I can move both the windows laptop and the macbook onto any wireless network for which I have the password. I have also used both for last few years with android verizon hotspot. It is only with the iPhone that the hotpsot intermittently fails to get the laptop to the internet. The adapter is enabled and set to DHCP for ip address, net mask, gateway, dns and so forth. I do not have to make changes to go onto other wireless networks. Only the iPhone hotspot connection fails. The iPhone hotspot succeeds sometimes without any changes, about 1/3 of the time I connect. When the hotspot fails to route to the internet, I still have both IPV4 and IPV6 addresses assigned to the computer, they just can't get routed to the dns server. It also won't ping direct to an internet address,
I have built out the iPhones as new and also restored via iTunes to try to get them to work properly. Apple geniuses say it is Verizon. Verizon says it is Apple.
Brad2020,
The hotspot built into your phone can be a great feature. Let’s look into this further to get yours working. Per all the information listed, it does sound like it is a device compatibility issue. If the Network was the issue, you should see issues in only one area and even with the internet connection on the phone itself. I’ve sent you a private message here in the forum. Please check your inbox at https://community.verizonwireless.com/inbox to discuss further details about your concern.
JenelleR_VZW
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Don't get too hopeful that Verizon will actually resolve your issues. I wasted so much time trying to get someone to listen to me before I decided to switch carriers. I had 3 lines. My daughter wanted her own account. We went to the Verizon store together and the salesman assured me that she could transfer the number without the termination fee. At some point my daughter was asked if she wanted a new number - she said yes - but it was not explained to her or me (I was there) that this would cost me fees for years and a $300 termination fee. When i realized what had happened, I contacted them to stop the charges and remove the termination fee. Clearly no one would agree to pay $1000 for a new number. So I was scammed by their salesman who skipped off with his commission, they know I was scammed and they are standing by the charges. Termination fees are a scam to begin with - but to run a scam to get them is criminal.They are thieves! Good luck, you're going to need it.
Brad, there seems to be a clear focus on the iPhone only. I seem to think it's the computer not recognizing the the iPhone and more focus should be put in that area also. You've mentioned in your post that Apple has replaced the iPhone twice. I know you've said the Android was working with hot spot tethering, but that's different from iOS.
Have you looked into the computer to see if Apple Mobile Device Service is Enabled? That could be an issue.
Go into Computer Management > Services and Applications > Services - to see if it's running. It should be set to Automatic. By right clicking on it and going to Properties will bring you into the Preferences.
Also you should run a diagnostic test of the iPhone in iTunes. That can be done by plugging the iPhone into a USB computer port. Then from the iTunes menu choose Help and Run Diagnostics.
Hi Salisbury - that Apple service is some Apple service for iTunes. I do not have iTunes installed on the windows computer. Apple's hotspot has to be using 802.11.xxx standard implementation and is hardware and software agnostic, other wise they have completely failed to implement properly. Which maybe they did. No computer should need to install iTunes to access the internet via a hotspot.
When the hotpot fails, neither macbook or windows computer can get to the internet. When it succeeds, both succeed.
Brad, there are three things involved here. Verizon signal, iPhone, and the laptop. I'd rule out a problem with Verizon their signal is getting there, the Android is picking it up. The iPhone has been exchanged twice so the probability there is slim. If it were me I'd at least look into the laptop.
iTunes software is essential with the iPhone. On Jan.19, 2016 Apple released iOS 9.2.1 it was discovered that there were a few problems with it. So Apple re issued iOS 9.2.1 just this past week with some improvements. The only way you can install this new release is through iTunes with the iPhone plugged into the computer. Also it is well worth running the iPhone Diagnostics with iTunes. So it would be a good idea to install the latest version of iTunes from the Apple website, only.
Device Manager > Portable Devices - does the iPhone show up in there?
Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers - have you tried updating the driver for - USB Mass Storage Device.
In Computer Management > Services - have you looked into - Apple Mobile Device Service?
Firewall settings can be complicated have you tried disabling the Firewall? It could be kicking the connection out.
I agree there are 3 layers here:
1. iPhone hotspot connection (the iPhone has iTunes on it)
2. Macbook Pro with iTunes and Windows Laptop with no iTunes on Windows.
Because the Windows laptop and the MacBook have the same issues when the iPhone hotspot connection fails, and the same success when the hotspot functions properly, I don’t think the issue is a configuration or set up problem with the two different computers. They likewise have the same constant success with no issues on other wireless networks. I connect the iPhone to macbook for iTunes related needs, not the windows laptop.
I don’t believe that I need or should have iTunes on the Windows laptop. The behavior matches the macbook on different wireless networks.
3. Verizon network and services
When a device (iPhone, Android, M2M Modem, etc) connects to the Verizon network, Verizon has a series of services running on their network to determine if the device is allowed to function on their network. These are known to be buggy and problematic within Verizon, and additionally they give no feedback if they kick a device off the network. The device has multiple IDs on it and if somehow these don’t line up, for example, then your device can connect, and after about 20 - 30 seconds get kicked off. This is behavior I have experienced on several occasions.
I have now met four people that faced a similarly described iPhone hotspot failure with the Verizon network. All four quit trying to resolve as they got no help from Verizon, and ended paying Verizon for an added cost usb wifi adapter for their account. So I know it is not just me that has this issue.
Brad, you yourself have said the signal from the Android hotspot works well so apparently Verizon signal comes thru strong and clear. So the problem would seem to be between the laptop and iPhone, but you've changed iPhone's twice.
You're unwilling to make any test that I've suggested which don't take much time. So based on your theory it has to be Verizon or nothing. Until you look at everything here your just gonna keep running in circles.
Hi Salisbury [Removal required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service]
I have tested my MacBook and my laptop in several ways. If the problem is the iPhone to laptop connection, why does the iPhone to MacBook connection also fail at the same time? If the issue is some iTunes service, that is already installed on the macbook, and it has the same issue.
I am not saying the problem is only Verizon. I have been able to escalate the issue with Apple, and they have a support process that includes a support tech owns the issue throughout. The ticket doesn't get closed until the tech believes it is solved. I can comment no further as the moderators will delete the whole entry.
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