3G/4G phones that provide a wifi hotspot

Jammer · Nov 19, 2010

After some years of using prepay phones I'm thinking of getting a Droid X. In addition to being able to place and receive calls it also has a guitar tuner application and also a little touchscreen piano keyboard that would be good enough for transcribing and working out harmonies. No wd40 dispenser though.

But it does have a wifi hotspot feature which allows you to use a nearby laptop or whatever for internet access by having the WiFi frames retransmitted over the 3G network.

I wonder if anyone has used such a setup, and how they found it to perform in fringe areas.

Ned · Nov 19, 2010

The hot spot feature is for allowing up to 5 computers (or other wireless devices) to share the 3G data connection on the phone. It costs $20/month (from Verizon Wireless) and includes 2GB of data monthly. In fringe areas it won't work any better then the data connection on the phone itself.

Jammer · Nov 19, 2010

Indeed.

There are two considerations regarding coverage.

1) In many cases it may be practical to place the phone in an elevated location where it would be awkward to use a computer.

2) On such a small device there is a problem with receiver desensitization. That is, while the phone is transmitting on the 3G network it may interfere with its own ability to receive data on WiFi. There is also a problem, conversely, with WiFi transmissions interfering with 3G reception.

RVers actually travel in fringe areas much of the time making us a different kind of user than people who use their 3G in airports or coffee shops. Hence the questions. Anyone actually done this?

3G/4G phones that provide a wifi hotspot

Jammer

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