Using a "Hot Spot" on my iPhone?

[bcoldpro]

First of all, I have no idea what the "Hot Spot" option is on my new iPhone 16e. What is it intended for and how is it useful?
Specifically, could I use an Amazon Firestick with my RV interior TV and the iPhone Hot Spot in conjunction with each other to
be able to use our Amazon Prime Movie account?

In almost 5 years of RV camping we have never once used the onboard interior TV. Taking a long trip soon and would like to have that option if the urge hits us.

 

[Lv2Roam2]

Your phone hot spot allows other devices to connect to WiFi through your phone's cellular network. Your Firestick can connect to your phone, campground WiFi, etc. Limiting factors are what strength of signal and your data plan.
My best recommendation: get with one of the grandkids - they know this stuff 'backwards and forwards!'

 

[Bzerull]

Your hotspot transmits your cellular data signal so other devices, (phones, computers, smart tv’s, etc) can use your cellular signal as a data input/streaming source, providing they have your hotspot password. When you turn the hotspot on, the password will become visible.
Let’s say you have your hotspot on and you want to stream to your tv. Go to the network settings on your tv and search for your hot spot(will be displayed by whatever your phone name is (my iphone16, Jim’s phone, etc.). Select it and you will be asked to provide a password, which is your hot spot password. Now, whatever you can stream on your phone, you can now stream on your tv. the amount of data transfer you have is dependent upon the plan you have with your cell phone provider. We use our hotspot to stream tv all the time. Much, much better than any campground wifi signal and more secure also. Try it, you will be glad you did!

 

[be happy]

Steve hit it out of the park.
The usefulness of the "hot spot" depends on your plan as for how much data you can get. Its mainly useful for tying computer to internet via the hot spot. It does not take much to run your data to zero when streaming. I have the verizon stand a lone hot spot with 15 gb / unlimited. With that plan once I use the 15 the speed goes down to all most zero but still can connect. If I used it to stream I may get 2 movies watched.
I would contact your carrier and ask more questions about what you have.

To give you answer, yes you can connect your firestick to the tv and use phones hot spot to stream.

 

[Pointyears]

An alternate approach is to download Amazon Prime videos to your device before hitting the road whilst still on home wifi and then play from there. You'll need an HDMI cable and an HDMI Lightning or USB-C adapter, but that's the surefire way to not get behind the data 8 ball.

 

[Bzerull]

I have unlimited data, about $40 per month. I stream all i want, no problem. Live sports as well. Whatever streaming services you have subscribed to you can watch as long as you have a cell signal.

 

[bcoldpro]

An alternate approach is to download Amazon Prime videos to your device before hitting the road whilst still on home wifi and then play from there. You'll need an HDMI cable and an HDMI Lightning or USB-C adapter, but that's the surefire way to not get behind the data 8 ball.

I'm having a hard time finding the correct USB-C adapter for an iPhone 16e. Any specific recommendations? Amazon? Powered units correct?

 

[Lv2Roam2]

Best price is likely WalMart - you can also stop at any cell phone store (company owned or not) for a higher price.

 

[Pointyears]

I'm having a hard time finding the correct USB-C adapter for an iPhone 16e. Any specific recommendations? Amazon? Powered units correct?

Oops. Dupe post.

 

[Pointyears]

I'm having a hard time finding the correct USB-C adapter for an iPhone 16e. Any specific recommendations? Amazon? Powered units correct?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Aluminum-Pixelbook-Compatible-Thunderbolt/dp/B07THJGZ9Z is what I have. That being said, I haven't used it with my iPhone or iPad because mine are all older models with lightning connectors, not USB-C. Works great with MacBook, though.

 

[RovingMedics]

Like others mentioned, yes, you can do this. You have the Amazon apps on the TV already and don't really need a separate firestick.

Here's more about the hotspot feature: How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Note that you may have "unlimited data" on your cell plan, but many of them consider "hotspot data" to be a separate thing and it may have limits.

USB -> HDMI cables often work but the problem is that you never know when they *won't* work and will show some HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) error. Basically the 1's and 0's think you're doing something outside of their licensing and block you from playing the movie that way. Copy protection can be a hinderance.

 

[bcoldpro]

My RV is a 2016 and it's doubtful my stock TV is a Smart TV. I have Netflix and Amazon Prime on my iPhone. I would still most likely need some sort of HDMI connector? I ran across the "HDCP" issue already.

I found a refurbished Amazon Firestick for $17, it's in my Cart now. Maybe that's my best bet?

 

[bcoldpro]

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Aluminum-Pixelbook-Compatible-Thunderbolt/dp/B07THJGZ9Z is what I have. That being said, I haven't used it with my iPhone or iPad because mine are all older models with lightning connectors, not USB-C. Works great with MacBook, though.

I tried the Anker device already, didn't work for me. That's an unpowered device correct? Don't the adapters need to be powered to work?

 

[Sparky19053]

Hot spot connections can be finicky, especially when cell service weak. We have both a IPhone 13 and a 15. Both on a unlimited plan with Visible. we use the elevated plan and we pay one year in advance. It comes out to about $33. something a month. They offer a $10. discount on your home Verizon internet plan so it works well for us. The finicky thing is sometime we need to restart the phone before the hot spot works or works correctly. Once you really understand how things work you can tether you phone to a GL-AXT1800 GL-AXT1800 / Slate AX and share that connection with several wifi devices. When the cell service is good we can run two laptops and a streaming stick with no issues. Its gets tricky when using my employers laptop that is connected to a very active shared cloud. The sync if I haven't been connected for a few days can choke my connection.

 

[Papapohli]

First of all, I have no idea what the "Hot Spot" option is on my new iPhone 16e. What is it intended for and how is it useful?
Specifically, could I use an Amazon Firestick with my RV interior TV and the iPhone Hot Spot in conjunction with each other to
be able to use our Amazon Prime Movie account?

In almost 5 years of RV camping we have never once used the onboard interior TV. Taking a long trip soon and would like to have that option if the urge hits us.

I have a 100gb hotspot on my phone and we use it to stream on our Roku tv. Also have a weBoost for cell service and in 2-1/2 years have had no problems streaming (been to 43 states, Mexico, and 6 provinces).

 

[Rickb33952]

First of all, I have no idea what the "Hot Spot" option is on my new iPhone 16e. What is it intended for and how is it useful?
Specifically, could I use an Amazon Firestick with my RV interior TV and the iPhone Hot Spot in conjunction with each other to
be able to use our Amazon Prime Movie account?

In almost 5 years of RV camping we have never once used the onboard interior TV. Taking a long trip soon and would like to have that option if the urge hits us.

If your TV is a recent smart TV almost any young person will be able to set up your newer iphones to the smart TV and streaming will be available even if you only have a couple of bars of decent data reception. Cell service does not mean you have good data service. Get help and take notes.

 

[kvmllr-WO]

First of all, I have no idea what the "Hot Spot" option is on my new iPhone 16e. What is it intended for and how is it useful?
Specifically, could I use an Amazon Firestick with my RV interior TV and the iPhone Hot Spot in conjunction with each other to
be able to use our Amazon Prime Movie account?

In almost 5 years of RV camping we have never once used the onboard interior TV. Taking a long trip soon and would like to have that option if the urge hits us.

Your phone can function as your source for wifi. I have a WeBoost cell phone booster so that I have phone service in nearly every place we camp in the West. With a mount to hold my phone near the interior antenna, I have wifi to use my phone and smart TV in places where people camping around me had no service at all.

 

[Sir Robin]

Note that you may have "unlimited data" on your cell plan, but many of them consider "hotspot data" to be a separate thing and it may have limits.

I've been using my phone's WiFi Hotspot feature as my primary internet access for 3 years of full time RVing in my 1993 Winnebago BRAVE "Sir Robin." I connect laptop, tablet, and Roku simultaneously. As others have pointed out, the WiFi Hotspot of your phone permits connected devices to access the internet via your cell phone's secure cell connection.

The only cell phone plan I'm aware of that offers unlimited data AND unlimited WiFi hotspot data is Visible.com, which operates on the Verizon 5g network. Visible.com has very affordable plans. Their $35/mo plan includes full service in both Canada and Mexico, as well as in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Last I checked, their basic plan was only $25/mo, for unlimited everything including unlimited WiFi hotspot, but in the US only.

 

[Bzerull]

If your TV is a recent smart TV almost any young person will be able to set up your newer iphones to the smart TV and streaming will be available even if you only have a couple of bars of decent data reception. Cell service does not mean you have good data service. Get help and take notes.

In your settings go to cellular. If your cellular data is turned on, you will see below it, cellular data options and under that personal hotspot. Tap on it, allow others to join and under that you will see a wifi password.
With this turned on, another device (another phone, smart tv, etc will be able to “see” your hotspot. However, they cannot access it if they do not have your password for the hotspot. The data plan you have with your cell phone will determine how much data you have to use (streaming tv, texting, etc). I have unlimited data with my cell phone company so i do use it for streaming tv. Works much better than most wifi signals as long as I have a cell signal. Try it, you may like it.

 

[RV_Lee]

I have been using my phones hot spot for internet going on two years now while RVing around North America. Its been very reliable but I also have a rare roaming plan, so its going to connect to whatever tower it finds regardless of who owns it. Most data plans wont have that and you'll be stuck with the carriers cell towers.