topic Re: Switching to mobile broadband in Mobile Broadband

Switching to mobile broadband

JB2802 — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:24:27 GMT

I have recently switched to mobile broadband from Fibre. I have connected to 4G Wi~Fi on our phones and laptops but cannot connect to my desktop PC. When I go to Settings > Network & Internet , the WiFi option does not appear. I've tried unplugging and restarting but this has not worked.

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

XRaySpeX — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:48:05 GMT

Does "Show Available Networks" appear on that page & when you click it do you get a list of networks seen?

This is the same as the "Internet Access" icon in status area at bottom R of task bar. Do you see there a globe (no access), a terminal/monitor (LAN access) or mast radiation (WiFi access)?

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

JB2802 — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:17:29 GMT

When I click on 'Show available networks' a box pops up bottom right
'Network 2 connected' which is the fibre hub. WiFi does not appear as an
option.

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

Leanne_T — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:33:37 GMT

Hi @JB2802

Thanks for coming to the community.

Is the mobile broadband device in the same room?

Could you try disconnecting all other devices from the mobile broadband device, and restart both the PC and the mobile broadband to see if this shows available when restarted?

Let me know if this works for you.

Leanne 🙂

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

JB2802 — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:38:11 GMT

Thank you for your help. I have moved the device next to the PC,
disconnected and restarted but sadly I cannot get the WiFi option on the
PC. In settings the only options are Ethernet, dial-up or VPN. I've tried
troubleshooting and network reset but WiFi is not there. Ughh!!!

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

XRaySpeX — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:51:41 GMT

You sure that PC has a WiFi adapter? Does the command ipconfig /all show any WiFi?

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

JB2802 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:35:11 GMT

I have searched for the WiFi adapter on my PC and have found no trace! I
think I can get a USB Wifi adapter or download something. If not, the
mobile broadband device will be useless for me. I am thinking of returning
it to EE.

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

Peter_W — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:52:37 GMT

Thanks for checking that for us, @JB2802.

Desktop PCs don't always have a WiFi Card included as standard, so it may be genuinely a case of this not being an option, but it may just need a driver update, or have been disabled within your device manager.

When you previously had fibre did you connect this device wirelessly, or via ethernet?

If you ultimately did decide to cancel though, you can find details of our process for this here:

Return a mobile device or SIM within 14 days | Orders Help | EE

Peter

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:05:12 GMT

Then the absence of a WiFi adapter on your PC is the reason it can't connect to any WiFi mobile router that has no Ethernet ports.

A WiFi adapter is a piece of hardware & so cannot be d/loaded. However you could buy a USB WiFi adapter.

@Peter_W : It is possible to disable the WiFi Card but you cannot remove it w/out taking it out & it will still show up somewhere incl. Device Mgr.

Re: Switching to mobile broadband

JB2802 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:25:11 GMT

Thank you. Yes, I have now bought a USB WiFi adapter to connect to the
PC. If only EE had put this information on the instructions, it would have
saved me so much time and phone calls..