Verizon Hotspot for iPhone5 - I got it to connect to my computer, finally!

I can't get my iPhone hotspot to connect to my computer.  But there may be a solution.  Keep reading for full details!

The T1 line for my office isn't working today.  Not sure what is wrong with it, but it hasn't been working consistently for about a week or so.  We had a good streak of working internet for almost a month since we switched from DSL and satellite to the T1 line.  But now, for whatever reason the office internet is totally useless.

This is where my iPhone5's Hotspot feature comes in.  When I upgraded from my iPhone4s to my iPhone5 in February 2013, the main feature I was interested in was the LTE internet speed and the ability to use my phone as a Hotspot.  But these features came at a higher price and I had to lose my unlimited data plan.  It was a struggle for me because I felt that losing my unlimited data plan was just plain unfair (it's the principles of it)!

For about a year or two (or three), my office had the worst darn internet connection.  The DSL line couldn't support all the agents in the office.  If there were 10 people in the office, only 5 would be connected at a time.  It was horrible.  Then they brought an expensive satellite connection (to be an alternative internet source to the DSL line) to try to see if that could work.  It worked minimally and we could only access the mobile MLS site with it and there were issues printing to the main printer.

Before I had upgraded to the iPhone5, I kept a Virgin Mobile broadband stick around.  It helped with basic internet needs, checking emails and the like.  But the 3G internet speed had become so slow that it was practically useless for my real estate needs.  I needed to send large pdf files with offers, contracts, disclosures, inspection reports etc.  And that little guy just couldn't handle all that information.

When I got my iPhone5, I was so excited about the 4G LTE speed and hotspot feature that I quickly gave up my unlimited data plan for a limited gig plan.  The promise of faster speeds and greater usage options were more enticing than the moral issue of grandfathering-in my unlimited data plan at the slow 3G speeds.

So when my office internet failed yet again, I was happy to put my new iPhone5 hotspot to work.  I disconnected the Wifi from the failed office internet, but kept the Wifi ON so that my computer could connect to it.  I kept my Bluetooth on, and turned my Personal Hotspot on.  I saw my iPhone5 network pop up (slowly, I might add) to the list of Available Networks and typed in my hotspot password to connect.  All signs seemed to suggest that my computer was trying it's best to connect to my phone's internet, but it only had Limited Connectivity.  What???  This could not be.  I went back to my iPhone settings, turned things on and off, restarted my computer, changed my computer settings, restarted my phone, pushed and clicked every imaginable option on both devices.  Nothing.  No unbridled lightning fast 4G LTE internet connection, not even a limited 3G connection, nope, no internet whatsoever.

It's been over 10 months since I've got my iphone5.  I have never really had much success connecting it ever.  My coworkers have Droid-type phones and type away happily tethered by their FoxFi apps.  I've relegated myself to doing work via my iPad.  But I've never been able to get my computer to connect to my phone.  But apparently I have never given up hope.

Today, the new T1 line was out again.  Like I mentioned before, the T1 line has been spotty for about a week.  I tried the same tricks with my iPhone5 as before.  Nothing, as usual.  This time though, I took my lightning USB cable and connected my iPhone5 directly to my computer through the USB port.  Of course nothing happened at first.  But I did change a few settings in my Network Connections on my computer to allow all access and discovery and sharing to be ON.  I have my phone connection set up to a Work Network.  Both my wireless connection from my phone and the Local Area Connection from my phone show up.  When my phone is connected by the USB cable, I have full functionality and full internet access to view any websites.  When my phone is only connected via the Wireless connection to my phone, I can only access "simple" sites like my email.  But the images in my emails don't show up and I can't access many other websites.  I don't know what the difference is between the two connections and why the USB connection gives me greater internet access than the Wireless connection.

But I have managed to break down the hotspot barrier on my iPhone5 and today is a wondrous day for surfing the internet.  If anyone out there is having trouble tethering their iPhone hotspots, write me a comment and I can see if I can maybe help you out?  Keep in mind I still have trouble with the wireless connection aspect, but the USB Local Area Connection side is working great.  Maybe one day I will figure out how to get the wireless connection to have full connectivity.  Anyone have any ideas or helpful suggestions?

P.S.  I typed this whole post while being tethered to my iPhone5's hotspot connection!

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~Tina Jan~
BRE# 01505855
Coldwell Banker Kivett-Teeters
1655 E. Sixth St.
Beaumont, CA 92223
Cell: 909-446-2666
Work: 951-845-5520 Ext. 105
Fax: 951-845-4916
tina.jan@coldwellbanker.com
www.tinajan.com