I've seen a lot of posts around that Internet with people having trouble with this, wondering if anyone here has any ideas. (The two solutions I found did nothing for me).

I have been running PDANet over the years to tether a variety of Samsung devices.

I am now trying to use the HotSpot function over TMo on a Samsung Galaxy Note running ICS.

When I LAUNCH the HotSpot, it says it's connected. The blue "activated" icon appears in the upper left of the screen.

On my Windows PCs, the name of the network shows up in my list of available networks. It asks for a password. Then the PC says it is unable to connect.

This has happened at home, and on the road - so it's not just "my" local cell.

I have consistently been able to tether, but the hotspot has never worked from the first I've tried it.

I do not have Bluetooth on. Obviously, WiFi is turned off.

I am running JuiceDefender, and have granted PDANet and FoxFi full OVERRIDE access. I have also turned off JuiceDefender, which has not made a difference.

I have tried changing both the network names and the passwords for the hotspot, and rebooted the phone after doing so.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling both PDANet and redownloading the full access key.

This happens on multiple PCs running Win 7.

Any further suggestions would be groovy.So you never got the galaxy to work as a hot spot? Right?
Do .you have any local friends that use any mobile device as a hot spot?

As you know, the 3G and 4G systems both use spectrum far removed from the 802.11 'Wi-Fi' band. So a mobile device can rebroadcast an internet  connection.

My experience is not with the Galaxy, rather with the iPhone. My guess is they work in a similar way.

Have you ever attested  to turn on both the 'hot spot' and the Bluetooth and make a connection to the Internet?

Can you post a link to the documentation for your  device?Here is a link that might sappy:
http://maxdalton.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Turn-Your-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-Into-a-Wi-Fi-Hotspot

Early versions of Android could be USED as mobile hotspots with apps like FoxFi. In newer versions some carriers have been blocking apps like FoxFi. Since most carriers offer hotspot CONNECTIONS through premium service plans they want you to pay for the extra data you are using instead of getting it free.

I'm with SPRINT and with my first Android v2.x I could get FoxFi to work but it doesn't work on my newer Android 4.x.

Have you read the instructions on the FoxFi website? There are work arounds listed for some devices/carriers.

Also look at the supported/unsupported list. http://pdanet.co/help/devices.phpWorkarounds I'd found on FoxFi's/PDANet's site seemed to be:
- Rename your device and reboot
- Turn on Bluetooth and reboot/Turn off Bluetooth and reboot
Those had not worked for me, but I will explore the links you provided.

My furshlugginer CTO doesn't believe in outfitting our laptops with Bluetooth, so I can't test that method. Although it dawned on me, I could borrow someone's bluetooth iPhone and see if that connects either way.

Like you, evil, I had earlier versions of Android on an earlier device (which disappeared about ten days ago, so I can't test with that) and TMO's ICS devices theoretically block that. But I did something years ago on THIS device that allowed me to tether. So that begs the question, if I can tether, why can't I HotSpot?

Also, if TMO was blocking the ability, how does it explain that all indications on the phone are that it's connected, it's the PC that's having trouble.

Those are the two questions that are really stymie-ing me.

My Samsung Galaxy S4 does the same thing. It looks like FoxFi is working as usual but I can not get any device to connect to the wifi signal. Sprint and probably other carriers are blocking the use of the setting the device needs to work as a hotspot. The settings can't be accessed unless paying for a mobile hotspot data plan through the carrier.

I have read that the restrictions are there even on rooted devices.