Make Your Smartphone WiFi Hotspot
Create a WiFi Hotspot with an Android Phone.
Posted By Tony Bravo , 10 April 2015
On your phone go to Setting > Wireless & network > Tethering & portable hotspot. The exect menu names can vary slightly on some phones, but if you can get to the wireless settings section, that's generally where where need to be.
On Android go to Tethering & portable hotspot.
Next, you will see a few different tethering options. Also the capability of giving your hotspot strong encryption in case you're in a public location. The Network S.S.I.D will default to Android A.P but you can that and a password to something that is secure but also easy to remember.
Set up a WiFi hotspot on Android
This method may require a tethering plan with your carrier - and it most definitely will if you live in the US. There are also lots of third-party apps in Google Play that will let you bypass a tethering plan, but you'll want to remember that they likely violate wireless agreement with your carrier.
Make a iPhone a WiFi hotspot.
On your iPhone go to Settings > Cellular and then tap to turn Personal Hotspot on. After a while it will automatically turn off if no devices are connected to it. But you can easily turn it back on in the same section. On iOS 7 you'll also be able to monitor how much data has been used.
Setting up a WiFi hotspot on iPhone.
This will also require a tethering plan if you live in the US. The App Store doesn't have plan-bypassing hotspot apps, but if you jailbreak your iPhone you'll find a similar selection to what you'll find on Android.
Make a Windows Phone a WiFi hotspot
For this I am using Windows Phone 8.1, but the process is virtually identical with Windows Phone 8 and even .5. The difference between 7.5 and 8 is the amount of devices you can connect. Windows Phone 8.x allows you to connect up to 8 devices.
To set it up on your phone go to Settings > internet sharing and flip Sharing to on. Then on the next screen you can keep the default log in credentials or change them to something easier to remember.
Turn on Internet Sharing on Windows Phone
Connecting your laptop or tablet to the hotspot
Connecting your laptop or other device to the phone's hotspot connection is straight forward too. Connect to it as you would any other WiFi connection. Find the headset that is broadcasting and select it. Then enter in the password you configured for it.
Find the broadcasting handset to connect to
Or you can connect your tablet or other device the same way. In the example below I am Broadcasting the data connection from Windows Phone to a Nexus 7.
Connect from a tablet to smartphone's WiFi hotspot
Summing up
Again, just remember that your results will vary , as not all service provider allow you to create a hotspot for free. Often you'll be charged extra, so you'll definitely want to check with your carrier to make sure the feature is supported.
If you're on a limited data plan , it will be wise to use this option sparingly or when you're in a pinch. Also note that with this ad hotspot WiFi connection, you may experience slower speeds. It will depend on how good of a data connection you have, as well as the number of devices that are connected at the same time.
Thanks.
Posted By Tony Bravo , 10 April 2015
On your phone go to Setting > Wireless & network > Tethering & portable hotspot. The exect menu names can vary slightly on some phones, but if you can get to the wireless settings section, that's generally where where need to be.
On Android go to Tethering & portable hotspot.
Next, you will see a few different tethering options. Also the capability of giving your hotspot strong encryption in case you're in a public location. The Network S.S.I.D will default to Android A.P but you can that and a password to something that is secure but also easy to remember.
Set up a WiFi hotspot on Android
This method may require a tethering plan with your carrier - and it most definitely will if you live in the US. There are also lots of third-party apps in Google Play that will let you bypass a tethering plan, but you'll want to remember that they likely violate wireless agreement with your carrier.
Make a iPhone a WiFi hotspot.
On your iPhone go to Settings > Cellular and then tap to turn Personal Hotspot on. After a while it will automatically turn off if no devices are connected to it. But you can easily turn it back on in the same section. On iOS 7 you'll also be able to monitor how much data has been used.
Setting up a WiFi hotspot on iPhone.
This will also require a tethering plan if you live in the US. The App Store doesn't have plan-bypassing hotspot apps, but if you jailbreak your iPhone you'll find a similar selection to what you'll find on Android.
Make a Windows Phone a WiFi hotspot
For this I am using Windows Phone 8.1, but the process is virtually identical with Windows Phone 8 and even .5. The difference between 7.5 and 8 is the amount of devices you can connect. Windows Phone 8.x allows you to connect up to 8 devices.
To set it up on your phone go to Settings > internet sharing and flip Sharing to on. Then on the next screen you can keep the default log in credentials or change them to something easier to remember.
Turn on Internet Sharing on Windows Phone
Connecting your laptop or tablet to the hotspot
Connecting your laptop or other device to the phone's hotspot connection is straight forward too. Connect to it as you would any other WiFi connection. Find the headset that is broadcasting and select it. Then enter in the password you configured for it.
Find the broadcasting handset to connect to
Or you can connect your tablet or other device the same way. In the example below I am Broadcasting the data connection from Windows Phone to a Nexus 7.
Connect from a tablet to smartphone's WiFi hotspot
Summing up
Again, just remember that your results will vary , as not all service provider allow you to create a hotspot for free. Often you'll be charged extra, so you'll definitely want to check with your carrier to make sure the feature is supported.
If you're on a limited data plan , it will be wise to use this option sparingly or when you're in a pinch. Also note that with this ad hotspot WiFi connection, you may experience slower speeds. It will depend on how good of a data connection you have, as well as the number of devices that are connected at the same time.
Thanks.
