reliability. adaptability. and cool capabilities.
by rick richardson
your phone probably has a built-in hotspot feature that enables you to share your internet connection with other devices, regardless of whether you use an iphone or an android smartphone.
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it’s a nice function, but if you use it frequently, a separate mobile hotspot router will probably serve you better.
during my working career, i traveled over 4 million miles, and over half of that was on trips where i relied on a mobile hotspot router for my internet connection.
in my first years using a mobile hotspot router, i used hardware from various manufacturers. but, within a few years, i had focused on netgear and have used their routers ever since.
the newest device from netgear is the nighthawk m6 pro, the top hotspot router on the market today. it is important to note that the m6 pro is only available on the at&t network in the us. the m6 model is still a superb router and can come unlocked to be used with any telecom vendor.
at this point, you must be asking why? why have this expensive peripheral when its functionality is bundled already into my smartphone?
it’s because mobile hotspot routers are more adaptable and filled with cool capabilities.
first, i use my phone for numerous purposes throughout the day and don’t want to tie it up with always providing the internet to gadgets. it is inconvenient and severely drains the battery. two years ago, my wife and i decided to ‘cut the cord’ and get rid of our landline. now, my smartphone is our primary contact number, and i want it always available. the only thing my mobile hot spot router has to do is connect the internet to all of my accompanying devices.
the nighthawk m6 and m6 pro can connect up to 32 devices to the internet by using the built-in battery to fill up to 2,000 square feet of space with high-speed wi-fi for up to 13 hours using the available 5g & 4g lte networks. if you need more power, connect it to a power bank or other available usb charger.
if your smartphone doesn’t have an unlimited data plan, controlling your internet consumption on your phone is crucial. setting up a separate plan just for data with a cellular carrier for your mobile hotspot router will eliminate those overage costs on your phone’s plan. and in those situations where your device can take advantage of an ethernet connection, this mobile hotspot router can provide that ethernet port.
the nighthawk m6 and m6 pro’s ability to capture cellular signals is also impressive. these mobile routers perform better and had a stronger signal than my iphone 14 pro, which makes them a wonderful option for signal-poor locations. in those situations where there appears to be a poor cellular signal, you can connect an external antenna to the ts-9 ports of the router.
another feature of the m6 and m6 pro is its ability to provide internet service at home. the mobile router can connect directly to your network and allow you to switch to cellular should your main internet connection go down.
finally, when you need internet connections at a campsite, remote construction site or even an emergency scene, use your mobile hotspot router to create a bubble of wi-fi service wherever you are. the router will also create a qr code on its display so any smartphone can easily connect to the service with its camera.
once you’ve used one, you’ll find it really hard to go back to using your smartphone’s hotspot feature.