Remotely disconnected when away from WiFi

[Loz Mason]

Gear S, Note 4

I have a Sim installed with its own phone number, but the data plan on it is shared with my phone.

Away from home my watch becomes disconnected. Why?

(I don't want to use Bluetooth as I need my phone connected to my car).

Spent a long time searching, sorry if posted elsewhere.

Thanks for any advice

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[foxbat121]

Mobile data on the watch is not working. Try use Opera Browser and see if you can connect to any site.

 

[Loz Mason]

Many hanks for reply.

I've now noticed that in fact it *intermittently* connects when away from WiFi, and in fact the same is true while on WiFi, though it's more reliable while on WiFi.

I've successfully opened websites on the watch using opera while WiFi and Bluetooth are both off.

Do you think it's ust a flaky connection?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[foxbat121]

Early reports suggested that keep wifi off will ensure more successful remote connection. I found no use of wifi once I had the mobile data. It doesn't use much data anyway. So I kept my wifi always off. When you are connected via BT to the phone the wifi is not used anyway.

 

[Loz Mason]

Interesting. I'll try with WiFi off for a while - many thanks.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[tcmoon]

Same thing here, until I went to call forwarding settings under additional settings on the phone and changed /added my watch number. Also be sure you enabled auto forwarding in the gear program. Remember, your phone will ring x amount of times and then go silent for a second or two, then watch will start to ring.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Loz Mason]

This trial has been most interesting.

Apparently my gear S doesn't always re-enable mobile data after it's been out of range, or on WiFi for a while. I need to go through a few data on/off manoeuvres to tease it back on.

So, as has been kindly suggested here, I'll just forget WiFi, and then I only need to go through this after I've been out in the country (rarely go) or if I shut down for a while.

Many thanks for all suggestions.

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[foxbat121]

....and then I only need to go through this after I've been out in the country (rarely go) ....

Speaking of out of country, my recent trip to Europe proved the Gear S is pretty useless out of country for two reasons:
1. The dual band support of the watch means it is pretty much limited for traveling. My US watch gets absolutely no signal in Europe (pretty much anywhere out side of North America). I expected this.
2. The wifi on the watch can't connect to most WiFi hotspots where it requires you to register via a web page. The Opera browser is not the full mobile version but rather mini version via proxy. So there is no way to get the authentication. I didn't expect this.
So, you pretty much can only use it as a BT only watch tethered to your Samsung phone (which I leave at home).