Using Apple TV Remote app when on personal hotspot

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Level 1

26 points

Using Apple TV Remote app when on personal hotspot

Due to bandwidth limits, I am best off using Apple TV via a personal hotspot on my iPad (ATT now has unlimited data plan available). However, once the TV is connected to the personal hotspot, and the Apple TV works fine using the provided Apple remote, if I try activating the Remote App on the iPad it says Cannot Connect to a Local Network. You must connect to a WiFi network to control iTunes or Apple TV. So the iPad app is looking for WiFi while the iPad is broadcasting a Personal Hotspot via WiFi to the Apple TV.

Is there any way to fix this? Also, I sure with Apple TV 4 (newest version) would recognize my Apple Bluetooth keyboard!

Posted on Feb 16, 2016 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

Gary Hanes Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 16, 2016 6:08 PM in response to Gary Hanes

I have the same set up and ATT plan. When connecting Apple TV to my iPad mobile hotspot, I am unable to use the Apple Remote app on the iPad because it says the iPad must be on the same WiFi network as Apple TV. But, if I set up the hot spot, then use the Apple TV remote to connect Apple TV to the mobile hot spot, then on my iPhone under settings I go to WiFi and select the mobile hot spot wifi. Now my iPhone is on the same wifi network as the TV and I can use the Apple TV remote app that is on my iPhone.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

vazandrew

Level 8

40,918 points

Feb 16, 2016 9:00 PM in response to Gary Hanes

You would need to be on wifi, no way around that. Bluetooth keyboards are not supported at this time. Also, best to check with ATT about plan terms (most throttle connection after certain thresold and may not allow this type of usage).

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Answer 3

Gary Hanes Author

Level 1

26 points

Feb 16, 2016 9:20 PM in response to vazandrew

Thanks. I can't think of a way to create Wi-Fi and still use the personal hotspot. I guess I'm stuck using the manual remote control. Good point about the data plan. They say after 22 GB there could be some restrictions but I don't use that much TV. I think there have been many complaints about the lack of support of the Bluetooth keyboard.

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Answer 4

vazandrew

Level 8

40,918 points

Feb 16, 2016 9:27 PM in response to Gary Hanes

You can't be on wifi and hotspot at the same time. 22GB isn't that much considering HD streaming for Netflix is 3GB/hr and an iTunes movie is 5-6GB, still should check plan terms regarding usage because typically they have the plans for mobile use and some providers specifiy that home streaming in this capacity isn't supported.

The remote app is supported, and I'm sure the keyboards will be soon too

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Answer 5

Gary Hanes Author

Level 1

26 points

Feb 17, 2016 7:50 AM in response to vazandrew

Thank you again. You are correct, plans do have data caps and ATT does discourage using the iPhone as a mobile hotspot. In fact, with this new plan, I no longer have the Personal Hotspot tab available under settings of my iPhone. But it's still there with the iPad and I can use it as described with the Apple TV. According to ATT's own data calculator, using a hotspot on a iPad uses about 1GB of data per hour of HD. When I have monitored my data plan so far, that seems pretty accurate. But I don't have a lot of usage yet. I don't intend to watch many movies on Apple TV since I have DirecTV but I was looking for some alternative programming via Apple TV and most of what I use so far is free.

I will try to update this post in a month or so when I have a better idea of data usage. Still wish I could use the keyboard......

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Answer 6

vazandrew

Level 8

40,918 points

Feb 17, 2016 8:46 AM in response to Gary Hanes

Those terms from the iPhone plan would still apply for the iPad, it's not meant for long term home streaming. It doesn't matter the content that you are watching, but rather the time spent streaming, and most sources will be higher than 1GB per hour unless the connection is being throttled or a lower quality stream Is displayed.

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Answer 7

Gary Hanes Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 16, 2016 6:30 PM in response to vazandrew

You are correct. I am not advocating the use of cellular data to stream large quantities of data such as movies to your Apple TV. However, some of us still live in areas where we have no wired connection to the internet. I have Direct TV for television broadcast and Exede satellite for my primary internet. My cap on that system is unlimited web browsing and max of 10GB non-browsing data which virtually means I can't stream anything via my satellite provider. I do have very good ATT LTE service at my home location so I switched to their new "unlimited" plan. They do warn that data above 22 GB can become slowed down, depending on system usage at the time. So if there's a program or two that I would really like to stream, I use my personal hotspot on the iPad as I described above. Just not very often.

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Answer 8

vazandrew

Level 8

40,918 points

Sep 16, 2016 6:22 PM in response to Gary Hanes

Sounds good, how has the data usage been? I would still contact your carrier if you haven't as most don't permit long term home streaming

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Answer 9

vazandrew

Level 8

40,918 points

Sep 16, 2016 7:23 PM in response to Gary Hanes

Totally understandable, I was just advising that if you're streaming more then a program or two in a month that you should contact the carrier so that you're covered.

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