Personal Hotspot Issues?

jannievanzyl

jannievanzyl

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Need some feedback please. :)

There seems to be a rumour floating around that the new iPhone Personal Hotspot feature does not work on Vodacom's network/iPhones.

Searching here, I saw one or two posts (mostly from last month) mentioning this but most responses says it works. On both my iPhones it's working fine, so if we do have a problem, I need to get some feedback from you guys.

Won't you reply in this thread if it's working for you or not. Maybe cut and paste these questions:

- Is it working?: Yes/No
- APN used?: (iphone.vodacom.za / internet)
- Version of IOS: x.x.x
- Jailbroken?: Yes/No
- Jailbroke Version?: x.x.x
- SIM Used: (VC/MTN/other)
- Any steps you had to do to get it working: (some mentioned a reboot was needed)
- Anything else that might be relevant.

- If the mods feel up to it, maybe a "It's working / not working" poll?

Your help to either fix this, or put the rumour to bed will be cool. :)
 
Last edited:
- Is it working?: Yes
- Phone Model: iPhone 3GS
- Version of IOS: 4.3.1
- Jailbroken?: No
- SIM Used: VC
- Any steps you had to do to get it working: Yes, required Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network->(Reset Settings) after upgrade (4.2.1 to 4.3)
- Anything else that might be relevant: iPhone 3GS only supports Hotspot via Bluetooth or USB cable (no WiFi)
- APN: iphone.vodacom.za

- Is it working?: Yes
- Phone Model: iPhone 4
- Version of IOS: 4.3.1
- Jailbroken?: No
- SIM Used: VC
- Any steps you had to do to get it working: Yes, required Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network->(Reset Settings) after upgrade (4.2.1 to 4.3.1)
- Anything else that might be relevant: iPhone 4 support full Hotspot functionality via WiFi, Bluetooth or USB cable
- APN: iphone.vodacom.za
 
Last edited:
- yes
- iPhone 4
- 4.3.1
- No jailbreak
- VC sim
- no steps required, just enable as needed
 
Thanks guys!

Forgot the most important question:

APN used?

I suspect this is actually the cause I'm chasing down.
 
- Is it working?: Yes
- APN used?: iphone.vodacom.za
- Version of IOS: 4.3.0
- Jailbroken?: No
- SIM Used: VC
- Any steps you had to do to get it working: As per Roman4604: Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network->(Reset Settings). Only then did the hotspot section appear under Network for me to enable.
- Anything else that might be relevant: I restored my phone from backup so a fresh firmware restore with no backup will probably have the feature enabled.
 
Last edited:
- Is it working?: Yes
- APN used?: iphone.vodacom.za
- Version of IOS: 4.3 on iPhone 4
- Jailbroken?: No
- SIM Used: VC

iPad (4.2.1), iPod Touch and laptop (Win 7) connect through iPhone without any problems.
 
Thanks guys, got to the bottom of this.

Basically if you use an APN other than iphone.vodacom.za, IOS disables the Hotspot and Tethering options.

You might remember it took Apple a long time to release the original iPhone in SA and to ensure iPhones brought in by subs would work, we enabled the 'internet' APN for them. This is still the case.

But the config file Apple pushed down to the handset (via iTunes) will change it to iphone.vodacom.za and if it does not see this APN on the handset, it will disable the Hotspot function.

Easiest way to rectify this is to reset the setting on the iPhone which will then set the APN correctly.
 
jannievanzyl said:
if it does not see this APN on the handset, it will disable the Hotspot function
Click to expand...
Hi Jannie, not sure if I'd 100% agree with this.

For instance my 3GS was definately running on the iphone.vodacom.za APN prior to the 4.3 upgrade (remember you helped me get my dual SIM issue sorted). The Hotspot option did not automatically appear after the upgrade, only once the reset was performed.

The symptoms indicate there is possibly another hidden flag in the carrier config file. What logic the 4.3.x upgrade process uses to decided whether to replace the exiting carrier file is unclear to me?
 
Roman4604 said:
Hi Jannie, not sure if I'd 100% agree with this.

For instance my 3GS was definately running on the iphone.vodacom.za APN prior to the 4.3 upgrade (remember you helped me get my dual SIM issue sorted). The Hotspot option did not automatically appear after the upgrade, only once the reset was performed.

The symptoms indicate there is possibly another hidden flag in the carrier config file. What logic the 4.3.x upgrade process uses to decided whether to replace the exiting carrier file is unclear to me?
Click to expand...

Only Apple have insight in what they do to these devices. :rolleyes:

The answer seems two-fold then; ensure you have the correct APN and if that does not work, reset the settings.

Either way, do not use another APN.
 
So I changed my APN to internet, rebooted the phone and now hotspot is gone. Performed the network settings reset and it's back.
 
morkhans said:
So I changed my APN to internet, rebooted the phone and now hotspot is gone. Performed the network settings reset and it's back.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's the point.

I suspect Apple wants to do something with the apple APN at some point, maybe a BB type of service / priceplan.
 
morkhans said:
So I changed my APN to internet, rebooted the phone and now hotspot is gone. Performed the network settings reset and it's back.
Click to expand...

Dragging up this thread, because I'm having difficulties getting the Personal Hotspot going on my 'new iPad'.

I've reset the network settings, and it's now at the default 'iphone.vodacom.za', but no Personal Hotspot options are present.

Has anybody else managed to the the Personal Hotspot going with a Vodacom sim card? Does the APN have to be specifically activated on my sim card?
 
If you use the Personal Hotspot on a laptop does it use your data bundle or are you charged extra like on a BB?
 
Bodo said:
Dragging up this thread, because I'm having difficulties getting the Personal Hotspot going on my 'new iPad'.
Click to expand...

Just came from the iStore in Menlyn, who advised that the 'personal hotspot' has not been enabled for SA yet for iPads, only for iPhones... Solution : keep checking when there may be a carrier update that enables the hotspot functionality... :(
 
Guantanamo said:
If you use the Personal Hotspot on a laptop does it use your data bundle or are you charged extra like on a BB?
Click to expand...

I've added a "dual sim" to my VC contract (at R9 monthly cost), so I think all data consumed on the iPad, including any consumed via its 'personal hotspot' will be deducted from my VC contract. I know the OOB-shark lurks, but I'll just have to monitor usage... :)
 
Bodo said:
Dragging up this thread, because I'm having difficulties getting the Personal Hotspot going on my 'new iPad'.

I've reset the network settings, and it's now at the default 'iphone.vodacom.za', but no Personal Hotspot options are present.

Has anybody else managed to the the Personal Hotspot going with a Vodacom sim card? Does the APN have to be specifically activated on my sim card?
Click to expand...



Bodo said:
Just came from the iStore in Menlyn, who advised that the 'personal hotspot' has not been enabled for SA yet for iPads, only for iPhones... Solution : keep checking when there may be a carrier update that enables the hotspot functionality... :(
Click to expand...

Correct.

As per: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...network-setting-to-allow-for-Personal-Hotspot
 
I got a new ipad 4 10 days ago. in addition i got a micro sim from 8ta. However are battling to setup the hotspot on my ipad. None of the setup buttons are available? I logged a complaint on hello peter last night. Was very impressed with the response time. However the instructions they have sent me did not work because i did not have the options on my ipad? Their respone on that was: "we just had confirmation that the ipad does not support hotspot". I queried that but since then they have ignored me!!! I have googled for the last week already but get no answer either! Hoping someone on My Broadband can assist me.
 
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