This topic

BT WiFi

StewartC — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 19:09:22 GMT

When using a BT Hotspot (I'm a BT customer running the BT App) and I try and turn on my Android phone's Hotspot facility the BT WiFi immediately cancels so I'm not able to use my laptop via the BT Hotspot. It also does this when trying to connect to the laptop via Bluetooth. Any suggestions as to why this occurs?

Stewart C

Re: BT WiFi

NigelB72 — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 19:22:30 GMT

It's possibly causing a conflict. Try setting up the connection manually through your phones settings

Re: BT WiFi

imjolly — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 19:24:42 GMT

Why don't you just connect to BTWIFI using your laptop and miss out the android phone?

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 10:29:35 GMT

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I can connect directly to my laptop and do so where possible. However, there're buildings I use where BT Wifi is only accessible at inconvenient locations to use the laptop so placing the phone at these locations and using the hotspot facility would be the most convenient work around, thus my question.

Any further thoughts would be appreciated.

Re: BT WiFi

NigelB72 — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 11:34:44 GMT

I still think you're getting a conflict. You don't have to use the BT WiFi app to connect to a hotspot. You can scan for open networks through the WiFi settings on Android and once connected, just use your BT ID and password to log in 👍

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 12:44:13 GMT

Thanks for your reply. When I select BT Wifi through the phone's WiFi settings all's well until I turn on the phone's 'hotspot' facility which causes BT Wifi to be dropped and the phone resets to Mobile Data.

There almost seems to be a default setting within BT Wifi that prevents streaming (for want of a better description) to another device(s).

Re: BT WiFi

imjolly — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 13:09:58 GMT

BTWIFI is intended for personal use of the Bt customer and using it as a hotspot to let others use the connection defeats the purpose and is more than likely the cause why it keeps failing

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 13:25:45 GMT

Thanks for the reply. As an explanation what you're suggesting does seem very plausible. Is there a way of getting formal confirmation of this? A shame though as perched on a windowsill with the laptop isn't the best for doing work. It would be interesting to know whether the same situation exists were one to try to Chrome-cast material accessed via BT Wifi.

Re: BT WiFi

sno1989 — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 14:46:06 GMT

I think you'll find it's your phone that is the issue.

When in hotspot mode my Samsung disables WiFi altogether.

I also have a Motorola that automatically drops the connection once you enable hotspot and swaps to 4G/5G.

Have you tried it when connected to your home WiFi?

Re: BT WiFi

licquorice — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 14:58:57 GMT

Yes, basically the phone is trying to transmit and receive on 2 discrete wifi networks at the same time, which can't be done.

Re: BT WiFi

licquorice — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:16:17 GMT

@StewartC Can you tether the phone with a USB cable rather than use it as a hotspot?

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:22:59 GMT

Thanks for the reply. When at home it's my BT Hub that it links to by default though I've never tried enabling 'hotspot' function when connected to it. Once I'm home I'll try that. BTW my phone is also a Motorola, it gives me hope that I'm not the only one out there with this problem.

Before I search are you aware a Motorola user group that could be asked about this?

Re: BT WiFi

licquorice — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:30:48 GMT

I could be mistaken, but I can't see how any device can be used as a hotspot when connecting to wifi.

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:32:30 GMT

Thanks for the reply. That's a very plausible explanation. Showing my ignorance here; when at home I use my phone linked to my BT Hub to Chrome-cast to a smart TV without a problem so the phone is having to simultaneously tx/rx to two separate devices so how is this different. If you know I'd appreciate an explanation as to the difference in the two situations.

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:36:41 GMT

Thanks for the reply. I could use a USB cable but to make it usable set up the USB cable would have to be quite lengthy, approx. 2m.

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:42:13 GMT

Thanks for the reply. You may well be right, I'd had thought that if the phone supported both 2.4 and 5GHz then it could support bidirectional tx/rx operation.

Re: BT WiFi

licquorice — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:43:05 GMT

@StewartC wrote:

Thanks for the reply. That's a very plausible explanation. Showing my ignorance here; when at home I use my phone linked to my BT Hub to Chrome-cast to a smart TV without a problem so the phone is having to simultaneously tx/rx to two separate devices so how is this different. If you know I'd appreciate an explanation as to the difference in the two situations.

SC

But you won't be using the phone as a hotspot.

Re: BT WiFi

NigelB72 — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 18:02:50 GMT

Chromecasting is completely different to tethering. If you have a Chromecast compatible TV or device all the app on your phone is doing is sending a secure URL to the Chromecast. It's not tethering

Re: BT WiFi

pottyperson — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 21:01:42 GMT

@StewartC wrote:

when at home I use my phone linked to my BT Hub to Chrome-cast to a smart TV without a problem so the phone is having to simultaneously tx/rx to two separate devices so how is this different.

I don't think so. The phone is just a remote control which sets up a link from hub to Chromecast. Once the cast is up and running you can turn the phone off and chuck it out of the window without breaking the link (though you wouldn't be able to change channels and might need a new phone). Nor do you need a smart TV, just one with an HDMI socket.

EDIT. Sorry, I somehow missed the last couple of posts.

Re: BT WiFi

StewartC — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 21:50:10 GMT

Thanks for the reply, very useful in identifying the difference between the phone's role in acting as a controller (Chrome cast) and creating a hotspot for tethering.

It's a pity that there doesn't seem to be a way of using the phone to communicate with BT Wifi and then to wirelessly communicate with a laptop where it's not practicable to locate it and work comfortably.