Connecting your computer to the internet without a router. To connect your computer directly to your modem without a router, you will need an ethernet cable. Plug one end of the cable into your modem and the other end into the ethernet port on your computer. It's as easy as that.
If you have an Ethernet port on your laptop, all you need to do is plug an Ethernet cable into that port and connect it to your router on the other end. You may need to disable Wi-Fi or tell your laptop to prioritize the Ethernet connection to make the most of it, but the setup is straightforward.
You don't necessarily need to buy a router to connect to the Internet. It's possible to connect your computer directly to your modem using an Ethernet cable. Also, many modems include a built-in router, so you have the option of creating a Wi-Fi network without buying extra hardware.
A “Hotspot” also uses cellular data. When you're using a “hotspot,” it transmits data signals from your computer to your phone, and from your phone to the internet and back via cellular data. Hotspots are different than WiFi in this respect, although you might see the two words misleadingly combined or switched.
Can I use my phone as a hotspot for my laptop? Yes, you can connect laptops and other compatible devices like tablets, iPads, and smart TVs to mobile phone hotspots. Any device capable of tethering to your phone by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB can share your phone's mobile cellular connection signal.
Do laptops have SIM card slots? Nowadays, many laptops come with SIM card slots. They are especially useful if you don't have a broadband connection or travel frequently. You can find out if your laptop has a SIM card slot by checking the user manual.
There are many reasons why your laptop can't connect to free Wi-Fi. Some of these reasons include the router being down, you entering an incorrect password, your laptop being too far from the router, and your device may not support the Wi-Fi network it is connecting to.
Your device is in airplane mode or has Wi-Fi turned off. Your router is down. You're entering an incorrect Wi-Fi password. Your laptop is too far from your router.
Laptops today all have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) built-in, allowing people to connect to the Internet from almost anywhere. For security, compatibility, or other reasons, you may want to enable and disable the Wi-Fi on your laptop.
A dongle is essentially a portable USB device that behaves like a small modem. You might hear it called other names, like internet stick, USB modem or USB network adapter. They all mean the same thing. Just plug a dongle into your computer's USB port and you'll get instant internet access, no software necessary.
After all, you're going to have a cell phone plan regardless of whether or not you have a home internet connection. Home internet averages around $65/month. By contrast, the average phone bill that includes mobile hotspot can vary from as little as $35/month to as much as $90/month.
A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a secure way to connect to the internet on the go or in an emergency. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot works like a router by routing a cellular network to your phone or computer. Once activated, you can use the internet on the devices connected.
Portable Wi-Fi hotspots provide more flexibility by letting you connect while on the go. You'll just need access to a network through a cellular carrier, with some offering fully unlimited and simpler prepaid plans.
Internet Problems Without a Router
Sharing an Internet connection with several Wi-Fi connected devices over a network that doesn't have a router will usually end with only one of the devices being able to connect to the Internet at a time.
While your cable modem doesn't need a router to deliver an Internet connection, the addition of a router offers the benefits of a WiFi connection and adds flexibility to your home network. Your home network is only as good as the hardware you use.
A modem is a box that connects your home network to your internet service provider, or ISP. A router is a box that lets all of your wired and wireless devices use that internet connection at once and allows them to talk to one another directly.