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Hotspot doesn't start on pi 4B

Open abraha2 opened this issue 2 years ago • 15 comments

Describe the bug I downloaded this package on an ABSOLUTELY fresh install of the Raspberry Pi OS, running on the Raspberry Pi 4B. The app installed, and opened, but when I clicked on the "Create hotspot" button, it just wouldn't start. The window didn't crash, and it gave me no error message. It simply said "Getting running info," and then "not running."

To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

  1. download app on the Raspberry Pi 4B, with the latest Raspberry Pi OS. (as of June 27)
  2. start app
  3. click "Create hotspot."
  4. See error

Expected behavior When you click the "Create hotspot" button, the loading bar should appear for a few milliseconds. the text under it says: "Getting running info," and then it appears to simply give up. the loading bar disappears, and the text at the bottom left says "Not running."

Screenshots I could not provide a screenshot, because there is no visual evidence of an error.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

  • OS: the official Raspberry Pi OS running on the Pi model 4B
  • Version (found using the command "uname -srm")Linux 5.15.32-v7l+ armv7l

Additional context I tried the same thing, except using a Raspberry Pi 3B+, and it worked pefectly! The hotspot started, and it supplied my phone with internet, but I never tried connecting to a wifi network at the same time, instead, the Raspberry Pi 3B+ was connected to an ethernet cable. I still would appreciate your help in fixing the bug, though.

abraha2 avatar Jun 28 '22 01:06 abraha2

Did you install the dependencies as well? Because I noticed that package itself does not have dependencies to all the packages in READme.

Letme avatar Jul 06 '22 11:07 Letme

Where is a list of dependencies, if one exists.

abraha2 avatar Jul 16 '22 03:07 abraha2

https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot#dependencies

You have below a apt command to install them...

Letme avatar Jul 16 '22 06:07 Letme

Are you talking about the list of dependencies in the readme.md file? Because, if you are, then I already double checked that list, making sure all of them were installed. They were, and it still didn't work.

abraha2 avatar Jul 26 '22 03:07 abraha2

ok. If you run the app from the terminal (wihotspot-gui) you will get some more details about the errors.

(Maybe you did not select Wifi and Internet interfaces?)

Letme avatar Jul 26 '22 09:07 Letme

I tried running it in the terminal, like you said, and I got this error:

"WARN: brmfmac driver doesn't work properly with virtual interfaces and it can cause kernel panic. For this reason we disallow virtual interfaces for your adapter. ERROR: Your adapter can not be a station (i.e., be connected) and be an AP at the same time."

Why does it say that, when the app devs clearly stated that that ability was indeed present? Is it just an "I don't know if I can do this, so I'll say I can't" sort of circumstance? Also, what does it mean by "adapter?" Does it think I have a USB wifi adapter plugged in, or is that what it calls the internal wifi chip?

abraha2 avatar Aug 09 '22 06:08 abraha2

Adapter is just a name, no idea why you would say USB - do you have USB plugged in? Now at least you got the reason - maybe poke around with some settings?

Letme avatar Aug 09 '22 22:08 Letme

(now would be the point where you would share the settings with us so that we can maybe check what you adjusted)

Letme avatar Aug 09 '22 22:08 Letme

I don't think there are any settings I can adjust At least, none that I know of Also, I do not have a USB wifi adapter plugged in.

abraha2 avatar Aug 17 '22 14:08 abraha2

The warning message explains that your wifi adapter doesn't support virtual interfaces, that's why it can't connect to it and be an ap at the same time

sigmaSd avatar Aug 25 '22 07:08 sigmaSd

UPDATE: I finally got the hotspot to start, on the Pi4B. The reason it wouldn't start is that I had this internet source set to wlan0, instead of eth0. However, I still can't host a hotspot and connect to one, at the same time.

abraha2 avatar Aug 28 '22 19:08 abraha2

The warning message explains that your wifi adapter doesn't support virtual interfaces, that's why it can't connect to it and be an ap at the same time

Does this mean that I can't use that function at all?

abraha2 avatar Aug 28 '22 19:08 abraha2

Is anyone still following this, or is it dead?

abraha2 avatar Sep 15 '22 21:09 abraha2

We are, but kinda you dont have an issue anymore since you started the hotspot...

Letme avatar Sep 15 '22 22:09 Letme

Ah, I see. Indeed, the first problem was fixed, but I was trying to connect to a wifi, and create a hotspot at the same time.

I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

abraha2 avatar Sep 17 '22 19:09 abraha2

Can my pi just not do both at once, then?

abraha2 avatar Sep 29 '22 02:09 abraha2

If you still get error from above, then that is what is says:

ERROR: Your adapter can not be a station (i.e., be connected) and be an AP at the same time.

Letme avatar Sep 29 '22 06:09 Letme

Allright, then. I guess I'll stop trying to fix it, since there is no problem.

abraha2 avatar Oct 19 '22 03:10 abraha2

My advice is to just buy a cheap wifi adapter

sigmaSd avatar Oct 19 '22 05:10 sigmaSd

Ah, I see. Indeed, the first problem was fixed, but I was trying to connect to a wifi, and create a hotspot at the same time.

I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

guy i am facing the same issue as yours hah, might be pi 4b's hardware issue

lightmon233 avatar Oct 22 '23 05:10 lightmon233