What does wifi tethering means

Sky Mobile also allows its customers to use tethering as part of their mobile plans, so while it won't cost any extra money it will use up data. Remember, Sky Mobile is very flexible about data and any data you haven't used at the end of the month is automatically rolled over and stored in your Piggybank. Check out our Sky Mobile deals.

We take a good look at the world of nearly-new phones. We use cookies and similar technologies. You can use the settings below to accept all cookies which we recommend to give you the best experience or to enable specific categories of cookies as explained below. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy. Which networks allow you to tether? Uswitch Mobiles All articles. What is tethering? Joe Minihane - Last updated: 12 April Tethering is a term that gets used a lot by mobile networks and technology websites.

So, what is tethering? Why would I do it? How do I turn on tethering if I have an iPhone? How do I turn on tethering if I have an Android phone?

How does it affect battery life? How much does it cost? How do the costs break down? We take a look at all the major networks' policy and pricing for tethering. You can also make calls whilst you're tethering. See the best Vodafone deals O2 O2 suggests its customers should avoid using their phones for tethering, saying it can be a big drain on data and that smartphones are not designed to be used as personal hotspots.

Check out our 02 deals Sky Mobile Sky Mobile also allows its customers to use tethering as part of their mobile plans, so while it won't cost any extra money it will use up data. Join millions of savers. Was this article helpful? The latest desktops free you to store, create, and share your most precious content.

Performance varies depending on system configuration. No product or component can be absolutely secure. Skip To Main Content. What Is a Hotspot? Safari Chrome Edge Firefox. Connect to a Hotspot Click the wireless icon on your mobile device to reveal available Wi-Fi networks. Start browsing, working, or playing online! Hotspot: A hotspot is a physical location where people can access the Internet, typically using Wi-Fi, via a wireless local area network WLAN with a router connected to an Internet service provider.

A hotspot can be in a private location or a public one, such as in a coffee shop, a hotel, an airport, or even an airplane. While many public hotspots offer free wireless access on an open network, others require payment. Access point wireless access point : A wireless access point WAP is a networking device that allows a Wi-Fi compliant device to connect to a wired network. The WAP can either be physically connected to a router or be integrated into the router itself.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is the technology that allows your smartphone or computer to access the Internet through a wireless connection. It uses radio signals to send and receive data between your enabled device and the WAP. Click the wireless icon on your device to see the names of nearby wireless networks. This is due to the number of devices connected to the hotspot as well as the nature of usage.

But, is there actually a way to use a mobile hotspot without using data? In a word, yes. It converts your smartphone into an internet router. The best part is, you can do this to your old smartphone, too. The Settings app is also where you can change the settings of your Wi-Fi hotspot.

As previously mentioned, you can change the password to limit the number of devices connected. Once turned on, the Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot option will allow your smartphone to become a wireless access point. In other words, it will now function as a mobile hotspot. For one thing, you can use the instructions above for WiFi hotspot , but other options also exist. Another way you can set up your mobile hotspot is by making use of a USB. Not all Android devices support this, though, so bear that in mind.

You can also use the same basic process to enable mobile data sharing on your iPhone or iPad. You can also share your data using Bluetooth, though this option is much slower compared to the USB version. You may notice your mobile hotspot lagging from time to time or getting significantly slower.

There are a number of possible reasons why this is happening, such as:. Many users, especially iPhone users, have reported an increase in speed after taking their protective case off. Thicker cases like those from Otterbox can block the signal, but some users have found that even thinner cases can hinder connectivity.

In doing so, you can take advantage of faster internet speeds. When too many devices are connected to the same WiFi network, the internet speed tends to slow down. The same idea applies to mobile hotspots. Another possible reason why your mobile hotspot has slowed is due to issues with your carrier.

If your cell carrier is having problems with their service, it may affect you and your mobile hotspot capabilities, too. Check with your carrier to see when they can fix the issue. Mobile hotspots are only as strong as your cellular signal. An easy fix is to go to a more urban area where cell towers abound.

If you live in a place where the signal is naturally poor, consider switching to a different carrier with a stronger presence in your area. Check out your cellular coverage here.