Personal hotspot
A personal hotspot turns a phone into a Wi-Fi router that shares its mobile data — and gives cameras a private network to join for wireless tethering.
Every modern phone can share its mobile connection over Wi-Fi: Personal Hotspot on iPhone, mobile or portable hotspot on Android. Laptops and tablets use it to get online; photographers can also use it to put a camera on the same network as the phone.
Because the phone is the router, it keeps its own internet connection while the camera is connected.
How it works
The phone broadcasts a network with a name and password. Devices that join get an address from the phone and can reach the internet through its mobile data. They can also reach the phone itself, which is what wireless tethering needs. On recent iPhones the hotspot can run at 5 GHz; Maximise Compatibility switches it to 2.4 GHz for older devices — see 2.4 vs 5 GHz.
An example: a press conference
A photographer at a press conference joins the camera to the phone's hotspot in station mode. The phone receives every frame over Wi-Fi and uploads it to the desk's server over the same mobile connection, with no venue Wi-Fi involved.
Hotspots and CloudTether
CloudTether's help recommends a phone hotspot or shared network as the first choice for Wi-Fi tethering: the phone keeps internet for uploads and you can connect two wireless cameras. Put the camera in its remote or tether Wi-Fi mode (Canon: Remote control (EOS Utility)), join it to the hotspot, and connect in the app. On iPhone, accept the Local Network permission the first time. See how to tether wirelessly.
Data and battery
A hotspot uses more battery, and all uploads come out of your data plan. Send JPEGs rather than RAW over mobile data where you can, and carry a power bank.
Tips and common mistakes
- Keep the hotspot settings screen open the first time so the phone keeps broadcasting.
- Turn on Maximise Compatibility if the camera can't see the network.
- Check your plan's hotspot data allowance before a big event.
Put it into practice
CloudTether tethers your camera to your phone and delivers every shot to the cloud, live as you shoot — no laptop.