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Your Xoom can do more than just connect you to the Internet via 3G or 4G, or a hotspot. It can also create its own hotspot, so computers, cellphones, and other devices can connect to the Internet through it. For example, if you have a computer that you want to connect to the Internet, but there’s no Wi-Fi hotspot or Internet service nearby, you can still connect to the Internet using your Xoom. From then on, wherever you are, you’ve got Internet access as long as you’ve got your Xoom with you. By doing this, you can provide Internet access not just for one PC, but for up to five—that’s right, count’em, five—devices.
To perform this magic, the Xoom connects to a 3G or 4G network as it normally does. Then it uses its Wi-Fi radio to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot, and lets up to five computers, phones, and other devices connect to it. They connect to it as they would connect to any other hotspot, and share its single connection. Don’t expect blazing speed if several people use it simultaneously. Still, it’s a high-speed connection.
If you want, you can also give another device Internet access by tethering—that is, connecting your computer to your Xoom via a USB cable and giving your computer Internet access that way, as you’ll see later in this chapter.
Tip: If you have a Xoom that is Wi-Fi only, there’s no point in trying to set it up as a Wi-Fi hot spot, because it won’t have an Internet connection to share. And even if you have a Xoom that has 3G or 4G capabilities, if you don’t currently have a 3G connection, you can’t set up a mobile hotspot. So try doing this only when you see the 3G or 4G signal in the status bar.
Be aware that all this connectibility comes at a price. Depending on your service provider and plan, you may have to pay extra to use the mobile hotspot feature—possibly an extra $20 per month. And there may be maximum data limits imposed as well. Check with your provider for details.
Setting up the Hotspot
First, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and you’ve got a 3G or 4G connection. Once you’ve done that, from the Home screen, tap the Notifications panel, tap it again to expand it, and then tap Settings→Wireless & Networks→Tethering & portable hotspot. Because this is the first time you’re using your Xoom as a hotspot, you first have to configure it, so tap Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings→Configure Wi-Fi hotspot.
On the Configure Wi-Fi hotspot screen, in the text box underneath Network SSID, type the name you’d like to give your hotspot. Below that, a drop-down box titled Security lets you choose the kind of security you want to use. Tap the triangle, and choose WPA2 PSK. (Don’t worry if you don’t know what all that techie stuff means—no one else does, either. The point is that it’s a very secure standard.) When you choose WPA2 PSK, the screen expands and a password box text box appears. Type a password and make sure to remember it. You need it to connect to the hotspot. When you’re done, tap Save. That’s it—your hotspot is ready to go.
You’re now ready to turn on your hot spot. On the “Tethering & portable hotspot” screen, turn on the “Portable hotspot” checkbox. In the Notifications panel, you can read that the hotspot is set up. Now you can connect to it—as can anyone else to whom you’ve given its password and name. You don’t have to set up your hotspot again; it’s set-and-forget, so set it up once and you’re ready to go.
To turn it off, tap the Notifications panel, and then tap the notification that reads “Tethering or hotspot active.” From the screen that appears, turn off the box next to “Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.”
Changing Your Mobile Hotspot Settings
Once you’ve set up your mobile hotspot for the first time, each time you start it after that, it has the same settings—unless you change it. To do so, from the Home screen, tap the Notifications panel, tap it again to expand it, and then select Wireless & Networks→“Tethering & portable hotspot”→“Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings”→“Configure Wi-Fi hotspot,” and from the screen that appears, make any changes you want, and then save it. That’s all it takes.
Learn more about this topic from Motorola Xoom: The Missing Manual.
Motorola Xoom is the first tablet to rival the iPad, and no wonder with all of the great features packed into this device. But learning how to use everything can be tricky—and Xoom doesn't come with a printed guide. That's where this Missing Manual comes in. Gadget expert Preston Gralla helps you master your Xoom with step-by-step instructions and clear explanations.
