Solving the Orange UK Android hotspot internet connection problem
UPDATE 07/11/11: I can now confirm that this solution definitely works with both the HTC Desire (original) and the new HTC Sensation on the Orange UK network.
One of the things I was most looking forward to with the Android 2.2 update was the ability to create a wi-fi hotspot using your phone, or tethering as it’s more commonly known. Extremely handy when travelling on trains in the UK as very few of them have broadband facilities available. So it was one of the first features that I tried out after my phone upgraded itself, but was immediately disappointed to find that although my laptop connected to the hotspot easily, there was no internet connection available.
I searched long and hard for a solution to this and it soon became immediately apparent that this is an issue specifically for HTC phones on the UK Orange network.
Luckily the solution is easy, but don’t be surprised if you have to repeat the following steps after each Orange update – annoyingly it does occasionally reset to the default settings. This should get you up and running though…(in theory!)…
1. On the home screen click Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Point Names
2. You should see the following three options:
Orange Internet
Consumer Broadband
Orange MMS
Select Consumer Broadband
3. Change the following settings, taking care to make sure that you copy these details exactly (including capital or lowercase lettering)…
APN from consumerbroadband to orangeinternet
Username from <Not set> to Orange
Password from <Not set> to Multimedia
Authentication type should be set to CHAP.
4. Press your Menu button, tap “Save”
Now in theory, you should be able to create a hotspot and connect to the internet. Hope that helps someone!
Emanuele Ciriachi says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
Can’t believe that, on top of installing UNREMOVABLE USELESS APPS that eat at your mobile broadband quota, Orange had also to turn your portable Wi-Fi hotspot into a lame duck.
Thank goodness for random knights in shiny armor of the internet always ready to solve other people’s problems!
The Hippy says:
September 10th, 2011 at 11:27 am
I have to admit that the sheer volume of unremovable apps that Orange add to their mobiles is annoying; especially when the HTC Desire has a notoriously low amount of memory. That said, I’ve been with the network for 12 years and found them to be a very good provider and also their promotion of the Android platform has been second to none (kudos).
Thanks for taking the time to reply!
Ri says:
September 15th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Thanks very much. Great help.
The Hippy says:
September 15th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
You’re very welcome. Glad to be of help.
Headboy_Roy says:
November 10th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
After speaking to Orange for an hour and then doing the same with HTC, I used Google and found this solution.
Fixed problem in seconds.
It’s just a shame Orange & HTC were not aware of this.
Many Thanks
The Hippy says:
November 11th, 2011 at 10:26 am
I’m pretty sure that Orange are aware of it, but I’m not entirely sure as to the reasoning behind them doing it. Glad I could be of service anyway.
richard says:
February 4th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Great fix, thanks
hollie says:
February 20th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Thankyou SO much for putting up this life saving post!! thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou! i had no idea why it was being so evil.. much love to the burnedouthippy!x
hyperboy says:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
Brilliant. Thank you.
Now Orange, have you read this? Good. Can you tell your effing tech support guys please?!
:^)
Derek Lancaster says:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:36 pm
FANTASTIC !!!
I ahve spent days and days trying to sort this out. Orange told me I would need to buy another data package to get this to work. I have looked at tethering apps and I was about to attempt to root my phone which I didn’t want to do.
Thanks a million