Fixing the HTC Sensation WiFi hotspot app

Last year I got an HTC Sensation, with which I’ve been very happy (well, except for the ol’ dust-under-the-screen issue, but I can live with that for now).  However, I could never get its WiFi hotspot app to work.  Till now.I’d spent quite a while googling around, but not found anything.  I even tried contacting HTC support, who couldn’t help either, except for suggesting their tried and tested fall-back of a hard-reset, but I’d already had to do that earlier and knew it wouldn’t help.

I should say at this point that I’ve actually been very impressed with HTC’s customer service.  I’ve contacted them several times now with questions, and they’ve always been very quick to respond and as helpful as possible (including that time I had to hard-reset when I spent the best part of ¾ of an hour in their instant-messaging help).

When I contacted them about this, they let me escalate it to their … higher level support (?) as I offered to do some detailed diagnosis for them (I know a bit about networking).  Although they haven’t gotten back to me yet;  I’ll have to report this solution back to them.

Anyway, back on track.

The symptoms are that you can turn the WiFi hotspot on, and a second device connects fine over the WiFi network this creates.  However, that device can’t then access the Internet.

A bit of poking around shows that the Sensation doles out an IP address on the new WiFi network OK, and sets up DNS properly.  The client can then lookup names (such as www.google.co.uk) & can ping the Sensation, but can’t ping (or otherwise access) the rest if the Internet.  The Sensation refuses to route any packets between the client and the ‘Net (DNS is done via the ‘phone so it’s always a point-to-point job).

I even managed to check that the ‘phone’s Linux kernel was configured to route correctly.  But still no joy, so I gave up for a while (with such a decent browser, I didn’t now need to access the Net from a laptop or netbook through the ‘phone anyway).

But recently, I had another idle google for an answer, and found someone who had posted a fix for their HTC Desire which had had the same issue.  I’m afraid I’ve lost the link to that blog, so I can’t give them credit, but a fresh recent google now shows that (now I know what I’m looking for!) it’s mentioned in quite a number of fora.

The solution.

Essentially, it seems to pertain to Orange, whom I have my contract with.  I don’t know whether they’ve mucked up something in their SIM setting or what (I have a stock Sensation, not an Orange one), but I’ve not found mention of this issue with anyone but Orange.

The HTC WiFi app requires that you have an Access Point Name called “Consumer Broadband”.  I was missing this, and without it the app doesn’t crate an Internet connection for the WiFi network to connect with (why it still lets DNS work I don’t know).

You need to go to Settings, Wireless & Networks, Mobile networks, Access Point Names. I only had Orange Internet and Orange MMS listed there initially.

If you don’t have one called Consumer Broadband, you have to create one.  If you have one, check its settings as below.  These are the only settings I had to set from the default after its creation:

  • Name Consumer Broadband
  • APN orangeinternet
  • Username Orange
  • Password Multimedia
  • Authentication type CHAP
Did you know you can screenshot with <power>+<home>?

The other default settings (some were pre-filled) I left blank or what they were.  If you already have a Consumer Broadband APN, check its settings against the ones above.

And after that, I started up the WiFi hotspot, tried my laptop … and wa-hay, Internet access!


Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

38 responses to “Fixing the HTC Sensation WiFi hotspot app”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    Thank you very much – it works like a charm, and it is a lot easier than the other solution you refer to (related to HTC Desire). My phone is an HTC Sensation; I had as APN name, but with empty settings.

  2. lewin lim Avatar
    lewin lim

    Thanks you soooo much~!! now i can online with my laptop~!!

  3. Jason Avatar

    So glad I found this site. I am with Crazy John in Australia and they do not publish the settings to correctly enable the wifi hotspot application “pocketwifi”. I had been trying for ages to share the phones data plan with our tablets but no joy.

    I used the base settings for normal internet connectivity APN and changed the name to Consumer Broadband. Now works like a charm. Thanks.

  4. jenine Avatar

    Thanks a lot it worked for me to. I’m with t mobile and I have a HTC sensation xe. My internet was working on and off when I shared it with my laptop and sometimes it would cut out. I was getting really annoyed and frustrated and decided to google to see if anyone else was experiencing the same problem as me and I came across this website. I followed the instructions and it worked straight away. So thanks a lot.

  5. Anorakeric Avatar
    Anorakeric

    Same happens with a new HTC One S on Orange to use wifi hotspot as modem with a laptop, although there is a APN populated for Consumer Broadband, you can’t edit it as Orange Internet is on. All you have to do is create a new APN as shown here also named Consumer Broadband and when select Save it becomes active – hey presto, wifi hotspot works fine!
    Had a similar problem with getting hotspot/tethering to work on Desire in 2010 on 2.1, Orange tech people had no info and after a couple of weeks found the answer on a forum.

  6. steve Avatar
    steve

    Great help. My phone was orange locked but now with talkmobile. Need to follow all the steps. Thankyou

  7. Carl Avatar
    Carl

    This is in response to Jenine. I have a T mobile HTC sensation as well that is having the same issue. What were the exact settings you used to get the mobile hotspot to work again?

    Did you use the exact settings above?

    Name Consumer Broadband
    APN orangeinternet
    Username Orange
    Password Multimedia
    Authentication type CHAP

    Anyone is free to respond just need this to work again.

    Thanks for your help in advanced!

  8. fnx Avatar

    On top of what’s visible in the screenshot, I then have (these were the defaults) WAP 2.0, MCC 234, MNC 33, everything else “Not set”.

    I also seem to have a locked, but inactive, alternate “Consumer Broadband” now as well. Maybe turned up when the Orange and T-Mobile connections got joined. It has an APN Type of “dun” instead of “Not set”, so you could try that.

  9. Rubiela Avatar
    Rubiela

    I have the similar problem. But my cell was buy at USA unlock of ATT company. I create the consumer Apn. When set on the WiFi hotspot it’s say that is active in 3G and receive a message that I have to ATT.com/mywireles or call at 611 and close.

  10. Derek Avatar
    Derek

    Brilliant. I’ve now got my Nexus 7 connected to my HTC DESIRE so I can use it while mobile.

    Derek

  11. si Avatar
    si

    A big thank u 2 the person who left the. Fix 4 HTC sensation WiFi hotspot , av done az stated n it works fine now , this had me baffled 4 months , thanx 🙂

  12. Sam Avatar
    Sam

    Genius! Thanks! 🙂

  13. simonc Avatar
    simonc

    Spot on. I checked tethering when I got my sesnsation & all was fine. Coming back to it after the ICS upgrade I expected the fix to be tricky. Thanks for posting
    simon

  14. Richard Johnson Avatar

    Tried this with Virgin network and HTC Explorer. Could not get it to work at first. But noticed putting on wireless hotspot stopped the internet working! Turned off “connect to the internet”, turned it back on and away it went.
    Thanks for your tip

  15. Noam Avatar
    Noam

    Many thanks!
    The same solution works in Orange Israel too, except that in this case the APN should be “uwap.orange.co.il” instead of “orangeinternet”

  16. Jem Avatar
    Jem

    I’ve been unable to use the Wi-Fi hotspot for over a year, assuming it was poor signal causing the problem (I’ve only had half a dozen occasions to need to try it in that time!). When I realised it was an actual problem with the phone, a Google search brought me here, and the problem’s fixed in minutes – thank you!

  17. rem Avatar
    rem

    i have htc sensation xe and it doesnt work for it. can someone please help. thanks

  18. rem Avatar
    rem

    it doenst work on my fone i have htc sensation XE please help me

  19. fnx Avatar

    rem: What carrier are you with? What APNs do you have listed?

  20. eggflip Avatar
    eggflip

    Thanks so much for posting this! Can finally use my nexus 7 on tether..

    For those on o2 to get it working:
    Name Consumer Broadband
    APN mobile.o2.co.uk
    Username o2web
    Password password
    everything else on default.

  21. layal Avatar
    layal

    hi,i just bought an iphone 4s version 6.0.1.i live in the ivory coast and i have an orange cellulaire line & 3g internet.the problem is that the hotspot feature doesnt even appear in my phone & ive been told that the problem is with the phone line that i have.i wonder whether i can do the same as u did,it is also important to mention that the configuration setting isnt the same as the ones in the HTC,it is as the following:
    VPN
    L2TP PPTP IPSec
    description
    server
    account
    RSA securID
    password
    secret
    send all traffic
    proxy with options(off manual or auto)
    so does this method work on iphone,i will be really pleased to receive an answer

  22. Kameron Avatar
    Kameron

    I’m trying to use it for my Xbox and I have to do a system update and it says can’t download update retest connection

  23. Kameron Avatar
    Kameron

    It said T-Mobile blocked it

  24. fumble Avatar
    fumble

    Just found this today and wanted to first say thank you for posting. I have an Orange locked HTC sensation and followed this to the letter, but alas, phone and laptop happily connect but not to the Internet and 3G disappears completely when applying the new APN, any insight help would greatly appreciated
    Thank you.

  25. fnx Avatar

    Did you try creating a *new* APN called “Consumer Broadband” as Anorakeric suggested?

    The only other thing I can recommend is phoning Orange, as occasionally you get lucky and they give you the info. (but it shouldn’t have changed).

  26. Laurence Avatar
    Laurence

    Brilliant. Worked a treat for me on O2 in the UK with Sensation XE, just when I was about to give up trying to get wifi hotspot to work. Thank you very much.

  27. Phil Avatar
    Phil

    Fantastic to find this – I’ve had a Sensation for a couple of years now and could never find a solution fo the hotspot problem until just stumbling across your page today!

    I’m with Telstra in Australia and I’ve found out that the standard Telstra.internet APN doesn’t work with the hotspot – you have to use Telstra.iph instead.

    Your page was a great starting point with all of the info above and a Telstra crowdsupport document about a similar issue with a Motorola defy gave me the APN solution.

    Thanks again and hopefully this post might help other Aussies with the same issue!

    Cheers.
    Phil.

  28. marlene Avatar
    marlene

    I have HTC sensation threw t mobile it worked then they blocked me

    1. Anne Avatar
      Anne

      Hie Marlene
      would u mind please sharing the settings u used for your tmobile phone…I also have tmobile tried the settings above but still don’t work.

  29. fnx Avatar

    For what it’s worth, I now have a spanking new HTC One, and its wifi hotspot worked for me out of the box!

  30. laticsforlife Avatar
    laticsforlife

    I’ve been scratching my head for months with my sensation, and finally found a solution. many thanks

  31. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    Thanks so much. Seems to be the only posting on the internet with this answer. I also have it working on O2 now. Incidentally it was working for me on Vodafone in Australia with my Sensation XE in November 2012 so maybe something broke it since then or ?

  32. naveen Avatar
    naveen

    thank you very very much it worked on my htc explorer I was searching for this from months but couldn’t find a solution finally thank you for getting me rid of this hotspot problem

  33. suresh s Avatar
    suresh s

    I am using HTC wildfire s a510b.I can connect from my mobile WiFi hotspot to laptop but I can’t access internet on my laptop.it show the error .
    pls any one help me….

  34. Mohsin Avatar

    Hi. I’m in Pakistan and have unlocked EE (Orange) phone. I’ve no APNs already. I tried making new named Consumer Broadband but no other phone connects. Every phone stucks on GETTING IP ADDRESS. Is there any workaround?

  35. max Avatar
    max

    Great solution, thanks.

  36. hardeshynor Avatar
    hardeshynor

    av tried it on my HTC sensation 4g, Buh its nt working.pls hlp me out. I’m using T-Mobile. dis problem is annoying

  37. Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    Thank you!!!!
    This has been driving me nuts! My HTC wildfire s, showed consumer broadband as an option but was locked. So I set up a new one exactly as you said, and I am now writing this on my nexus 7 connected to my phone!! You are a hero!

Leave a Reply to steve Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close