My new cellphone doesn't have a hotspotting feature built into it.
I'd sure like to be able to hotspot to my tablet which I use for flying (GPS app, wx radar app, etc).
I googled up some hotspot apps, they all have somewhat mixed reviews.
Does anyone have any experience using a hotspot app?

hotrod180 wrote:My new cellphone doesn't have a hotspotting feature built into it.
I'd sure like to be able to hotspot to my tablet which I use for flying (GPS app, wx radar app, etc).
I googled up some hotspot apps, they all have somewhat mixed reviews.
Does anyone have any experience using a hotspot app?

I have AT&T for my mobile. I run with Apple products. iPhone X and the iPad mini. I don't buy a data plan for the iPad. I do make my iPhone a hot spot and then use the hot spot on the iPad so it is on the net.

When I am in the plane the iPad is connected to my Garmin GTX 345 transponder/ADS-B for wx and traffic. The iPhone is on the internet when ever it can find it. This way I have the most flexibility. You know, Facebook, BCP, text, voice.

Cheers...Rob

hotrod180 wrote:My new cellphone doesn't have a hotspotting feature built into it.

It does, your provider just makes you pay extra for it and you probably didn't opt for it. iOS and Android both allow tethering, but the carriers lord their control over it.

Google Pixel running Android 8.1 on T-Mobile, hotspot works great. Garmin Pilot on NVIDIA Shield pulls data from phone.

alternatively you could use pdanet, which I have shamelessly used since about 2003 +/- on a grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan.
It has had growing pains keeping up with both phone and operating system updates, but has never really let me down.

Take care, Rob

Rob wrote:alternatively you could use pdanet, which I have shamelessly used since about 2003 +/- on a grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan.
It has had growing pains keeping up with both phone and operating system updates, but has never really let me down.

Take care, Rob

I used that for years then went to FoxFi as I think the two companies merged. I had an original unlimited data plan with Verizon. FoxFi stopped working on Android about two operating systems ago. This and the fact that you can't use data when traveling international with the original unlimited plan and I swapped over to the new Verizon unlimited data plan about a year ago. The hotspot works great, only one button to push now to fire it up.

I finally stepped up from my flip-phone & bought a samsung galaxy J3 & a plan from Straight Talk (which is affiliated w/ Tracfone). Plan is $45 month for unlimited everything. Found out after the fact that "tethering" is against ST's conditions & terms of service. Guess thats about the same thing as hotspotting.
I'd like to be able to do internet from my tablet using the phone. In fact, I'd like to get rid of the $50 a month Verizon hotspot i use for internet access at home & use the phone for that tol. I don't think my data use would raise any red flags, but wouldn't want any electronic fingerprints to get me busted.
Thoughts?

Zzz wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:My new cellphone doesn't have a hotspotting feature built into it.

It does, your provider just makes you pay extra for it and you probably didn't opt for it. iOS and Android both allow tethering, but the carriers lord their control over it.

Google Pixel running Android 8.1 on T-Mobile, hotspot works great. Garmin Pilot on NVIDIA Shield pulls data from phone.

If they do offer it at added cost, I never heard about it.
They offer about 4 different plans but I don't think tetherjng or hotspotting is mentioned for any of them.

The data plans for mobile devices is a game of cat and mouse. It is constantly changing. If money is no object you can get what you want. If you want coverage in the boon docks you won't get it with the trac phone type carriers. They are ok in the city.

It all boils down to dollars. You want the best phone, coverage, speed, hot spot. Get out your pocket book.

Cheers...Rob