How to Get Online Anywhere with your iPad
How to Get Online Anywhere with your iPad
Working out in the field--in its most literal sense--still requires that you be able to get online whenever you need to. iPhone and iPad 3G or 4G users with good mobile coverage clearly have no problem here, but what if you’re out of reach, or overseas?
If your iPad is Wi-Fi-only and you need to work on the go, then check out the iPhone 4 and 4S Personal Hotspot feature, which lets you share your 3G or 4G connection with your iPad as though it were connected directly. This will eat into your iPhone contract’s monthly data bundle, but it could still work out cheaper than buying an additional data plan for your iPad.
Most providers will apply a surcharge if you exceed your monthly bandwidth, so it pays to keep an eye on your consumption. Tap Settings > General > Usage > Mobile Usage to see how much data you’ve sent across the network so far and get into the habit of tapping Reset Statistics at the start of each billing cycle. If that’s too much trouble, then download My Data Use ($0.99) and enter your billing date and monthly limit. It’ll warn you when you’ve hit it.
The Free Wi-Fi Hotspots app detects your current location and then searches its database or nearby hospots.
On most networks Personal Hotspot is only available if you have a monthly contract, so it’s out of reach for anyone signed up to Pay as You Go--or indeed anyone with an earlier iPhone. If that sounds like you, then the simplest solution is to park yourself in reach of a public hotspot and switch to Wi-Fi. Look for coffee shops that offer internet access as an inducement to pop in and buy a drink. Often this will be free, but sometimes it’s provided by a large national hotspot brand.
If you’re planning a business trip, it also makes sense to check out what facilities will be available at your chosen hotel. Many offer Wi-Fi in public areas and optional Ethernet connections in each room. Clearly no iOS device has a wired network port, but packing an AirPort Express, which isn’t much larger than a full deck of cards and shouldn’t raise any eyebrows as it passes through an airport x-ray machine, lets you share physical connections with wired devices. That means that not only can you continue working, but also stream movies, usually for less than it would cost to buy one on your in-room TV.
If you’ll be relying on an AirPort connection on your travels, be sure to install AirPort Utility before you leave to help set up your network and diagnose any potential problems while away from home.
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