Social Question

Dutchess_III's avatar

Can I connect my computer to cell phone hotspot?

Asked by Dutchess_III (47069points) July 21st, 2016

I guess my modem for my desktop crapped out and they’re shipping a new one.
I have a WiFi hotspot that I’m using on my phone. Can my computer use it too?

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17 Answers

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Yes but it can be EXPENSIVE, the “hotspot” is on your data plan.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I can’t just have the computer access it?

Dutchess_III's avatar

Well yeah. I guess you’re right. Thanks

Buttonstc's avatar

Have you tried connecting to the modem with an Ethernet cable?

Where I used to live we had a modem that was dying by degrees as far as the wifi crapping out every few days. So I just bypassed all that and connected with the Ethernet port and cable and it worked fine until we got the new one.

Granted, you don’t have as much freedom of movement all over but at least you’ve got internet as long as you’re as close to the modem as the Ethernet cable allows

Dutchess_III's avatar

Well I have a modem and a router. What is the ethernet?

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Cable connection using CAT5 or CAT6 cables. Connects the router to computer.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Well so connect my modem directly to the router?

Buttonstc's avatar

Yup. Before wifi was widespread and standard on computers, this is how ALL computers in the house connected to the ISP.

You had them running all over th e house and they got installed similar to phone lines (before everyone had a cell phone)

And Ether net cables are not that expensive. If you look on the back of your router there should be a place for a connection which looks exactly like a larger version of the old landlines phone connectors and connects the same way just by pressing down on one side of it.

You can see it in the photo at the link. Looks just like the phone line connectors except larger.

Buttonstc's avatar

I just re-read your last Q.

The router and the modem should be the same thing presumably.

The technical term is gateway. It combines the router and modem into one. But we’re so used to using the word router that gateway hasn’t really replaced it completely.

So the ethernet cable goes from the gateway directly to your computer and carries the signal physically rather than wireless. And since it’s the wifi part that is flaky, presumably this should be fine since it bypasses the wifi network in favor of a direct connection. .

imrainmaker's avatar

Yes you can..just keep mobile hotspot on and make sure wireless option is on your computer ( key with antenna symbol) and it should be able to detect available wireless connection easily. Enter the pass code if you have set any and you’re ready to go!! No need for separate modem / router here as your mobile is acting as one!!!

Dutchess_III's avatar

But that will eat through the limited data on my phone plan rain maker.

I know what your talking about Spirit! I’ll try it now.

Buttonstc's avatar

Who is Spirit? And how did they get involved in this Q?

Dutchess_III's avatar

I confuse your avatar with expiration corpus.

Dutchess_III's avatar

ESPIRITUS CORBUSIER CORVALLIS- —COPIOUS….. sigh. Espiritus_111. Your avatars are similar so I thought I was responding to him BUT HE ISN’T EVEN HERE! Just deal the cards.

Buttonstc's avatar

Espiritus Corvus has a bird avatar. Mine is a cat. How does one confuse the two. Plus his is black aND white. Mine isn’t.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Just because. Perhaps it’s simply because they’re both silhouettes and I’m not paying really close attention because my mind is on a Jelly on another thread who is WRONG! Who knows.
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