How to get a wired internet connection on my iPhone
July 24, 2020 2:09 AM   Subscribe

What is the cheapest way to get a wired internet connection to my iPhone?

I have an iPhone 6. I've read various ways of getting a wired internet connection through to an iPhone. Most seem to involve a string of various adapters. Others seem like they're more expensive because they also include a power connection, (I think) to be used for point of sale. Can someone tell me the simplest, most inexpensive way to getting an ethernet connection on my phone? I often use my phone in my basement and the wifi is terrible down here.
posted by NoneOfTheAbove to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)
 
Can you connect a wifi transmitter by ethernet to your main modem, then connect your iphone to the ethernet-connected transmitting modem by wifi?
posted by Thella at 2:58 AM on July 24, 2020


Do you already have wired ethernet in your basement? If not you'll need to run cables or invest in powerline ethernet gear to get from the router to the basement. Once you have wires in the basement you can use something like the
Redpark Gigabit + Power Adapter (L6-NETAC) to connect phone to internet (not an endorsement, they just showed up in the search results).

A simpler option is a wireless repeater in the basement. The repeater connects to the primary AP (probably your router) and then broadcasts the same wifi out to clients. This means that clients don't have to be in range of the AP, just the repeater.

If replacing the AP/router is an option then a mesh wireless system might be the way to go. It's essentially a system that comes with one or more repeaters and they're built to work together so generally fewer problems and more efficient.

I have Ubiquiti Amplify mesh system and am mostly happy with it. The "mostly" is because the interface is phone only and I'd really prefer a web interface.
posted by Awfki at 4:06 AM on July 24, 2020 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Yes, I already have wired ethernet going to my desk (where the wifi is poor)
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 4:10 AM on July 24, 2020


If this is just about getting your iPhone connected to the internet in your poor-wifi coverage basement, AND you're using a Windows 10 computer, AND (as you mentioned) your computer has a wired connection currently.

You can use your PC with wired connection as a mobile (ha! counter-intuitive, I know) hotspot for your basement. The benefit here is that when you're in your basement, it will connect via wifi to your basement network. I strongly recommend that you turn it on just whenever you're in the basement using a shortcut or Pin to taskbar and turn it off when you go back upstairs.

Here are the instructions:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027762/windows-use-your-pc-as-a-mobile-hotspot
posted by Master Gunner at 4:31 AM on July 24, 2020 [3 favorites]


Buy this and buy this. Done.
posted by oceanjesse at 4:41 AM on July 24, 2020 [1 favorite]


If you have a Mac, this is very easy.

Go into System Preferences, click the "Sharing" preferences pane, and click "Internet Sharing". In the "Share your connection from" pop-up menu, choose "Ethernet". Then in the "To computers using" list, select "iPhone USB".

Make sure the "Internet Sharing" checkbox is turned on. Then plug your iPhone into your Mac. It'll share your Mac's internet connection.
posted by vitout at 5:18 AM on July 24, 2020 [1 favorite]


One thought. If your router has dual band, make sure your iPhone is connecting to the 2.4 and not the 5Ghz signal -- which doesn't penetrate solid surfaces well.
posted by Hey, Zeus! at 5:28 AM on July 24, 2020


Lots of good suggestions here; this little dude can make a wired network wireless, a wireless network wired, repeat a wifi network out to a new wifi network...
posted by ftm at 5:59 AM on July 24, 2020


I use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BMVW62P/
Having the power integrated is nice since the wired connection will occupy your charging port...
I put the adapter under my desk and use a lightning extension cable to keep things tidier.
Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCYMHB5/
posted by stobor at 8:26 AM on July 24, 2020 [1 favorite]


I use the same Belkin adapter in stobor’s link. It works well since both my WiFi and LTE get 1 bar. The adapter gives me internet that’s faster/more reliable than either and it charges my battery too. My only complaint is that it’s too bulky.
posted by Monochrome at 12:57 PM on July 24, 2020


I do have one other complaint but I think it’s about iOS rather than the adapter. Push Notifications don’t seem to work over Ethernet. If I turn off WiFi and LTE then I don’t get new iMessages or Gmail notifications or things like that. My workaround is to leave LTE on but keep the adapter plugged in. Then the notifications come in over LTE but other, bigger data still comes in over the Ethernet connection much faster than LTE.
posted by Monochrome at 1:07 PM on July 24, 2020


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