Not charging while tethering

Question

Level 1

8 points

Not charging while tethering

Hi all,

I am using internet tethering to access the Internet rgiht now and my iPhone does NOT charge while I am using it. If I switch off tethering, It does.

Anybody has the same issue?

Thanks all,

imac 24'', Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 12:17 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Jul 22, 2009 12:51 PM in response to promeu

I'm guessing that tethering takes more power than the USB is capable of providing so the phone can't charge while tethered.

Reply

Answer 2

Envision99

Level 4

1,171 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Tamara

This is my guess as well. If you are using 3G it is probably using more power than the USB cable can give to charge the iPhone.

Reply

Answer 3

promeu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:08 PM in response to Envision99

I was guessing the same, but I just asked to know if anyone experienced same problem.

But that's not all. My iphone RUNS OUT OF BATTERY so I cannot leave it connected while tethering if I don't want it to run out of battery...

😟

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 22, 2009 1:14 PM in response to promeu

i am unsure whether your imac has a different USB power supply to the keyboard from the outlets on the back of the mac. have you tried different sockets?

Reply

Answer 5

Envision99

Level 4

1,171 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:18 PM in response to promeu

I would say you would have to turn the tethering off to charge your iPhone while it's connected to the USB then.

Reply

Answer 6

promeu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:18 PM in response to niccodeamus

I'm using a two-month aluminium macbook, so it cannot be the socket.

Reply

Answer 7

promeu Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Envision99

I'm afraid you are right, but I have seen that nowhere at the documentation...

Thanks all.

Reply

Answer 8

Envision99

Level 4

1,171 points

Jul 22, 2009 1:31 PM in response to promeu

Hopefully Apple will be able to improve the tethering aspect of the iPhone with software updates so you don't have this problem.

Reply

Answer 9

Jul 22, 2009 1:32 PM in response to promeu

Mine appears to keep charging on my older MBP.

Reply

Answer 10

Jul 22, 2009 2:14 PM in response to promeu

i wasn't suggesting the computer was broken, merely the power delivered to the socket was not adequate. as i understand it, there is limited power available over the USB system, so if you are drawing too much, then some sockets may be stepped down to 100mA. this is certainly true for the older machines, unsure about the Alu iMacs. what other USB stuff do you have connected? it may be that the power drain required by the tethering is causing a power step-down to the socket the iPhone is on. (however, i would expect the dialog to show)

Reply