Mobile hotspot and connected devices

[Stuka]

I just moved up from the LG Optimus Elite (great phone!) to the G2 (Amazing phone!!) and tonight I tried the Mobile Hotspot. It works great, but how come it sees my laptop as <unknown ssid> ?

Do all devices show up this way, with a generic name? How do I rename it? How do I get the phone to remember the laptop?

Should I uncheck "Allow all devices" to keep unwanted people from finding and connecting to my phone hotspot?


I know this is new ground, I hope someone out there knows a bit about this.

 

[Rukbat]

how come it sees my laptop as <unknown ssid>

It's setting up an ad hoc network - IOW, any device can connect to any other device, there's no "central device".

Do all devices show up this way, with a generic name? How do I rename it? How do I get the phone to remember the laptop?

By using a hotspot that works as a router. (You'll have to search for one.)

Should I uncheck "Allow all devices" to keep unwanted people from finding and connecting to my phone hotspot?

Your choice. Do you care if someone gets into your laptop? Do you get unlimited (truly unlimited, not "limited at full speed, then slower than a dead snail" unlimited) data? I'd uncheck it, but that's me.

I know this is new ground, I hope someone out there knows a bit about this.

Not really new. The internet's been around, in one form or another, for about 50 years. Wifi's been around for just under 30 years. Hardly new. (And some of were there watching or making it happen, so for us it's not figuring it out, it's remembering it, and our old ossified brains have problems with that sometimes.)

 

[copestag]

rukbat is partially correct....... by default it allows for an ad hoc network.... not sure why they thought this was a good idea...... my guess is the fine folks at google watched too many 90s movies and truely believe everyone is a skript kiddie sitting in moms basement sharing files in a 10 person wankfest

however..... put a check beside the "privacy seperator" under "manage device" and you become the central device.... no more adhoc

the reason your laptop is showing as unknown is because its probably not named in the laptop settings...... go give it a name

once its connected to your phone select add device and select the laptop....... then you will be able to remove the checkmark beside "allow all devices"...... although as long as you have security setup in "configure" its (relatively) safe to leave "allow all devices" checked....... they cant connect without the password..... just like your home router

 

[stef7]

Rukbat, you wrote:
Not really new. The internet's been around, in one form or another, for about 50 years. Wifi's been around for just under 30 years. Hardly new. (And some of were there watching or making it happen, so for us it's not figuring it out, it's remembering it, and our old ossified brains have problems with that sometimes.)

The internet is not quite that old. (circa 69/70) And WiFi - you're being a bit generous there as well...

Really, it's all been a blur for me. :smokingsomb:

 

[robintan478]

There's some settings you need to change to allow only authorized connection. So when PC connects to your phone, you need to authorize it on your phone.

 

[Stuka]

Goodness, this morning when I switched on the hotspot, my laptop showed up and now it is calling it "laptop2013", so I guess the phone and laptop are now on a first name basis

however..... put a check beside the "privacy seperator" under "manage device" and you become the central device.... no more adhoc

I guess I am not clear, what's adhoc and how is it different from central device?

You are right about the password, I forgot but it did ask for one, so I see that the phone network cannot be joined without the password.

 

[copestag]

I guess I am not clear, what's adhoc and how is it different from central device?

lets say you goto Starbucks to get a coffee and you connect to their free wifi hotspot while youre there........ you look around...... you notice there are 9 other people (complete strangers) also using the free wifi hotspot

there are 2 scenarios this could happen under:

starbucks is a central device setup and all 10 users are unaware of other users on the network.... users cannot connect to each other.... they can only connect to the hotspot

or

starbucks has an ad hoc network and all 10 users can see each other on the network....... if you can see each other you can connect to each other..... so that hairy guy with 2 teeth on the other side of the building can now read everything thats being shared on your laptop


so why does it matter? if your daughter and your cousin were using your ad hoc network it probably doesnt matter.... I dont care if my daughter can connect to my laptop......... however..... I dont want the hairy guy across the building reading my personal files

 

[Stuka]

lets say you goto Starbucks to get a coffee and you connect to their free wifi hotspot while youre there........ you look around...... you notice there are 9 other people (complete strangers) also using the free wifi hotspot

there are 2 scenarios this could happen under:

starbucks is a central device setup and all 10 users are unaware of other users on the network.... users cannot connect to each other.... they can only connect to the hotspot

or

starbucks has an ad hoc network and all 10 users can see each other on the network....... if you can see each other you can connect to each other..... so that hairy guy with 2 teeth on the other side of the building can now read everything thats being shared on your laptop


so why does it matter? if your daughter and your cousin were using your ad hoc network it probably doesnt matter.... I dont care if my daughter can connect to my laptop......... however..... I dont want the hairy guy across the building reading my personal files

Oh god, that hairy guy could be my ex,

Thanks for the explanation, I feel smrter now.