Motorola Razr Wifi Hotpsot for VRS Connection

Since the Razr Maxx is only on Verizon, you cannot do data (VRS) and a phone call at the same time. Where I work, we just have a regular cell phone with a data plan to do VRS. We use Bluetooth to connect the phone to the GPS & data collector and not a WiFi hotspot.

-G

Verizon 4G phones can handle calls and data transmission simultaneously.

> We use Bluetooth to connect the phone to the GPS & data collector and not a WiFi hotspot.

I used to do this with my non"smart" phone, and with the blackberries, but when we moved to android phones, the Bluetooth tether didnt work anymore. I found out that Verizon doesn't like Bluetooth tether, and apparently you have to root the phone to do it...

Have you found differently?

I've found PDANet will allow BlueTooth Dial-up Networking (I tested on the Droid 1) and FoxFi enables WiFi functionality (I tested on the Droid Razr) without having to root. Both apps are in/on the Google Play (App Store). When using FoxFi (I am in a 3G coverage area), a call to my cell phone disrupted the FoxFi service and subsequent RTK corrections I had been receiving but everything quickly reconnected once the voice call was terminated. I've not done any type of testing in a 4G area and am hopeful that the Razr will allow simultaneous data and voice in 4G coverage areas.

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Ladd Nelson

I had a Droid X that was 3G only....with Verizon, and it always dropped the WiFi connection in favor of the incoming phone call.

Another issue that has not been brough up is that battery life is pretty bad with a smartphone using it as a WiFi hotspot.

Lots of folks use PDAnet and it seems to work.

Personally, I would NOT give up my MiFi for a hotspot on my phone... In fact, I went the other way and got rid of my hotspot option and got a MiFi.....they are way to useful for other things like laptop connections....

Just my dos centavos....

> Another issue that has not been brough up is that battery life is pretty bad with a smartphone using it as a WiFi hotspot.

Agreed. Motorola seems to be hyping the battery longevity of the Razr's but I've not been that impressed with the battery life so far. To be fair, I'm usually using Flash to stream in a preferred on-line audio source and this requires the web browser and screen display to be active and it's the screen that kills my Razr battery. For GPS in the field though, I'd currently recommend the MiFi route.

One of the intriguing options would be using a USB port of the controller as a power source for the smartphone (or MiFi) for situations where the smartphone/MiFi battery becomes depleted. I understand one might be robbing Peter to pay Paul but it might work in a pinch.

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Ladd Nelson

Dale
The Razor I used had less than 2 hrs battery life.
I bought an extended life (over sized) battery and had 6-8 hrs.
3G on mine so calls were dropped. Have switched to mifi.
GL

I really appreciate the help here.

My thinking is that if the Razr Maxx does what the MiFi does (both do wifi hotspot), then why pay the mifi fee if I'm going to get a new phone anyway? We are both unhappy with our current carrier, and are looking at Verizon and their 4G system in Savannah. I am concerned with the battery life, that's why I'm interested in the Razr Maxx. From what I've learned, the wifi thing sucks a lot of juice. Maybe I can get an add-on battery pack or something.

I will be using this with a Carlson Surveyor+ that has wifi. Are there any differences, connection wise, between the MiFi and the Razr? Am I going to have to do anything different?

Dale Yawn
Savannah, Ga.

I am not a Carlson user, but beyond doing the WiFi pairing between the Razr and the data collector...there should be no difference between the Razr and the MiFI....

Be sure to get that extended life battery....

Here's the solution for the battery:
http://www.gomadic.com/verizon-4g-lte-mifi-4510l-lithium-portable-battery-charger.html
I bought two of these units to use with my Verizon MIFI. I haven't ever needed to use a second one in any day's use. You can get different tips so if you needed extra juice on a cell phone, you can use it for that as well.
My biggest reason for getting these, I can charge them seperatly from the MIFI battery. That is, I don't have to have my MIFI sitting there being unproductive just to be a charger.

Dale
Thats the same setup I was using. eGPS network (Lonnie with eGPS and Carlson support are both great).
The main reason I changed to the mifi was not because of any dissatisfaction with the razor. It was an extra phone as I had to let the guy go who was using it, so the wifi was cheaper. I occasionally run short on battery use now but the Surveyor+ has usb that can power the wifi. The battery on the mifi does outlast the razor.

I've got the razr maxx and have to say that the battery life is impressive. I seldom drain it below 50%, though I'm not using it as a hotspot. When the new share everything plan rolls out hotspot will no longer be an additional fee and I plan to try it then. One word of caution with the razr maxx, the battery is not removable. When its dead, you have to charge the phone. No swapping batteries. When the battery is shot, the phone is worthless.

This worked for me as well, until the phone did a system upgrade last Friday and went to Android ICS. Now I can only get FoxFi to do WiFi but not Bluetooth connections.