Nowadays, it is easy to have a connection almost anywhere. There are Wi-Fi networks available everywhere, such as stations, airports, restaurants… However, it is not always possible to have a network of this type right at hand. Maybe you are traveling on a bus, for example, and you want to connect your computer, a tablet or any other device. What can you do? There is the option of creating an access point with your phone, but also using a mobile router. We are going to talk to you about the differences.
The objective is that you can check what interests you most, depending on what you need. In both cases, what you will achieve is to be able to connect other devices and have Internet. Therefore, the operation is similar, although it is not really the same. There are some key points that you should keep in mind.
Mobile router or hotspot on phone
First of all, let’s briefly talk about what each thing is. Sharing data with your phone is basically that: you share your connection, create a Wi-Fi network and others can connect. On the other hand, a mobile router is similar to the one you have at home, but it has a SIM card and receives the signal through mobile data.
What is clear is that something is the same in both cases: you need mobile Internet coverage. If you are in a very isolated area, where coverage is zero, then you would not be able to connect in any way. You would not have a connection on your mobile phone, nor on a portable router.
So what is best? Well, it depends on what you need it for. If you are simply going to share the Internet with another person, so that they can connect with their mobile phone, a tablet or even a computer, for basic things, really sharing data with the phone will be enough. You will not need to make a financial investment.
On the other hand, if you need a higher speed connection or connect more devices, then it may be good to have a mobile router. It will support more simultaneous connections without problems, in addition to having a higher speed, both upload and download, to connect devices to the network.
Think about connection time
As a general rule, we can say that the main thing is that you think about the connection time, how much you are going to be using the network. If it is something specific, such as a certain trip you take by train or bus, you can share data with your mobile phone and that’s it. Of course, you will have to be careful not to discharge the battery.
If it is going to be something longer in time, such as going to a second home on weekends, then having a mobile router may be the best option. You won’t have to worry so much about the battery, since they usually have a range of several hours, and you will be able to continue using your cell phone normally.
In short, to have Internet anywhere you will be able to create an access point with your mobile, but also use a portable router. In both cases, you need mobile coverage. Choosing one or the other option will depend on factors such as the number of devices you are going to connect or the speed you need.
