Phone Internet Tethering
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
I am currently in St. Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex on a 5 day break. We’re staying at Combe Haven Holiday Park for “reasons”. The caravan/static home/park home or whatever you want to call it is very well equipped with “all mod cons”. However, there is no internet access in the caravan itself. If you go to either the pub or the restaurant, there is complimentary wireless internet available. Sadly, such environments are not practical for me to sit down for an hour or so and write as they’re busy and somewhat loud. Thankfully, the 4G signal on my phone in this part of the UK is reasonably strong, so I decided to see if I could use this device for internet tethering. I have a Google Pixel 8a.
On my handset, there are specific settings for tethering that are easily accessible. There is a choice of turning the phone into an internet hotspot and connecting devices such as a laptop wirelessly. Alternatively you can attach the phone to a device via a USB cable and tether that way. I found that the wireless hotspot method was a little too unstable and the connection would intermittently drop. However, directly connecting to the phone via a USB cable has proven a far more reliable method. The internet connection is far from fast, about 3.49 Mbps, but it is sufficient for me to access my website and publish this post. Streaming media and gaming are off the table but as I’m technically on holiday, such activities weren’t part of my schedule anyway.
Although I have no immediate need at present, I have already started researching Portable Wi-Fi Routers/Mobile Hotspots. Rechargeable travel routers that can accommodate a SIM card, access the internet and act as a local hotspot for up to 10 devices. They’re ideal when travelling to locations where the only internet access available is 4G/5G via the phone network. If combined with a data only SIM package they can prove invaluable, according to consumer feedback. I read a comparison of common models on TechRadar and the reviews indicated that they can provide stable coverage within modest parameters but to to expect miracles. However, compared to Starlink they’re a far more affordable option. One I may take up in the future.
24 Hours Without a Smartphone
I left my phone behind while visiting family this week. However, I was told not to worry as someone would drop it off to me. However, I wasn’t told that the person doing this good deed had to work their night shift first. So I had to wait 24 hours. C’est la vie. It was my mistake. In the meantime I had to adjust to life without a phone. Or to be more accurate, adapt to life without a smartphone. So I dug around in my cupboards and found an old handset that used to belong to my Father’s. It's a Maxi-Key model which is designed for the requirements of senior citizens who aren’t good with technology. It has large keys and 8-Bit style ringtones that sound like they come from some insane Super Nintendo game. It is functional so far as I can make and receive text messages and phone calls. However it has none of the internet functionality of my Samsung S10 5G and as a result I have become starkly aware of how much I've grown accustomed to the trappings of the modern smartphone.
I left my phone behind while visiting family this week. However, I was told not to worry as someone would drop it off to me. However, I wasn’t told that the person doing this good deed had to work their night shift first. So I had to wait 24 hours. C’est la vie. It was my mistake. In the meantime I had to adjust to life without a phone. Or to be more accurate, adapt to life without a smartphone. So I dug around in my cupboards and found an old handset that used to belong to my Father’s. It's a Maxi-Key model which is designed for the requirements of senior citizens who aren’t good with technology. It has large keys and 8-Bit style ringtones that sound like they come from some insane Super Nintendo game. It is functional so far as I can make and receive text messages and phone calls. However it has none of the internet functionality of my Samsung S10 5G and as a result I have become starkly aware of how much I've grown accustomed to the trappings of the modern smartphone.
So I found myself in a curious situation where I felt effectively "disconnected" from things. Although it never reached a point where it is anything other than an inconvenience, I am surprised at just how much I missed my smartphone. It really does highlight how we as a society have become dependent on such technology, not only as a practical tool but also as a source of entertainment and possibly a psychological support. I felt very much out of the loop during this 24 hour period and would fret about whether I was missing out on something, although exactly what they may be, I had no idea. When out, I felt the same way I do when I travel without a watch. Which is to say not fully dressed. I have found this entire affair more perplexing because of my age. This malady that I experienced is something I would usually associate with people half my age. I have certainly had to re-appraise my prejudices regarding youth and technology.
A smartphone offers both practical benefits and amusing diversions. Personal preferences determine exactly what apps you install but I’m sure I’m not unique in my phone usage. I often plan my travels via my phone, using rail timetables and Google maps to ensure an optimal journey. I also use my handset for online banking and ad-hoc purchases. It has also helped me find a decent restaurant when visiting places I am not familiar with. Pre-pandemic I would flash a QR code instead of a ticket at a member of staff to get into a movie theatre. On one occasion an intensive search allowed me to track down the premier purveyor of cheese in the South of England. Smartphones have also afforded me a means to waste my time in the most inane and the pointless fashion. I have been guilty in the past of the heinous crime of using one at the dinner table and whilst conversing with someone and not giving the said person my undivided attention. However, this particular outrage is now verboten in the Peril household.
Ultimately this situation (which was relatively short) has afforded me a unique opportunity to reflect upon my smartphone usage. I have taken a day to ponder upon the impact that technology has on social dynamics and human interaction. And having done so, I concluded that I am very glad to have my smartphone back. Have you tried talking to real people? They're absolutely awful! What with their tabloid opinions and garrulous inanities. No I don’t have a hot take on Meghan Markle nor do I give a shit about whether you have a holiday this year. Furthermore I am still peeved by the fact that I had to buy a SIM adaptor kit so that my nano SIM card could fit into my retro handset. The bastards charged me £4 for three pathetic pieces of plastic and a pin. No wonder these companies are rich! And there is absolutely no truth to the rumours that I was especially upset because I couldn’t easily watch videos of Fu Bao the Panda at Everland in South Korea.