Use phone as hotspot

How would I use my android LG G2 as a hotspot ?

The legal way and illegal way ? If that is ok. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each way ?

 

Not sure to understand what you mean about illegal way.

 

just go to settings (or network connections) -> more networks -> tethering and portable hotspot, and enable portable WLAN hotspot (you can also configure it from there to set the name and password). the path/names may vary depending on your phones brand and version of android, but even low end android phones can be used as hotspots in my experience. when your computers or other portable devices look for Wifi connections they'll see it and can connect to it with the default password or whatever password you chose. if it doesn't work for some reason, then try rebooting your devices and try again (sometimes this happens the first time I try to connect to a new network).

the advantage is it lets your other devices use your phones 3G or 4G connection like a Wifi router, which is super handy when you are traveling. Obviously you are limited to the 3G or 4G speeds and network strength and stability in your area, and if your phone's data plan doesn't cover unlimited data use then you should be careful how much you download and upload. web surfing, checking email and the like should be fine even with limited data plans.

 

Some Cellphone services such as Virgin forbid the use of a cell phone as a hot spot. Their typical non contract monthly plan includes unlimited data and internet usage which would undoudtedly be abused.

They sell a separate non phone product for use as a hot spot.

 

As @dogbite said. There are no legal restrictions. Just use it. You only need to be careful where wi-fi or cellular connection is forbidden.

 

It's handy. But does the battery drain quickly? Is it better to use something like portable pocket router?

 

It increases battery drain a little bit in my experience, enough that I notice.

I have no experience with pocket routers, but if your smart phone supports the hotspot function and data usage is not an issue with phone's plan, then I wouldn't bother getting a separate device.

edit: actually, you might want to get a separate device so you can take your phone with you when you leave your laptop, for example, to leave it downloading. fwiw, i currently have unlimited data plan on both my phone and tablet, and i basically use the tablet as a permanent hotspot (for the next month or so) for my laptop - and just leave it home when I go unless I speficially want to use it outside the house. I could have saved money by just using my phone as the hotspot, but it would have been inconvenient and unlimited data plans are cheap in my country (at least compared to some others I've been to) - I'm paying about 13 € a month for each 3G SIM card with unlimited data plan.

 

i tether my tablet nexus 7 to my phones unlimited data with no problems ,however connecting a laptop brings up the usual webpage warning that id need a different and more costly plan.Im not 100% certain how my phone provider detects whether i have a laptop or tablet connected but it does.Maybe its user agent or ? detecting whther im using desktop firefox on the laptop and android on the tablet?

 

Ah that makes sense.

 

I assume the original post referring to the "illegal" way is using an app that bypasses the phone company's tethering block. I know that apps used to exist for this purpose in the past for Android. I have no experience doing that and wouldn't want to risk lose my service over trying it (since only 1 carrier works well in my area.)

I've never tried to use my data plan tethered to my phone. I need my phone to be available as much as possible. So any battery drain due to anything is not something I want.

My sole internet connection for my PC and tablet is a cellular hot spot box (pocket router if you prefer the term.) As noted above, its connection speed can vary. But coming from dialup, it's been a miracle! I can do Windows updates and much more in just a few minutes. It used to take hours!!

 

My DSL Modem just quit so i went to the ATT Store and bought a new Netgear one. I connected my Android Phone to the WIFI and connected my facebook and twitter accounts when my pc wanted wanted me to enter the Key. Could i have somehow connected my phone and accounts without the prompt from my computer and just doing it direct to the modem or do i need the adapter from the pc to get it done.