Need help with personal hotspot linking

SidCowans · 13 Aug 2023

I have cable broadband into my PC via Ethernet cable and all is good but ...... I have to endure a few weeks of faulty broadband feed while I wait for the suppliers to dig up the road and replace a faulty cable.

During that time, whenever the broadband feed crashes, I want to keep the PC internet alive by somehow linking the PC to my iphone 14 personal hotspot.

I have purchased a wi-fi USB dongle and after a bit of a battle, the PC now sees that and picks up the personal hotspot from my phone. It asks for a password, which is fine, but then it waits 15 seconds before coming up with an "Unable to connect to this network" warning.

I can't see anything that is obviously wrong on either the phone or the PC so can anybody suggest what I am missing here ?

[Windows 10, Version 22H2, OS Build 19045.3324]

User2468 · 13 Aug 2023

Try it with no password once if you can and see if you get the same error.

I know next to noting about iPhones so I may not be of much help.

Try3 · 13 Aug 2023

Sid,

I know absolutely nothing about iPhones. But I do now about using phone WiFi hotspots - they've been my primary internet connection for more than a decade.

1 In an Android, you'd have to set these items up on your phone to manage its hotspot.

Need help with personal hotspot linking-hotspot-settings.jpg

I imagine you have some equivalent settings on your phone.
If you post the settings then somebody might be able to advise you. You could either post them as a [redacted] picture as I have or just write them out.

2 One of the possible causes of an"Unable to connect to this network" warning is entering the wrong password.

3 What was the "battle"?

4 Are you getting decent signal strength [3 bars or above]?

5 Have you searched the forum for something like iPhone hotspot? Perhaps somebody else has already posted info that will help you.
https://www.tenforums.com/search.php?query=

6 This utility can provide useful data when considering WiFi network problems. I don't know if it will be helpful in your case but I thought I should tell you now rather than later.
It could, just for example, confirm what settings your iPhone hotspot is using.
And the user manual for your WiFi USB dongle will almost certainly confirm the security type & the frequency bands it can work with.
NirSoft WiFiInfoView

Need help with personal hotspot linking-wifiinfoview-window.png

Best of luck,
Denis

Try3 · 13 Aug 2023

Perhaps you could seek advice from this user of iPhone hotspots.
Alien WiFi Icon - ElevenForum

Best of luck,
Denis

SidCowans · 14 Aug 2023

Everything seems to work okay until I select my iphone from the wi-fi "available networks" on my PC. It takes the password but fails when showing "checking network requirements" which implies I need to change something on my phone.

The android screenshot above would seem to be what I need but the iphone doesn't appear to offer anything similar ...... just a "maximum compatibility" button which doesn't change anything whether on or off.