll find the setting under “Network and Internet” or “Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.”
- Turn on the hotspot. If you wish to share the signal with other devices, turn on “WiFi Sharing.”
- When the hotspot is turned on, select the hotspot network from your device’s WiFi menu and connect.
Note: The menu you used to turn on your hotspot will also allow you to configure other hotspot settings, including your network’s password.
- iPhones and Other iOS Devices:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Personal Hotspot (on some models, you might have to go to Settings, then Cellular and finally Personal Hotspot).
- Click the button to turn on Personal Hotspot.
- For connections on multiple devices, turn on the “Allow Others to Join” button.
If your use of hotspots is infrequent, the cell phone's built-in hotspot should be sufficient. However, as there are significant data restrictions related to cell phone hotspots, if you plan on using hotspots frequently, purchasing a separate dedicated mobile hotspot device is the way to go.
Do Mobile Hotspots Work Well?
The short answer is, “Yes!” You will not get as fast a connection or as much data as you get on your home network, but they are often the best option for a reliable connection in places with limited internet access. Also, although many users refer to public WiFi in airports, coffee houses or train stations and other free WiFi networks as hotspots, we strongly recommend not using unsecured public WiFi. Instead, use your phone or mobile hotspot device to connect.
For some users who live in rural areas, a dedicated mobile hotspot might be the only viable connection available. When traveling here or abroad, you might not be able to know in advance what Internet connection challenge you will face. Your hotspot can come to your rescue wherever you are, as long as you have cellphone service.
Are 5G Hotspots Worth It?
As stated, 5G hotspots, connected via 5G wireless networks, offer dramatic increases in connection speeds. But they also allow many more users to share the same connection. 5G networks are WiFi 6 capable and offer more stable connections for multiple users. The faster speeds, in tandem with multiple user connections, make 5G hotspots perfect for sharing with co-workers on business trips, in congested urban areas and for any time multiple users need to work together outside home or office networks.
It is worth noting that although all hotspots are meant for travel, some are specifically designed to work globally through a special data plan or by using a special SIM card from your cellphone provider.
There are many ways to connect to the internet. Network connectivity is easier and faster than ever. However, every user’s needs and budgets are different. Decide what you need and can afford, and if you are still undecided, reach out to a local business IT solutions expert to decide what hotspot is best for you, or how to use a hotspot and for further information on hotspots and other mobile device management issues.