Hi Everyone,
I’ve been using Zwift on my laptop, connected to a large screen in my garage, which is beyond the range of my home Wi-Fi network. To get online, I use my mobile phone’s hotspot feature to provide internet access to the laptop. While this setup allows me to run Zwift without issues, I’ve encountered a challenge: the Zwift Companion app on my phone doesn’t connect to the Zwift application on my laptop.
From my understanding, for the Companion app to function seamlessly, both the laptop running Zwift and the mobile phone running the Companion app need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. In my current setup, the laptop is connected to the internet via the phone’s hotspot, but the phone itself isn’t connected to this network—it’s providing it. This seems to prevent the Companion app from linking with the main Zwift application.
I’ve read through some related discussions on the forums. For instance, in the thread “Mobile Hotspot/Tether - Can’t use companion app,” a user faced a similar issue. They were advised to consider solutions like powerline Ethernet adapters or mesh Wi-Fi systems to extend their home network’s range to areas with poor connectivity.
Given this, I’m contemplating a few options:
- Extending My Home Wi-Fi Network: Investing in a mesh Wi-Fi system or powerline adapters to bring the home network’s coverage into the garage. This would allow both the laptop and the mobile phone to connect to the same Wi-Fi network, enabling the Companion app to function properly.
- Alternative Connectivity Solutions: Exploring other methods to bridge the connection between the laptop and the phone, ensuring they are on the same network.
I’m reaching out to the community to see if anyone has faced a similar situation and found effective solutions. Are there specific devices or setups you’d recommend to extend Wi-Fi coverage? Or perhaps alternative methods to ensure both devices are on the same network without significant additional investment?
Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your assistance!