Wifi seems like a no-brainer in 2016. Most people in America enjoy the perks of a modern smartphone including mobile data plans that provide wifi internet access anywhere at any time. With the wide availability of wireless providers, data plans, and free wifi locations, you may begin to ask yourself “why would I need a mobile hotspot”? That is exactly the question my friend asked me since he has a 15 GB monthly data plan on his phone (15 GB, seriously?) Mobile hotspots do provide wifi, and they are useful in situations where your mobile phone may not be able to assist including at school, camping, wifi sharing, and roadtrips.
School
I remember the days in college when I brought my laptop to school to work in between classes. During this time, I unfortunately spent more time looking for a strong wifi connection in a quiet space than I did actually working. The library was great for peace and quiet, but awful for streaming or downloading content because so many students were logging onto the same wifi network. The courtyard had unreliable wifi, but even when it did work, I was surrounded by loud students enjoying their day, lunch, or cigarettes. This was clearly not the best environment for concentration.
At the time, I did not realize that mobile hotspots were in existence. Yes, I lived under a technology-protected rock for a very long time until shortly after college when I realized it was time to up my game. Anyway, while lugging my laptop (the older ones were heavier) around hoping for a reliable, fast connection, I always wanted to have the ability to work from my car while listening to my own music or in a school green space while relaxing in the sun. The few times I was able to work without an internet connection, I enjoyed the warmth of my car with my “focus” playlist gently encouraging me to finish that research paper that was due in 45 minutes. I can imagine how much more I would have been able to write if only I had that little hotspot.
Another way students can benefit from a mobile hotspot device is in the situation where they are a part of their parent’s data plan and only have a limited amount of shared data per month. Student life can be difficult financially and many of us stay(ed) on our parent’s insurance, phone plans, etc. until the very last minute, which for phone plans, meant sharing data with mom and dad. Students can take advantage of the no contract mobile hotspots by loading them with data and using them when streaming music or free movies online– activities that can quickly eat phone plan data. A seriously great way to avoid that phone call from mom when you run over the data plan and she has to pay extra.
Camping
2015 felt like the year of “get out there and enjoy nature”. Between the inspiring nature accounts on social media and the several campaigns encouraging workers to “opt outside” it was nearly impossible to ignore the beauty of the natural world. Mobile hotspots are perfect for camping in the modern world. Although some people prefer to completely disconnect, sometimes it is nice to have wifi access to stream movies, check email, check weather updates, or research nearby plants and animals.
The mobile hotspot can turn camping into an entirely new experience. Stream documentaries to teach the family about the local turf or switch on skype when you’re stuck in your car because it started heavily raining and you have to wait it out. Although the mobile hotspot may not be a camping must for many outdoor adventurers, it would definitely be a safe bet to have around.
“We enjoy RV camping, and use our TruConnect hotspot when the campgrounds at which we stay do not offer wireless internet.” – TruConnect hotspot owner.
Wifi Sharing
It is great to have your own data plan that allows you to surf the web or post to social media whenever you want. Having a mobile hotspot that can connect up to ten devices to fast and reliable wifi is even better. Mobile hotspots are a wonderful addition to any group get together whether it is a study group, adventure group, or family gathering. Imagine traveling with family, friends, or coworkers and saving the day with wireless internet when a flight gets delayed or the car needs some maintenance that includes a two-hour wait time. Be the hero that allows your study group to work from the beach, park, or fun restaurant.
Our mobile hotspots can connect anywhere from five to ten wifi-enabled devices to a reliable internet connection. These devices include smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming systems, and more! 3G hotspots are good for the casual user who may have a few people sharing the wifi connection for work such as sending emails and posting to social media. 4G LTE speed is preferred for avid users who may have several people connected while streaming music, downloading movies, or playing games.
Roadtrips
I take my hotspot with me each and every time I am in the car. I love having the portable mobile hotspot for traveling or short trips around Los Angeles. It is important that if you are alone to set up the hotspot before starting your car as trying to adjust settings while driving can be very dangerous and is definitely warned against. I typically turn on my hotspot and place it in the cup holder. Then I plug my aux cord into my phone, turn on the wifi and GPS, and get ready to go! Once I am situated, I can confidently be on my way knowing that I can continue to use my GPS with no fear of losing connection or running out of data.
When I plan a road trip, I love having the hotspot so that the passengers can stream movies and search for food or entertainment during our vacation! Although many people have data plans for their phones or tablets, the shared plans often run out of data quickly and don’t allow other people to join in on your connection. I would have loved to have a hotspot with me when I traveled from Atlanta, GA to Los Angeles, but this was before I worked for TruConnect. My road trip across America would have been much easier if I had consistent wifi access through a mobile hotspot so that my travel companion could research places to eat along the way, find the best hotel reservations, and access online banking without using the data from her parent’s cell phone plan (they are pretty strict with data usage). Not to mention actually being able to access fast internet service in the hotels we stopped at last minute.
Road trips typically do not go exactly as planned, which can definitely be a part of the adventure, but it is nice to have a bit of consistency and the comfort of knowing that a reliable wireless internet connection is one click away.
Casual Users
Hotspots tend to work best for the casual user and many people prefer to keep one at home versus having a contracted monthly plan with expensive fees plus the cost of a router and modem. If you plan to stream movies every day, the contracted plan is probably a best fit for you, but if you prefer no contracts and no monthly fees, a mobile hotspot is definitely the way to go! Check out our cheap wireless internet plans, pair one with a hotspot, and choose to take your internet on the go.