Mobile Broadband & connecting additional devices

[Anonymous]

Hi All

I just bought a 4G dongle from O2 and the person in the store (as well as the flyer) said that I can be used to connect up to 5 devices at a time to the net. I have successfully managed to set it up on my laptop so I can browse fine, but I can't get any other devices paired with it. The O2 rep I spoke with was a complete waste of time 😞

My question is, how do I get my other devices to connect to the dongle without physically connecting the dongle to them? Do I need to setup an adhoc network for all the devices? Is there some setting within the Connection Manager I need to edit? Currently, all I can see from a networking perspective, is that my laptop, which has the dongle physically attached via USB, is connected to "Network 2", but I can't find anything called Network 2 to connect my other device to. Am I supposed to be using a router as well? It's only my iPad and my laptop that I want to go online with. So I am not sure if I should go get a lightening to USB (female) port cable and just physically connect the iPad to the dongle and repeat the setup process, or if there is an alternative.

I am really only using this while waiting for the cable company to come install broadband...

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Ana

[Anonymous]

Hi

If you turn on wifi on the other devices do they not see the dongle and latch on to it ? That's the way I think it works.

[MI5]

Is it a dongle or a pocket hotspot you have bought as the dongles don't have wifi, do they?

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

Right, just had a look and this dongle has both https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/dongles/huawei/4g-dongle-with-mobile-wifi/
If this is the one it will be transmitting a wifi signal which will be named something similar to the dongle name.
If you scan on your ipad it should see the network and you can connect by entering the passcode that will be in the instruction manual or in the settings page view-able from your laptop.

[viridis]

I think it's through creating an ad-hoc network with the device the dongle is connected to being the gateway.
I think in connection sharing settings you need to enable "allow other devices to connect to the Internet using this computer" and then set up the ad hoc network using the security of your choice.
The wifi of your laptop/ computer will act as the wifi hotshot and connect through the lte of the dongle.
Not sure on process but I'm sure someone will pop along sooner with exact details...

[viridis]

Ignore my post, i think the tardis above me got it.

[MI5]

Your method will work if the dongle does not have wifi though mate

[viridis]

Yh I know doctor. But I think ur closer this time.