Smart phone use as a wi-fi "hot spot"

[DouglasC]

I am considering buying a "smart" phone which can be used as a wi-fi "hot spot" for use in accessing the Internet on my other devices (tablet and laptop). (Currently only have a "dumb" flip-phone and use a Mi-Fi device for Internet access). Is anyone doing this and does it work as well as a Mi-Fi device? Thanks!

Doug

[Jayco23FB]

I have a Samsung S6 it works fine. I do plug it into an aux power pack as it drains down the battery fast.

[coolmom42]

DouglasC wrote:
Thanks for the comments so far. I'm wondering about signal strength using the smart phone. Seems now that wherever I am, my Mi-Fi shows one bar higher signal strength than I get on my flip phone (e.g. now I have 2 bars on the Mi-Fi but only one bar on my flip phone). My Mi-Fi has never dropped a signal here, but my phone has.

I think a new smart phone is likely to show the same signal strength as your Mi-Fi.

But if you are happy with the Mi-Fi and the flip phone, no need to change. If they are both getting old, you would be ahead to buy one new device.

I resisted getting a smart phone for several years, but now that I've had one for about 18 months, I wouldn't be without one. It's handy as a shirt pocket. All the stuff that you have to boot up a PC to look at, is instantly at your fingertips with a smart phone. Weather, news, camera, shopping, and games all are handy. It's a bit of a learning curve but once you have it set up like you want it, it's super easy.

[Oasisbob]

Yes, It works as well as your signal. We have T Mobile so coverage of any quality is rare

[96Bounder30E]

I've been using Foxfi(wifi tether) on my Verizon UNLIMITED plan using my smartphone for years......my daughters don't have unlimited so I turn it on for them often at restaurants or other times away from the home WIFI.........

I can watch Netflix or programs on my home's dish Hopper using a sling box......

[azrving]

My Verizon works well but I cant text in my current location. I cant text because my phone is in a plastic bag tied to an 8 foot tall metal rod attached to my FW ladder. It's just tall enough to get past the sand dune I'm sitting next to on the gulf. Over all, our smart phones work very well.

The first thing we do when pulling in is check out connectivity. I never run any videos and have shut off automatic updates so they are done when on wifi.

[Trackrig]

Works fine, but check because some of the Android phones disable the phone feature when being used as a hot spot. This might come into play when using the hot spot to find an RV spot for the night on the internet and then not being able to make a call to the RV place without disabling the hot spot. We have two phones, so one gets used as the hot spot and the other for phone calls.

Bill

[mikestock]

I have done this with my Verizon phone for about 6 years. Works without a hitch. Just keep an eye on data use. Not much good for Netflix.

[DutchmenSport]

Use ours all the time. It's especially useful for our "back-up" when we have internet problems at home. My wife and I both do a lot of work from home. My company laptop connects just fine. We use the phone internet (Google) and my wife uses Facebook a lot, but when camping and there's no WiFi service, we always connect via our phones. For us, it works great.

Let's see, we connect 2 personal computers, one Ipad, and 2 work computers through our Iphones. Also, the browser on our phones. We have 2 phones, same plan. Works VERY well (AT&T), and wonder how we survived before this technology existed. The world is at our fingertips! Amazing stuff.... absolutely amazing!!

[2oldman]

works fine

[DouglasC]

Thanks for the comments so far. I'm wondering about signal strength using the smart phone. Seems now that wherever I am, my Mi-Fi shows one bar higher signal strength than I get on my flip phone (e.g. now I have 2 bars on the Mi-Fi but only one bar on my flip phone). My Mi-Fi has never dropped a signal here, but my phone has.

[coolmom42]

TucsonJim wrote:
Mine works perfectly for the application you are considering. I won't use public Wi-Fi when doing anything that could compromise my electronic security such as on-line shopping or bill paying. It's too easy for somebody to steal your information from a public Wi-Fi.

One thing to be careful of is using more data than you paid for in your plan. It can get quite pricey if you do this.

Jim

This. No point in paying for 2 devices and if you are on Verizons rate structure the Mi-Fi is costing you $10/month. You shouldn't use any more data total than in the past.

[TucsonJim]

Mine works perfectly for the application you are considering. I won't use public Wi-Fi when doing anything that could compromise my electronic security such as on-line shopping or bill paying. It's too easy for somebody to steal your information from a public Wi-Fi.

One thing to be careful of is using more data than you paid for in your plan. It can get quite pricey if you do this.

Jim

[srt20]

Yep. Works great.