Smart TVs are very useful because you can access the internet directly from your TV to stream content or browse the web.
However, if your home internet isn’t working for some reason, you may consider using cellular data instead. The question is: Will it work?
Smart TVs can use cellular data, but since it has limited upload and download speeds, it is not an ideal setup. If you do not have access to a reliable internet connection, you can temporarily use cellular data to have your smart TV connected to the internet.
In this article, I’ll talk about how smart TVs use cellular data, how to use cellular data on a smart TV, and some disadvantages of doing so in detail.
How Smart TVs Use Cellular Data
Essentially, smart TVs are internet-connected television sets.
Whether you want to stream content, play games, or even browse the web, smart TVs have apps that make it possible to do a variety of things.
Smart TVs can usually be connected to the internet using an ethernet cable or wireless connection.
Regardless, it’s also possible to use cellular data as long as you have enough data.
Just keep in mind that it may not yield the same results.
Cellular data on a smart TV works the same as when using a cable or wireless connection.
The only difference is that instead of a modem or a Wi-Fi router, you’re using your mobile device as a mini router to access the internet on your smart TV.
How To Use Cellular Data on a Smart TV
If you want to use cellular data on your smart TV, here’s an easy step-by-step guide.
- Test the reception of your mobile device. Before connecting the smart TV to your cellular data, ensure that your mobile device is getting enough service within the area where you intend to use it. If your mobile device is having trouble connecting to the internet by itself, you might not be able to use it on your smart TV.
- Turn on your mobile hotspot. If you have to change the hotspot settings, this is the time to do so. Check your mobile hotspot name and the password, and take note of them to make the connection process as quick as possible later on.
- Place your mobile device near the smart TV. This guarantees that the connection between your mobile hotspot and smart TV is as strong and secure as possible. You may also want to plug in and charge your mobile device, as having the mobile hotspot on can drain the battery.
- Connect the smart TV to your mobile hotspot. Open the settings menu on the smart TV and search for Wi-Fi networks. Find your mobile hotspot, enter the password, and connect. Again, if your cellular data is too weak on your mobile device, you may not be able to connect it to your smart TV at all.
- Check the number of devices connected to your mobile hotspot. Confirm that your smart TV is the only device connected to your mobile hotspot for a stronger and faster connection. The more devices connected to the mobile hotspot, the slower the connection is.
- Check if you can access the internet on your smart TV. Once connected, try playing a short video or loading a page to confirm whether the connection was successful.
If the above steps don’t work, try to redo the process again, making sure you don’t miss any steps.
You might also want to restart both your mobile device and smart TV to see if that helps.
Turning the cellular data and mobile hotspot on and off can also help.
However, if things still don’t work out, there might be a problem with the cellular data itself.
It’s also possible your smart TV is incompatible with your mobile hotspot, so you might want to double-check their compatibility.
To do that, look up the specific model of your smart TV online, and research the kinds of mobile hotspots it’s compatible with.
Disadvantages of Using Cellular Data on a Smart TV
While cellular data isn’t meant to be used on smart TVs, it doesn’t mean you can’t.
Cellular data can be a good alternative if you don’t have immediate access to a Wi-Fi network but need to connect your smart TV to the internet.
However, there are a few disadvantages and limitations if you decide to go this route.
These disadvantages include:
- Slow speeds. The usual download speeds for cellular data are only between 5 and 12 Mbps, while upload speeds are only between 2 and 5 Mbps. These aren’t ideal speeds for streaming content on your smart TV as it’s really slow. You might be able to load a page or even a video, but you’ll most likely experience buffering.
- Poor quality. With the slow speeds also comes poor picture quality. Watching HD movies on your smart TV using cellular data is almost impossible.
- Data caps. Not all cellular data are unlimited. Most have caps and are unsuitable for streaming large video files on your smart TV. I recommend checking your remaining cellular data before using it on your smart TV.
- Extra charges. If your cellular data has no cap, there could be additional fees for the extra data you use exceeding your plan. To avoid getting an expensive phone bill, make sure you’re aware of these extra charges and that you’re okay with them if you ever decide to use cellular data on your smart TV.
Can a Smart TV Use Cellular Data? The Bottom Line
While a smart TV can use cellular data, it’s not the ideal way to enjoy your device.
This is especially true if you want to use your smart TV to stream content in HD.
However, if you have no choice but to use cellular data on your smart TV, it can provide a temporary fix.
Just keep in mind that you’ll be limited by things like slow speeds, poor quality, data caps, and extra charges.
To enjoy your smart TV to the fullest, it’s recommended that you use a stable ethernet or wireless internet connection.