With modern technology, you can use devices Android as a modem. This means that you can connect your smartphone to your computer and connect the latter to the mobile internet. To do this, the smartphone has a modem mode that opens access to a global mobile connection.
Phone as hotspot
This mode is certain settings that are made automatically when this function is activated. This allows the phone to be used as a 2G and 3G mobile modem. Of course, any modern smartphone can act as a Wi-Fi access point, but it happens that for some reason this option is not suitable. So how to connect Android as a modem?
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Connection modes
To begin with, it's worth examining the question of what a modem is. It is a device that allows you to connect to local and global networks. It uses signal modulation to transmit digital data over analog communications.
It should be noted that the smartphone can be used as a modem in two connection modes:
- Via USB.
- By Bluetooth – communication.
This means you can connect your phone over cable or over the air. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, wireless communication has quite strict data rate limits. Depending on the version Bluetooth, the actual connection speed will vary from 720 kbps to 3 Mbps.
At the same time, the USB connection, although it boasts a higher data transfer speed, limits your movement. If the phone is connected to the computer via a cable, if necessary (at the time of the call and so on) you will not be able to move freely. So let's take a closer look at these two connection options.
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Smartphone as Bluetooth – modem
As you may have guessed, this feature works in a similar way to a Wi-Fi hotspot. To use Bluetooth – modem mode on Android, follow these steps:
- Turn on Bluetooth – module on laptop and phone. Turn on device discovery. This is done in the module settings. On your computer, find the icon Bluetooth in the system tray (lower right corner of your desktop). Right-click on it and select 'Open Options'.
In the 'Options' tab, check the box 'Allow devices to detect this computer'.
On your smartphone, enter the settings Bluetooth and check the 'Allow detection' or 'Visible to all devices …' line.
- At this point, we need to pair the devices. To do this, on the computer, right-click again on the icon Bluetooth in the tray. In the menu that appears, select the 'Add device' item.
After that, a window will open in which the system will display a list of equipment available for connection. Select your smartphone and click 'Next'.
The system has now generated a PIN. It must match on both devices. You just have to confirm the pairing. To do this, click 'OK' on your smartphone and computer. The system will now install the required software and drivers.
- Turn on mobile internet or Wi-Fi on your phone (mobile data transfer).
- Now go to the smartphone settings and select the 'Other networks' item, then select 'Modem and access point'.
On older versions, follow this path: 'Settings' – 'Wireless & networks' – 'Modem and hotspot'. Here you just need to put a tick in the line 'Bluetooth – modem'.
- Let's go to the computer. Click on the icon Bluetooth in the system tray again and select 'Show devices'.
In the window that opens, you will see all devices paired with this PC (tablets, phones, smartphones, printers, and so on).
- Click on the desired device with the right mouse button. We need the 'Connect via' item and then select 'Access Point'.
After that, on your PC, you will get access to the mobile internet via Bluetooth. As you can see, there is nothing difficult. It is only important to follow the sequence of actions. In this case, the pairing needs to be performed only once.
For further connections, you just need to turn on the wireless module on your PC and phone and follow the steps from the third point.
Remember that this mode significantly reduces the battery life of your mobile phone. Take this into account when traveling and in cases where there is no outlet at hand to connect the charging.
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USB connection
A special USB / microUSB cable is included with each smartphone. With it, you can connect the device to a PC for copying files, as well as for flashing and working with the phone. This cable can also be used to use Android as a USB modem.
To do this, connect your phone to a PC via USB. Turn on mobile internet on your smartphone. Then go to the settings and select the 'Other networks' item (in earlier versions – the 'More' section). Enter the 'Modem & Access Point' category. It remains only to put a check mark in the line 'USB modem'.
As you can see, this option is even simpler. Moreover, both in the first and in the second case, to access the Internet, you can use not only a mobile network, but also a Wi-Fi connection. Thus, you can connect to the Internet a stationary computer that does not have wireless modules, as well as laptops that are not equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter.
It is worth noting that, unlike the first option, when connected via USB, the battery of your mobile phone will be constantly charged, so that the equipment can work for an unlimited amount of time. But it does affect battery wear. With regular use of the phone in this mode, the battery capacity will noticeably decrease after a month.
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