Shocking! Android cannot see ad-hoc network

[profete162]

Hi there,

I'll try to do my best to write a correct English, please forgive any mistake...


I just entered Android world this morning and was very happy with my HTC Hero. I got this horrible and so frustrating problem and I hope you will help me.

1) At home, i get a RJ45 connection -> no WIFI. So, my Mac is able to create an Ad-Hoc wifi network, so, i am very happy. All my friend that came are able to connect their laptop, Iphone, and other wifi devices. ( no try with android stuff)

2) When i came back with my new HTC Hero, i tried to connect this network, but HTC wasn't able to see it. It show all my neighbourgs network, but never the home network! I still can connect with Ipod Touch and work laptop, so the network is correct.

Is that an android known issue?

This is a really big and annoying problem.



I hope my english is readable and you will be able to help me.



Edit: found this for G1: http://modmygphone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22681
I don t want to make terminal commands until it works on Hero!

[ggrant3876]

Welcome to the AC. I use a G1 and have no issues like you speak of, but I am sure a Hero user will address your question shortly.

[saiyth]

I got my HTC hero yesterday and was able to connect to the access point at the office with no problems. (proxim AP)

but when I tried at home using my laptop AD-HOC from xp it didn't see the the wireless then tried the same from vista and Ubuntu using a defernt laptop with no luck.

note: the same ad-hoc setup is used to access internet from many other devices around my home!

anyone successfully connected to AD-HOC network with HTC hero?

[Owen]

A quick search seems to indicate that Android just doesn't do it at the moment. Check this thread:

http://groups.google.com/group/andro...b2eca664b249b6

Dunno if anyone more savvy has any more info

[paul roberts]

you need to root your phone and then do some stuff, pitty there isn't an app to do it for you so you'd probably have to do it again when you update your custom rom and i'm not sure what custom hero roms there are.
http://modmygphone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22681

but it's probably easier to pick up a cheap wifi router or ask you isp for one..

[profete162]

you need to root your phone and then do some stuff, pitty there isn't an app to do it for you so you'd probably have to do it again when you update your custom rom and i'm not sure what custom hero roms there are.
http://modmygphone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22681

but it's probably easier to pick up a cheap router or ask you isp for one..

Yes I write this link in my first message, si it isn't helpful because:

1) This is a G1 terminal line, i am effraid to do this on a new Hero...
2) Buying a cheap router mean: Less space on my desktop ( i have a little student flat), one more eletrical stuff plugged, i don t want to shut it down ever time,...

I have a really cool solution for any Wifi device (Laptop, MacBook, Iphone, Nokia are able to connect). I don t want to buy router only for my Hero!!!



I totally agree with what you said: "pitty there isn't an app to do it"

Thank and have a nice day!

[extorian]

Android currently doesn't support Ad-Hoc networks. There are some hacks to do it, but this will involve flashing your phone a few times (some risk involved) and directly editing the wifi settings from the console.

I would advise buying a cheap access point. It'll last for years, and it'll mean you can use ALL of your wireless devices with it, and any future wireless devices. You won't need your computer to be switched on all the time either.

[profete162]

Android currently doesn't support Ad-Hoc networks. There are some hacks to do it, but this will involve flashing your phone a few times (some risk involved) and directly editing the wifi settings from the console.

I would advise buying a cheap access point. It'll last for years, and it'll mean you can use ALL of your wireless devices with it, and any future wireless devices. You won't need your computer to be switched on all the time either.

I really don't understand why function that are present for years on any hi-tech mobile device, considered in everybody's mind as "of course, you'll have it" are missing on the best and expensive of the new devices.

I really don't understand, because this function is not requiring hi-tech material and is totally "easy to program" and not recent.

I get really frustrated with this and don't plan to buy a wifi router only for the hero. As i said my computer do this and buying router mean less space, more electricity, environnemental impact, and wasted money.

Why buying stuff i have no use when a good programmer can write 10 codes lines and make a lot of android user happy!

[extorian]

What you say is true - it is relatively easy to support ad-hoc networks. I also appreciate that it sucks if you have to rely on ad-hoc wifi and you own an Android device.

However, there are good reasons as to why Android, or any OS for that matter, doesn't support it.

Ad-hoc networks are inherently insecure as they require no authentication for people joining the network. Ad-hoc networks were only ever intended to be used for very short term spontaneous and informal networks. "Short term", in this context, means the time it takes you to purchase a proper wireless access point.

Ad-hoc networks are highly discouraged, as not only are they insecure, but they interfere with people using the proper, secure, and recommended, infrastructure WiFi networks.

These facts probably demotivated Google from implementing support for it.

As most broadband (Cable or ADSL) routers come with WiFi these days, and as a lot of the rest of us (like me) use stand-alone wireless access points, the requirement for Ad-Hoc support is low. Also, as the phones that run Android have 3G, Edge, and GPRS support the need is even lower for Android users. As such, you can probably see why Google didn't bother - there are other features that more people "require", and so Google probably concentrated on adding those.

[paul roberts]

One way or another your problems will be solved via rooting your phone, cyanogens and jf roms apparently have this problem fixed, so possibly it is on the MoDaCo custom Hero ROM, if not it could be added if you ask the dev nicely .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=552591

have a read in http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=512 about rooting the hero






and btw some nokia phones can't do the adhoc thing it's pot luck.