Using phone as hotspot

[Gremlin]

I've just moved to a sim only contract giving me 10gb of data, hopefully meaning l can scrap my mobile dongle.
Managed to tether laptop and tablet to the phone, all work well.
Question is when l cancelled the contract on the dongle, the person on the phone said to be careful as using the phone
in this way could cause it to overheat and burn out !
Any one heard of this, phone is samsung s6, not used it much for tethering yet as still have the cancellation period on
the dongle, don't use it that much, hence stopping it, but handy to have when l am out and about

 

[Jayst84]

Never heard of anyone having that happen. Don't see why it would either.

It will batter your battery though. So don't plan on using it all day.

I use mine (Note 3 to laptop) for sending a few images here and there for urgent press / PR stuff - does the job fine.

 

[JohnX]

Some networks don't allow tethering on normal contracts, but how they'd know I'm not sure. My phone runs very hot when working hard with data for any longer than a few minutes, and the battery takes a bashing. Also, some phones lose some functionality when tethered.

I use a dongle that a bought outright from Amazon for around £70, and add a data sim when I need to. Currently using a 3 sim with 12gb valid for 12 months - around £15-20.

 

[sep9001]

Not had a problem with my phone, but make sure you are allowed to tether on the 10gb contract.

 

[LCS]

If you charge it via usb while using it, that'd be fine, plus you could use the internet via USB - I do that and think its a shade quicker than wireless connection.

 

[Giles2373]

We use tethered phones a lot at work for developers and support to access the network if required and have never had an issue with either iPhones or Samsung. Not saying its not an issue, but would suspect its more likely a scare tactic.

 

[dejongj]

I use mine all the time when out and about. I am on a 36GB Vodafone deal. I cancelled my other data contracts. It is just absolute nonsense that person is talking. Typical dumbs sales person dream up any lie they can.

My phone was a iPhone 6+ and now a Samsung Galaxy s7 edge.

Don't worry just enjoy.

Ps. Can't see it eating through more battery life either. The screen is off and just laying there. I easily go through the whole day and use it from 9-5.

 

[plamen_gb]

I have never hard of anything like that, the only thing was the fact it eats through allowance faster

 

[f/1.2]

I tether to find my iphone to a laptop and tablet a fair bit as spend most days out and about.

It does effect battery life probably because I am using the wifi and the data signal at the same time I would imagine but haven't encountered any over heating issues or heard of anyone else having those issues either. You would have thought that if this was the case that it would be all over the internet as this a feature that most modern phones are expected to be able to do.

 

[Gremlin]

Thanks everyone, l had a feeling it was a ploy to make me keep in bb contract.
I am ok to tether, the guy in the shop even talked me through setting it up
I own the phone, bought a few months ago and decided sim only was the way
to when my contract ran out, l like the coverage EE give so was pleased to
get a competative price from them, saving me loads on what l was paying for
BB and phone with massively increased allowances

 

[noneforit]

Never heard of that either.

Sounds like a sales ploy to try and get you to keep the dongle.

I always tether my Ipad to my Iphone and never had an issue.

 

[LCS]

Definitely a sales ploy.. If the feature had a damaging effect, it wouldn't be an option!

 

[Shanks]

I've been on a 10gb EE contract for a couple of years now and use tethering regularly when out of the office. Apart from the battery taking a bit of a hit, the phone works normally and it's never been an issue for me or EE. Currently using a Sony Xperia. I would ignore the phone monkey and carry on, it's a really useful tool.

 

[Swissy]

Bear in mind that if you are doing a lot of uploading/downloading, 10gb won't last very long.

 

[Gremlin]

Some networks don't allow tethering on normal contracts, but how they'd know I'm not sure. .

My phone shows what and who is connected so I assume the network would see that too ?

Bear in mind that if you are doing a lot of uploading/downloading, 10gb won't last very long.

As someone who doesn't use more the 15gb on my home BB I doubt it would be a problem

 

[Mr Bump]

If you charge it via usb while using it, that'd be fine, plus you could use the internet via USB - I do that and think its a shade quicker than wireless connection.

yeah this, plug it in to your laptop if you can .

 

[ChrisHeathcote]

I use my phone (galaxy s7 edge) a lot for tethering and on occasion it does get slightly warm to the touch, but not enough to worry me. I have just cancelled my iPad contract with a view to tethering, the only thing I have noticed is that the signal isn't a as strong for some reason. I think I am going to look into getting a Mifi box off Amazon and getting a second sim from EE which has 20gb.

 

[neil_g]

Don't rely on what the min wage monkey in the shop says, double check what your contract states for tethering. It does not always come out of your normal data allowance.

Example I have unlimited data but limited to 8gb/month tether.

But no, tethering won't make your phone explode.

 

[Mr Bump]

I use my phone (galaxy s7 edge) a lot for tethering and on occasion it does get slightly warm to the touch, but not enough to worry me. I have just cancelled my iPad contract with a view to tethering, the only thing I have noticed is that the signal isn't a as strong for some reason. I think I am going to look into getting a Mifi box off Amazon and getting a second sim from EE which has 20gb.

I had one of the osprey 2 bozes and have to say very reliable on EE had mine for a year on the EE rolling 30 days contract while working away in Scotland.