More and more people need heavy use broadband as their home connection to cope with the whole family’s demands for entertainment.
There are a number of ways you can get mobile broadband on the go. In this piece we will consider a few.
Why You Need Broadband on the Go
Before you look at the ways that you can take your broadband with you, you need to consider why you want to do so. Your reasons will dictate the quality and quantity of broadband you need, and the amount you will have to pay.We now have 4G connections rolling around the UK. Not all devices can get on 4G, but most new premium and mid range devices can. To gain access to superfast broadband on the go you will have to be looking at 4G and not 3G.
You can now get faster mobile broadband speeds than ever before. However, the data allowances are still not really sufficient for heavy use broadband. When you look at broadband on the go you should consider three ways that you can connect. These are the use of portable hotspots, the use of fixed hotspots and the use of a Mi-Fi device.
The Use of a Portable Hotspot
Many people want to have a wireless hotspot that they can take around with them. When you have possess a hotspot you will not have to worry about whether or not there is a connection for you to use anywhere you go. It is important that you know about the pros and cons that come with the creation and use of a portable hotspot driven by your smartphone.It is possible to create your hotspot yourself, but you need to be careful. Some of the simplest methods that you can use may actually breach the terms of use of the mobile operator you are with. Many phones make it easy for you to turn them into a portable hotspot. However, this is something that providers are not always too happy about.
When you use your phone as a hotspot you could be breaching the mobile operator terms of use. If you are, then the mobile provider could block you from using the Internet, and you could be faced with charges and extra fees that you will have to pay.
However, this is not always the case, and there are some providers that do not mind you setting up a portable hotspot. It is best that you check this before you choose to use this method of connection. There are other ways to create a portable hotspot, but they are generally a bit more complicated than the phone method. They may also be a little less portable than your phone.
The Use of Fixed Hotspots
If you find that you are unable to create a portable hotspot, then you should consider the use of the fixed hotspots. These are wireless connections that are hosted by third parties. There are many people who feel that hotspots are hard to find, and are not really a viable option for on the go connections.You should consider the ways in which you can track down hotspots in your vicinity. There are a number of websites and apps that list where the nearest wireless hotspots are situated. If you use an app it will connect to the GPS in your phone and list the hotspots that are closest to your location.
Of course, there are other certain things that you need to know when it comes to using fixed hotspots.
The primary point that you need to consider is whether or not you are looking at a free hotspot. There are some hotspots that allow anyone to connect up. However, there are others that you will have to pay to connect to, or you will have to be an existing customer of the hotspot provider.
Hotspots that are found inside businesses generally have an unspoken code of use. You need to buy something from the premises in order to use the free connection that they are offering. Be careful on open networks as these can be targets for hackers. Whilst on an open network you should avoid doing any activities that will expose your personal or financial details.
The Use of a Mi-Fi Device
The last, and perhaps best, option that you can look at for a wireless connection on the go is the use of a Mi-Fi device. When you use a Mi-Fi device you are going to be converting a connection from mobile broadband into a Wi-Fi signal. This is ideal for people who want to have broadband on the go, but do not have a device that can directly link to the mobile broadband signal.If you want to use a Mi-Fi device then you should consider looking at comparison websites like uSwitch to find the best deals. You can get these devices on PAYG terms, or on a monthly contract. When you use PAYG you will have to pay for the device upfront.
With the monthly contracts you will get the device for free, because the price is actually worked into the amount you pay each month. A Mi-Fi device allows you to use the mobile broadband data you have with a Wi-Fi connection. You are able to connect up to 5 different devices to the connection and place a password to stop unauthorized use.
Most of us these days could benefit from broadband on the go. When you look into it you should consider the use of portable hotspots, fixed hotspots and Mi-Fi devices. All of these methods of getting online can be used on the go, and are available for Wi-Fi only devices.
Which option you choose will be down to how much data you need and how fast you want the connection to be. It is generally advised that you jump onto a fixed hotspot when you can as mobile data is more expensive.
Phil TurnerAbout the Author:
Phil Turner had noticed that his broadband connection was being throttled at the end of every month. He did some research on uSwitch and similar sites and realized that he needed heavy use broadband.