Simon
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| posted on 26/2/21 at 11:01 PM |
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Pc internet using phone data
I'm thinking of buying a pc (not a laptop as I hate them) to be used in a place with no landline/internet so wonder if I can used my mobile
phone (unlimited data plan) for surfing etc - do I need a pc with bluetooth or cable or ....
Help please as fairly clueless in such matters
Cheers
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 12:08 AM |
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yes you can do it. & many phones will share as a local wifi 'hotspot'
or you can get 'dedicated' routers that share from 3g / 4g etc
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 12:22 AM |
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You can use Bluetooth (either built-in or a USB dongle).
You can also use wi-fi. If the PC doesn't have it, then again a USB dongle is the solution. It can then connect to your phone's wifi
hotspot.
You can even plug the PC and phone together with a USB lead and do it that way, but it can be harder to set up, causes wear and tear keep plugging in
and out and is obviously not so convenient.
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 12:51 AM |
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Worth checking with your mobile provider, many ban tethering.
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BenB
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 09:46 AM |
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How would they know? Surely you're just consuming data? Perhaps they inspect the packets of data- bit intrusive if so!!! I've done it and
it works well. Presumably a VPN would get round that anway.
I even once took things once step further- I was staying at a hotel were my android tablets could access wifi but my laptop (which only had wifi and
no bluetooth) couldn't. In the end I think I tethered two android devices via bluetooth then used the 2nd one as an access point. Very silly but
hey. Worked well albeit it with some significant ping lag!
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BenB
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 09:49 AM |
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okay- should have done the google search first. Wow, quite a few ways they can do it, it appears!!!  Looks like there is a nice game of cat + mouse
going on.... Sounds like a job for a raspberry pi sat at home running OpenVPN and just tunnel everything through that....
[Edited on 27/2/21 by BenB]
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ADH75
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 10:14 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
Worth checking with your mobile provider, many ban tethering.
Innthe UK only Lycamobile bans it and FreedomPop it is banned unless you pay £3.99 premium add on for it. It is allowed on all other networks.
All by monthly deals it is fine, the pay as you go are limited to certain PAYG tarrifs, GiffGaff for example allow it on all goodybags although it
drops to 384kps once you've used 20GB
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JMW
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 10:17 AM |
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You can get 4G routers as well, use a sim with a good data deal.
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Simon
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| posted on 27/2/21 at 05:26 PM |
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Cheers everyone - it's fine on EE (they couldn't say no on an unlimited data plan really)
I'll look for a PC now 
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nick205
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| posted on 28/2/21 at 01:25 PM |
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Work laptop and mobile, but I've used mine in the way you describe (mobile as a WiFi hotspot) many times. It's always worked flawlessly
and O2 (mobile contract) have never charged more or got their knickers in a twist.
With a PC I guess you'd need a WiFi dongle (£20 tops).
As you say if you've got an unlimited data contract then your not using more than you should or are paying for.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 1/3/21 at 01:47 PM |
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If it helps on the PC front, I was quite impressed with the ADMI one I bought via Amazon for my son.
They basically built from components and included all the manuals and discs provided with those components in the box with the PC.
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 2/3/21 at 09:46 PM |
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EE:
Yes, you can hotspot off your phone on an unlimited plan as long as it's for personal use only. If you regularly tether 12 or more devices, we
will consider this non-personal use and have the right to move you to a more suitable plan.
We will consider usage above 1000GB/month to be commercial use and have the right to move you to a business plan.
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tilly819
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| posted on 4/3/21 at 01:52 PM |
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Don't know about using the phone but we have just moved out to the sticks and use a 4g sim card router and an unlimited data sim. Works pretty
well. We have an external antenna as well which boosts our 4g signal.
I think the router was about £90
The external antenna about £110
and the Sim card is £18/month - cheaper than the line rental alone for a wired connection...
Glad we had it the other day as a tree came down and brought down the local phone lines.
Cheers.
F20C Haynes roadster 440 BHP/Tonne www.youtube.com/handmadeextreme
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