Database Info

Questions about tethering on the galaxy s 4g

Hey guys, before I go searching this forum and possibly others I wanted to see of you guys can answer my questions. So far all the tethering apps in the marketplace you either have to pay for or don't do it right, I'm basically looking for a tethering/hot spot app to use this phone with my ipad 2,i had the hd2 before this phone and had the xda wifi sharing app which worked perfectly and basically turned my phone into a wifi source for my ipad. So if you guys can help me out with a free solution that would be great.

Um yeah, goto settings> wireless and network> Mobile Ap. It is part of the phone already. Or are you looking for something else?

dcam1075 said:
Um yeah, goto settings> wireless and network> Mobile Ap. It is part of the phone already. Or are you looking for something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I was a little nervous cause I read that they charge you for tethering so I didn't want to touch anything, is it true that tethering is an extra charge or do they just charge you extra if you go over your data cap cause if that's the case then I don't have nothing to worry about cause I have 4lines with unlimited Internet.

heres an app thats way better then the tmobilr installed wifi hotspot. you must have root access

jkiller122 said:
Thanks, I was a little nervous cause I read that they charge you for tethering so I didn't want to touch anything, is it true that tethering is an extra charge or do they just charge you extra if you go over your data cap cause if that's the case then I don't have nothing to worry about cause I have 4lines with unlimited Internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they do not charge you for thethering your phone to your laptop.
They however can charge you for going over you data cap.
TMobil has a Seperate service called "Mobile Broadband" that they charge extra for that is designed as a stand alone product for laptops ect. The Mobile Broadband services are not for tethering your phone.

SHAUN231 said:
heres an app thats way better then the tmobilr installed wifi hotspot. you must have root access
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the app...
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

To my knowledge t-mobile charges 15/mo for wireless mobile hotspot/tethering pack
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

dtowngs4g said:
To my knowledge t-mobile charges 15/mo for wireless mobile hotspot/tethering pack
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile doesnt charge for tethering. However they will throttle you if you go over your 5GB cap. I been using the stock tethering on my MT4G, Vibrant and Galaxy S and have never been charged for tethering.

I've got a troubleshooting question. I'm trying to tether my Galaxy S 4G phone to my laptop and for some reason it didn't install properly. I'm trying to fix it but the troubleshooting options in Windows is looking in their software update servers thinking it's there. Isn't the tethering device/driver in the phone?

You can tether up to 2 devices free, you can add 3 more for a total of 5 for 14.99/month. For somebody like me who has truly unlimited data and doesnt get throttled down, it works great.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA Premium App

anti-up said:
You can tether up to 2 devices free, you can add 3 more for a total of 5 for 14.99/month. For somebody like me who has truly unlimited data and doesnt get throttled down, it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been confused about the tethering details; yet, when I signed up for service last month, I was told that I needed that plan. With your constraints, though, I thought that I might be paying unnecessarily for the tethering. I only have a single device connected to my phone -- a cradlepoint router. I only have one computer in my home. The router is for the purpose of connecting my printers into my intranet (which need not be on the internet)...
So, I called T-Mobile and was told that if ANY device other than the phone connects to the internet using the phone's features (as a modem-type device), then I am required to purchase the tethering option (which I do).
What sucks, though, is that I go over the 5GB threshhold... and while TMO can provide webConnect devices with up to a 10GB thresshold, we must change our device (Android device for a ZTE USB device) in order to get it.
BTW, the "unlimited" data plan does not mean "unlimited speed" data plan... yes, you can have "unlimited data"... but, after 5GB, you get throttled down... very slow!

[email protected] said:
I've been confused about the tethering details; yet, when I signed up for service last month, I was told that I needed that plan. With your constraints, though, I thought that I might be paying unnecessarily for the tethering. I only have a single device connected to my phone -- a cradlepoint router. I only have one computer in my home. The router is for the purpose of connecting my printers into my intranet (which need not be on the internet)...
So, I called T-Mobile and was told that if ANY device other than the phone connects to the internet using the phone's features (as a modem-type device), then I am required to purchase the tethering option (which I do).
What sucks, though, is that I go over the 5GB threshhold... and while TMO can provide webConnect devices with up to a 10GB thresshold, we must change our device (Android device for a ZTE USB device) in order to get it.
BTW, the "unlimited" data plan does not mean "unlimited speed" data plan... yes, you can have "unlimited data"... but, after 5GB, you get throttled down... very slow!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your saying that since I use my xbox 360 on live through my mobile AP on my phone that I will incur more charges?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA Premium App

GDofWR420 said:
So your saying that since I use my xbox 360 on live through my mobile AP on my phone that I will incur more charges?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I am not saying that you will incur more charges... only saying that, if T-Mobile had their wishes, you would (according to their contracts and licenses) pay the additional $14.99 per month for tethering. As the rep told me, repeatedly, anytime you use "air" time with any device OTHER than the phone itself, you are required to pay the tether fees.
In my case, I pay those fees... (I did from the moment of the contract)... yet, once I have reached 5GB threshhold, I receive a text message advising me that -- since I have reached the 5GB threshhold -- my data connection (while being unlimited in number of GB) will be throttled until the end of my billing cycle.
So, unlimited data? Yes. Unlimited data at max speed? Absolutely not!
I am considering my options...

(T-Mobile US) What happens if you attempt to wifi tether using stock menu options?

So what happens if you set up wifi tethering and start using it without a tethering plan?
Do they know automatically or do they attempt to guess based on increases in data usage?
This would be using the menu options available to you under Network settings in STOCK (not rooted).

there no tethering plan with t-mobile you can wifi tether all you want. But if they do see that you're hitting your cap quickly lets say in a 3 month period. they'll text you if you want to upgrade.

when I was picking up my mt4gs, I overheard a rep trying to sell people an additional tethering plan. is that for unlimited tethering? I wanted to walk up to them and tell them I have been tethering since the G1 without any additional plan... the only real issue is getting throttled, but most months I don't hit the data cap.

pmcqueen said:
when I was picking up my mt4gs, I overheard a rep trying to sell people an additional tethering plan. is that for unlimited tethering? I wanted to walk up to them and tell them I have been tethering since the G1 without any additional plan... the only real issue is getting throttled, but most months I don't hit the data cap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the rep that sold me my MT4GS said that they don't throttle automatically. He had one customer use 200+GB before he was throttled. Apparently it's hit or miss anyway and he basically talked me into a lower data rate because of it.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

If you attempt to tether or do wi-fi sharing on any T-mobile phone that is capable of it one of four things will happen.. Either
A) it will fail...
B) Any browsing attempt will re-direct you to T-mobile.com
C) You will automatically get directed to a page that prompts you to call Customer care to add the $14.99/month Tethering and Wi-Fi sharing feature
D) It will allow you to browse a certain amount and then give you the above page.
The feature has to be on the account for tethering to work long term.. Even if you get away with it for a short time, eventually they will catch you and shut you off until you add the feature. The $14.99/month allows you to share whatever data is on your phone (2GB, 5GB, 10GB) with the phone and Tethering... SO... If you have the 5GB data plan, you get 5GB to share between tethering and your regular phone data usage, then speeds get slowed down to approx 100kbps after that until the bill cycle resets.

Like i told you before there is no tethering plan for t-mobile. My gf tether her phone with her iPad all the time. Nothing had happen so far.

Say that now, but I am guaranteeing you that T-mobile will catch up with her eventually.. There IS a tethering plan and you can call T-mobile and and verify that whenever you want.

Brock6949 said:
Say that now, but I am guaranteeing you that T-mobile will catch up with her eventually.. There IS a tethering plan and you can call T-mobile and and verify that whenever you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been tethering since 2008 without a plan.
perhaps it has something to do with new data plans? I've had a grandfathered data plan for years.

pmcqueen said:
I've been tethering since 2008 without a plan.
perhaps it has something to do with new data plans? I've had a grandfathered data plan for years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same and I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan that comes with unlimited texts for only $35. Been tethering forever.

I think he's just making it up. hahaha

A grandfathered plan may be the reason you are still able to tether, but I will tell you that I am a T-mobile employee who works in the phone as modem department and there IS a tethering plan that t-mobile does charge for... Infact, go to t-mobile's website and search for "Tethering" and then look at all of the official documents for tethering with different devices and they will all mention the tethering and wi-fi sharing feature.

Brock6949 said:
A grandfathered plan may be the reason you are still able to tether, but I will tell you that I am a T-mobile employee who works in the phone as modem department and there IS a tethering plan that t-mobile does charge for... Infact, go to t-mobile's website and search for "Tethering" and then look at all of the official documents for tethering with different devices and they will all mention the tethering and wi-fi sharing feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tethered my Touch Pro 2 a few times after they introduced tethering and nothing ever became...

rorytmeadows said:
I tethered my Touch Pro 2 a few times after they introduced tethering and nothing ever became...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few times may not have been enough for you to get the message... There is a preset threshold you have to meet or exceed to get the message about the tethering plan.. THey have not told any of us what that threshold is (for obvious reasons)
and even if you don't get the message right away, at some point our system will flag the account... Trust me, I field these calls 5 days a week.

Brock6949 said:
A few times may not have been enough for you to get the message... There is a preset threshold you have to meet or exceed to get the message about the tethering plan.. THey have not told any of us what that threshold is (for obvious reasons)
and even if you don't get the message right away, at some point our system will flag the account... Trust me, I field these calls 5 days a week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how can they tell that it's tethering data vs. data from the phone? Especially since I can set my browser to desktop mode. Well, I'm too lazy to do it but if tethering ever goes to court, service providers will lose.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA Premium App

There is no way to tell between tethering and phone data... it's all lumped together... even when you add the tethering feature (if the system makes you) you get your data shared with your cell data usage so on a non grandfathered rate plan you get 2gb,5gb, or 10gb to share between tethering and phone data usage.

Brock6949 said:
There is no way to tell between tethering and phone data... it's all lumped together... even when you add the tethering feature (if the system makes you) you get your data shared with your cell data usage so on a non grandfathered rate plan you get 2gb,5gb, or 10gb to share between tethering and phone data usage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So tethering won't get caught...
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

HTTP traffic is TCP which means it's encoded in ASCII which makes it really easy to scan what goes over the line. In those HTTP headers they can check what the user-agent is as well as the time-to-live setting on each packet which will be different from a windows desktop connection.
However it's possible to mask this. I could in theory make an SSH connection from the phone to an SSH server I have on the internet and tunnel all my tethering through that. It would be very difficult to prove tethering at that point because it would be masked behind the phone's connection to a server.
That all being said. In real world usage I might only tether once or twice a month in what basically amounts to not much more bandwidth usage then normal.
Also. The telecom providers are very backhanded about tethering. We made tethering possible before they knew what the **** tethering even meant. I've been doing this since before most people understood what it means to tether. And I signed up for my unlimited plan back when unlimited meant unlimited. So uh..... T-mo can go **** itself if they expect me to pay extra. lol.
-my 2 cents

Akujin said:
We made tethering possible before they knew what the **** tethering even meant. I've been doing this since before most people understood what it means to tether. And I signed up for my unlimited plan back when unlimited meant unlimited. So uh..... T-mo can go **** itself if they expect me to pay extra. lol.
-my 2 cents
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES!
Tethered on my MDA before I even used the word!

Theoretically based on some of the statements here of how PC band with flows, I should be able to tether my Acer A500 tablet without any problems or discovery.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

[Q] Free wifi hotspot gone

Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?

secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try open garden, the one that looks like a tree, you'll need it on both devices and it creates a mesh network, some caviets are apps tha use data wont work, so you have to do everything through your web browser. This solution also solves the screen off issue while tethering.

As of right now this has been removed or blocked in the newest update.
There is nothing yet been found to allow you to set your own APN again.
You can use wifi tethering with FoxFi as a workaround from foxfi.com/bin but for data to work over wifi tethering you will need to keep the screen on.
That is about the only workaround.

TheArtiszan said:
As of right now this has been removed or blocked in the newest update.
There is nothing yet been found to allow you to set your own APN again.
You can use wifi tethering with FoxFi as a workaround from foxfi.com/bin but for data to work over wifi tethering you will need to keep the screen on.
That is about the only workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or use open garden and it makes a mesh network, data still flows with screen off, you'll need open garden on both devices. The only issue is apps that use data like the play store will say your not connected, but anything you want to do with the browser you can.
I know not perfect but thats the closest we have right now, besides keeping the screen on.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1975894
This might be a workaround worth trying..

secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you use google chrome or firefox look up user-agent spoofer.

diabolusmiles said:
if you use google chrome or firefox look up user-agent spoofer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the UA(user-agent) is just one of the few obstacles to overcome. The main problem is the tmo OTA update now prevents/locks us from entering the APN needed to bypass/trick the t-mobile tethering check.

secular said:
Since the latest Tmobile ota update my wifi hot spot feature gives me a Tmobile message on my linked device saying i need to pay for this service. Previously, i got around this by creating a new APN of epc.tmobile.com, this no longer works. Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Geez you guys...if you want the service PAY FOR IT! Why should you get it free while others pay?

Behold_this said:
Geez you guys...if you want the service PAY FOR IT! Why should you get it free while others pay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We already do pay for it with our monthly contracts, we are allowed x amount of data per month, we go over it and the speed of data isn't even worth tethering. Do they give us money back on the data we don't use? No they don't, so why can't we use the data we pay for any way we want, it's not like data for a tablet costs more or anything like that, it's just greed on the providers end plain and simple.

I just ended up talking to an agent about my bill and I brought up the fact that I couldn't tether anymore, so they put that back on free of charge. I mean hell I'm already paying a decent amount monthly and I have the 5 gig package (which used to be advertised with transforming your device to a hotspot), there is no reason to ask for more other than greed?

Aydthird said:
I just ended up talking to an agent about my bill and I brought up the fact that I couldn't tether anymore, so they put that back on free of charge. I mean hell I'm already paying a decent amount monthly and I have the 5 gig package (which used to be advertised with transforming your device to a hotspot), there is no reason to ask for more other than greed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have a 5 gig plan and the hotspot is supposed to be free, but my 5 gig plan is old and the only way for me to get the hotspot is for me to give up unlimited messaging, which I then would have to pay $15 a month for, umm, yeah, they got me coming and going. BLAH

I work for tmo, and we do give it for free with the 5 & 10gb plans.
Second, I've noticed that it works with Firefox, but no other browser when tethering to a PC/Mac. I haven't edited my APN.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

I really wish it was free, especially with my unlimited 4G plan.
Haven't found anywhere in the city I don't have perfect coverage and it would be sweet to be able to use my tablet/laptop...

bruuutal said:
I really wish it was free, especially with my unlimited 4G plan.
Haven't found anywhere in the city I don't have perfect coverage and it would be sweet to be able to use my tablet/laptop...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're on unlimited, it's unreasonable to ask for wifi tethering. That's like going to a "all you can eat" restaurant, and then bringing a truck to load with food.

Hunt3r.j2 said:
If you're on unlimited, it's unreasonable to ask for wifi tethering. That's like going to a "all you can eat" restaurant, and then bringing a truck to load with food.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, exactly. That's why there's home internet providers. And if you really just want to use your phone, then just get a 10gb plan that has the free hotspot. You're paying for the investment in network upgrades, your paying the engineers salary to produce a network that's very good.
And of course, the CEO's bonus checks lol
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

Custom ROMs?
Do custom ROMs get rid of this pesky problem of no Wifi Hotspot?

poptartz said:
Do custom ROMs get rid of this pesky problem of no Wifi Hotspot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using other roms i can tether temporarally. Well, i get a push message to stop asap or risk losing access. (Im on that unlimited plan.) so i stop. It does work though tethering to my nexus 7, im assuming because it shows it being a mobile device vs. desktop.
The default rom pushes all tethering through pcweb.tmobile.com which depending on your rate plan, determines if you get tether access. custom roms shouldn't have this setup.

I also have a Nexus 7 and the unlimited plan. I'm rooted on the S1 (no ROMs loaded yet) and am now trying to figure out where to go from here.

poptartz said:
I also have a Nexus 7 and the unlimited plan. I'm rooted on the S1 (no ROMs loaded yet) and am now trying to figure out where to go from here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try a new APN. Menu->Settings->More->Mobile Networks->APN or Access Point Names->Menu->New APN
Name it whatever you want and set the APN to epc.tmobile.com. this should bypass tmobile's tethering block.
Also, I've noticed that even if rooted, a desktop using ie, safari or chrome still gets blocked, but Firefox does not.
Sent from a baked One S
If I've helped hit the thanks button

is tethering free?

I just got this phone and I have no tether plan but the built in tether plan worked fine. Is tethering free with this phone?

rasstar said:
I just got this phone and I have no tether plan but the built in tether plan worked fine. Is tethering free with this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It uses your data plan, whatever that is. On t-mobile, iirc (on at&t now ), they don't charge you to enable tethering. On AT&T they do charge you to enable tethering.
Regardless of provider, your tethering uses your data plan, and hence if you have a 3G cap/month, and you use 3G of tethering, you are capped on your data plan, and will probably get throttled.

Not necessarily true....t-mobile now offers true unlimited data plans....such as the "value plan" in which is the plan I'm on.
Although your not suppose to tether on but there is easy enough ways around that.

Shortbus-Driver said:
Not necessarily true....t-mobile now offers true unlimited data plans....such as the "value plan" in which is the plan I'm on.
Although your not suppose to tether on but there is easy enough ways around that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is correct.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

I do have the unlimited plan and the built in tether app works fine .

Wifi Tether

Anyone know how to get wifi tether working? I have crickets unlimited data plan. I'm trying to tether my laptop..

Yes, follow these steps to start Wifi Hotspot/Tether:
Go to Settings > More > Tethering & portable hotspot
Select Portable Wi-Fi hotspot
Toggle the button beside your host name.
By this you'll get your hotspot on.
I hope this helps you.

This doesn't work. Says I have to dial 611 to activate..
Sent from my FRD-L04 using XDA-Developers mobile app

I am pretty sure that Cricket doesn't include tethering with their monthly plans.

So I would have to do it the root way then.
Sent from my FRD-L04 using XDA-Developers mobile app

JB_Da_Greatest said:
So I would have to do it the root way then.
Sent from my FRD-L04 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's doing the carrier entitlement check. I can tether with another overseas phone out of the box on Cricket UDP. In fact I tried before typing this just in case there was a recent change
Thanks for checking this, that's a dealbreaker for me.
heap1 said:
I am pretty sure that Cricket doesn't include tethering with their monthly plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only avail on their Pro and Smart plans, and I think only supported on a few phones that they publish.

Cricket does include tethering on their plans just not on their unlimited. If you have the $50 or $60 plan you are eligible. But you also have to pay $10 to use the feature. They state that on their site.

XjokiX7 said:
Cricket does include tethering on their plans just not on their unlimited. If you have the $50 or $60 plan you are eligible. But you also have to pay $10 to use the feature. They state that on their site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the idea here is to have a phone that bypasses the carrier tethering check. I'm really surprised that it's on the H 8.

syntrix said:
And the idea here is to have a phone that bypasses the carrier tethering check. I'm really surprised that it's on the H 8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually thought it would do it automatically like my OnePlus one. Seems that's not the case..
Sent from my FRD-L04 using XDA-Developers mobile app

JB_Da_Greatest said:
Anyone know how to get wifi tether working? I have crickets unlimited data plan. I'm trying to tether my laptop..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had to set the APN Type to
default,dun
to get hotspot to work. I'm using FreedomPop Global GSM.

Anyone bypassed the tethering on att, I am starting to hate this freaking phone telling me to call 611 for another tethering plan, I should have keep the OnePlus 3t

Honor 8 Cricket WiFi Tether Fix - No Root
I have a brand new unrooted Honor 8 (with all the latest updates) and I was able to turn on tethering however connected devices were not getting internet. The devices would connect to the tethering WiFi access point but would state "No internet".
I added the string: 'dun' to the 'APN type' field in my APN settings so it read:
APN type default,mms,fota,hipri,supl,dun
I am now able to tether successfully without issue.