What is a Mobile Hotspot and How Does it Work?

Last Updated: April 29, 2015

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One of the best features of the modern smartphone is its ability to work as a mobile hotspot when necessary. What is a hotspot? Essentially, it allows you to easily create your own private wireless network that can either be shared with other devices or enabled exclusively for personal use.

By learning how to use a hotspot, you can securely access the internet on-the-go with better performance than most cellular data plans offer. This can come in handy when traveling, working remotely, or if your regular internet service provider (ISP) goes offline for whatever reason.

In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of portable WiFi connectivity and explain how hotspots work to give you a better understanding of how this feature can fit your needs. Click on a link below for answers to a specific question you may have, or read our mobile hotspot guide in full for a complete breakdown of information.

What is a mobile hotspot used for?

Mobile hotspots are used to wirelessly connect your cell phone, laptop, or tablet to your own portable WiFi network. They offer a great alternative to your carrier’s mobile data as well as a safer connection than public hotspots can provide.

Mobile hotspots can be used in many different ways ranging from maintaining productivity at a remote office to downloading movies just before an international flight. They may even be able to help you cut down your cell phone bill depending on what type of hotspot you use and to what end.

To see how you might take advantage of this feature in your personal or professional life, you should first understand how mobile hotspots work.

How does a hotspot work?

When your cell phone is connected to the mobile data network, a hotspot can convert the data stream into a WiFi signal. By distributing a private web of WiFi connections (also known as tethering), nearby devices can then access the internet as you would using a traditional wireless broadband modem or plugged-in ethernet cable.

Advancements in technology enable you to convert your smartphone into its own secure hotspot, but you can also buy a separate mobile hotspot that accomplishes the same job. It works through a combination of hardware, software, and network connectivity that turns the device into the equivalent of an internet router.

What is the difference between WiFi and a hotspot?

In the simplest sense, WiFi is the technology that enables local area networking via radio frequency and electromagnetic waves; think of it as “how” internet connectivity is made possible. An access point is the “what”—a physical device—that services a small area with a WiFi signal. Finally, a hotspot refers to “where” the area is being served by an access point.

In 2020, there are 454 million public WiFi hotspots forecasted around the world that can enable wireless internet connection, but a personal hotspot allows you to turn any location into a supported local network using the data connectivity on your device.

What are the benefits of a mobile hotspot?

Learning how to use hotspots can be incredibly resourceful for students on- and off-campus, busy professionals on-the-go, collaborative teams, competitive video game players, and average web users just looking to boost their mobile internet speed. Below are several benefits a hotspot can bring to your online experience.

  • Speed & Performance

If you’ve ever accessed the internet over a public network at a coffee shop, college campus, or airport terminal, chances are that you’ve experienced long loading times, slow downloads, and glitchy performance. The more devices that are on the network connection, the slower the ISP response time will be. A hotspot is a great way to increase mobile internet speed in crowded areas because it establishes your own wireless access point for a faster flow of data.

  • Efficiency

Another way a hotspot works to improve efficiency is by ensuring you never skip a beat should your ISP go offline. Whether there’s a flood at the office, a power outage on the block, or a delayed flight at the airport, simply enable your personal hotspot and connect your device to continue working even while the ISP is down.

  • Security

When you connect to the internet over a public access point, you risk jeopardizing sensitive data on an insecure server. If you’re not careful, intellectual property can fall into the wrong hands of hackers, or prying eyes may attempt to steal private information. A personal hotspot establishes a private connection with greater security features and strong password protections.

You can, however, share the login details with friends, family, or coworkers and allow them to share your hotspot’s WiFi signal. Or, if you need additional network security, you can add a VPN credential to your mobile hotspot.

  • Convenience

Rather than heading all the way over to a public access point, or leaving your bedroom to reach your home’s WiFi signal, a hotspot is a convenient solution that brings internet connectivity to wherever you are, at any given time.

  • Portability

You can put your smartphone in your pocket and bring your WiFi connection wherever you go with a mobile hotspot. Other internet solutions require you to remain within the signal’s reach or to stay plugged in via ethernet cable, but a hotspot can maintain your device’s connection even while in motion. This can benefit students mid-commute, or colleagues working on a project while traveling to a conference, to name a couple of examples.

  • Cost-Effectiveness

There are several advantages to using a dedicated mobile hotspot over a smartphone hotspot in terms of cost. They can prevent you from exceeding your monthly data limit, thereby reducing the risk of over-use charges and penalties. You may also be able to downgrade to a cheaper wireless plan with a smaller data cap, knowing that you’ll connect to the portable WiFi for internet versus your carrier’s mobile network.

If you travel a lot for business, a mobile hotspot can help you avoid roaming fees, plus they save you from using your personal data plan for work-related tasks. You’ll also extend the lifespan of your phone’s battery by connecting devices to an external hotspot rather than enabling the feature on your smartphone.


How many devices can mobile hotspot support?

It depends on whether you’re using a mobile hotspot or a smartphone hotspot to connect your devices, and in the latter case, which type of cell phone you have. Most Android devices can connect up to 10 different users on phones, laptops, tablets, and other WiFi-enabled devices, while iPhones tend to be limited to five connections at a time.

Pro-Tip: When using a smartphone as a hotspot, be sure to pay close attention to your data usage. If everyone connected to your hotspot streams video content simultaneously, expect your monthly data allowance to disappear very quickly. Also, when enabling your personal hotspot in a public setting, keep an eye on the number of connected devices—you don’t want any surreptitious access gained by strangers, so beware when in a public space.

How to use a hotspot feature on smartphones?

Setting up a mobile hotspot is easy. On an Android smartphone, simply click on “Settings”. Under the “Wireless and Networks” section, click on “More…” You’ll then see “Mobile Hotspot” listed as one of the choices. When turning the hotspot on, it prompts you to turn off access to any WiFi networks to which your smartphone is connected.

If you’re wondering how to use the hotspot on an iPhone, start on the home screen and tap the “Settings” icon. Open the “Personal Hotspot” menu, then tap the slider to turn it on. After that, you’ll be prompted to select various configuration features to set up your device.

If you get a message saying that mobile hotspot capability isn’t part of your current plan, that may be the case. However, that same message appears if you’ve forgotten to turn on your phone’s mobile data connection. This is typical if you generally access your home’s regular internet connection on your smartphone.

Is a mobile hotspot free?

It depends on your wireless carrier’s data plan. Hotspot capability normally included with most smartphone contracts, and any data used by a connected device will be deducted from your plan’s total data limit. However, some carriers tack it on as an extra feature with an additional monthly price of around $10.

If your carrier doesn’t include mobile hotspot capability as a part of your wireless contract, it’s a good idea to add that capability on a temporary basis when going on vacation. If you work from home, you may have to add it in an emergency should your regular internet service suffer any downtime.

Wrapping up

If you’re dissatisfied with the results of your mobile speed test and want to browse the internet at a faster pace, then a mobile hotspot can be a great solution to improve performance. It’s also a helpful tool for anyone who wants to work remotely or connect to WiFi on-the-go.

Get the most out of your device with a hotspot speed test that can confirm you’re operating at peak efficiency. Between faster downloads and seamless online integration, you may find that a mobile hotspot is the missing key to your sweet connectivityl success.

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Perform a DSL Speed Test at Different Times of the Day

Last Updated: April 20, 2015

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No matter what type of Internet connection you use, — fiber, cable, or DSL — performing a speed test at different times during the day gives you the best idea of your bandwidth quality. Since its overall speed is affected by network traffic based on the time of the day, running a DSL speed test at different times makes perfect sense.

Let’s take a closer look at ways to ensure your DSL speed tests give you an accurate report of your ISP network quality.

DSL is Affected by Network Traffic

Despite the fact that a DSL connection isn’t shared between the other residences in your neighborhood — unlike cable-delivered Internet — a DSL network occasionally suffers from slowdown during the evening hours. You probably noticed this effect if you regularly run speed tests during the evening as well as during the day.

The reason for this poor performance relates primarily to the extra traffic generated during the evening by subscribers streaming video and other rich media content. As more consumers unplug traditional cable and satellite television services for Internet-based video on demand options, expect this trend to continue until the larger investments in network equipment are made.

This DSL slowdown issue becomes exacerbated the farther away your residence is from the central office of your ISP. The distance from the modem to the network central office affecting bandwidth is an issue unique to DSL as opposed to cable or fiber delivered Internet service.

inconsistent DSL speeds

Your DSL Speed Test May Not Be Accurate

The bottom line is if you only perform speed tests during the evening, you aren’t getting an accurate account of your Internet speed. It is important to regularly run tests at various times throughout the day as well as on the weekend. Make it a point to perform a speed test early in the morning in addition during the evening’s prime viewing time, and record your results.

Keeping a running tally of your Internet speed is especially important when trying to determine the accuracy of your DSL speed test. In addition, if your ISP isn’t keeping up their end of the bandwidth bargain, these speed test reports will help you earn a refund if warranted.

So, when it comes to DSL speed tests: test early; test late; test often, and save your test results!

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HTML5 is the Best Way to Check Your Internet Speed

Last Updated: January 6, 2015

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With so many devices competing for bandwidth on your ISP account — smartphones, video game consoles, computers, Blu-ray players, home appliances, and more — being able to regularly and accurately verify your Internet speed is vital. Some of the biggest names in the speed test business rely on outdated Flash or Java technology to perform a bandwidth test.  That’s the same plug-in that probably crashes your web browser on occasion.  Fortunately, there’s a better way to test your Internet speed.

HTML5 Internet Speed Tests Grow in Popularity

Internet speed tests using HTML5 allow you to run those tests on your desktop browser, smartphone browser or tablet browser even if Flash or Java isn’t supported, as with Apple’s iOS platform.  This article from TechRepublic reveals the popularity of HTML5 tests and profiles the top five speed tests.

HTML5 Internet Speed Tests Review

Our very own Bandwidth Place ranked number one on the list.  Bandwidth Place combines over a decade of speed test technology with an easy to follow HTML5 presentation that runs on nearly all web browsers on both desktop and mobile platforms.  The TechRepublic article mentioned that some of the other bandwidth tests using HTML5 produced inaccurate and inconsistent results, but this was not the case with Bandwidth Place.

Bandwidth Place — the Best Internet Speed Test for Global Users

The TechRepublic article also notes that the Bandwidth Place speed test allows users to choose from a variety of servers located all over the world, which makes the test uniquely suitable for global users. The article’s author praised Bandwidth Place for the accuracy of its test results, favorably comparing them to the leading speed tests from the worlds of Flash and Java.

According to the article some of the other HTML5 speed tests suffered from confusing user interfaces. Some tests didn’t even allow you to select your own test server, which is vital for getting accurate results no matter your location. Bandwidth Place led the group with consistent test results and a clear user interface.

There’s no denying that the days of Flash and Java are numbered, as its obsolete technology seems to cause more problems with modern web browsers on a regular basis. Relying on a Flash speed test to check your Internet bandwidth limits the devices able to actually run the test, as well as the efficacy of your testing. When looking for a state of the art HTML5 bandwidth test, Bandwidth Place definitely stands out among the pack.

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Top Three Best Smart TVs for the Holidays

Last Updated: November 28, 2014

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With more and more consumers enjoying the ease of streaming media content — movies, TV shows, videos, music — at home, it made sense for TV manufacturers to add WiFi networking capabilities to their products. These new Smart TVs seem to be ubiquitous this holiday season, with built-in support for many popular video streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu Plus.

When adding a Smart TV to your home, make sure to check your Internet speed to ensure the best possible viewing experience. With that in mind, here are the three best smart TVs that would make great Holiday gifts without breaking your budget.

Best Smart TVs for Holiday Season

The Vizio E-Series 39″ Class Full Array Smart TV for the Budget

If you are looking for an inexpensive, nearly 40″ Smart TV, check out the Vizio E-Series 39″ model. Most retailers are pricing this Vizio at around $350, providing a great chance for those on a Holiday budget to check out video streaming. CNET called the E-Series “likely the best value of 2014.”

The television’s full array LED display offers a bright picture with 1080p HD video. Support for many streaming services, including, Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, and Crackle is built in. You are also able to access your social media accounts — Facebook, Twitter, and more — using the TV’s convenient collection of apps.

The Samsung LED H5203 Series 46″ Smart TV for the Big Screen

Samsung gives you the option of a larger screen, 46″ Smart TV, with a retail price slightly above $400. The LED H5203 sports a CMR rating of 120 to go with its full HD 1080p picture. The high CMR means any high-speed sports action renders smoothly on screen.

In addition to the standard collection of streaming media apps and services, this Samsung Smart TV includes the “Smart Hub” which offers an enhanced user interface for managing your streaming content and apps. If you plan on streaming most of your television content, the Samsung H5203 makes an excellent choice.

Sony’s 40″ KDL-40W600B Bravia Smart TV for the Picture Quality

If you are looking for a Sony Smart TV, check out the 40″ KDL-40W600B Bravia model, one of the best smart TVs. While it features a smaller screen than the Samsung, it offers enhanced backlighting with a unique contrast feature that promises a more realistic picture. Retailers carry this Bravia model for around $450.

All your standard media streaming services are available on the Bravia, including the Sony Entertainment Network. The TV’s PlayStation Now feature means you can play your favorite PS3 games streamed to the TV without a video game console. Now that’s cool!

So if you are in the market for a Smart TV this Holiday season, hopefully these three models piqued your interest without killing Santa’s budget!

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Net Neutrality in a Nutshell

Last Updated: November 17, 2014

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With the President recently weighing in on Net Neutrality, this somewhat esoteric issue is now back in the news along with occasional misinterpretations and misinformation. With such a controversial and technically complex subject, basic facts can get lost amongst the political debate and pundit protest. So, what exactly is Net Neutrality and how does it affect your Internet activity or broadband speed? Let’s take a closer look at the details.

“That All Data is Created Equal”

In a nutshell, Net Neutrality means that all data on the Internet is equal, no matter its source or its original creator. This is how the Internet has always operated. ISPs provide you the bandwidth and Internet speed you pay for without any say or control of where that data originates: Netflix, Pandora, Amazon — it makes no difference.

Large telecommunication companies and ISPs have sued the FCC in recent years to challenge the principles of Net Neutrality. One main reason involves the large amount of streaming video data they transmit on their networks, most notably from Netflix. They feel they should be able to charge Netflix and other content providers more to transmit their data in an Internet “fast lane,” costs that will surely end up passed onto Netflix subscribers.

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Preventing the Blocking of Content or Thwarting Fiber Network Expansion? 

Net Neutrality also means ISPs can’t block content from certain providers and websites. When a company like Comcast is both an ISP and as owner of NBC, a content provider, what is to stop them from throttling your bandwidth when you watch ABC or CBS? Net Neutrality.

ISPs feel the extra revenue earned from charging content providers for an Internet “fast lane” will allow them to expand their networks. Taxpayers through subsidies have also contributed billions to telecommunications companies to upgrade their networks. In fact, AT&T threatened to stop its investment in fiber optic network expansion if Net Neutrality rules are ultimately upheld; something met with derision from industry watchers.

Is the Internet an Information Service or a Telecommunications Service?

Another major issue in the Net Neutrality kerfuffle is whether the Internet is classified as an information service or a more regulated telecommunications service. The fact that the Internet was reclassified as an information service by the FCC in 2002, led to Verizon’s successful challenge of Net Neutrality rules. The FCC chair who made that original classification is now a cable industry lobbyist; the current FCC chair, nominated by President Obama, used to be a cable industry lobbyist.

Net Neutrality proponents obviously want the Internet reclassified as a telecommunications service. They feel this extra regulation will allow the principles of Net Neutrality to once again to guide the concept of a free Internet. Considering that many of you only have one or two options when choosing a local ISP, regulation may be ultimately necessary to prevent monopoly abuse.

So how does all this banter and brouhaha affect your daily broadband and Internet speed? If telecommunications companies are successful in instituting an Internet fast lane for video traffic, expect your Netflix subscription to increase by $5 – 10 per month, especially with Ultra HD becoming more popular. The specter of ISPs blocking content from other competing entities is another issue that may have to be solved separately from the Internet “fast lane” issue depending on how the politics play out over the next few years.

Stay tuned.

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Two Easy Solutions to Prevent Streaming Media Buffering

Last Updated: November 11, 2014

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The scenario is common in this Internet age. The family gets together to watch the latest movie on Netflix, only to have the viewing experience spoiled by video buffering and stuttering. You check the Internet speed at your house, and the bandwidth looks fine. So what gives?

Well, the problem might be with your home network. After looking at your router management software you see that everyone has their smartphone, tablet, and laptop simultaneously active on the network. The Netflix movie you are watching can’t get enough bandwidth to stream properly, forcing you to deal with buffering and poor video resolution.

What steps can you take to optimize the performance of your home network?

Limit the Number of Devices active on your Network

An easy way to maximize bandwidth before streaming a movie or TV show is to limit the number of devices on your network. Is Billy in the basement playing Call of Duty online with his friends? Great, kick his PS4 off the router and make him finish his homework!

Remember that even if you are paying extra for a 20 Mbps Internet service, all the devices on your Home WiFi network share the same bandwidth. It is important to manage network connections for the best possible media streaming performance.

Streaming media on a tablet

Upgrade your Router to Optimize Streaming

Investing in a better router gives you more options to boost streaming performance on your WiFi network. Consider spending extra for a dual band router, as it provides a 5 GHz network with the extra bandwidth suitable for watching movies online. Devices performing normal Internet activities like email and web browsing can use the router’s 2.4 GHz network freeing up the 5 GHz band for streaming activity.

Some high-end routers allow you to optimize the wireless connection for certain devices on your network. So your media streaming devices get the extra bandwidth they need for movie watching without buffering and video stuttering. Learning how to manage your router properly pays off with better Internet performance for everyone.

Ultimately, video buffering doesn’t have to be a problem with a fast Internet connection. Make it a point to limit the number of devices on your network when streaming rich media content. Additionally, invest in a better router — preferably dual band — to give you more flexibility when managing your home network.

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Building a Home WiFi Network with High Speed Internet

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Considering the proliferation of devices able to access a home WiFi network — tablets, smartphones, Internet radios, video game systems, and more — building a fast network able to handle copious amounts of bandwidth is a must. Other than your Internet Service Provider, your home wireless router plays the biggest role in ensuring every device enjoys the best possible performance.

With a goal of building the best possible home network with superior high speed Internet; let’s take a closer look at the router.

A Dual Band Router makes a Great High Speed Internet Choice

Dual band routers become possible with the introduction of the 802.11n wireless standard in 2009. This router design transmits Internet data in two frequencies simultaneously: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The slower frequency is the older standard supported by most Internet capable devices, while the 5 GHz offers the extra bandwidth suitable for streaming movies and music with nary a hiccup.

When using a dual band router, your home essentially has two separate networks. Most newer devices give you the option of connecting to either network. If you are using a device for basic Internet activity like email and Internet browsing, the 2.4 GHz network works great. The 5 GHz network offers superior performance for online gaming and media streaming.

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Dive into Router Management for Performance Optimization

Many high-end routers offer management software that allows you to optimize the performance of your home network. Take the time to learn this software, so you can utilize certain features for the best possible bandwidth. For example, the Linksys EA6900 dual band router supports “Beamforming” which allows it to recognize specific devices on your network and boost the wireless signal to that device as needed.

This is perfect if you encounter stuttering music or video dropouts even when an Internet speed test reveals good bandwidth. Simply tell your router to boost the signal to those devices having issues. Also, limiting the number of devices connected to the 5 GHz network on the router benefits overall performance; use that network only for gaming and media streaming.

Even with a good Internet connection, investing in a dual band router and learning how to manage it properly helps improve your home WiFi network’s overall speed and bandwidth. In a house with many devices trying to share access to the same Internet service, this is probably the best way to keep everyone happy!

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How your Internet Browser affects your broadband speed test

Last Updated: October 28, 2014

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The Broadband Speed Test: Does Your Internet Browser Matter?

Browser Wars. In the late 1990s, the term referred to Explorer’s triumph over Navigator as the de-facto Internet browsing standard, but since 2003 it has applied to the battle between offerings like Mozilla’s Firefox, Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari and yes, Internet Explorer. Each browser has its cadre of faithful users who swear by their preference and nothing else, and each one makes claims about usability and simplicity. But can any of them make your Internet connection faster?

Internet browsers affect speed test results

Browser Benefits

As reported by a recent PC Magazine article, different browsers do come with advantages. Chrome, for example, is known for its HTML5 support, effectively future-proofing it for Web app development. Firefox, meanwhile, has excellent startup time, memory use and security, while Opera can increase off-line speed with intelligent caching. Explorer, meanwhile, is what many users are familiar with but now supports WebGL and SPDY and includes excellent hardware acceleration. When it comes to a broadband speed test, however, who comes out on top?  Nobody.

Even Playing Field

Here’s the thing: While different browsers can affect the speed of webpage loading and may impact the speed of file downloads owing to firewall or security constraints, none of them can make your Internet connection faster.

If you want to improve broadband performance, start with an online speed test to make sure your connection lives up to Internet Service Provider (ISP) promises. If everything looks good but you’re not interested in upgrading, you can try using OpenDNS, compression utilities like Opera’s Turbo, or in the case of DSL connections asking your ISP to turn off interleaving, which is a type of packet error correction that can increase latency.

So go ahead, use whatever browser suits you best—they’re all on par when it comes to broadband speed.

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What Time of Day is Your Internet Speed Fastest?

Last Updated: October 17, 2014

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It never fails. You want to download a file, send an email or buy a single item and your Internet speed slows to a crawl. Sometimes it seems like a conspiracy—maybe your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is throttling your bandwidth? And sometimes you wonder if it’s your hardware—could you get better speed with a new computer, wireless router or improved connection? While in some cases upgrades can jump-start performance, it’s also possible you’re online at the wrong time. That’s right: Internet speeds are dependent on the time of day.

Test First

Before you go hunting for the ideal time of day to start big downloads or make quick purchases, check to make sure your connection is working as advertised. Run a bandwidth test and compare the results to what’s advertised by your ISP. If the numbers never match no matter what time you run the test, contact your provider. If they can’t provide good answers, consider a switch.

When the Sun Goes Down Internet Speed Goes Up

It’s not surprising, but it’s true: Your Internet speed is faster at night. According to an article from the Daily Mail, for example, bandwidth speeds in the UK drop by 35 percent during the evening ‘rush hour’ when people get home from work. Between 7pm and 9pm, analysts found the average download speed slowed to just over 6 megabytes per second (Mbps), but in the early morning hours—between 2am and 3am—speeds jumped to almost 10 Mbps.

It’s also worth noting that the high number of users during rush hour can prompt ISP throttling in addition to volume-related slowdown. When too many users try to log on at the same time, some ISPs throttle connections to give each customer a portion of the bandwidth rather than relying on first-come-first-served. While this means you’ll get some speed instead of virtually none, it can be frustrating if you’ve paid for a connection package that boasts specific download or upload rates.

Want the fastest Internet speed? Surf at night or in the early morning. During rush hour, expect even the best connections to slow.

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Does Your WiFi Router Affect Internet Speed?

Last Updated: October 5, 2014

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When struggling with poor Internet performance at your house, maybe your ISP isn’t always the issue? Your WiFi router is another critical component that plays an important role in ensuring your Internet connection remains fast and reliable.

Routers are now required to work Harder

With smartphones, tablet computers, Internet-enabled appliances, and more all competing for the same home Internet connection, the poor old router must work harder than ever before. This is especially true considering all the video streaming or online gaming that takes place in the typical 21st Century household.

If your Internet speed tests low, hook up a computer directly to your Internet modem, bypassing the router. Run a quick HTML5 speed test to verify your Internet connection tests as fast as it should. If so it may be the router causing your slowness in your Internet speed especially if you are noticing any extra buffering or choppy performance when streaming video or audio. Fortunately a quick reset of your router may clear the issue.

Make Sure your Router is up to Date

Additionally, you need to make sure your router supports the 802.11n wireless standard. If you purchased the router in the past 2-3 years, you should be fine, but make sure the router has the latest firmware installed. If it doesn’t support the “N” wireless standard, get a newer model. Insist that your ISP replace an older router if they provide the hardware as part of your Internet service.

WiFi Router

Newer dual-band routers support the 5 GHz carrier frequency in addition to the standard 2.4 GHz. If your household does a lot of video streaming, the 5 GHz signal might be the way to go for the best possible streaming performance. The 5 GHz handles interference better which might be important if you are in an apartment complex or a condo.

Many higher-end routers even allow you to run both bands simultaneously, so you can use the 5 GHz band for rich media streaming and the 2.4 GHz band for basic email and Internet browsing.

Ultimately, knowing how to test your Internet speed both with and without the router is a great way to help diagnose any bandwidth issues before they adversely impact your streaming experience.

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