The days of connecting through phone lines are long behind us, and even the need for Ethernet cables to achieve high speeds has faded. Today, we connect wirelessly, free from the range limitations of routers. Mobile internet devices allow us to get online anywhere with a strong connection to a cellular tower.
Do you rely on a portable wireless hotspot or your smartphone for connectivity? Should you consider investing in a USB modem dongle or a WWAN card? Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore them.
Portable mobile hotspots connect to the same cellular network as your smartphone. You can either add them to your existing shared data plan or opt for a separate data-only plan. Data plan costs are typically comparable to what you spend on phones.
These devices usually offer between 10 and 20 hours of battery life. Some models can double as portable battery packs to charge your phone, and others offer shared storage via a microSD card slot. Many hotspots feature screens that display your data usage, helping you keep track of your monthly allotment. The exact features vary by model.
With the advent of 5G, portable mobile hotspots are becoming more viable as a primary internet connection for your home. The lower latency of 5G allows for faster communication between devices, which is particularly important for activities like gaming and virtual reality.
One drawback of using a portable mobile hotspot is the extra device you need to carry along with your phone, tablet, or laptop. Additionally, the cost of a separate data plan can add up. If you're considering adding a hotspot to your shared data plan, you might be able to get by with simply tethering your smartphone instead.
- Reasonably long battery life
- Supports multiple devices simultaneously
- Can potentially serve as your home’s primary Wi-Fi source
- Added features like an informative display, shared storage, Ethernet port, or backup battery power
- Useful for tracking internet usage if used exclusively for work
- Additional cost
- Requires carrying another device
Like portable wireless hotspots, dongles are typically provided by carriers. Many resemble flash drives, while others look like small modems that connect to your computer via a USB cable. Plugging one into your laptop effectively equips your computer with a cellular radio. It's now able to hop online via Wi-Fi or cellular data, just like your smartphone. It can also share that connection with other devices.
One big difference between a dongle and a mobile hotspot is that a dongle doesn't take up as much space. Nor do they drain on your battery as smartphone tethering does. However, you need to keep the dongle plugged in for it to work, which means sacrificing a USB port. While this might not be a big issue for most laptops, many sleeker models have fewer ports, with some even eliminating full-sized USB ports altogether.
Dongles aren’t limited to USB ports or PCs. Some can plug into a car's OBDII port, providing passengers with Wi-Fi on the go.
Using a dongle doesn't eliminate the need for a data plan—you'll still need one, and it won't be cheaper than a plan for a portable wireless hotspot. Additionally, dongles often require special software, making the setup process potentially slow or frustrating.
- Low upfront cost
- Minimal battery drain
- Takes up less space than a portable wireless hotspot
- Requires a USB port
- May require special software
Don’t want to buy another device? The smartphone in your pocket might be all the internet you need. It sounds convenient, but before you get too excited, there are some significant drawbacks to consider.
Smartphones can act as mobile hotspots, providing internet access to other devices. Simply enable the hotspot feature on your phone, create a network name, and your laptop or tablet can connect just like it would to Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you can connect your phone to a computer using a cable. This process, whether wireless or wired, is called tethering. With tethering, wherever you have your phone, you have internet access.
- Convenient and easy to set up
- No need for an additional bill
- Only one device to carry
- Can strain your smartphone's battery
- Typically comes with a smaller data limit
- Not ideal for supporting multiple devices simultaneously
- Phone calls can disrupt internet sharing, making it awkward to use with others
Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) are primarily used in a professional context rather than for personal use. WWANs leverage cellular networks to keep various corporate devices connected, including employee laptops, kiosks, point-of-sale machines, and vehicles.
A WWAN card allows your PC to connect to a wide area network via a cellular connection, enabling access to your company's network as long as you're within range of the corporate WWAN. The infrastructure for WWANs is usually provided and managed by traditional carriers.
WWAN services are typically offered directly to businesses rather than individual consumers, making it challenging to compare with personal options like portable hotspots or USB dongles. If you need access to a WWAN, you’ll require specific hardware, such as a WWAN card, although some laptops come with this functionality built-in.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. For lightweight, occasional use, smartphone tethering works well. If you frequently work away from home and need to connect multiple devices, a portable wireless hotspot can be very useful. For those with limited space, a USB dongle is compact enough to fit in your pocket.
If you prefer to avoid an additional monthly bill, you might opt for using Wi-Fi hotspots instead.
