Bluetooth tethering allows devices to share internet connectivity.
Bluetooth tethering allows devices to share internet connectivity.
You're in a steel structure with strong signal interference. The metal likely blocks cell reception, which affects your phone and tablet differently. Your Galaxy devices connect fine on other networks, but your tablet struggles. You noticed an issue with the launch version—signal blocking was possible by hand, similar to older iPhone experiences. You tried using Bluetooth tethering as a workaround, but your phone blocks it when connected to Wi-Fi. It seems the settings are preventing the feature even though you think it should work. This could mean either the feature is disabled or its functionality was removed. You're unsure if your approach is correct, given the technical details you've gathered.
I assume tethering Wi-Fi via Bluetooth isn't something people typically consider. That seems like an unusual scenario I wouldn't expect support for. I might be mistaken, but that's something I wouldn't have imagined as a possibility. In short, I'm not surprised it triggers that error message. Also, it appears the antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are often similar, so it's unlikely this would work.
WiFi and Bluetooth frequently use the same antenna, but not every WiFi device includes Bluetooth. Your Galaxy S10 functions well when connected to WiFi and then tethering Bluetooth on your laptop to link to the phone. Be aware you must connect both devices’ Personal Area Networks before forming a network—this could be the issue if your tablet doesn’t support it. Performance is extremely slow, around under 1Mbit per direction.
If your equipment can't connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data, it probably isn't designed for general internet access. From both technical and practical angles, consider how such a situation would be approached. It feels unusual to try to link a device lacking wireless capabilities directly to another that does. The challenge here stems directly from the problem you're describing. For instance, if you need to connect your phone to a tablet while traveling on public transport, it's straightforward—use cellular data and Bluetooth to bridge the gap. But if both devices are on Wi-Fi at home, simply connecting to Wi-Fi is sufficient without needing to route signals through Bluetooth. Assuming the receiver doesn't have Wi-Fi isn't necessary; even a desktop with an unusual port could work without such a workaround. The real issue lies not just in the hardware, but in how the system manages signal switching between different communication methods. Just because a phone supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi doesn't guarantee compatibility—each device has its own set of capabilities defined by its components. The antenna itself is just a simple metal component; what matters more are the underlying electronics that control data flow.