So, after updating to the pre-release Windows RT 8.1, I've been having trouble with my Surface seeing the hotspot from my Lumia 920. I could see other networks, but half the time, the 920's hotspot wouldn't show up. (It seems that the Surface has a very slow polling rate to update its list of available networks and the 920 hotspot will time out if no one connects in a minute or two).
Here's how to get a reliable connection without fuss. Well, a little fuss to set it up, then no fuss forever after.
drop down to the "useless" desktop in RT.
Open up a command prompt and type:
powershell
netsh wlan connect name=MYNETWORK
where MYNETWORK is the name of the network (you have to have already connected once to this network)
Now, that's a little tedious for something that occurs this often. So....
Make a text file named WIFI.ps1 in you documents folder and put the command into the file followed by EXIT on the next line.
Make a shortcut on the desktop to the ps1 file.
Right-click the shortcult and add word powershell in front of the path in the target line.
Now you can click the shortcut and connect to your network if the Surface is reporting the name in your list or not.
EXCEPT... there is one last thing you need to do. Windows was a bit leary of allowing such powerful scripts to run on every Surface, so they are disabled by default if you aren't running them manually from a prompt.
To fix that...
Go to the Start screen and right-click on Powershell and open as administrator
Enter the command: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
This will run any scripts you have locally on your computer without question, but require any scripts coming from the web to be signed.
Now, it would be nice if Wifi worked properly, but I love that my Surface IS Windows and I can make my own workaround at the command line.
Try that if you don't like something about your iPad!
Here's how to get a reliable connection without fuss. Well, a little fuss to set it up, then no fuss forever after.
drop down to the "useless" desktop in RT.
Open up a command prompt and type:
powershell
netsh wlan connect name=MYNETWORK
where MYNETWORK is the name of the network (you have to have already connected once to this network)
Now, that's a little tedious for something that occurs this often. So....
Make a text file named WIFI.ps1 in you documents folder and put the command into the file followed by EXIT on the next line.
Make a shortcut on the desktop to the ps1 file.
Right-click the shortcult and add word powershell in front of the path in the target line.
Now you can click the shortcut and connect to your network if the Surface is reporting the name in your list or not.
EXCEPT... there is one last thing you need to do. Windows was a bit leary of allowing such powerful scripts to run on every Surface, so they are disabled by default if you aren't running them manually from a prompt.
To fix that...
Go to the Start screen and right-click on Powershell and open as administrator
Enter the command: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
This will run any scripts you have locally on your computer without question, but require any scripts coming from the web to be signed.
Now, it would be nice if Wifi worked properly, but I love that my Surface IS Windows and I can make my own workaround at the command line.
Try that if you don't like something about your iPad!
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