Invalid Location Error with Hotspot

[solagratiafarm]

The past few months we have been having an issue when we hook up our square readers to a mobile hotspot (Keepgo) we frequently get Invalid Location errors and are struggling to make credit card payments during the farmers market. I have dug into the back side of our mobile hotspot unit and have not found anything that is a red flag from my end that would cause this (date time is ok, no VPN running, etc.)

I can't get it to replicate during the week, but only is an issue during the farmers market on Saturday morning.

Any ways to trouble shoot or get more information from the square readers to why they are giving that error?

[TheRealChipA]

Hi @solagratiafarm The Square servers that validate location can only use what the hotspot connection sends them.  Square does not determine location in and of itself -- is uses WiFi/cellular information.  So, if you are having an isolated problem on Saturday mornings, only, and only with Keepgo, odds are strong that this is a Keepgo issue.  You'll need to ask their technical support.

Also, a question -- do you use any "hiding" settings on your mobile device -- like Apple's Private Relay?  That one can often mess up location reporting/tracking.

[rtfulk]

@solagratiafarm  This is just a thought, since Keepgo is a global roaming service and their SIM cards originate from Europe and Spain.   I wonder if when the market gets busy on Saturdays and the cell tower gets overloaded.  I wonder if your hotspot isn’t switching to a Spain IP address to keep a connection.  If you are in the US and your hotspot has a Spain IP address Square block the transaction.  

 One thing you can try is login to your hotspot through Chrome or what web browser you use.  Look for Network Selection and change it from Automatic to Manual.  Then select AT&T or T-Mobile, that will keep your IP address in the states.  

if you can’t select one of them contact Keepgo and ask if they will switch you to Dara or Orion plans, they normally connect to servers in Virginia.  

The reason I know this is when we were working the Minnesota State Fair a lady was using Square and she getting the same error on charges.  She was using Solis for her internet and with the amount of people at the fair, Solis was using a Canadian IP address.  After she logged in and changed it to where Solis would only keep a USA IP address she didn’t have anymore problems.  

Hopefully this will correct your problem also.