View Full Version : "Hot Spots"
Plan on extended travel in February. I have an IPad that I would like to use for internet. I hear that a "hot spot" accessory would be good. I know absolutely nothing about this. I do have a TracPhone and will probably have to get a cell phone to hook up to this so it is more secure??? Is this how it works?
Is it secure if I stream from a hotel's Wi-fi ... such as Netflix or do I need to use a hotspot.
Any clarification would be appreciated. frugal-one
iris lilies
1-2-18, 6:46pm
I dont know about your questions, but my public library is now offering Hot Spots to check out for three weeks. Since I have an IPAD I would love to have wifi available everywhere I go.
You only need a hotspot if your ipad is wifi only, and you are away from the hotel wifi (or other stationary wifi). If your ipad has cellular, you won't need a hotspot.
You may want a VPN though, if you plan on accessing any information you want to keep private. (I don't use a vpn when travelling, but I don't access financial or other sensitive sites while travelling- unless its for work. My work computer has a VPN app we must use.)
I dont know about your questions, but my public library is now offering Hot Spots to check out for three weeks. Since I have an IPAD I would love to have wifi available everywhere I go.
I checked earlier and my library no longer loans them out. I don’t know why. Is this secure?
You only need a hotspot if your ipad is wifi only, and you are away from the hotel wifi (or other stationary wifi). If your ipad has cellular, you won't need a hotspot.
You may want a VPN though, if you plan on accessing any information you want to keep private. (I don't use a vpn when travelling, but I don't access financial or other sensitive sites while travelling- unless its for work. My work computer has a VPN app we must use.)
My Ipad is Wifi only. So if I use a hotel wifi my understanding is that this is not secure and could be hacked? What is VPN and where do I get it? I remember having it when I worked but do not really understand. Appreciate clarification.
iris lilies
1-2-18, 7:50pm
You only need a hotspot if your ipad is wifi only, and you are away from the hotel wifi (or other stationary wifi). If your ipad has cellular, you won't need a hotspot.
You may want a VPN though, if you plan on accessing any information you want to keep private. (I don't use a vpn when travelling, but I don't access financial or other sensitive sites while travelling- unless its for work. My work computer has a VPN app we must use.)
Well, my IPAd is set up for AT and
t, but I dont have a cellular contract for a smart phone. I guess I say this:
I dont have a data contract. We think we can set up DHKs Apple cell phone to be a hot spot, but
I am not sure how that will work, si ce he doesnt have AT and T.
I'm not sure what you mean by 'hot spot accessory'. A hotspot is any public Wi-Fi spot, such as a hotel, restaurant, library or coffee shop which provides a Wi-Fi connection for their patrons. A smartphone may also be configured as a hotspot, enabling it to share it's data connection with another Wi-Fi enabled device such as your iPad.
If using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, I wouldn't worry about security unless I were logging into my bank account or some other service where I'm exchanging personal information with the destination point. If you're simply surfing the web or watching Netflix videos, there's no real security concerns other than someone possibly capturing your Netflix login info. I use public Wi-Fi at RV parks and other business venues all the time without issue.
I am going to be gone for an extended time. I want to be able to securely access bank information. I think I might need a hotspot accessory for my iPad to connect to a cell phone???? ... or can I just go to a cellular place and have cellular service placed on my iPad? Think I will call a local cellular company and ask a bunch of questions. I really don't understand.
Alan, This is an example of hotspot accessory:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phone-accessories/mobile-hotspots/pcmcat184700050008.c?id=pcmcat184700050008
Good to know that Netflix and surfing will not be a problem.
Choosing a Mobile Hotspot
Having Internet on the go for all your devices seems like more of a necessity than a luxury these days. Whether you’re a travelling for business, getting work done at a coffee shop, or enjoying e-books and music on the beach, a mobile hotspot means you can access the Internet on your laptop or tablet without needing a nearby Wi-Fi signal. With a hotspot, Wi-Fi is available for any devices you give permission to, so as long as you have a cellular signal for your hotspot, it’s like having your own personal portable Wi-Fi.
How will you use your mobile hotspot?
Something to keep in mind is that if you aren’t going to use your mobile hotspot that often, many phones with plans can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot. But since this will tap into your current data plan, you may not want to use a smartphone as your primary hotspot if you need to use it often or for heavy Internet use. Also remember, using phones as hotspots will use up battery power much faster than simply accessing the Internet directly through your Galaxy phone, iPhone, or other cell phone.
Hotspots and Various Devices
If you plan on only using your mobile hotspot for connecting a computer to the Internet, a USB stick may serve you best. These plug directly into your laptop and provide a faster connection than separate Wi-Fi hotspots. They are also more portable.
If, on the other hand, you plan on connecting lots of different devices and some of them don’t have USB ports, a standalone Wi-Fi hotspot is the way to go. These will let you connect multiple devices at the same time. Plus, they usually work without loading any software onto your devices so they’re ideal for sharing Internet with others while away from other Wi-Fi sources
How about tethering you device to your phone?
How about tethering you device to your phone?
Some carriers allow tethering; some put certain conditions on it; Tracfone does not allow it at all as part of their standard terms and conditions.
So if I use a hotel wifi my understanding is that this is not secure and could be hacked? What is VPN and where do I get it? I remember having it when I worked but do not really understand. Appreciate clarification.
Public Wi-Fi can be assumed to be not secure. Yeah, if all you want is to read Yelp reviews of a restaurant or get a street address, not a big thing. But I don't use public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Nobody else needs to know my IDs and passwords.
VPN is a "Virtual Private Network" -- an app you run that takes all your Internet traffic and encrypts and anonymizes it. That way no one else on that Wi-Fi network can see what you're doing. You could be reading Yelp reviews or balancing your checkbook; it's all just data to them and it all looks alike.
VPN software is available through App Stores (whoever's) or through the Internet and I'd guess they're available in boxes at your local Best Buy too. You also may have VPN software already on your computer courtesy of an anti-virus or anti-malware application. (I have Avast anti-virus and it offers a VPN I don't use.)
I use PIA -- Private Internet Access (obvious URL). It's one of the better VPNs as far as the number of operating systems it supports, the number of local servers (VPN can mess up some regionalized Web services), customer privacy, and cost. There are other VPNs that get consistently high marks, but that's the one I chose and I've been happy with them for the three years or so I've used them. You might also consider one for your phone depending on whether you use it for Internet.
There are 2 basic models of iPad's, one with cellular and one with wifi only. So if yours is wifi only, you can't bring it anywhere to add cellular. It wouldn't have the internal parts to work. Early iPad's at least that came with cellular did not require purchase off a data plan. Not sure if that is still true as I don't have one.
Hotspots are for connecting, VPNs are for security.
How about tethering you device to your phone?
As stated above, just have a TracPhone.
In the general vernacular, a hot spot is used as a different way to get cellular wifi than just using your phone. It is either/or. Some phone plans let you use the data connection on it as a wifi hotspot. Some don't. A hotspot is usually a small device that fits into the palm of your hand size. It is just the wifi portion of a cell phone. The hotspot doesn't have to be with a service you have any other devices with, although it may make sense financially to use it as part of a package.
I have an AT&T hotspot, a Verizon 3G hotspot, 3 different hotspots from FreedomPop. My cell pohone is with Consumer Cellular.
This is what I was looking for. I can use my iPad as a hotspot.
http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-tips-tricks/how-to-connect-to-and-use-your-ipad-as-a-personal-hotspot/
No, you can't. You said your ipad was wifi only. Making it a hotspot requires that it be a cellular-enabled ipad.
No, you can't. You said your ipad was wifi only. Making it a hotspot requires that it be a cellular-enabled ipad.
In situations like these what options do you have if you want to surf the internet on your iPad and you’re away from your fast, secure and reliable home network? For the sake of argument, we are going to assume that your iPad is a Wi-Fi only version, but the process is the same regardless which iPad you own.
I don't want to sound rude, but did you read the rest of the article you posted? A wifi only iPad can /connect/ to a hotspot but only a cell enabled iPad can BE a hotspot. You have to get internet from somewhere. You can get one of those hotspot devices and connect to that via wifi if you need connectivity on the go.
frugal-one
1-3-18, 10:00pm
I don't want to sound rude, but did you read the rest of the article you posted? A wifi only iPad can /connect/ to a hotspot but only a cell enabled iPad can BE a hotspot. You have to get internet from somewhere. You can get one of those hotspot devices and connect to that via wifi if you need connectivity on the go.
I understand. We are not communicating. I have it figured out.
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