Posted: 9/1/2026 8:38:52 PM EDT
|
Just heard of these apps to use your phone as a hot spot to work around hot spot data limits. Want to use one for streaming while camping. A little worried about security but I would shut it off and use regular phone app for security purposes. But it would be worth paying a few bucks if there is one from a reputable source. |
|
It's built into your phone. Go to settings and Network and Internet. Should see Hot Spot in there. Configure it and enable it when you need it. As much as my carriers have always said they limit hotspot data I have never had that happen. I also only use unlocked phones with no carrier branding. |
|
Originally Posted By Deerhurst: It's built into your phone. Go to settings and Network and Internet. Should see Hot Spot in there. Configure it and enable it when you need it. As much as my carriers have always said they limit hotspot data I have never had that happen. I also only use unlocked phones with no carrier branding. @Deerhurst Re-read my comment. Using the built in hot spot on the phone runs into a monthly data cap. I want to use an "aftermarket" hot spot to work around the data cap. My concern is security. |
|
Using the phone as a hotspot requires elevated privileges. No app you install from the store will be able to bypass those. You can do it if your phone is rooted, but thats a whole other can of worms. Years ago, custom roms and root apps came out with the idea. Once the telcoms caught wind of it, they decided to make it something they could track and bill for. Thats where we are today. |
|
Originally Posted By urbanredneck: @Deerhurst Re-read my comment. Using the built in hot spot on the phone runs into a monthly data cap. I want to use an "aftermarket" hot spot to work around the data cap. My concern is security. Re-read my comment. I've never experienced a hotspot data limitation using the built in tools on an unlocked and non carrier branded device. You never stated if you even tried that. |
|
Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Re-read my comment. I've never experienced a hotspot data limitation using the built in tools on an unlocked and non carrier branded device. You never stated if you even tried that. It does happen. Even if you buy an unlocked phone and bring it to whatever carrier makes you happy and using the hotspot that is part of the OS. They have built in ways to monitor and bill for it. Those methods they use to track traffic are not fool-proof. As it is hard to tell 100% which traffic came from the phone and which was initiated by a tablet that was connected to the phone's hotspot. So their data usage tracking can be hit or miss depending on the carrier and phone OS flavor. |
|
Such douche' replies. OP, I had to deal with this because Verizon sucks. And yes, Verizon locks down HotSpot usage unless you pay extra, just so you guys know. Also, Verizon sucks. My long term solution was to bail on Verizon. My short term solution was to run Mobile Hotspot App (there are a bunch out there). It was an unpleasant spammy PITA that made you watch X minutes of crap ads to work (just start and set phone down and walk away); but it did work. Again, long term solution is to get rid of all that shit, and get rid of Verizon, and switch to one of the lower-cost 2nd tier providers for 1/3 Verizon's price point, who also turn on all the hardware capabilities as well. Once I did that, I then used Android Developer and just did what AI said, and scrubbed out all the Verizon crap off my phone. It showed me how to pull off almost 20 open and hidden Verizon bloatware App's, and now my phone boots and runs faster now too. |
|
I use a GL.iNet GL-MT3000 with Phone-over-USB modem (Older Google Pixel device with Visible Pro/Plus-something) Secure, auto-connects to my preferred VPN when established to internet, though I can switch to my home-hosted VPN as-needed. Have a little kit with a RPi4 that runs OpenMediaVault wiith containerized instances of jellyfin and pihole. Also have a roku-stick so I can stream from the rpi4 to tv in a hotel or remote-office if I want (it auto-connects to the GL-MT3000). |
|
Originally Posted By lazyengineer: Such douche' replies. OP, I had to deal with this because Verizon sucks. And yes, Verizon locks down HotSpot usage unless you pay extra, just so you guys know. Also, Verizon sucks. My long term solution was to bail on Verizon. My short term solution was to run Mobile Hotspot App (there are a bunch out there). It was an unpleasant spammy PITA that made you watch X minutes of crap ads to work (just start and set phone down and walk away); but it did work. Again, long term solution is to get rid of all that shit, and get rid of Verizon, and switch to one of the lower-cost 2nd tier providers for 1/3 Verizon's price point, who also turn on all the hardware capabilities as well. Once I did that, I then used Android Developer and just did what AI said, and scrubbed out all the Verizon crap off my phone. It showed me how to pull off almost 20 open and hidden Verizon bloatware App's, and now my phone boots and runs faster now too. @lazyengineer Thanks. Using metro. Got a 25g cap on hot spot so was just looking for a with around for deer camp. |
|
Originally Posted By Moondog: When I turn on tethering it says my plan doesn't allow tethering (pre-paid phone with 365 plan.) I'm curious if I could get around it with an app for times I might need it? Yes, there are apps that bypass the carrier lockdown on that feature, and I mentioned one I had used, above. There are others. |