iPad tethering to iPhone 4s works but should be much easier

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iPad tethering to iPhone 4s works but should be much easier

Hi,

I am using a wifi-only new iPad at work and tethering it with my iPhone 4s which works fine with a T-Mobile contract here in the UK.

My issue is that EVERY time I want to tether the iPad I have to go to my iPhone settings and turn off the personal hotspot for a few seconds, then turn it back on, go to my iPad settings / Network / Wifi and select my iPhone.

Why do I have to go through this ritual every single time I want them to pair up? The same does not happen with my wife's iPhone 4 - she connects up to my personal hotspot when we're at work without even knowing. (Her carrier is O2 and the reception at our workplace is terrible, so she uses mine).

I really would like to not have to mess with both devices several times a day to get the tethering to work. Say I take my phone to another office, out of range for personal hotspot, when I come back I have to go through the same procedure to get it working again. TEDIOUS!

Am I missing some setting on the iPad somewhere? By the way, the same happened with my iPad2.

Thanks for any help.

Phil

Posted on Apr 16, 2012 7:27 AM

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Answer 1

pjl123

Level 5

6,208 points

Apr 16, 2012 8:00 AM in response to piquet00

I have the same routine, but assumed it was normal. I think the issue is that anytime the pad goes to sleep, it losses the tether, meaning I have to toggle it to wake it up. I don't know if it is by design or a glitch, but I am used to it. I only turn the tether on now when I am going to use it anyway, as opposed to leaving it on. ( paranoid about data usage)

I am using a 4, by the way, not a 4 s. so I don't think this is phone dependant.

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Answer 2

piquet00 Author

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Apr 16, 2012 8:10 AM in response to pjl123

Hi pjl,

Yes I forgot to mention, the iPad does lose the tether when it sleeps, so I turned sleep off permanently which is probably not great for battery life either!

I just don't understand why another iPhone4 can connect to the personal hotspot with absolutely no intervention once it knows the password. That's how it should be on the iPad. They are both running the latest iOS5 so why any difference?

Phil

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Answer 3

piquet00 Author

Level 1

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Apr 16, 2012 2:46 PM in response to piquet00

People, is this really the best that can be done?

Apple's famous "It just works" quote does not apply here - it only works if you are prepared to fiddle around umpteen times a day - it *****!

Another iphone4 can tether with no intervention - perfect. Why on earth can an iPad not?

Phil

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