This phone is broken (broken screen) and was given to me, so I figured I’d use it as a WiFi extender, but I guess I can’t.

  • Squizzy@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    21
    ·
    2 days ago

    How would a hot spot work without a sim? Isnt it using the sim 5g to rebroadcast locally?

    • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      2 days ago

      Some phones essentially function as wifi repeaters if wifi is connected and mobile hotspot is enabled.

      Not all phones can do this.

      • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        1 day ago

        But if the phone gets wifi… then why doesn’t the other gadget?

        Edit: someone described a few plausible edge cases lower in the thread. I guess it’s not common, but it could come in handy sometimes.

        • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          edit-2
          1 day ago

          Comes in clutch sometimes. Like when a device doesn’t support captive portals (i.e. in a hotel), or your work laptop has trouble with them (as some work VPNs and security software causes problems).

          Then you can just log in from your cell phone, and then share that. The phone uses WPA2-Personal, which nearly everything supports.