Mobile tethering, connect to laptop no internet

[Dagger22]

Hi 

I'm having so much trouble trying to connect my laptop to the internet via mobile hotspot / tethering.

I can connect the mobile to the laptop and it recognises everything, but when I go to the browser it can't connect.

I've tried everything, so am at a loss.

Does anyone think that Vodafone are blocking me from doing this ?

Thanks

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Dagger22 

No Vodafone won't be blocking this type of connection.

I would suggest to check all the relevant settings in the laptop to ensure none are hindering the connection including any relevant security software.

Also check in your phones relevant settings please.

As a process of elimination can you try hang your phone as a hotspot to connect another device i.e another phone or tablet etc.

As the hotspot feature is working there should be no need to contact Vodafone customer services but it wont hurt just go ask them that your account has been provisioned for tethering.

Live Chat,  via calling 191 or the Contact-us-for-account-specific-queries/ Vodafone Social Media Teams  all have account access. 

I've performed a Google Search to see if there is information and troubleshooting available and there is quite a bit of advice and information available. 

One site is https://www.weboost.com/blog/mobile-hotspot-connected-but-no-internet 

I hope the above helps.

[Dagger22]

Hi

Thanks for getting back to me.

I've tried this on 3 different operating systems, windows/ Linux and Chromebook,

All connect to the mobile but won't use it's data to connect to the internet etc.

I've sent the team on twitter a message, see if they respond, as I do believe tethering is restricted.

Thanks

[Dagger22]

Just connected to another Mobile, again came back with no internet access.

Got to be restricted

[AnnS]

Vodafone do not restrict tethering, you are free to use the allowance as you wish @Dagger22 

You need to follow device guides to set up the hotspot here: Device Guides 

Please also refer to these two previous threads

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Android/mobile-hotspot-not-working-after-receiving-new-settings-from...

This is quite an old thread but the information would be the same https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Network-queries/No-Internet-access-via-WIFI-hotspot/td-p/2567046

You are also dependent on a mobile phone signal, check you have a reasonable signal.

[Dagger22]

Thank you for your reply

Tried all the above guides etc , still the same outcome

[BandOfBrothers]

Ok @Dagger22 

Do please have a word with customer services so they can check your account.

[Dagger22]

Hi 

I'm On the unlimited lite @ £22.30, for that price I'd expect it to work 

[AnnS]

Yes it should work @Dagger22 but bearing in mind the unlimited lite has a speed restriction and to use hotspot, you would need a reasonable speed.

edited to add:  check the speed you are achieving for the connection from the My Vodafone application.

[Dagger22]

Hi

4G download speed of 2.2mb

Thanks

[hrym]

When you say you tried another phone, was this using the same SIM, or another number on the same account?

If you have two phones available, can you use one of them as a hotspot for the other?   If that works, it would suggest that it isn't a Vodafone issue, but trying a different number/account would also verify.

The fact that you've tried different operating systems would tend to rule out driver issues, I'd have thought and I assume you can connect via normal wifi with no problems?

[Dagger22]

I used my phone - Vodafone smart V8 as the hotspot and used a Huawei to connect to the hotspot, came back with connected - no internet

[hrym]

I found this, from Tom's Guide, which might help:

https://forums.tomsguide.com/threads/mobile-hotspot-has-no-internet.449180/

[Amanda]

Hello @Dagger22 

Our Unlimited Data Lite Plan is designed for light usage, such as small amounts of internet browsing and checking social media - it isn't suitable for more heavy data traffic such as streaming or using your device as a hotspot - we'd recommend changing to Unlimited Data Max for this. 

You can see more information on the Unlimited Data Plans here. 🙂 

[hrym]

@AmandaThat's true (and I've always struggled to work out whether unlimited data at 2mbps would ever be worthwhil), but does Unlimited Lite actually preclude tethering?   I'd assume the connected device would get an internet connection, even if it was then too slow for practical use.

[Amanda]

@hrym there's nothing in the make up of the plan that stops tethering, it's just unlikely it'll work due to the low speeds - there may be minimal connection on the tethered device, which in turn hypothetically means it wouldn't work at all.  

It'd be interesting to know if trying another SIM (that isn't on the Unlimited Data Lite plan or any capped plan like this) in the phone would make any difference. 

[hrym]

Thanks, @Amanda.   I also suggested trying the PC with a different phone (and therefore tarriff) if possible.

It's not quite the same thing, but my phone sometimes suddenly comes up with "connected, no internet" on my home wifi.   On those occasions, which may be down to local congestion, toggling wifi (on the phone) usually sorts it.

Otherwise, the OP may need to contact Customer Services just to check that there isn't a tethering bar on the account, although I'm not sure that such a thing exists - certainly not in user settnigs, anyway.

[Dagger22]

Hi just tried my sim in another mobile, and connected to it via my Vodafone mobile, it worked , which to me proves that the network/ SIM is ok and not barred in anyway, and that it must be my Vodafone smart V8 mobile that's the issue, I have reset all network settings, but the issue still remains, I can't tether / use a hotspot with this model.

[Mark]

Thanks for the update @Dagger22. When setting up the hotspot from your handset, are you following the steps in our online guide?

[Dagger22]

Hi 

Yes I have followed everything step by step