Understanding Cox Hotspots (2024)

Cox Hotspots provides access to four million WiFi hotspots nationwide for all Cox Internet customers at no additional charge.

  • You can take Cox Internet with you when you leave home.
  • Cox Hotspots provide fast, wireless, on-the-go internet connectivity for your tablet, smartphone, or other WiFi-enabled devices.
  • Access more than four million hotspots to help you save on your wireless data plan.

Availability

Cox Hotspots are available in all Cox markets at the following outdoor and indoor venues. Find locations near you at our Cox Hotspots page.

Note: VPNs work unless the use of the network is restricted.

  • Central business districts where people often eat, shop, and socialize
  • Waiting areas in professional small and medium size businesses
  • Residential multi-dwelling unit (MDU) common areas, including the pool area, lobby, and recreational playground and parks
  • Cox Retail Stores

For all Cox customers who may travel outside of their home area and want to access a WiFi hotspot, CableWiFi is available by a partnering cable provider.

CableWiFi is a wireless network name created through a collaboration of U.S. Cable & Internet Service Providers including Cox Communications, Optimum, Spectrum, and XFINITY. It allows each other’s eligible Internet customers free access to a collective network of WiFi hotspots across the nation.

Access

To access and use Cox Hotspots, see Signing In to Cox Hotspots. You can connect to our hotspots using the following types of WiFi-enabled devices:

  • Laptops using Windows or Mac operating systems
  • Tablets using iOS, Android, or Windows 8 operating systems
  • Smartphones using iOS, Android, Windows 8, or Blackberry operating systems

See our Cox Hotspots page for more information and to view the coverage map. It also includes CableWiFi hotspots.

Additional Questions and Answers

View frequently asked questions related to the following topics for Cox Hotspots.

Can I opt-out from having my device broadcasting the CoxWiFi Hotspot?

You can decide whether or not to allow CoxWiFi Hotspot to broadcast from your device. See Changing the Cox WiFi Hotspot Opt In / Opt Out Status for instructions on how to manage these settings in your Cox Business MyAccount.

How many devices can I use at the same time with Cox Hotspots?

With Cox Hotspots, three devices can be attached per user ID and ten per account at a time.

Can other members of my family use Cox Hotspots?

Yes. With each Cox Internet account, you can have up to ten unique devices connected to Cox Hotspots. Up to three devices can be connected at the same time per user ID.

How will customers access Cox Hotspots?

Once customers are in an area where they can connect to Cox Hotspots, they should see the CoxWiFi network location in the list of available wireless networks on their wireless device. Customers must use their Cox User ID and Password to log in to Cox Hotspots. Once authenticated, they will be able to browse the internet as they would from home.

Am I able to use Cox Hotspots outside of my service area?

Cox Hotspots are available in select areas within the Cox service footprint. Customers traveling to these service areas may also use Cox Hotspots.

Note: Cox is planning to expand the coverage available to our customers in the near future.

Will I have to sign in to the CoxWiFi SSID each time I access a Hotspot?

Cox will recognize your device on any hotspot for two years. For your security, you will be asked to sign in again to verify your username and password at least once every two years per hotspot, or if you access Cox Hotspots on a different device.

Is the Cox Hotspots network secure?

Cox makes reasonable efforts to provide a secure service, but because this service is a wireless service, we strongly recommend you make sure any devices you connect are first protected by anti-virus / anti-malware software, and that your operating system firewall is turned on to provide additional protection. Cox cannot guarantee absolute security through Cox Hotspots.

How can I get support for Cox Hotspots?

Click one of the following links for additional support.

  • Residential customer support
  • Cox Business customer support

How do I disconnect my device from the Cox Hotspots network?

If you are signed in to Cox Hotspots and wish to disconnect, you will need to temporarily disable WiFi on your wireless device and wait for approximately 15 minutes. WiFi can usually be disabled and re-enabled by using a menu option or key press combination. Details vary depending on the type of device you are using, so consult the device manufacturer documentation for more information.

Note: Cox Hotspots will remember your device for two years, so the next time you connect during that timeframe your device will automatically connect to the CoxWiFi SSID.

Understanding Cox Hotspots (2024)

FAQs

How do Cox Hotspots work? ›

How will customers access Cox Hotspots? Once customers are in an area where they can connect to Cox Hotspots, they should see the CoxWiFi network location in the list of available wireless networks on their wireless device. Customers must use their Cox User ID and Password to log in to Cox Hotspots.

How long does cox free hotspot last? ›

Free 60 minutes internet access every 30 days.

How to get cox WiFi hotspot for free? ›

Cox provides access to 4 million wifi hotspots across the nation for all Cox Internet customers at no additional charge. You can find your nearest hotspot by going to our Cox Hotspots map.

How would you explain what a WiFi hotspot is to someone with no it knowledge? ›

Most people refer to these locations as “Wi-Fi hotspots” or “Wi-Fi connections.” Simply put, hotspots are the physical places where users can wirelessly connect their mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to the Internet.

How does hotspot usage work? ›

How does a hotspot work? A Wi-Fi hotspot uses wireless data from a cellular provider to give you internet access for phones, computers, tablets, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices. A mobile hotspot usually provides a connection over 5G or 4G LTE wireless technology, providing max speeds of around 30 Mbps.

How do hotspots work for WiFi? ›

The mobile hotspot receives the cellular signal, converts it to a Wi-Fi signal and makes it available to any nearby device as long as the user has the SSID and password.

Does hotspot run up your bill? ›

In most cases, creating a hotspot on your mobile device does not cost extra money beyond your regular mobile data plan. However, there are some carriers that charge extra fees for this feature. So, it is important to confirm that your carrier doesn't charge any extra fees before using this feature.

Is my hotspot free if I have unlimited data? ›

Some carriers might specify a separate cap for hotspot usage, distinct from your general data. While your smartphone data may be unlimited, the data allocated for hotspot usage might have certain limitations.

What happens if you use your hotspot all day? ›

Once you hit your limit, your hotspot data speeds will be slowed. In either scenario, your mobile hotspot doesn't cost any extra unless your plan has a data cap. If your hotspot usage puts you over your monthly data limit, you'll pay for the extra data you use.

Are Cox WiFi hotspots secure? ›

CoxWiFi - Available for all authenticated Cox Internet and Cox Mobile customers using a Wifi capable device. COX - Provides a secure, encrypted connection exclusively for Cox Mobile customers on their Cox Mobile devices.

How do I get free WiFi wherever I go? ›

How Do I Get Internet Anywhere?
  1. Make Use of Mobile Hotspots. ...
  2. Use a WiFi USB Dongle. ...
  3. Take Advantage of WiFi Hotspots From Your Mobile Carrier. ...
  4. Seek Out Establishments With Free WiFi. ...
  5. Make Use of a WiFi Finder App.
Sep 28, 2023

How fast is Cox WiFi hotspot? ›

Customers have access to more than 20,000 hotspots which allows them to save on their wireless data plan. With Cox WiFi, you can receive download speeds of up to 15 Mbps and upload speeds of 4 Mbps. The speeds can vary and are dependent on the number of devices connected to the hotspot at any given time.

Is it better to use hotspot or Wi-Fi? ›

Wifi provides high speed as compared to a hotspot in the case of multiple users. The hotspot offers a lower speed than wifi in the case of many users. Wifi services are provided by the local area Internet service provider. Whereas the hotspot services are largely provided by cellular or phone corporations.

When using someone's hotspot can they see what you're doing? ›

Your hotspot — your mobile device — has two connections: one to the source and one to the tethered device. Either could potentially leak your data so anyone else on the network can see who you are and what you're up to.

Is there a downside to using your phone as a hotspot? ›

It's a Data Hog ― The largest reason to avoid a personal hotspot is that it eats up your data. Every device that is connected to your hotspot uses data from your cell phone. Be sure to check into your mobile plan to see how much usage is allowed. Any overages will result in a hefty additional fee.

Is it safe to use Cox hotspot? ›

Details. Cox's Enhanced Wifi allows you to securely connect to over 4 million Cox Hotspots outside of your home and at no additional charge. This connection encrypts traffic to keep data protected when passing from the device to the hotspot. Your data is encrypted to protect against wireless eavesdropping.

Are hotspots free to use? ›

Public Wi-Fi hotspots are usually free to paying customers; some you can pay for by the hour. Many business hotspots use industry-standard security protocols and require a password to limit how many people can access the network. But even these measures don't guarantee security.

How do public WiFi hotspots work? ›

A public WiFi hotspot works, from the user's end, much like a WiFi network that you might find in your home or office. These hotspots transmit an internet connection using special wireless equipment to create a WiFi network to which you can connect a tablet, smartphone, computer, or other device.

How do prepaid hotspots work? ›

Prepaid data-only plans: Prepaid data-only plans allow you to purchase a set amount of hotspot data for your smartphone or internet device each month. This can help you limit your data consumption and avoid paying for data you don't need. All plans offer HD-quality streaming, and some include access to 5G networks.

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