How To Turn Your Phone Into A Wi
With a few taps, you can turn your smartphone into a source for internet that laptops, tablets, and other phones can use. Here’s how to turn your phone into a hotspot.
If you’re stuck in a situation where you need a Wi-Fi connection, but can’t get it anywhere else, chances are your smartphone can give you the boost you need. By setting up a hotspot through Wi-Fi or a USB cable, you can turn your phone into a source for internet that laptops, tablets, and other phones can use to get online.
It may sound complicated, but you can be connected with just a few taps. Most of the major carriers offer tethering services, though your ability to create a Wi-Fi hotspot depends on your service plan and data allowance.
One thing to keep in mind: tethering eats up battery life in addition to data. Investing in a portable charger is a good idea if you intend to use hotspot mode frequently. If you’re ready to tether, here’s how to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
What Is An Internet Card
You get online a lot of different ways on your phone, laptop, tablet, desktop. But, with smarter technology, you can also get online a lot of different places. No, not just in coffee houses or at the airport. Like, a lounge chair on the beach. Or a park bench. Or maybe at a baseball game.
Internet cards, commonly called hot spots, are one way people are getting online from anywhere.
How To Get The Best Cable Modem: Buy Or Rent From Your Isp
You may be able to save money and get faster speeds by buying a cable modem instead of renting one from your ISP. Here’s what you need to know.
If you have cable internet, you probably rent your modem from your internet service provider for a monthly feeusually between $5 and $10 a monthon top of your internet plan. But many ISPs actually allow you to buy your own modem and avoid those monthly rental fees. While there are obvious benefits to buying your own modem, there are still reasons you may prefer to rent it from your ISP. Here’s all the information you need to decide for yourself.
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Wireless Internet Service Is Easier To Get Than Ever
Some cell phones can be connected to a computer and be used as a modem to connect to the Internet. If this is possible with your phone, be sure to call your phone company first and find out if any extra charges will apply, as they often do. If youre lucky, though, you may have a plan that includes this kind of connection free. If not, you may be able to add it to your plan or buy a small USB device from your phone company that will give you Internet access at a monthly charge. Most Internet companies also offer small wireless Internet devices that can be plugged into your laptop or hooked up to emit a wireless signal wherever you bring them, so that you can have Internet connection on your laptop wherever you take it.
Writer Bio
Shannon Burton is a high school teacher. She has been writing articles about fitness, health, technology and education since 2007 and has been published on many websites. Burton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of the Virgin Islands.
Natural Disaster Relief Sometimes Involves Getting A Free Laptop
If you live in a state that has a lot of hurricanes or snowstorms, or any extreme weather conditions for that matter, you may be entitled to get a free laptop. If you were involved in a wildfire and lost your belongings including your laptop, for instance, all you need to do is to visit Disaster Assistance dot gov to avail of a free laptop.
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Recommended By Our Editors
Where exactly and what it’s called will differ depending on your phone’s manufacturer. Samsung phones bury it in Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot, while LG only asks you to tap Settings > Tethering. You can probably find it quicker on your specific device by searching for “hotspot” or “tether.”
Once the hotspot has been enabled, there should be a network name and password displayed in the settings screen that can be used to connect another device to the internet.
Choose The Right Size
Before you look at specs or pricing, you need to figure out just how portable you need your laptop to be. Laptops are usually categorized by their display sizes:
- 11 to 12 inches: The thinnest and lightest systems around have 11- to 12-inch screens and typically weigh 2.5 to 3.5 pounds.
- 13 to 14 inches: Provides the best balance of portability and usability, particularly if you get a laptop that weighs under 4 pounds.
- 15 to 16 inches: The most popular size, 15-inch laptops usually weigh 4 to 5.5 pounds. Consider this size if you want a larger screen and you’re not planning to carry your notebook around often. Laptops with 16-inch displays are rare but Apple might get the trend started with its 16-inch MacBook Pro.
- 17 to 18 inches: If your laptop stays on your desk all day every day, a 17- or 18-inch system could provide you with the kind of processing power you need to play high-end games or do workstation-level productivity.
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You Have Protection In Windows 10
Microsoft takes your security and safety in this permanently-online world very seriously, and it built some very important tools into Windows 10 to keep you safe. And, because it’s integrated into the OS, it doesn’t hog any additional resources. Microsoft also updates it frequently with new data definitions, all the while looking to keep the latest threats at bay.
If, for any reason, something breaks through and you can’t get rid of it, there’s a beefed-up version called Windows Defender Offline. You can run this while not connected to the internet from a USB drive, and it should find those harder-to-kill viruses.
Windows Defender is still considered in many corners to be little more than a baseline, though. Whatever your own opinion, it’s still a useful tool, and there’s no reason not to use it. It’s also good to use alongside other software.
Annual Contracts Or Month To Month Plans
Most ISPs that you sign up with will require that you signup for a minimum of a year or two, with costly penalties if you cancel before the time is up. It can cost you as much as $200 for canceling early, and some ISPs add an additional charge of $5 or $10 per month for however many months you have left.
Some companies will offer month to month contracts. But be aware that the service might be more expensive that way and that the equipment you buy might be too, as opposed to being discounted or free.
More Helpful Internet Information
To explain in plain language how your internet works. Our goal is to help you:
- Know what you’re buying, and why.
- To buy the right internet service for you and your family.
- To spend only what you have to, and not a penny more.
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You Can Never Be Too Careful
You might think that you’re careful when you’re online, visiting reputable sites and downloading from official sources like the Windows Store, or iTunes. But here’s the thing: You’re never truly careful if you’re going online completely unprotected.
Would you ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Even if you’re careful, there’s potential for disaster.
The people coding viruses and malware know exactly how to get it out to the wider world. That’s why it still exists.
It’s Not Only Viruses You Need To Watch Out For
The fact that we still refer to this type of software as “antivirus” is out of date. No longer do we have to be worried only about nasty viruses infecting our computers and wiping out our personal data. Malware is perhaps more common today, with a different tactic to achieve a still-nefarious goal.
The worst part is that the “best” malware if you can really even call it that will quietly sneak onto your PC without you knowing. It’ll maybe lie dormant, hidden from view, but all the while, it will also do something you don’t want it to.
Whatever the term for it, the threats out there are still very real.
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Best Ways To Get Internet Without Cable Tv
Finding alternatives to cable internet or getting internet without a phone line will depend on where you live and what services are available near you.
Chances are you probably have a few options. Read on to learn more about how to get high-speed internet without cable or a phone line.
The Right Cable Modem For You
At PCMag, we don’t rate cable modems because it’s not possible to isolate modem performance from ISP speed, and we’re unable to test them with every compatible ISP under the same conditions. The right cable modem for you is what’s compatible with your ISP and your particular plan, and offers the best balance of price and features .
The best modems overall support DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1, and are compatible with the major US cable companies, namely Spectrum, Comcast, and Cox, which is true of all the modems listed below. Most of these models cost $100 or less , so if you’re paying $10 a month to rent your modem, you’ll make back your investment in less than a year.
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Why Buy Your Modem
Spectrum bill
Check your monthly bill for a rental fee Comcast, Cox, Optimum, and Spectrum charge fees, depending on your plan. Some providers may also a free modem in certain bundles, but charge for Wi-Fi service if you have a modem/router combo unit .
We generally recommend keeping these two devices separate, so we’ll just be discussing modems in this guide. If you don’t already have a wireless router, you’ll need to buy one of those too, which can bring up the cost of upgrading .
If you have a fee on your bill and are allowed the option to use your own modem, you could save between $60 and $120 per year by buying one instead of renting it from your ISP. Sure, you’ll have to pay more upfrontmost modems cost between $50 and $100but within a year, you’ll have recouped the cost of those fees, and you’ll begin saving $10 a month. That adds up over time. Just be sure your cable company actually stops charging you the rental fee, since they’ve been known to “forget” in the past.
What To Do If Your Speed Is Slower Than What You Pay For
The first thing I recommend is turning off your modem and wireless router, leaving them off for about 30 seconds, and then turning them back on. Most of the time, this fixes any speed issues for me. We have a few more tips you can try to get your network back to working as it should.
The answer isn’t as easy as calling your service provider and informing them of the subpar service. It’s a frustrating fact, but ISPs are allowed to throttle your connection speed. However, there are steps you can take to determine if that’s the case, or if there’s another issue at fault .
You can also check your provider’s app or website for an outage. The first thing I do when my Comcast connection is acting flaky is open the Xfinity My Account app and look for any service issues. When there is one, the app will give you an estimated time of restoration. Knowing that the issue isn’t anything on your end means you can forgo any troubleshooting.
Finally, you can call your provider to ensure your modem supports your plan’s speed, or to see if there are plans or promotions that will be worth an upgrade, so you can get the speeds you need to have a stress-free day of work and play.
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For Those Who Love To Customize
If you purchase directly from a company like Acer, Apple, Dell, or Microsoft, you can avoid the confusion of digging through listings on Amazon or Best Buy. This option is best for those whove done the research and know exactly what they want.
Also, purchasing through a manufacturer gives you the most amount of options for customization. Want a laptop with extra memory but dont care about the 4K display? Chances are, youll be able to configure it that way.
If you love tweaking features to get exactly the computer you want, consider buying from a manufacturer its worth the extra cost and shipping fees. This rule applies to boutiques too: specialty shops that custom-build PCs. These include Digital Storm, OriginPC, and even Razer.
How Do I Connect To The Internet
Once you’ve set up your computer, you may want to purchase homeInternet access so you can send and receive email, browse the Web, stream videos, and more. You may even want to set up a home wireless network, commonly known as Wi-Fi, so you can connect multiple devices to the Internet at the same time.
Watch the video below to learn about connecting to the Internet.
Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.
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What Is Your Data Plan
From what Ive seen data usage or data caps shouldnt be a problem. Thats because most ISPs Ive found dont offer a 100% wireless solution other than Clear. And their plans have unlimited data plans.
That said, I cant speak for every ISP. There are several that I may not be aware of. So if you go with a wireless solution similar to Clear, just be sure to read the fine print to see if there is a data cap, what it is and the costs for exceeding that limit.
The Government Offers Various Benefits To Its People The Various Categories Are:
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Get A Free Laptop From Computers With Causes
Computers With Causes has operations in all fifty United States and can assist you in getting a laptop for free. This organization collects computers as donations from people that dont want them anymore to give away to those that do. Specifically, this organization donates computers to educational programs and to foster homes. They also give away free laptops to households in need, returning members of the military as well as to underprivileged kids. The primary objectivity of Computers With Causes is to make sure that the computers go to the people that need them the most.
Focusing Too Much On Storage Space
Most of the industry has jumped on SSD storage, but you can still find laptops with traditional hard drives kicking around your local Best Buy or Micro Center. Spinning hard drives are cheaper, so youll often find laptops with more storage space for less money. But an SSD with a lower capacity is almost always better.
Its important to remember that SSDs are much faster than spinning hard drives and can make a huge difference to your system boot times and how snappy and responsive they feel. Opting for less, faster storage will make sure you get a laptop that feels modern and wont hold you back, whatever youre doing.
If you need more space, external hard drives are a dime a dozen, and theres no shortage of excellent cloud storage options for storing videos, photos, and music. A 256GB or 512GB SSD should be enough for most people when combined with an external hard drive or cloud storage.
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The On It Foundation For Free Laptop
Standing for Opportunities Necessary to Increase Technology, this organization understands how important computers are for your childs development. Thus, this organization provides free computers to all the students of the United States. The following conditions must be met:
Applying to the On It foundation involves the parent or guardian of the child writing a Letter of Request with their signature to the organization with the following mentioned:
Even if you do not qualify for a free computer, the organization will give you huge discounts with their Jump On It! Program.