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Linuxluver

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#132276 15-Oct-2013 16:32
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I've been given an iPhone 4 as my work phone....and I have been trying to use it as a wifi hotspot for doing my on-site work. 

It is proving to be a real challenge. 

The hotspot on the iPhone 4 only works 1 time in 5......my SONY Vaio laptopm mostly doesn't see the hotspot, but sometimes it does.....and it will connect.....but I rarely get access to the Internet. 

Is it the laptop? I don't think so.....because the iPhone also doesn't have access to the Internet...which it should be getting via Vodafone 3G. 

I'm in Christchurch today (St. Albans) and rapidly going bald(er) pulling my hair out. 

The only way I can get any connectivity is to tether the laptop my SGS4 on Telecom.....which works perfectly, reliably, every single time. 

I don't know if the problem is Apple or Vodafone or both......but via that combo it's a total fail. 

I'm wrting this on my laptop via the SGS4 on Telecom after trying for an hour to get the iPhone to talk to Vodafone - in windows, wherever.....doesn't matter. 

Posting here to vent my frustration. 

I had similar problems in Te Awamutu last week....but at least there once the iPhone / VFNZ combo finally connected (might take 10 attempts) to my laptop it at least worked. Here in Christchurch.....nothing.




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RunningMan
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  #915569 15-Oct-2013 16:36
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Well, I use the iPhone 4 / Vodafone / iOS7 combo for tethering OK, so it can work.



jeffnz
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  #915571 15-Oct-2013 16:38
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wow 5 threads on same thing, must be important ;)





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tigercorp
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  #915572 15-Oct-2013 16:40
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While the SG4 + Telecom combo works every time I'm not so convinced it works perfectly every time. :p



nathan
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  #915573 15-Oct-2013 16:41
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Can you ping the Internet?

Can you ping the phone from the PC?

Can you ping an IP like 8.8.8.8 so you know if it's a DNS issue

RunningMan
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  #915579 15-Oct-2013 16:50
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I think iOS hides the SSID after a few minutes timeout from using the hotspot settings - would the Vaio be looking for a hidden network OK?

Linuxluver

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  #915581 15-Oct-2013 16:53
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jeffnz: wow 5 threads on same thing, must be important ;)



I sent it once. The Internet did the rest. :-/ 

I'll see if I can delete the other 4

(Update: Done) 




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RunningMan
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  #915582 15-Oct-2013 16:57
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Linuxluver:
jeffnz: wow 5 threads on same thing, must be important ;)



I sent it once. The Internet did the rest. :-/ 

I'll see if I can delete the other 4. 


Download the latest internet - they've fixed that bug ;-)

 
 
 
 

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Linuxluver

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  #915586 15-Oct-2013 16:59
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nathan: Can you ping the Internet?

Can you ping the phone from the PC?

Can you ping an IP like 8.8.8.8 so you know if it's a DNS issue


How do you ping on an iphone? 

The laptop says it's connected to the iPhone but "No Internet Access". 

The iPhone says it has no internet access via 3G. 

But the iPhone does work with 3G much of the time.....just not where I need it to work. 

That's why I'm tending to hang it on Vodafone.....though I can't rule out the phone (Maybe flakey? It's a hand-me-down work phone).  




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Linuxluver

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  #915589 15-Oct-2013 17:03
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RunningMan: I think iOS hides the SSID after a few minutes timeout from using the hotspot settings - would the Vaio be looking for a hidden network OK?


The Vaio seems to be able to stay connected to the iPhone once it has gotten connected (which isn't first time / every time by any stretch).....but neither the phone nor the laptop via the phone are seeing the Net....and that's the 3G piece. Hmm. I've powered it off. I've toggled mobile network service off and one.  It did work briefly in one window earlier today....but leaving it there now doesn't work either. 




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RunningMan
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  #915596 15-Oct-2013 17:08
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If you are in an area without 900MHz 3G, try turning 3G off. I've previously had problems where 3G reception was poor and the phone was flicking in and out of 3G which mucked around with tethering.

Doesn't solve your problem, but may help track down the issue.

nathan
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  #915597 15-Oct-2013 17:09
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Linuxluver:
nathan: Can you ping the Internet?

Can you ping the phone from the PC?

Can you ping an IP like 8.8.8.8 so you know if it's a DNS issue


How do you ping on an iphone? 

The laptop says it's connected to the iPhone but "No Internet Access". 

The iPhone says it has no internet access via 3G. 

But the iPhone does work with 3G much of the time.....just not where I need it to work. 

That's why I'm tending to hang it on Vodafone.....though I can't rule out the phone (Maybe flakey? It's a hand-me-down work phone).  


Can the PC ping the iPhone and ping 8.8.8.8?

jonb
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  #915603 15-Oct-2013 17:22
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Linuxluver:
nathan: Can you ping the Internet?

Can you ping the phone from the PC?

Can you ping an IP like 8.8.8.8 so you know if it's a DNS issue


How do you ping on an iphone? 

The laptop says it's connected to the iPhone but "No Internet Access". 

The iPhone says it has no internet access via 3G. 

But the iPhone does work with 3G much of the time.....just not where I need it to work. 

That's why I'm tending to hang it on Vodafone.....though I can't rule out the phone (Maybe flakey? It's a hand-me-down work phone).  


As it's an iPhone 4, are you holding it the wrong way?

Peppery
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  #915890 16-Oct-2013 09:33
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I would definitely try a restore and probably another VF SIM in the device.

tdgeek
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  #915892 16-Oct-2013 09:39
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Reset Network Settings

johnr
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  #915894 16-Oct-2013 09:54
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tdgeek: Reset Network Settings


+1

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