Can I choose Hotspot instead of WiFi as internet provider?

Question

Can I choose Hotspot instead of WiFi as internet provider?

Thank you for reading my thread.

I have a Mid 2010 Macbook 15" running Mountain Lion, Here is my scenario.

I am in an environment that need to connect WiFi for working LAN network access, but this WiFi connection doesn't support Internet surfing, so I use iPhone5 as LTE personal hotspot through USB ONLY, so now I can have 2 active connections at the same time.

But, it seems like with multiple available connections, mac will "smart" choose the fastest connection for internet access. Therefore, even I've already connect the personal hotspot, mac still try to access internet by the WiFi connection, which would definitely fail because we've already know the WiFi do not provide internet service.

Is there anyway to set the internet providing connection explicitly instead of relying on mac's "smart" choice?

I really need your help.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Mar 30, 2013 6:45 PM

Reply

Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

84,103 points

Mar 30, 2013 7:51 PM in response to Jeff the Baptist

Go to the Airport menu with the curvy black lines on the upper right corner, and choose Join Other Network.

That lets you pick the wireless network of your choice, and override Apple's autonetwork picking.

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2013 10:52 PM in response to a brody

Thanks for the reply but it is not the answer what I am looking for. The solution I am looking for, as presented in the following screenshot.

Where I want to use iPhone's data plan as internet provider and at the same time, keep connected to LAN for internal resouces access.

But Mac instead, always try to use WiFi connection to access internet, because it was considered "Faster"? But I want to choose myself, no matter how many network connected on the mac, always choose iPhone hotspot for internet service.

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Answer 3

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Mar 30, 2013 10:59 PM in response to Jeff the Baptist

No you can't. you can only have one Active connection at a time.

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Answer 4

Mar 30, 2013 11:10 PM in response to Jeff the Baptist

Click the little gear icon and select set service order. Drag iPhone to the top of the list (or higher priority than WiFi). This will tell OS X to try iPhone for connections first. Therefore, your internet will work and your internal WiFi LAN will work too.

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Answer 5

Mar 31, 2013 7:17 AM in response to Christian McDonald

Wow, it exactly shoot my problem, thank you very much!😁

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