Xperia Arc Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot Problems

[#1]

Does anyone have problems getting the portable Wi-Fi Hot Spot to work?

I have just updated my phone to v2.3.3 firmware and still not working.

Build number : 3.0.1.A.0.145

Model : LT15a

I created the Wi-Fi hotspot and successfully connected my notebook to the hot spot but not able to access the internet from the notebook browser.

Checked all the browsers settings, eg. proxy settings to no proxy, firewall settings on my notebook, etc, etc

Just called the Sony Ericsson support number and the support person on the phone.

He informed me that he has tested the portable Wi-Fi hot spot for the Xperia PLAY but not yet for the Xperia Arc

He will do a test on his side and give me a call back.

.

Not sure when though. If he does call back, I will provide an update about this.

Thank you

[Uliwooly · Accepted solution]

Your only option will be to flash a generic firmware

LT15i

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1093523

LT15a

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1120532

flashing might void your warranty

or tether your connection w/ PDANet

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.pdanet&feature=search_result

[#3]

It is confirmed that the Rogers software variant prevents the USB tethering and portable Wi-Fi Hotspot from working.

I flashed my Rogers branded Arc to a generic global customer v2.3.3 firmware and now USB tethering and the wi-fi portable hotspot works.:smileyhappy:

Thank you uliwooly for the links to the firmware and flash tool and also Jake-SEAnswers for the tip about the Rogers software variant blocking the features from working.

Now when I enable the wi-fi hotspot, the 3G/HSDPA symbol does not dissapear anymore. Hence have another wi-fi hotspot icon appearing on the top left of the screen.

Similar behaviour when USB tethering is enabled, the 3g/HSDPA symbol remains.

So if anyone notices that the 3G/HSDPA symbol, dissapears after you enable the portable wi-fi hot spot or USB tethering, it means the software variant on your phone is preventing the functioning of the USB tether and wifi hotspot.

The only thing now is that since I wanted a generic world version, I could only find a LT15i version.So now if I go to the About phone, it states the model as LT15i

It does not matter as my hardware is actually LT15a based and it works perfectly fine on the HSDPA 850MHZ network.

Another good thing is that the phone boots much faster and have lost the bloatware of Rogers.:smileyhappy:

[Uliwooly]

Anytime, I'm glad is working now

[#5]

Me too.In hindsight should have flashed the phone earlier as this would have saved hours of my time.

Anyway, I am also glad the root cause is known now so that if anyone else has this same issue, they would not have to be wasting their precious time and being frustrated.

[#6]

I read throguh all messages here. I had the extact same problem you got.

got new xperia arc lt15a and run it on telstra next-g network.

It was bought from mobicity site and they shipped me a overseas cariiur unlocked Arc. it has Rogers logo at starting.

When wifi hotspot is avtice, 3g icron disappear and couild not go to inetnet. the laptop connected to the arc (hotspot) could not go to any web page although singal is very strong.

I tried to use the same stie (that ss site) flash tool 2.9.1 and arc firmware there. the problem when Flashtool shows: searching for Xperia, I turned off Arc and press back key and  connected it to PC usb. It detected ARc but show:  resintall driver sth... and keep search Xperia.

I went intto driver folder in flashtool and only found x10 and x8 files there altough this is the latest 2.9.1 version. A few more online ppl did demonstrate how to do this. It seems they never had this issue (but all of them demostrated Lt15i.

Even for the latest PC companion, when I tried to connected the arc to usb (meanwhile holding down back key), PCC could not detect my ARc. This issue was same for my X10 before. I had to go to sony center to upgrade my x10. I followed all instructions and no hope.

Could you tell me if you had the same issue when refreshing the firmwware. or tell me the extact link and files you used (both flash tool and firmware files)

thank you

[#7]

Hi xperia_phil

Before using flash tool and the firmware, please ensure that the latest version of the SE PC companion and the SE update service applications are installed.

You will not be actually using SE programs to flash the firmware.Not sure why that is important but I read it is good to have them installed.

So here are the steps which I used which worked for me.

Proceed at your own risk.

1. Download and install the latest SE PC Companion and Update service applications on your PC. Read somewhere that it is good to have installed although not actually using it to flash the phone.

2. Download the Generic Global firmware and the flash tool ( Refer to the links below )

3. Double click the Flashtool.exe file. A window will pop up asking you where and whether you want to extract the files contained in the .exe file.

It is not in English. Choose a folder where you want the extracted files to reside in and click the Extraire button

Don't worry, the actual flash tool called X10FlashTool.exe when launched is in English(Can also select other languages)

4. Uncompressed the Generic Global firmware to a folder somewhere on your PC on better still put it in the firmware subfolder created when you double clicked and extracted the FlashTool_v0.2.9.1.exe file.

5. Switch off the phone. You can leave the SIM card and memory card in the phone if you wish. I did not remove mine.

6. Double click the X10Flashtool.exe file to launch the flash tool. Although it is named X10, it can be used to flash the Arc.

7. Follow the on screen instructions of the flash tool carefully.

8. It should only take a few minutes to flash the phone but for the first boot up it may take a bit longer than usual.

Note : The files on your micro SD card will still be there but all your settings and apps you installed on the phone will need to be installed and configured again.

Good luck.

Links to the firmware and flash tool.

Generic Global, v2.3.3, LT15i
http://www.multiupload.com/ETLCF3ISUO
File name : LT15i_3.0.1.A.0.145_Global Customized.rar
RAR Compressed Size : 149.93MB

Flash Tool v0.2.9.1 Beta
http://www.multiupload.com/7H4JT35B6G
File name : FlashTool_0.2.9.1.exe
File size : 59.7MB

Rogers Firmware, V2.3.3, LT15a
http://www.multiupload.com/3GRFDY87RC
In case you need to flash it back for warranty purposes

[Uliwooly]

You can check out this step by step guide

I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG!!!

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OPTION 1 - Install *.ftf files

1. Install Flashtool

2. Copy the *.ftf files that you `ve downloaded earlier to firmwares folder from Flashtool.



3. Click "Flash" button from flashtool and select the *.ftf file firmware and click "OK"

4. Relax and wait a while. When the proccess is completed you will get a popup message (don`t click on that!!!)

5.

PHP Code:

a. Unplug your USB cable from PC
b. Power off your phone
c. Press back button and keep your finger on button
d. Plug USB cable to PC
e. Check if the green LED appear
f. On popup message press "OK" button
g. When "Found at USB/........" appear on flash tool you may release "back button", sit down, relax and wait. 


6. IF the "Start Flashing" message appear everything`s ok if not...repeat. Sitdown and relax (again )



7. When last message appear unplug/plug USB cable

8. Repeat steps 2 - 7 for MT

9. DONNE

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Regards,
Ricardo Rendeiro

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[#9]

thank you for your feedabck very much!

I did most same things as you advised, except the isntallation of PC companion,  I removed PC companion bcs it didn'r detect my x10 and arc can caused the PC down even. I tried it on more than two different PCs and same. Even I downloaded the latest one PC companions 2.0 from sony.  

Ok I will reinstall companion and just leave it there and then try flash tool again to see if flash tool can detect arc.

One more thing:

If seems to me you tried Lt15i version . Why you didn't use Lt15a version? Ifound  there is some avaialle on multupload as well.

in addition, 145 is different from 181? my one is 181.

I will try tonight

[#10]

hi uliwooly,

thank you for your information as well.

I saw the same instruction on some other site and what I did is same as instructed, My problem is not that.  it is due to flash tool could not use right driver to connect with arc. as apc_user advised, I should tried to install PC companion  and leave it here when I use Flashtool. I will see how it goes.

by the way, in the isntruction you forwarded: Repeat step2-7 for MT.  what is MT?

cheers

[#11]

I chose the .145 version as my phone came with a .145 build.

Not sure if that matters for you.

When did you purchase the phone?

It could be yours has a later build.

I have also read that some people having problems flashing with the .181 software build.

I'd rather have something that works fine then have problems after flashing the phone.

Not sure what the diffrences are between a .145 vs a .185 build.

Good luck