Smart connect options.

[Koets]

Why are the options in Sony smart connect so limited.

No option to start widgets

No option to all on/off settings

I would like the option to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot (mobile Wi-Fi tethering)

Any ideas/work work arounds? 

[Strampke]

@Koets

Don't you have that option in settings?

Goto settings, click on magnifying glass, do a search for hotspot.

Report please if you have found it or not.

[Koets]

Thanks for your reply,  I do have that option in settings, but not as an option in smart connect...

And that's what I'm asking about.

If I get into my car, and the phone connects to the radio through Bluetooth, I want smart connect to automatically start up hotspot...

That way my car radio can use the 4G connection from my phone...

However that option is not available in smart connect (anymore).

[Jonas]

Hi @Koets, welcome to our forum!

You might experience that the Smart Connect app is missing some actions if you have installed it yourself on a device that does not have it pre-loaded. This is because the Smart Connect app is being phased out. The app will continue working as long as it is available for download from Google Play, but during the phase out some features will no longer work.

In this case, I would recommend that you look for another application in the Google Play store which works similarly to the Smart Connect application so you can start a hotspot directly when your phone connects to the radio in your car.

I have not used one myself so I can't give you any tips of another device, but if you search for "start action automatically" or similar you should be able to find an application that does you want it to do!

I hope that answers your question as to why this action is no longer available in the Smart Connect application!

[Koets]

Hi @Jonas, thanks for your clear answer.

Too bad about the phase-out, it was a nice app.

About other apps, that is probably not going to work as for some reason the latest Android doesn't support switching hotspot automatically anymore, even with dedicated hotspot apps (tried many).

I even tried NFC tags, which I programmed to do the job, however, even though NFC indicates hotspot has been switched on, it in reality didn't...

Thanks though, I will still try some apps like you said and let you know if I somehow get it to work.

Ps. Maybe the option can be added to Smart Lock?  It is still a stock Sony app... It would make sense to me..

[d0123r · Accepted solution]

Just try 'Nougat+ Tasker Tethering Control' plugin with either 'Tasker' or any other automation tool (I use 'Llama').

I was really surprised, that Smart Connect didn't do this anymore and also Xperia Actions within the Xperia Assistant is just a set of not so usefull templates. Sony should give users more options to set up actions as they like!

And imo that would  make more sense than Smart Lock, especially as Smart Lock is not working as it should...

Hope the plugin works for you as good as for me!

[Strampke]

@Koets

I use MacroDroid

Trigger is speed (driving).

It switches on Bluetooth (in my case)

You can download many macros and/or create some yourself.

[Koets]

@d0123r

Thanks for that! I will try it with "automate" (I had chosen it because it is free and has no ads, same with llama I just saw) , as it tries to switch on hotspot for me, but Android wouldn't let it.

I will post back with outcome.

@strampke, thanks, but that still wouldn't work without d0123r's solution because of the changes in Android.

It might work with his plugin however, I will give feedback as soon I tried.

[Koets]

Alright,

Quick feedback.

The plugin works great wth automate as well, did not try macro droid as it contains ads.

Kudos to Matej, the plugin developer, I shot him an email and I got a reply within 5minutes ! 

In automate I have set up as follows:

-Flow start

-Condition: if BT is connected to "my car audio"

-Start plugin and set tether enable

-settings Wi-Fi hotshot on

Plugin can be found in automate under:

Apps-Plugin Action.

Also thanks to you, @d0123r

[Jonas]

Hi again @Koets,

I'm glad to hear that you were able to find another application that automatically enables the Wi-Fi hotspot as soon as your device is connected to your car and thanks for sharing the app and how to enable this is in the plugin.

Thanks @d0123r and @Strampke for helping out!

Have a great day all of you!