Hotspot Information for Families

A hotspot provided by OCS provides students access to the internet at home.  It is a Verizon device that connects to the Verizon cell phone network. Upon request, we can instead provide an AT&T hotspot if it provides better connection.

Please note: If families cannot access cell service at their homes, an OCS provided hotspot will not work.

First, it is important for you to determine why there is no internet service at your home.  There are several possibilities including:

•  There is no internet service OR cell service at my house.
  • In this case a hotspot will not work.  No cell service means that there is no cell tower in the area for the hotspot to connect with in order for the device to work.
• There is no internet service but there IS cell service in the area.
  • Since there is cell service, that means there is a cell tower in the area for the hotspot to connect to and therefore a hotspot will work.  One hotspot per household will be provided.
• There is internet service AND cell service, but service is unreliable or the internet speed is slow.

If your current cell service is poor, an OCS hotspot will not improve the quality of service.  Therefore an OCS hotspot will not be provided at this time.

• Some families have shared that when they purchased a WiFi antenna, it helped strengthen their WiFi service at their home.  This is something families may want to try, but there is no guarantee that this will work.  
• If you do have a hotspot, you may want to try placing the device near a window and try windows in different parts of the house to see which location will provide the strongest signal.