How do I use my phone as a WiFi hotspot without using my data connection? I know it sounds strange, but what I want to do is use my phone as a WiFi router to create a private LAN that doesn't use my data connection.  Basically, I'm at a hotel and need to do some testing using a HHC that is designed to connect to a LAN and talk to a database over that LAN; I'm hosting SQL Server on my laptop, but I'm not comfortable connecting my customer's HHC to the hotel's network in such a way that I can test.  I know that I can create and host a wireless LAN from my phone, but the option is disabled when I have data turned off.

I'm using a Galaxy Note 3 with Android 5.0
Turn off your mobile data. 2. Turn on your mobile hotspot.