How to connect to the internet with a touchscreen tablet?

Happy users of touch pads may be surprised by such a simplistic question, but it's a question that comes up regularly on our forum. So, via USB, ethernet or wireless via wifi or 3G, what are the ways to connect your digital slate?

This file will not deal with how to connect your computer to your tablet in wi-fi. For that, you can read this article and also this one. Many of our readers do not know exactly how they will be able to connect their future touch pad to the internet. This article will introduce you to four ways.

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Via ethernet/USB cable

The good old RJ45 network cable is still a simple way to connect your tablet to the net. However, not all tablets seem to offer this possibility. The Archos Gen 9 is quite exemplary in this respect. To do this, you should first buy an ethernet/USB (female) adapter such as this one, available on Amazon, then possibly add a second USB cable to connect the adapter to the tablet. It would seem that there is not much hope of performing this assembly on other major brands, such as Asus or Acer for example. For once, low cost tablets seem to lead by example. The Chinese tablet Zenithink ZT-280 C91 has the famous RJ45 port, in order to connect its tablet directly to the ethernet port. This connection mode is not necessarily accessible when on the move: during a journey, or on the move, it will be quite exceptional (except in certain rare hotels for example) to find a way to connect to the Internet in this way.

Conclusion: this solution cannot be favored for compatibility reasons, but if you are lucky enough to have a tablet that offers this possibility, why not deprive yourself of it occasionally? the speed of surfing will be felt, compared to a wireless connection. On the other hand, you will lose the mobile side of the terminal because you will be constrained by the length of the cable.

Wireless

This will be the preferred solution to connect your tablet to the web. All tablets normally offer this possibility (with the exception of certain children's tablets). As long as you have a recent box, the wi-fi n will be the fastest. Thus, you will be able to gain in comfort of use as regards the speed of connection with a compatible tablet wi-fi b/g/n. The standards b and g being less significantly slower, b being the slowest.

On the go, you will now find hot spots quite easily. Admittedly, our hexagon may not be as well provided throughout the territory, but in most large cities, the list of access points (mostly free, but sometimes limited in time) is quite extensive:

The list is not exhaustive, and many other places can offer the valuable wireless access. The main drawback of this means of access is data security. It is better to avoid frequenting sensitive hot spot sites such as your bank account for example.

Conclusion: As long as you have chosen the right level of security in WPA with a fairly complex password, wi-fi is the most practical way to connect to the web.

With the help of a 3G phone

For this proposal, a minimum of prerequisites will be necessary. The principle of this method is to use your mobile phone or smartphone as a modem, it is “Tethering“.

A smartphone is not necessarily required for this. It is enough that it supports the 3G network and bluetooth. First of all, check that your package authorizes modem mode and that it has a high volume of “Data” consumption. This is the case of the unlimited Free plan, for example, which has shown the way to competing operators. These have followed the troublemaker by offering packages with data volume included in fair use (reduced speed beyond a certain threshold, for example 1 GB), or blocking of data once the threshold has been reached (with sometimes the possibility of recharge). Also note that some packages, such as the majority of those from Virgin Mobile, prohibit the use of mobile phones in modem mode.

The first method uses bluetooth. Thus, both your mobile phone and your tablet must be compatible with this wireless transmission standard. Be careful, many low cost tablets do not offer bluetooth. The procedure will consist in activating Bluetooth on the two terminals, making the two wireless networks visible, then it will be necessary to connect them to each other by the pairing operation (sometimes with a security code given by one or more devices to be confirmed on the other).

Another method will be to use your smartphone as a hot spot. This will emit a wi-fi signal, and your tablet can connect to it just like at home. This method is not always possible without Root.

These two functions have the disadvantage of significantly reducing the autonomy of your mobile phone, so they should be used for troubleshooting, with a backup battery, or near a power outlet.

3G tablets

The main brands directly offer a 3G version: Apple, Samsung, Asus… thus, the connection constraint will only be linked to the quality of your operator's coverage. The 3G option of the tablets is rather expensive. The iPad mini, for example, offers this option at 130 euros more, and most competitors offer it around a hundred euros minimum. Archos stands out again, by guaranteeing the compatibility of its XS range with the 3G key of Gen 9. This accessory is offered at 50 euros without a package.

The package, let's talk about it. Your 3G tablet will not be connected without the famous package, with the ad hoc SIM card. Good news, however, the packages have become more popular in recent years and start for the most interesting from around twenty euros. They thus compete with ADSL packages, with the disadvantage of only being available for a single terminal and of offering a limited data quota (with fair use, ie limited speed beyond a limit). Please note that packages without commitments are more expensive than those with a commitment period of 12 or 24 months.

Another solution is offered by Orange. This is called Domino. This is a key that connects in 3G, then sends back a signal in Wi-Fi. Thus, it is possible to use this terminal as a hot spot, and to connect several devices that are only Wi-Fi compatible, like a tablet, or a computer.

Conclusion: tablets are mobile terminals par excellence: size and lightness, as well as autonomy are advantages that can be perfectly exploited with an also mobile connection, to continue surfing or reading your emails for example, on the move.

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