When you’re on the go with laptops and tablets, you rely on your smartphone to access the Internet using the Wi-Fi hotspot feature. However, this can quickly drain your battery and eat up valuable data if you don’t have an unlimited plan.
Fortunately, a dedicated portable Wi-Fi hotspot can be a good alternative if you need an additional Internet connection, allowing you to connect multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time and share Wi-Fi with friends and family.
If you’re interested in a portable Wi-Fi hotspot but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain what a Wi-Fi hotspot is, how it works, and some things to consider before you buy.
What is a portable Wi-Fi hotspot?
A Wi-Fi hotspot is one of two things. It can be a dedicated device that picks up a mobile cellular connection and relays it as Wi-Fi to multiple devices wirelessly, or you can use your smartphone to act as a mobile hotspot in the same way. In any case, you can use a mobile connection for various devices only with Wi-Fi.
Although you can create a hotspot for home Internet use, most people use it as a secondary connection when away from home. Portable Wi-Fi hotspots provide greater flexibility by allowing you to connect on the go. You’ll only need access to the network through your mobile operator, and some offer completely unlimited and simpler prepaid plans.
Internet speeds on portable Wi-Fi hotspots are typically the same as those available to a smartphone on the same network, which can reach over 2,000 Mbps on 5G.
How do portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices work?
A portable Wi-Fi hotspot device uses a 3G, 4G, or 5G Internet connection to create a Wi-Fi network for multiple devices, including tablets, phones, and computers. You can access the network to stream your favorite shows, complete homework, and perform other activities without worrying about uploading data to individual devices.
Essentially, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a smartphone with no display or advanced operating system; it only has the ability to take a cellular connection and create a Wi-Fi network. Portable hotspots have their own battery (of different sizes) and are usually charged in the same way as smartphones via USB.
Do portable Wi-Fi hotspots work anywhere?
To create a mobile hotspot network, you’ll need a mobile data plan from your network service provider. This means you’ll only get coverage in places where that particular provider has a network. Today he is in the United States only anywhere, outside of the most rural places in the country.
Be sure to check your desired carrier’s coverage maps before purchasing a hotspot from them. Keep in mind that carriers have different coverage areas depending on whether you want to get 4G or 5G speeds.
5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Wi-Fi Hotspot Device
Are you planning to buy a Wi-Fi hotspot device? If so, there are a few things you should know before settling on a particular device. These factors include:
- Wireless Carrier Restrictions
- Availability of service or wireless network
- Number of connected devices
- 4G and 5G capabilities
- Wi-Fi hotspot devices battery life
Check with your wireless service provider for restrictions.
If you want to enjoy a quality Internet connection, try to choose a service provider with the best coverage in your area and the most extensive data plans. Wireless service providers offer portable hotspot plans with different features and coverage. For example, some data plans come with monthly caps that limit your usage. At the same time, some carriers may offer unlimited data, but will throttle or slow down your internet speed after a certain point.
It will be easier to choose a hotspot device as long as you are aware of these conditions or limitations. Be sure to read the fine print in your data plan, especially if you plan to engage in data-intensive online activities (for example, streaming video). You may notice a drop in video quality if your wireless service provider throttles your connection after reaching a certain data limit.
Consider the service availability of your wireless service provider
Depending on your wireless service provider, a portable access point may not be the right choice. Remote areas often suffer from sporadic network coverage, making it difficult to establish a stable Internet connection using a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
It would be a good idea to check your provider’s network availability map to determine if you can get adequate coverage in certain remote or rural areas. Fortunately, major network providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have almost complete coverage in the US.
Urban areas with the best network coverage are often ideal locations for portable Wi-Fi hotspots.
Check the battery life of your Wi-Fi hotspot device
To ensure that you can meet all your Internet needs, you should choose a hotspot device with a long battery life. Some Wi-Fi access points are small and fancy, but because of that they tend to have much shorter battery life, only a few hours. The more data you use and the more devices you connect, the weaker the battery will be.
You may also need to invest in a high-quality power bank to keep your device powered on the go. Wi-Fi hotspots charge like smartphones, via USB, so you can use a charger or your phone’s battery to keep them going.
3G/4G/5G capabilities
Connectivity options for portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices vary. Some devices support 5G connections, while others only support 4G. These differences in wireless Internet technology can also determine the price of the device and the plan.
Cheaper Wi-Fi hotspots, like those from prepaid carriers, can often be limited to simple 4G or 5G networks. They will be good enough most tasks, but it will be overwhelmed by the latest access points with 5G connections.
By investing in a 5G hotspot device, you can enjoy even faster download and upload speeds for all connected devices on your mobile network. This type of wireless technology is more reliable, but you can expect to pay a significantly higher price for a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot device. While 4G hotspot devices are available for less than $100, you might spend several hundred dollars on the 5G version.
How many devices do you plan to connect at once?
Most Wi-Fi access points can handle connection to at least five Wi-Fi devices at once, but more advanced models can handle 10 or more simultaneously. Most people will be fine with just five, as battery and bandwidth issues start to become significant beyond that point. If you intend to add multiple devices to one access point, please note that this will greatly reduce the data rate available to each of them. If so, you need to check if you are using a 5G hotspot.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn