Tech experts, help ...
 

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Tech experts, help with connectivity please…

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Hopefully you might be able to help. I use a Dell all in one - this one - running windows 10 for Zwift. Other than Zwift it’s a clean factory install.

I’ve recently upgrade to an iPhone 13 from a Samsung s10e. I used the Samsung hotspot with no issues. But the iPhone hotspot is very random in its appearance, sometimes never appearing in the list of Wi-Fi connections to my frustration. The PC does pickup lists of nearby connections, and the network carrier is the same.

Can anyone help as to why and if possible how to fix this please?


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:02 pm
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Have you tried it using the USB cable from phone to PC? Would bypass the issues you're having.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:06 pm
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Is it a 2.5ghz vs 5 ghz problem?

Can you test the hotspot from other devices?


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:08 pm
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Not familliar with iphones, but is the hotspot going to sleep to save power if not used for more than a few mins, or something like that, i.e. have you actually checked the hotspot on the phone is active.. probably a daft question but worth checking.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:09 pm
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I've never had any issues connecting my work Win10 laptop to my iPhone 13 hotspot. That's not very helpful I realise, but it certainly should work fine.

To get it going it helps if you open the iPhone Settings to the Personal Hotspot pane when initiating it.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:09 pm
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Depending on the security settings, you might literally have to have the hotspot screen open on the iPhone for the Dell to see it


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:14 pm
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Pretty sure the only way you can connect to an iPhone hotspot is by having the hotspot settings screen only on the phone, unless you're on another iPhone/Mac and an approved contact.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:36 pm
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Some answers, and to note it has connected in the past;

Shouldn’t be a network issue as I’ve used it before, iPhone shows 4g in the man cave again in the same phone network as before.

I don’t have any power saving settings on whilst trying to connect.

It connects to my work LT - a 2021 Dell XPS - and iPad instantly, so the issue seems to be wit this Pc.

Not tried a usb cable, usb to lighting sounds like it may not be simple - is it?

I’ll try turning the PC on with the iPhone settings screen open, thanks.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 1:40 pm
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Ok, so I “reset all network settings” on the PC and it now seems to work as expected. Bizarre.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 2:28 pm
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USB to Lightning is trivial as that's a standard charging cable.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 4:03 pm
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Probably just an old wifi adapter that's in the computer, struggling to connect to the newer wifi standard in the iphone?

PCs That Use Intel Wireless Adapters
Several Wi-Fi adapters from Intel have known issues with Wi-Fi 6 networks. These problems are mostly resolved with a driver update, but it's important to know that those updates are not part of any Windows updates, so they will need to be updated manually.
https://eyenetworks.no/en/wifi-6-compatibility/

See if there's a driver update? If not just buy a wifi 6 dongle? You'll probably get it working, but it'll probably keep falling over is my guess. I did have an old pc that I had continually reset the wifi adapter.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 4:33 pm
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Scotroutes May have it actually. On the iPhone hotspot settings there’s a “maximise compatibility” option which i turned off earlier today but is now back on. It turns out that when on, it broadcasts the hotspot at 2,4ghz but when off it broadcasts at 5ghz.

This is likely the issue!


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 5:10 pm
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Aye - the older Wifi adapter in your PC might not have 5ghz.


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 5:26 pm
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This is likely the issue

It wasn’t, it works on both. 🤷‍♂️


 
Posted : 20/07/2022 5:39 pm

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