Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
iOS device through the iPad Camera Connection Kit or SD Card Camera Reader to get an Internet
connection via a Wi-Fi hotspot. Prices range from $40 to $100 for storage capacities of 4GB to 16GB.
When traveling, you can use Wi-Fi hotspots to connect an iPad to the Internet, and if you travel a
lot you may want to invest in a Wi-Fi hotspot service such as Boingo Wireless or, if you're an AT&T
broadband customer, take advantage of its Wi-Fi network whose usage is included in your service.
When traveling out of country, you can usually get a prepaid SIM card from a local carrier in the
country you're visiting to get local cellular service there. Note that some carriers may not let you use
foreign SIMs in your iPhone, so be sure to ask first; there are no such restrictions for iPads.
Alternatively, you could buy a portable wireless hotspot, popularly called a MiFi after a popular
brand, that shares a cellular connection with multiple devices simultaneously — iPhones, iPads, com-
puters, and more — over a Wi-Fi signal it generates. Some portable hotspots let you use different SIM
cards, making them suited for foreign travel. When buying such a hotspot, note that some require a
one- or two-year contract for monthly service, while others allow the use of pay-as-you-go plans.
TIP:
When traveling, be sure to disable data roaming on your iOS device so you don't end up
paying a premium for use of off-network data. Most carriers let you roam in your home country at no
extra charge, but some do not, so be sure to check. When going overseas, turn off the cellular service
completely to avoid sky-high international roaming fees — unless you get a local SIM card with pre-
paid service or purchase an international roaming plan from your carrier. You turn off roaming in the
Settings app's General pane: On an iPhone, tap the Cellular label, tap Roaming, then set the Voice
Roaming and Data Roaming switches to Off. On an iPad, tap the Cellular Data label in the Settings
app, and set the Data Roaming switch to Off if your carrier charges for domestic roaming; unless you
have a local SIM for the country you are visiting or an international data plan, always set the Interna-
tional CDMA or International GSM switch to Off. (The options may vary based on your carrier.)
Use an iPhone or iPad as a personal Wi-Fi hotspot
You may not need to buy a personal hotspot — your iPhone or cellular iPad may already be one.
The key is whether your carrier allows the device's use as a hotspot, which is also known as tethering.
If so, it's easy to set up:
1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Tap the Personal Hotspot label to open the Personal Hotspot pane.
3. Set the Personal Hotspot switch to On (see Figure 6-16).
4. Tap the Wi-Fi Password field and enter a password for the other devices to use to connect.
5. On the other devices, use their standard methods to connect to a Wi-Fi network. The name
of your iPhone or iPad should appear in the list of Wi-Fi networks, and those devices should
be set to use that iPhone or iPad for Wi-Fi access. The password you set in Step 4 will need
to be entered as well.
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