ISP WiFi hotspot – good or bad idea?

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I have Spectrum Wi-Fi. I was on their website the other day and noticed this:  Check out Spectrum WiFi Profile. Free access to 500k secure wifi hotspots. Go to app home page and install profile on device.

I searched online for info and reviews but couldn’t find much.  Generally, I am careful with WiFi hotspots.  I turn off WiFi when going out so my phone won’t jump onto any available network while out and about.  But I thought maybe my isp hotspots would be a good option, if used with VPN.

Is anyone using Spectrum WiFi hotspots?  Or your isp hotspots? I’m not 100% comfortable downloading a profile to my iOS devices – but that is mostly due to my ignorance on the subject. What do you think – good or bad idea? Not a must-have, would be a nice-to-have. Thanks Donna

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Honestly most of the paranoid folks (myself included) disable that feature so if I and many others on this site disable it…. the good guys may not be the ones participating in this.

If I’m really in a pinch I’ve hung off of one (long story, has to do with my Dad’s house, his ATT wifi not working and I needed some streaming thing on his tv, I figure my “hanging off” activities were limited to his tv and nothing else) for a specific need but as a general rule when I’m out and about, I either hang off my on cell phone or have a cellular hotspot of my own (Skyroam Solis)

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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dmt_3904 wrote:

I turn off WiFi when going out so my phone won’t jump onto any available network while out and about.

This won’t happen so no need to turn off wi-fi.
iOS will auto connect only to known wi-fi networks (home, family, friends..)

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That is true. But I have found my phone to be on the Wi-Fi in Walmart or the other day it was on AT&T, without me realizing I was on the WiFi!   It could be I had jumped on those those networks before and did not “Forget” them.  On occasion, I may use WiFi if cellular isn’t working good. Forgetting the network is another option, but I also read leaving the Wi-Fi on causes the phone to search for networks and uses that more battery power, so it could save battery to turn off WiFi, I jus have to remember to turn it back on.

Thanks.

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Well, lately I found myself working in a place without any internet connection.
So, by turning on the Personal Hotspot in my iPhone 8, I quickly had an internet connection for other devices connecting to the phone with WiFi. I think I could also connect to the phone via Bluetooth or USB and have internet access through the phone that way. There is a password for the Personal Hotspot.

My cell phone carrier is T-Mobile, with an unlimited voice/text/data family plan that I have had for a few years.
I called them to ask if there are any limitations on the hotspot.
Here is what I learned:

• Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (SMHS) – also referred to as Wi-Fi Sharing or tethering – lets you securely share your device’s Internet connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• SMHS only works where you have 4G and 4G LTE coverage
• Paying an extra $15/month for one line avoids downshifting to 2G or 3G speed after the first 5 or 10 GB of hotspot data on that line

Right now (its late at night) Speedtest.net reports 53ms ping,  29 Mbps download, and 3 Mbps upload, which seems adequate for email and even for a zoom call that I did yesterday.

So, since I use my phone everywhere, I could just stick to my Personal Hotspot to connect my tablet or laptop all the time.    I believe that $15/month is less than most ISPs, such as xfinity or ATT.

And, I assume that would be more secure than any public WiFi signal – but is that correct?

Would tethering be a good option to replace a home ISP?

Thank you.

 

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AlphaCharlie wrote:

Would tethering be a good option to replace a home ISP?

Yes if it works for you. Do make sure you have a good password. I use tethering as a backup, so far only with the Optimum cable which I dumped because it was the reason I had to use tethering in the first place.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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AlphaCharlie

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AlphaCharlie wrote:

Would tethering be a good option to replace a home ISP?

Only if it is faster with better data plan than your ISP Internet connection.

I am on 1Gb Fiber-Optic. No tethering can get these speeds, not even 5G.

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AlphaCharlie

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