Personal Hotspot: How does it affect battery life?

[SolarCanoe]

Does anyone know how much it affects the battery leaving the hotspot on and discoverable, not necessarily connected to a device. I am wondering if it is something I could use full time with a wifi iPad or if I should get a 3G iPad

 

[jpetticrew]

If there's nothing connected to it, it turns itself off.

 

[chrisu91]

Does anyone know how much it affects the battery leaving the hotspot on and discoverable, not necessarily connected to a device. I am wondering if it is something I could use full time with a wifi iPad or if I should get a 3G iPad

It's not always discoverable. It turns off after a few minutes.

 

[SolarCanoe]

If there's nothing connected to it, it turns itself off.

But its still discoverable right? Do you think that would use any extra power?

 

[jpetticrew]

But its still discoverable right? Do you think that would use any extra power?

No, it's not discoverable. You'll have to go into settings and flip it back on right quick when you want to use it. I'm doing that with my WiFi iPad, it's not as big of a deal as you think it'll be. Especially since the hotspot is on the main settings page.

 

[keantan]

Sorry don't mean to thread jack but I have a relevant question:

Assuming a device is connected (so the iPhone doesn't become undiscoverable) and light amounts of data are being used (like MSN) does anyone now how much of a reduction the battery life is going to take? I remember using 3G last time (on an iPhone 3G) to instant message could murder a battery in 6 hrs.