It appears to be a software quirk. Something about wifi need to be on but "not connected".. so if your within a remembered signal, tell it to "forget" for now.
Once you get it working you no longer have an issue and can use it like normal.
Seems the software "or firmware" needs jarring.
Rather than double post, I addressed a fix I figured out here...
Portable hotspot not working but USB tethering is?
Post #3