If you find yourself working on the go a lot, you might have run into occasional issues with your connectivity. In fact, that’s the biggest problem reported by many freelancers and other professionals who have to frequently move around as part of their work. There are various solutions to that issue, but by far the best thing you could do is to get yourself your own mobile hotspot.
Sure, it comes with an upfront cost – but once you’ve got your hands on the device and an appropriate plan for it, you’ll be glad you went that way. This is likely going to become a necessity for some professionals in the future.
How It Works
The basic idea is simple. You connect to the Internet via a mobile device – such as a smartphone or a special modem – and you then share that connection with surrounding devices via Wi-Fi. This can be done with most modern smartphones, as well as with a dedicated device, but more on that below. You’ll of course need to power your hotspot in some way, so plan ahead for that. Most modern mobile hotspot devices come with their own batteries, which can last for quite a while – but if you don’t plan ahead, you risk running out at the worst moment.
Can’t I Just Use My Phone?
As we mentioned above, you can simply use your smartphone as a hotspot. Most modern devices allow you to do that very easily, but it comes with a cost. You’ll often find the experience severely limited in terms of speed and latency, and there may be other restrictions imposed by your carrier as well. You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a good plan that offers unlimited data tethering, as pretty much every deal on the market comes with severe throttling clauses in the contract. In the end, using a dedicated device for your mobile hotspot is the preferred solution if you insist on reliability.
Picking the Ideal Parameters
With that in mind, there are two important decisions you’ll need to make here. First, of course, you’ll have to pick an appropriate plan. Look through the different carriers on the market and see what they have to offer. Coverage will be your main consideration here – you’ll obviously want to maximize the potential of your investment by ensuring that you can use it in as many places as possible. Verizon is probably your best bet here, while Sprint is something you’ll want to generally avoid.
The right portable hotspot device can also make a huge difference. You’ll want to pick a device with a good battery life and coverage, while also not breaking your bank with that purchase. There are several established models on the market, although it’s not impossible to find equally good deals that are more niche.
Planning for the Future
Make sure that you pay attention to things like carrier network development plans and device releases. It’s not just about getting a good deal now. You’ll want to pick every parameter in a way that maximizes your potential for the future. Ideally, you should not have to purchase any significant upgrades for your mobile hotspot in the next couple of years.
And remember to stay safe! Mobile browsing can come with some risks attached, and it’s important that you don’t underestimate them. Use a VPN to ensure that your connection stays safe, and be careful with your choice of device. Other than that, you should find the experience to be a significant improvement over using your smartphone for tethering. Plus, you’ll have your phone available whenever you need it too, which can be a nice bonus.
