Droid X with wireless internet hotspot

[Wanabee FTer]

Just wondering if anyone is using the new Droid X cell phone on the Verizon network. I have heard it has wireless hotspot capabilities and can handle a small number of connections simultaneously. I am wanting to switch from AT&T to Verizon so I can connect 3 laptops to my own mobile hotspot when needed. Not sure if I have all the facts straight on this issue and if it is possible to do this.

[RVThere]

I have a HTC Imagio with Verizon service. I run an app called WMWifiRouter that converts the phone into a hot spot. I can connect my laptop and ipad to this hotspot for internet access.

So if the Droid can't do it, this phone can.

[94-Newmar]

I have a Palm Pre on Verizon. Wireless hotspot works great for our laptops, super easy to setup and connect the laptops to the phone. Verizon's network speed however is hit and miss. Sometimes we get 2mbps download, other times only a few hundred kbps.

[ischua]

The Droid X is a bluetooth "hotspot" and will support up to 5 devices at a time . I have "connected" to a friends Droid with my IPod for email and net was easy but not a lot of range

link
Set Your Location

[powderman]

I have the X, and it is a nice phone, but if you use it as a hotspot with Verizons software, they charge you $20 extra a month for 2Gb. I understand if you use 3rd party software for connection, it just looks like any other data and will fall under the unlimited data plan.

[Wanabee FTer]

Thanks powderman,
That sounds like some good info. I guess that means I would not be limited to the Droid to do this.

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderman I have the X, and it is a nice phone, but if you use it as a hotspot with Verizons software, they charge you $20 extra a month for 2Gb. I understand if you use 3rd party software for connection, it just looks like any other data and will fall under the unlimited data plan.

I'm getting the X in a couple of weeks and found the same thing to be true. You can not tether the X either. There's an app out there but after reading on how to install the app on an X I'd prefer to send smoke signals.

Do you have any info on this third party software and how it's used?

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee FTer Just wondering if anyone is using the new Droid X cell phone on the Verizon network. I have heard it has wireless hotspot capabilities and can handle a small number of connections simultaneously. I am wanting to switch from AT&T to Verizon so I can connect 3 laptops to my own mobile hotspot when needed. Not sure if I have all the facts straight on this issue and if it is possible to do this.

I have the Droid X and use PDA.net to teather to my laptop on the road and it works great. I understand you can run up to 5 devices using hotspot. PDA.net app for your lap top is a 1 time $20 lic fee. Very easy to use.

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000 I have the Droid X and use PDA.net to teather to my laptop on the road and it works great. I understand you can run up to 5 devices using hotspot. PDA.net app for your lap top is a 1 time $20 lic fee. Very easy to use.

Will it work tethering through a cradle point router so that I can use that as a hot spot? That's what I'm doing now with my LG Envy 2.

Currently I have to activate the wifi feature first by tethering my Envy 2 to my laptop and sign into the Verizon site to activate the mobile broad band feature. Once that's done I plug it directly to the router.
When I'm finished using it for the weekend I call and have the feature removed.

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGShaffer Will it work tethering through a cradle point router so that I can use that as a hot spot? That's what I'm doing now with my LG Envy 2. Currently I have to activate the wifi feature first by tethering my Envy 2 to my laptop and sign into the Verizon site to activate the mobile broad band feature. Once that's done I plug it directly to the router. When I'm finished using it for the weekend I call and have the feature removed.

If I understand you correctly with the Droid X you do not need a router to teather to your computer and you do not have to call Verizon to turn it on and off. All you need to do is down load the free PDA.net app for your Droid and pay a 1 time lic fee of $20 and down load the software to your computer. There is no more on and off fees from Verizon, the only cost now is the 1 time $20 charge. If you need to add another computer it will be another $20 1 time charge. I think the Hot Spot feature is a Verizon app I am not sure of costs associated with that. You can run up to 5 devices with the Droid.

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000 If I understand you correctly with the Droid X you do not need a router to teather to your computer and you do not have to call Verizon to turn it on and off. All you need to do is down load the free PDA.net app for your Droid and pay a 1 time lic fee of $20 and down load the software to your computer. There is no more on and off fees from Verizon, the only cost now is the 1 time $20 charge. If you need to add another computer it will be another $20 1 time charge. I think the Hot Spot feature is a Verizon app I am not sure of costs associated with that. You can run up to 5 devices with the Droid.

So, once the app is installed on the Droid, the computer looking to connect to the Droid needs a piece of software as well to connect through the phone.
This may create an issue with me trying to use my cradle point router but I'll try it once I receive my X. Hopefully once my and my wife's laptop have the software the router will be transparent to the phone and allow them both to connect.
I'll know right away if my laptop can not connect to the X through the router.

[Wanabee FTer]

Don,
Looking forward to seeing your results, please post back and let us know.

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee FTer Don, Looking forward to seeing your results, please post back and let us know.

Will do!

[John Hilley]

I have a Droid X, replaced my Blackberry Storm with the Droid. It is much nicer.
The keyboard is great. I can type almost as well as on a netbook. I enabled the Hotspot feature. It costs $20/mo. It worked great with Windows 7. I couldn't get it to work with XP or Vista. Five users can connect via WiFi simultaneously. It seems to go off line if there isn't usage for a couple of minutes. There really aren't many parameters to vary outside of security. We used it on one weekend campout and I dropped it on Monday. Nice to have as an emergency backup if my AirCard and Cradlepoint router fail, can enable just by calling Verizon.