dum question re. ipad

[back alley]

i use an ipad at home and on the go as well.
at home i use wifi to connect to the net.
on the go, there is almost always wifi to connect to for my net needs.
if there is no wifi, i use my iphone to create a hotspot to get to the net.

how would i use my ipad to get the net if i couldn't use my iphone/hot spot?

 

[JoeV]

I'm hoping this isn't one of those dreaded trick questions. 😉

If it's a 3G-equipped iPad, of course you would just need to acquire a data plan from your cell phone carrier.

If it's a Wi-Fi only tablet, you'll need a Wi-Fi hotspot. In lieu of using a cell phone as a hotspot, you can purchase dedicated hotspot devices from your carrier, but they also require a data plan.

~Joe

 

[back alley]

thanks…i just checked my phone co. website and it's pretty clear…i would need a plan for the ipad, or i could add the ipad to my current data plan.

 

[Bingley]

If you have a wifi only iPad, like me, you won't be able to connect to the net if you can't get a wifi signal. I don't know whether a wifi only iPad can be activated for internet via a cell phone connection.

 

[GaryLH]

A myfi would also do it. It is a standalone device that acts as a wifi hotspot. Needs a data plane from a carrier. Some people buy this instead of paying for both a data plan on their phone and other devices (like laptops and iPads). These devices were poplar before companies allowed your phone to be a hot spot.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Here are some links

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi

http://www.truconnect.com/?gclid=CJeg7r_3oMACFQqGaQode1oAug

I don't use myfi. Don't know how good.. Or which ones are rip offs.. These links were just hits from google search w/ term "myfi"

Gary

 

[Rob-F]

First I've heard of a "hotspot." My iphone could act as a connection device to cell phone towers for my Macbook? Or just for iPads? Any wires needed from the iphone to the laptop?

Birch has a little thing the size of a USB thumb drive that's supposed to make your computer work from cell phone towers. They send me an ad for it each month with my Birch office phone bill. I think it's $10 a month.

 

[GaryLH]

A phone hot spot allows any wifi device to connect to the internet via the cell phones wifi chip. It will send out a ssid (a wifi node name). The cell phone will then act as a router to allow the wifi connect device (laptop, iPad, what ever) to connect to the providers cell tower data network.

Cell phone hot spot is an option that has become available in last couple of years. Whether your cell phone can support hot spot feature is dependent on the phone. The carrier u use must also allow it. Most US carriers charge extra for hot spot support on your phone.

That Birch item sounds like a myfi device or a USB cellular data network device if it needs to connect to a computer. Not all USB cellular devices support hot spot.

Gary

 

[SausalitoDog]

Joe-

You ask what would you do if you couldn't use your phone as a hotspot. Would this be because you would give up that feature on your phone? Or because your phone could not connect?

That will pretty much determine the answer to your question. If you are somewhere that has no wifi and your phone can not connect to use it as a hot spot...then you will be out of luck. There flat won't be a way to connect the iPad that won't also work for the phone.

The one exception to this answer that I can think of (of course there are much smarter folks than my doddering self), would be if you were somewhere that your phone carrier couldn't connect to but there is some other carrier available...then you would need to buy a prepaid cheapo phone and make it your hotspot 🙂...

Cheers,

Tom

 

[back alley]

using the iphone as a hotspot is still an option for me…i was trying to make it simpler…to be able to use the ipad solo.
i cannot remember if my ipad is both cell and wifi or only wifi…and of course i cannot figure out how to tell.
i'll bring it in to a telus (local phone co.) shop over the weekend and i'm sure they can figure it out.

 

[GaryLH]

using the iphone as a hotspot is still an option for me…i was trying to make it simpler…to be able to use the ipad solo.
i cannot remember if my ipad is both cell and wifi or only wifi…and of course i cannot figure out how to tell.
i'll bring it in to a telus (local phone co.) shop over the weekend and i'm sure they can figure it out.

Go to system settings. On left hand column, if u have cellular capability, then under the Bluetooth u will find three additional items just below in that left hand column.
- cellular data
- personal hotspot
- carrier

Plus under system setting --> general --> about
- u should find your cellular data telephone number

Gary

 

[back alley]

Go to system settings. On left hand column, if u have cellular capability, then under the Bluetooth u will find three additional items just below in that left hand column.
- cellular data
- personal hotspot
- carrier

Plus under system setting --> general --> about
- u should find your cellular data telephone number

Gary

thanks!
seems i have wifi only…guess i'll stay with the phone's hotspot for now...

 

[Godfrey]

i use an ipad at home and on the go as well.
at home i use wifi to connect to the net.
on the go, there is almost always wifi to connect to for my net needs.
if there is no wifi, i use my iphone to create a hotspot to get to the net.

how would i use my ipad to get the net if i couldn't use my iphone/hot spot?

If the iPad is wifi only, as others have said you need a MyFi or other portable hot spot.

If the iPad has the cellular hardware in it, just go to the cellular section in Settings and configure it. Configuring it will open an account on the appropriate carrier that you chose when you bought it and set you up for a monthly, no contract data service account.

G

 

[Richard G]

I have had hotspot not allowed by one SIM card and vodafone-based provider I used in Europe recently.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I use the "3" network in the UK which provides unlimited internet access on my iPhone which, in turn, allows me to tether my "wifi" iPad / iPad Mini by means of a personal hotspot. The only caveat is that the phone must be able to get a good signal to be able to allow the iPad to use it. This can be a problem for "3" as, in my experience, their reception in the UK can be patchy.

My wife has an iPad mini which holds a sim card and she can log onto the internet without tethering to her phone. Again, this is subject to being able to get access.

Some shops / offices offer free wifi. I'm always careful of using this as I understand that these tend not to be secure networks and anyone can, in theory at least, get access to your device and copy passwords / see what you're viewing, etc......whereas if you tether to your phone or have a stand-alone link to your network, with a strong security code, you are better protected.