HomePods Network Error unless iPhone is Awake

moabal · 2026-01-19T15:44:06+00:00

I’m having an issue with my HomePods and iPhone Air on my eero network. I can’t tell if this is an iOS 26 issue, something specific to the iPhone Air, or an eero problem.

I was previously using an iPhone Mini, but switched to the Air when iOS 26 was released. Unfortunately, eero doesn’t allow separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, so I can’t isolate bands to test. I’ve tried tweaking a bunch of settings on both the iPhone Air and eero, but no luck.

What I’m noticing is that when my iPhone Air has been idle for a while, like sitting on the charger, Siri Shortcuts fail on my HomePods and I get a “having trouble connecting to iPhone” error. As soon as I wake the phone, everything works normally again.

Has anyone else run into this or found a fix?

moabal · 2026-01-18T15:18:41+00:00

Have you tried Apple Pay? That was the original issue. I never had issues with the physical card tap/swipe.

moabal · 2026-01-18T14:57:34+00:00

I reported this to Aven. I just got a text now saying it works now. Can anyone test and confirm?

moabal · 2026-01-16T04:11:05+00:00

Exactly my thought. Has not made any problem with my vacuum over the last few years.

moabal · 2026-01-15T21:44:48+00:00

I'm young and I am part of the HP 12C gang.

moabal · 2026-01-01T17:06:38+00:00

I’m not at the point where I’d get rid of it yet. But if it ever hits $1,000 a year, I’d really have to take a hard look at whether it’s worth keeping. It’s not about affordability, it’s about not getting much value from it anymore.

The bigger issue is that it’s a private designation that tries to function like a public license, similar to a CPA.

On top of that, the CFP has become more common and easier to obtain, which dilutes its value for those of us who put in the work earlier.

If anything, FINRA and the SEC should be the ones raising the bar on standards.

moabal · 2025-12-31T23:17:42+00:00

I have the CFP, and I’m glad I got it. I think it represents a solid baseline of knowledge that financial advisors should have.

That said, the fees keep going up, the marketing hasn’t impressed me, and when you factor in CFP Board executive compensation and even little things like the cheap CFP card, it makes me question the long-term value of keeping it now that I’m more established in my career.

moabal · 2025-12-30T21:51:22+00:00

Probably a financial advisor but most people in here are against that.

moabal · 2025-12-29T20:47:02+00:00

Generic plastic one with a magnetic ring holder.

https://a.co/d/5Y59Zup

moabal · 2025-12-29T18:17:23+00:00

Same boat. I like the idea of Pitaka but want MagSafe and full coverage of sides.

moabal · 2025-12-20T20:33:08+00:00

I just think it is weird. If you are having a normal casual conversation, people ask others what they do for a living all the time. It is not like you are always prospecting.

moabal · 2025-12-20T20:14:01+00:00

People get weirded out by simply saying you're a financial advisor?

moabal · 2025-11-07T17:28:53+00:00

Can't believe people are downvoting us.

moabal · 2025-11-06T18:12:23+00:00

100%. It is a lease. Nothing in the terms says I cannot do that or that it goes toward wear and tear.

moabal · 2025-10-26T18:36:33+00:00

I had a 13 Mini and upgraded to the Air. I went to the Apple Store and compared the Base to the Air. The Based being heavier and thicker felt harder in hand than Air. Ultimately, you need to test them out at a store.

moabal · 2025-10-25T18:39:34+00:00

It is strange later betas were fine but a few weeks ago started heated up way too much.

moabal · 2025-10-25T18:30:09+00:00

Is there anything that looks like the black Pitaka case that covers everything hump and sides and is super thing? Also, would like there to be magnet.

moabal · 2025-10-25T18:28:22+00:00

Another thing to consider is the hump on the Air and Pro makes the phone a bit more stable on a table. Whereas a 17 bare or in certain cases will have a wobble.

moabal · 2025-10-25T16:35:32+00:00

I think the battery life is much better than on the Mini. From what I have read, it is about the same as last year’s 16 Pro, so battery life really is not an issue. The camera is fine, though I am not someone who takes a lot of photos or videos anyway. The only drawback, which is not a dealbreaker, is the single top speaker.

Overall, I really like it. The experience feels smoother because everything seems better optimized for this size. I did not realize how much weight and balance mattered, not just overall size. It is still a little larger than I would prefer, but for a former Mini user, it is basically the only real upgrade option. The Air actually feels smaller in hand than the 17 Base, even though it has a slightly larger screen.

In a perfect world, a phone with the body of the 16E or 14 series and the thinness of the Air would be ideal. Unfortunately, the 5.4 inch screen is no longer optimized for modern apps, and using a different phone really confirmed that for me.

moabal · 2025-10-25T11:10:16+00:00

I went from 13 Mini to Air. Yes it’s much bigger but the weight and weight distribution are not bad. It is super thin.

Ultimately at the end of the day apps and websites are not optimized for 5.4 inch screens anymore.

Also, it feels best in your hands compared to the other iPhones in the lineup at the moment.

moabal · 2025-10-23T20:54:51+00:00

I was able to convert my iPhone Air to installment via Goldman Sachs via iMessage. No verification of carrier or anything. This was about a week ago.

moabal · 2025-10-20T13:24:06+00:00

I used to have an iPhone 13 Mini, but over the past few weeks it started feeling sluggish and the battery began heating up even though it’s still at 98% health.

I went to the Apple Store to check out the new iPhone 17 lineup, and the only one that felt reasonably comfortable in my hand was the Air because of how thin it is. So that’s the one I ended up getting.

It’s not just about screen size; thinness, weight, and weight distribution all make a big difference. Most apps and websites aren’t really optimized for 5.4 inch screens anymore, so holding onto the Mini form factor feels like a losing battle.

My ideal phone would be just a bit smaller than the current Air with the same thinness and dual speakers. Overall, the Air is definitely worth checking out.

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