iPhone 13 Pro Will Not Connect to openSPOT4 Pro

FortFun

Have tried multiple different methods... all to no avail. Tried the methods offered up according to thread https://forum.sharkrf.com/viewtopic.php?t=6624

DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PERSONAL HOTSPOT.

Changed the personal hotspot name, password, etc. nothing seems to work. Purchased this device for traveling and getaways... currently unable to use the device for these purposes.

FortFun

I think I finally figured it out... You're cellular driven network (iPhone personal hotspot) must be discoverable. To make your Personal Hotspot discoverable, do the following.

1. Pull down the menu in the top right corner on your iPhone 13 Pro
2. Press and hold the wireless icon
3. Select Personal Hotspot

BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE! It should now work!

Oldtimema

I an in the same boat but with a iPhone 11 for max. I was under the impression that openpSPOT4 Pro would work off my phones personal hotspot. my phone connects to the open spot and set configs to the point where it wants the name and password. I press search but nothing, I shut off the wifi in the house so it connect to my phone and not the home wifi but after spending hours and hours to no avail.

I know it must be something simple im overlooking but im wiped out and very frustrated. any help would be appreciate W1MNH

HA2NON

- Make sure you use the Save button at the Wireless scan list to save the iPhone's Wi-Fi network to SSID #2 as it contains a special apostrophe character which you can't enter using your keyboard
- Make sure you keep the iPhone's Wi-Fi hotspot settings page open while doing a wireless scan on the openSPOT4, because the iPhone only broadcasts it's Wi-Fi network name if that page is kept open on the phone. We have tested the OS4 with iOS versions up to 13. Newer iOS versions may work differently.
- Make sure the option "Maximize compatibility" is enabled on the iPhone's hotspot settings page.
- Some time ago Apple changed how its phone's hotspot works - the first client can only connect when you have the Personal Hotspot settings open on the phone:
- Go into the Personal Hotspot settings and disable "Allow others to join".
- Turn off the openSPOT4.
- Go into Personal Hotspot settings end enable "Allow others to join". Don't leave this settings page!
- Turn on the openSPOT4.
The openSPOT4 should then connect. The downside to this is that after some time if nothing is using the iPhone's hotspot, to connect the first client you need to open the page again and wait for it to connect. When the iPhone's hotspot is in use other clients can connect freely later, but it stops broadcasting the phone's SSID after some time.

KG9ML

I have had the same problem with connecting the OS3 to my iPhone X - until I inserted an Android tablet into the loop, between the OS3 and the iPhone personal hotspot. I will post a summary below. I speculate that Apple varies its frequency of broadcasting iPhone personal hotspot SSIDs not accounted for by OS3 apps, but handled by Android OS. No matter what, once I put the Android tablet into the loop (and I tried two different tablets running two different versions of Android OS), everything worked.

73 de KG9ML
Michael Miller

Summary:

What has worked is introducing an Android tablet between the OS3 and the iPhone X. I recommend that, if they have access to an Android tablet, users try this (see below for the steps) should they have difficulties connecting OS3 to their iPhone (at least the iPhone X). Perhaps this approach will work for those with difficulties connecting the OS4 to iPhone X or more recent iPhone versions.

I have already used the approaches recommended by Norbert at Shark RF, including the most recent – when I enter the IP address assigned to my OS3 into the phone’s browser, there is no response.

However, I have two tablets running Android OS (a 4 year old version and an up to date version). When I use either tablet to connect to the OS3 AP, I am able to use SharkRF.link as well as openspot3.local on the tablet to connect the OS3 to my iPhone X personal hotspot (with the iPhone screen showing the personal hotspot page), after entering the password on the tablet. The Android OS changes its own network connection automatically to my iPhone personal hotspot as soon as the OS3 disconnects the AP connection and itself switches to the iPhone hotspot. The Android tablet shows in its browser (openspot3.local) the usual transmissions I make on my HT (iCom ID-51A), including establishing links (announced on the iCom ID-51A, unlking, echo, information, etc.

When I take the Android tablet out of the loop, and try to connect OS3 directly to my iPhone, nothing works - all the old problems with connecting to SharpRF.link and openspot3.local return.

With the Android tablet directing the OS3 to connect to the iPhone, everything works - I have been able to conduct mobile QSos with various DStar reflectors.

I speculate that Apple, as it upgrades iOS from time to time, changes parameters (perhaps frequency of broadcasting by the iPhone the SSID when the iPhone screen is at the personal hotspot) that are only interoperable when an Android system serves as an interface with the OS3.

73 de KG9ML

Michael Miller

Frankiebass1

I'm having the exact same issue with my Ip13 pro max. It will not connect to Openspot4 no matter what I do. On the OP4, I do a wifi scan. It sees the personal hotspot. I verify the ssid and enter(and verify) the password. Save it. Power cycle the spot and it never connects to the iPhone. I've put both devices in a microwave and started them up, still won't connect to the iPhone. I go blocks away from my home wifi. Still won't connect. Use an Android device? connects almost instantly. I've verified that my IoS personal hotspot is discoverable. Nothing.

What am I missing?

JohnKerley

Frankiebass1 maximize compatibility

n4ejm

If you leave the phones hotspot menu open you can’t tell the os4 to connect to that Wi-Fi. I don’t understand how you’re doing that! This thing is a POC. Don’t get how people love these devices.

mjconrad51

Like the other users, my iPhone 13 pro max will not connect to my OpenSpot 4. Has a solution been found?

HA2NON

If you use an iPhone then:

Make sure you use the Save button at the Wireless scan list to save the iPhone's Wi-Fi network to SSID #2 as it contains a special apostrophe character which you can't enter using your keyboard
Make sure you keep the iPhone's Wi-Fi hotspot settings page open while doing a wireless scan on the openSPOT4, because the iPhone only broadcasts its Wi-Fi network name if that page is kept open on the phone. We have tested the OS4 with iOS versions up to 13. Newer iOS versions may work differently.
Make sure the option "Maximize compatibility" is enabled on the iPhone's hotspot settings page.
Some time ago Apple changed how its phone's hotspot works - the first client can only connect when you have the Personal Hotspot settings open on the phone:
- Go into the Personal Hotspot settings and disable "Allow others to join".
- Turn off the openSPOT4.
- Go into Personal Hotspot settings end enable "Allow others to join". Don't leave this settings page!
- Turn on the openSPOT4.
  The openSPOT4 should then connect. The downside to this is that after some time if nothing is using the iPhone's hotspot, to connect the first client you need to open the page again and wait for it to connect. When the iPhone's hotspot is in use other clients can connect freely later, but it stops broadcasting the phone's SSID after some time.

VA2SS

HA2NON I have an iPhone 13 Pro here, and it always worked as it should by following these steps. I know it might be tricky for few people, but it works great. I have 2 different wifi presets saved within my OS4 … one when away of my QTH wifi network, and the other one I turn on my iPhone mobile share, and bingo the OS4 is up and running using 5G using the other OS4 wifi preset. Thanks Norbert.

Regards, 73 de Jeff | VA2SS

mjconrad51

HA2NON Thanks. I was able to log on through my iPhone 13 Pro Max following your instructions. I am not sure what finally did it, but I think turning off the Allow Family Sharing fixed it. I cant be positive because I worked on it all day, and when I finally got a signal I was too tired to remember what I did. Now I have to figure out what YSF reflector to use to connect to my Room. I have an HRI-200 at home connected to a Yaesu FTM 400 so I can connect to my wife while I am traveling across country. I can’t figure out (yet) how to key in my Room number so we can talk. Any advice? Thank you.

Number6

I have a new iphone SE. my openspot 2 will no longer connect. The settings are all the same on the new phone, not special characters the Maximize Compatibility option is not available in the setting page all software is up to date.

I have followed all the instructions below. I have been doing this for years. never had this issue. I can no longer use the openspot for portable use.

HA2NON Hotspot settings open on the phone:
Turn off the openSPOT4.
Go into Personal Hotspot settings end enable "Allow others to join". Don't leave this settings page!
Turn on the openSPOT4.

HA2NON

You can switch servers both using the web interface or using your transceiver. If you use your transceiver, then you can use the Wires-X button menu (https://manuals.sharkrf.com/openspot4/en/wires-x-button.html#page-top), or DTMF codes (see the currently active connector's user manual page for instructions, for ex. https://manuals.sharkrf.com/openspot4/en/ysfreflector-connector.html#page-top).

VA2SS

Number6 if you cannot set Maximize Compatibility option or you simply don’t have it in your settings, your iPhone will only advertise the mobile sharing feature on 5G wifi network only. The OS4 is running on 2.4G wifi network only.

Number6

Number6 none of these suggestion work.

M0JUJ

It’s has probably gone for another address, try incrementing the address a few IPs to see if that works. Or even better do a network scan to see what the device has connected as.

KelvinB

I have tried and tried and I still cant get my Iphone 13 to connect to the openspot pro

Rubbertoes

I have the iPhone 12 Pro and am able to get openSPOT4 Pro to show up in the Wi-Fi Window but it says (No internet connection) I can't find the save button. I have tried the ideas described so far. I will disable our home internet on Saturday to see if i have got it to work. We tried for hours and my friend's works but tomorrow i will test mine. We did notice that my Blue LED was dim compared to his. Sadly we were not able to use i for our entire trip. I think you should suggest connecting to the HotSpot first, before connecting to home WiFi. I have read the entire manual and still no success. I am only using it on Fusion at this time. Had the unit for 10 months and have used it on the home wifi okay. Thanks de Wa9e.

HA2NON

You can find the instructions on how to setup the openSPOT4 for both home and phone Wi-Fi connections in the user manual at https://manuals.sharkrf.com/openspot4/en/home-and-phone-wifi.html#page-top

Ria121DC

After trying so many things eventually got rid of the issue by enabling the personal Hotspot option via the mobile data page. https://thegeekpage.com/cannot-find-personal-hotspot-option-on-iphone-fixed/