A technical failure, a power outage or a problem with the internet provider can cause the Wi-Fi connection to be lost unexpectedly. To get out of trouble, with the Mobile data can be to fuel notebooks, tablets and televisions. In this note, How to turn your cell phone into a portable router.
The basic requirement is to have a plan 4GSome providers, such as Personal, offer a service called WIFI PASS that allows you to have extra gigabytes without consuming the plan’s data.
But, depending on the devices that one is going to provide, from the phone there are three most used connection methods: via Wi-Fi, via Bluetooth or via USB cable.
For any of the three variants, it is essential that the mobile phone’s battery is fully charged or that there is a power outlet nearby. If you have an old mobile phone, you can insert your SIM card in it and use it as a router.
Turning your cell phone into a WiFi router: the “hotspot” method
The most advisable choice is to create a Wi-Fi network that can be detected by the devices around it. Its advantage is that it achieves a broader spectrum although requires some hands-on configuration.
The first thing to do is go to Settings and click on the Network and Internet section. Depending on each manufacturer and their customization layer, it may have a different name.
Once inside this section, you will have to click on the option Mobile Hotspot which may also be designated as Wi-Fi zone or Share connection.
In order for other objects to identify this network, it will have to be given a name or SSID and establish a password. This same key must be entered in all the devices that one intends to link.
To make it difficult to guess, it is essential that the combination includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. As for the recommended length, 8 characters is the minimum and 12 is the recommended length.
The next step is to choose the band to be deployed. All devices can connect to the 2.4 GHz band, as it is the most widely accepted frequency. It is characterized by supporting distance better and having a much slower speed than the 5 GHz band.
The 5 GHz band, on the other hand, is characterized by a higher connection speed and shorter distance than that offered by the 2.4 GHz band.
Once configured to activate it, you will have to click on sharing data via Wi-Fi. For the other devices to connect, on the mobile, the data icon should be on.
Turn your cell phone into a WiFi router via Bluetooth
This option consists of sharing Internet from one device to others using a Bluetooth key. It will operate in a similar way to Wi-Fi, although it has its pros and cons.
The main advantage is to establish a more limited circuit, since the range of reach is smaller: is limited to a maximum of 5 metersThis will enable increased security, since the intruder will have to be in the same room.
Another advantage is that it will require fewer configuration steps. It is easier to activate and the connection is enabled in seconds.
The biggest drawback is that Bluetooth is a protocol much slower than Wi-Fi. It’s going to be much more limited and not ideal for streaming videos or downloading files.
Beyond speed, latency will also be affected. It is important that the ping is as low as possible. This can affect a video call, an online game or simply browsing.
Turn your cell phone into a WiFi router via USB cable
If you’re planning to power a laptop or tablet, connecting via a USB cable is the most practical. The charging cable that came with your phone can work. If your devices are new, you can use USB-C at both ends.
Once paired, in Windows, the phone will appear in My Computer along with the rest of the connected devices.
Most phones allow you to control all incoming information, from replying to messages, editing photos and manipulating files, from the computer screen.
If there are several devices waiting for the Internet signal, you will have to look for portable routers while you insert a SIM card with data.
The most basic devices are similar to a flash drive. They plug into the USB port on the machine.
For those looking for something more advanced, there are other models that are medium-sized boxes, very similar to repeaters, that include several Ethernet ports for computers. They are wireless although they plug into a power outlet.
By placing the SIM card inside the 4G or 5G router, it creates a wireless network from which you can also connect different devices without depending on fiber optics or ADSL.