Whether you're on the train, in a café, or in a vacation home without Wi-Fi, sooner or later everyone comes into contact with a hotspot. But what is a hotspot? Smartphones make it easy to connect to and share an internet connection anytime, almost anywhere. In this article, we explain how a hotspot works and how you can provide one!
TalkTalk shows you how to set up your hotspot and where to find the function on different cell phone models!
What exactly is a hotspot?
A hotspot is an access point to the internet. It allows devices such as laptops, tablets, or other smartphones to go online even if they do not have their own internet connection. The connection is usually made via a Wi-Fi network, but also via Bluetooth or USB.
Let's look at a specific example of what a hotspot is: A smartphone uses the mobile data network (e.g., 4G or 5G) of your mobile phone subscription and makes this connection available to other devices on the go. The other device now connects to your source device via Wi-Fi, as if it were a normal Wi-Fi router as in a surfing package.
A hotspot thus turns one device into an internet source for others.
What is a Wi-Fi hotspot?
The Wi-Fi hotspot is the most common type of hotspot. Here, the connection is established via a wireless Wi-Fi signal. A basic distinction is made between two types:
Public Wi-Fi hotspots: These can be found in cafés, hotels, or airports, for example. They are often free of charge, but sometimes have time limits or are password protected.
Private Wi-Fi hotspots: These are usually mobile hotspots, as described above. You can set one up yourself using your smartphone.
3. After activating the hotspot function, your smartphone switches its Wi-Fi module to access point mode.
4. The device creates its own Wi-Fi network (SSID) with password protection. The connection is usually secured with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
5. Other devices now recognize your hotspot like a Wi-Fi router. The smartphone acts as a DHCP server and assigns internal IP addresses to connected devices. All data requests from the devices are bundled via Network Address Translation (NAT).
All internet traffic is now forwarded to the internet via the smartphone's mobile connection. However, it should be noted that all data traffic is deducted from the smartphone's mobile data volume.
The speed of the hotspot depends on various factors:
Network coverage,
Network technology of the E-Sim (4G or 5G) as well as
Number of connected devices.
Please also note that simultaneous use of mobile communications, Wi-Fi, and routing significantly increases battery consumption.
How do I share my hotspot?
This immediately raises the question of how to share your hotspot. The process is basically the same for all smartphones. However, there are a few requirements that must be met:
You need an active mobile phone contract with data allowance.
Adequate cell phone reception is required and
The smartphone must have a hotspot function.
If all conditions are met, a hotspot can be created with just a few clicks. First, a network name and password are set to prevent anyone from easily connecting to your network.
The hotspot function is easy to find on Android devices. However, depending on the device manufacturer, the menu item may have a different name. The typical path is as follows:
Settings → Connections/Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot/Hotspot & tethering → Enable mobile hotspot
Under this menu item, you can, among other things:
Change the name of the hotspot,
set a secure password and
Restrict the connection to specific devices.
On most Android devices, the hotspot can also be turned on and off directly via the quick settings.
How to enable hotspot on iPhone (iOS)
Enabling hotspot on iPhone is also straightforward:
Settings → Personal Hotspot → Allow Others to Join
Your individual hotspot password will then be displayed directly and can be changed if desired. A note for iPhone users: If the personal hotspot is not displayed, it often helps to briefly disable and re-enable mobile data.
What is a hotspot and is it better than public Wi-Fi?
The question often arises as to whether a hotspot is a better choice than public Wi-Fi. In this regard, it can be said that both options have advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of a mobile hotspot include:
- Greater security thanks to your own password,
- No other users on the same network, and
- More stable connections.
The main advantages of public Wi-Fi are:
- No consumption of your own data volume, and
- Better connections for large downloads and longer streaming.
A private hotspot is the safer choice, especially for sensitive data such as online banking or emails. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are often less secure and should therefore be used with caution.
What is a hotspot? Well informed with TalkTalk
A hotspot is a simple and flexible solution for staying online at all times, even without a fixed Wi-Fi connection. This allows you to remain flexible at all times, especially when traveling or working from home. It is important to keep an eye on your own data volume and ensure sufficient security. With TalkTalk's prepaid tariff or combination offer, you can stay online whenever you want and stay informed about what a hotspot is!
FAQ on “What is a hotspot?”
Does a hotspot affect the internet speed on a smartphone?
Yes, an active hotspot can affect your smartphone's internet speed. Since your device uses the available bandwidth for itself and all connected devices at the same time, performance is divided. The more devices are connected or the more intensively they use the internet, the slower the connection can become for everyone involved.
What is a hotspot and can it be limited in time?
Many smartphones offer the option to automatically disable the hotspot if no device is connected for a certain period of time. Some Android models also allow you to set a fixed time limit. These features help to save battery power and avoid unnecessary data consumption if the hotspot is accidentally left on.
What is the significance of the SIM card for a hotspot?
Without a SIM card or mobile data subscription, the smartphone cannot connect to the mobile network. In this case, a Wi-Fi hotspot cannot be created either, as the device lacks the Internet source that it could share with other devices.
Does it make sense to provide a hotspot when reception is poor?
A hotspot may only be of limited use if mobile reception is poor. Since all connected devices use the same mobile connection, a weak signal has a particularly strong impact on stability and speed. In such situations, connection interruptions or very long loading times can occur, especially with data-intensive applications.
Can you see which devices are connected to the hotspot?
Yes, your smartphone's hotspot settings usually display a list of all connected devices. There you can see how many devices currently have access and disconnect them manually if necessary. This overview helps you keep track of things and quickly identify unauthorized connections.
You can find more articles about landlines, mobile phones, and your home network on our TalkTalk blog.
