Not everyone has a stable Wi-Fi connection at home, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t use their smart TV. Several functions will still work on smart TVs even when the devices aren’t connected to the internet. Even though you can still watch local and cable channels, there are times when you wish you could take advantage of the other features that come with a smart TV, which brings us to the question of whether you can connect a Smart TV to a hot spot?
You can connect your Smart TV to your mobile phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot, and it will allow you to stream shows and maybe even video games. That said, it will use a lot of data, and can hit your phone’s data cap quickly, maybe leading to higher charges.
You can connect your smart TV to a personal or dedicated hotspot, and it only takes a few steps. However, there are often limitations and the possibility of additional charges. And if there’s anything the average cellular phone user doesn’t like, it’s additional and unexpected charges on their phone bill every month!
Using a Smart TV with a Personal Hotspot
Connecting your smart TV to a personal hotspot, whether it’s your mobile phone or a dedicated device, is a simple process. A hotspot device like the Nighthawk from NETGEAR (on Amazon) throws up a Wi-Fi network that the TV can access. Some users need to do this in their RV, using their main vehicle or smartphone as a hotspot.
When you want to connect the smart TV to the hotspot, you’ll start by turning on both devices. It helps to check the name of the hotspot and password before trying to connect the smart TV.
When you know the name of the hotspot and password, you’ll click on “network” under “settings” on the smart TV. Since the hotspot is turned on, you’ll see it listed under “available Wi-Fi networks”. Select the hotspot and then “connect”.
A password prompt will appear, and from there the smart TV is connected to the hotspot’s network. You can access all of the available streaming content and other features that come with internet access, in fact, this is the primary difference between a smart and regular TV which we’ve discussed elsewhere.
How To Connect A Smart TV To A Mobile Hotspot (Step-By-Step)
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to get you up and running in no time.
- Turn on Your Hotspot: The first step is to ensure your mobile hotspot is switched on. This could be on your smartphone or a dedicated hotspot device. The process might differ slightly depending on the device and its operating system, but it generally involves going into the settings and turning on the hotspot feature. If you’re using your hotspot for the first time, skip to our section on how to set it up below and then come back here!
- Check Your Hotspot Name and Password: You need to know the name of your hotspot and the password to connect your smart TV. You should be able to find this information in the settings of your hotspot device.
- Turn on Your Smart TV: Next, power up your smart TV. Grab that remote control and let’s get ready to dive into the settings.
- Go to Your TV’s Network Settings: Navigate to the network section of your smart TV settings. This is usually found under the “Settings” or “Menu” options on your TV.
- Select Your Hotspot: Your TV will search for available Wi-Fi networks and display them. Locate the name of your hotspot on this list and select it. If you can’t see your hotspot, try refreshing the list or ensure your hotspot is correctly set up and within range of the TV.
- Enter Your Hotspot Password: After you select your hotspot, you’ll be asked to input the password. Use your TV remote to enter the password you checked earlier. Be careful with this step as the passwords are usually case sensitive.
- Confirm the Connection: Once you’ve entered the password, confirm the connection. Your smart TV will then connect to the hotspot. This process could take a few moments, so be patient.
Once connected, your smart TV should have access to the internet via your mobile hotspot. Now, you can enjoy all your streaming services, app updates, and other internet-based features. But do see our other tips on actually using a hotspot like this.
How To Set Up Mobile Hotspot For The First Time
So, if this is your first time using mobile hotspot, you have a few extra things to do to actually turn it on and get it broadcasting a Wi-Fi network you can use. The instructions are slightly different whetehr you’re on iOS or Android.
Setting Up Hotspot on iOS Devices
For Apple devices:
- Open Settings: Tap on the “Settings” icon on your home screen.
- Go to Personal Hotspot: Scroll down a bit and tap on “Personal Hotspot.” It’s generally located underneath the “Mobile Data” or “Cellular” option.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot: Toggle the slider to turn on the Personal Hotspot. It will turn green when it’s on.
- Set Up Wi-Fi Password: You’ll see an option called “Wi-Fi Password.” This is where you can set the password for your hotspot. Make sure it’s something secure but also something you can remember!
Now the hotspot is broadcasting and ready to connect to.
Setting Up Hotspot on Android Devices
And for all the Android users out there, here’s the slightly different path to turning on your wireless hotspot:
- Open Settings: Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel, and then tap on the gear icon to access “Settings.”
- Tap on Network & Internet: In the settings menu, tap on “Network & Internet” or “Connections,” depending on your Android version.
- Select Hotspot & Tethering: You’ll see an option for “Hotspot & Tethering” or something similar. Tap on it.
- Turn on Wi-Fi Hotspot: Here, you’ll find the option to turn on your “Wi-Fi Hotspot” or “Mobile Hotspot.” Tap the switch to turn it on.
- Set Up Hotspot: You can set up your hotspot by giving it a name and a secure password. Tap on “Set up Wi-Fi hotspot” to do this.
And as other users have pointed out (forum link), while using a mobile hotspot, it will consume data from your mobile plan, so monitor your data usage if you don’t have an unlimited data plan. We’ll talk about that and other limitations in the next section.
Limitations of Using a Smart TV with Hotspot
Even though you can use a smart TV with a hotspot, it’s not recommended as a permanent solution for a couple of different reasons. There are limitations to using a mobile hotspot that will affect your viewing experience. For example, data transfer rates might be faster with a mobile hotspot.
Download speeds for mobile devices are between 5-12 Mbps and upload speeds are 2-5 Mbps. Home network speeds have a greater variance that depends on the provider and the number of connected devices.
More devices result in slower data transfer rates. You might get a faster data transfer rate with a mobile hotspot if you’re the only device connected to it.
Videos can stop and stutter if your phone is performing another function – one reason why it’s important to reboot it sometimes as we’ve alluded to before. You’ll also notice problems with slower speeds when the battery starts to run low. There’s also the problem of bandwidth.
Mobile hotspots don’t always come with the bandwidth necessary to perform multiple tasks or stream extremely data-rich content. For instance, while we’ve explored adding a mobile hotspot to your car before, cruising down the highway at 60mph or more is probably going to subject you to some connection issues.
And watch out for range! The range on mobile hotspots is much lower than your typical Wi-Fi range, as some users have discussed here (forum). This means you’ll likely need to keep your phone near the Smart TV at all times.
Potential Extra Charges
While your phone will work as a mobile hotspot for your smart TV, it’s not the best idea. It’s not designed to act as a permanent hotspot, even if you have an unlimited data plan. If your data plan has a set limit, over-usages are expensive. Most phone carriers do have unlimited data plans (our guide) but there are still restrictions.
You’re not charged for data usage but down/upload speeds are often slower when you’re over the limit. You can also run into these issues with a dedicated mobile hotspot.
You can get around some of these issues if you have the right unlimited data plan. It will mean paying extra to avoid potential network slowdowns when you go over the standard data usage limits.
Using a Dedicated Hotspot for a Smart TV
A dedicated mobile hotspot with an unlimited data plan can keep content streaming smoothly regardless of how much data is used. It is often less expensive than paying for internet service from a cable or Wi-Fi provider, but it also can come with limitations. Some unlimited data plans come with decreased resolution.
What this means is that streaming content will be very smooth, without interruptions, but the colors and details could be faded and muted which is a compromise you may not be willing to make.
Other hotspots aren’t compatible with all smart TVs. If you get one that’s not compatible, the TV won’t recognize the Wi-Fi signal.
Smart TV/Mobile Hotspot Troubleshooting Tips
If things still aren’t working quite right, have a look at these aspects of your setup to see where the kink is:
Check Your Data Usage
If your smart TV isn’t connecting to your hotspot, or the connection keeps dropping, it’s worth checking your data usage. If you’ve hit the data limit for your mobile plan, your mobile carrier may have throttled or cut off your hotspot. Check your data usage in your phone’s settings or your carrier’s app, and consider upgrading your plan if necessary.
Check Your Signal Strength
A weak or unstable mobile signal can interfere with your hotspot. If you’re in a place with poor reception, like a basement or a rural area, try moving to a location with better signal strength. You can check your signal strength by looking at the bars at the top of your phone’s screen. Like we said earlier, tethering has lower range, so, the phone should be near the TV.
Reboot Your Phone’s Hotspot
Like any tech device, your phone’s hotspot function can occasionally benefit from a good old-fashioned reboot. Try turning off the hotspot, waiting a few seconds, and then turning it back on. This simple step can often resolve any minor glitches or connectivity issues.
Tether Your Phone to Your Smart TV via Its USB Port
If Wi-Fi just isn’t working, try a wired connection. Most smartphones allow you to tether your data connection via USB. Plug your phone into your smart TV’s USB port using a compatible cable, and enable USB tethering in your phone’s hotspot settings. This can provide a more stable connection than Wi-Fi.
Reset Your TV
If you’re still having issues, consider resetting your smart TV. Most smart TVs have a reset option in the settings menu. Remember, a reset will often erase any custom settings and sign you out of any accounts, so be sure you’re ready for that.
Staying Connected
You can use a mobile hotspot with a smart TV, like this one from Samsung (on Amazon), for example. You can stream content from Netflix, Prime, and other subscribed services. However, there is a difference when it comes to which mobile hotspot to use.
Your phone is great in emergencies, especially if you have an unlimited data plan, but it’s not designed for long-term use which will become apparent through issues like resolution and speed.
A dedicated mobile hotspot is a better option because you can get an uninterrupted signal and it’s more cost-efficient. You do want to ensure that the hotspot is compatible with the smart TV, and the data plan fits your needs.
Even though a stable Wi-Fi network is best, a dedicated mobile hotspot will work almost as well.