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[Q] AT&T tethering, avoiding detection

From what I can gather there are 2 ways to tether (without buying tethering option), changing the APN or by rooting and running appropriate programs. I have a grandfathered unlimited plan so tethering would be great, but I'm not gonna pay extra for a tether specific plan. AT&T terms of service says that doing so will result in charge/termination...but how do they check? Changing the APN can be read (at least on an iphone, from what I read), not sure about rooting. Can anyone explain how data transfered during tethering by changing the APN will appear to the network vs a rooted tethering system. Also what is with this 5GB soft cap, I've read and believe BS.

Uh, I used my captivate w the USB tethering app from the marketplace just fine. Never got billed additionally.

The only way for them to "know" would be to check the browser agent information on the sites you visit. As long as you don't go nuts and stream netflix for days on end or host torrents you'll be fine.

I've tethered with an N1, Aria, now and Inspire all running stock unbranded froyo or CM, I've never had a tethering charge on my bill. I've gone so far as 10+ gb

while i haven't tried this on the inspire, before on my jailbroken iPhone, i ran a tethering app, using about 15gb a month for a few months in a row (was sitting in florida with no internet connection whats so ever to use but the phone) i never had a problem.

ive been using tethering for years on my incite,pure,tilt2,hd2 and now my inspire and never been charged extra for it.im glad they cant tell or i would owe them lots of money

double post.

I've tethered on my my old tilt 2 every day, with no issues up to 5GB. I sideloaded PDAnet on my inspire already, and plan to use it as well.
Scott

Tethering Data Usage
The Least amount I have ever had in a Month between the Inspire,Iphone 4,Iphone 3GS,Captivate,ARIA,with "MyWi",Rooting,Jailbreaking,Whatever method (I am a phone Junkie)using my Grandfathered Data Plan is 63Gigs in a Month and usually between 150 to 180 Gigs and never a Problem,They actually game me the 3rd Degree when I wanted to keep my Unlimited plan with the 4G Inspire and I told them I stream Movies,ie. Netflix,and I run a router Flashed with "DD-WRT" using the HotSpot and I have 3 teenage Boys that are Gaming,ect Constantly. My Argument is that is what "Unlimited " Means,I said to AT&T I have 5 Smartphones and have had for 6 years,I will take my Business Elsewhere,they called me back the next Day and said I could Keep the Unlimited because of my longtime status,I was one of the very first to win the Argument,I got home with my Inspire and the next day got a Data Usage Warning that I was at my 2 gig Max after the Guy in the Store said I could keep my Data Plan,Corporate said NO Way, I told them I was bringing the phone back and going elsewhere with my Business,Within a Day I had my Plan back in tact,Vegas

Wow....some people need to spring for broadband it seems.

63 gigs a month? WTF?????
Sent from Desire HD or Inspire 4G or whatever this thing is called via premium XDA app.

People like him are why the rest of us lost the ability to choose unlimited
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

daveop said:
People like him are why the rest of us lost the ability to choose unlimited
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
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Your right in that one.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

I'd love to watch him and his boys at the "all you can eat buffet"

newter55 said:
I'd love to watch him and his boys at the "all you can eat buffet"
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I do believe the owner of said buffet would be crying...

Iphone4 and APN detection vs website red flag, pdanet?
Question: I have an iPhone 4 mod with 4.3.1
Was on a lot recently in last month - 5-10 g possible downloads- got the death message from AT&T . Will charge if I don't reform ways. ( feel like some kid) what bs! Have unlimited data plan. I
I use an HP mini laptop with win 7 starter OPS, I am tethering (wireless),
Guy who jb my phone - said that detection happens by - when tethered- when downloading either by choice or by auto update - programs like flash player and adobe PDF , Microsoft windows , AT&T sees download traffic and flags as obvious tether for laptop thus their 'unauthorized'tethering traffic going on.
Is this the case- not APN ISSUE?- site location issue?
I oftentimes use remote tethering to downloading and updating data files on programs that are native to both desktop and iPhone to exchange data. I need tethering - don't need limit to band width nor 45$month charge.
If monitoring locations what steps needed other than obvious -not downloading flash updates nor adobe reader updates while online? Problem is I have quit a few programs- can't seem to completely be free of auto updates- adobe is not allowing pure manual update preference setting-to set on auto update feature.
Also does pdanet work as stated??
PDA net doesn't shield site location just APN's?! Correct? What is ideAl settings to
Max out protection . Thank-you

Guess not one of you using 60 gigs a month knows that you can get DSL, UVerse HSI, Cable HSI, etc for like $20 bucks a month for a year.

I know. It really tickles me when I hear people complain about not being able to tether or being caught for tethering. And ATT is the bad guy here?? You have never been allowed to tether on ATT without a tethering plan. FACT. Unlimited data is not unlimited. FACT. Even on the prior unlimited plan there has always been a fair useage policy of 5GB. Anything over 5GB is considered excessive. For the most part it has been overlooked by ATT.
The only BS here is those that abuse the system and come here to cry about it.

Agoattamer said:
I know. It really tickles me when I hear people complain about not being able to tether or being caught for tethering. And ATT is the bad guy here?? You have never been allowed to tether on ATT without a tethering plan. FACT. Unlimited data is not unlimited. FACT. Even on the prior unlimited plan there has always been a fair useage policy of 5GB. Anything over 5GB is considered excessive. For the most part it has been overlooked by ATT.
The only BS here is those that abuse the system and come here to cry about it.
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+1
I too am tired about people complaining about caps and tethering plans. Att networks are not ready for this kind of traffic yet. I'm sure they want to be able to offer it to people as much as they want it. People don't understand that if they just let you do whatever you wanted to now, everyone's experience would be terrible. Let them build up their networks and maybe someday it will change, but until then, just accept the fact that you still need home internet and tv service. Besides, I think its cool that att is letting people even keep unlimited data plans.
Phone: HTC Inspire 4gRadio: 26.13.04.19
Ril: 2.2.0179Rom: GB Sense 4.0 by fshami

The only times I've tethered is when I'm on the road and there is no wifi for my laptop. Even then it was just for web browsing and for no longer than 30 minutes at a time.

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?
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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.
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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
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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
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dtowngs4g said:
To my knowledge t-mobile charges 15/mo for wireless mobile hotspot/tethering pack
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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?
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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?...
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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...

Mobile Hotspot

If you are running a Rom will ATT know ,and change your data settings, if you use the mobile hotspot? I thought I read they can't and you can do it on your unlimited plan without them know or changing, but I just wanted to if that's true.
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Kent Melton said:
If you are running a Rom will ATT know ,and change your data settings, if you use the mobile hotspot? I thought I read they can't and you can do it on your unlimited plan without them know or changing, but I just wanted to if that's true.
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They have ways of knowing. For example, a couple of months ago some jailbroken iPhone users started getting letters and text messages from AT&T stating they need to either stop tethering or be forced to get a tethering plan. I haven't heard of the same thing happening with Android users though. Earlier this month Google bowed to pressure from the phone companies and started removing tethering apps from the Market.

Att is most likely checking the natted IP bounce since using hotspots requires extra hop. Have to use proxy to avoid trace.

I was USB tether my phone to my work laptop for internet and have been doing so for many months and never once has ATT said anything. Then again thats USBtether, not wifi
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xKrisx said:
I was USB tether my phone to my work laptop for internet and have been doing so for many months and never once has ATT said anything. Then again thats USBtether, not wifi
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using Tapatalk
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The issue arises when someone is using tens or hundreds of GB per month, that kind of gives it away. If you only occasionally tether (wifi or hotspot) for basic websurfing, I doubt you're going to raise any red flags.

I know there were a few moments when I really needed internet on my laptop and decided to tether because I could... even thigh I was scared to do it, I did it anyways and I have yet to get any charges... so yeah just keep your usage while tethering low...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

ST3ALTHPSYCH0 said:
The issue arises when someone is using tens or hundreds of GB per month, that kind of gives it away. If you only occasionally tether (wifi or hotspot) for basic websurfing, I doubt you're going to raise any red flags.
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^this
i've consistently gone over 5gigs since i've had my unlimited data plan (nothing outrageous usually under 10gigs) and i wifi tether all the time. i read in another thread this exact thing... they can't really tell unless you all of a sudden jump your usage... for that reason i make sure i stay above the old 5 gig limit.

what wifi tether to use

i just flashed the blackhole rom and all i can say is wow. it is incredible, so much cooler than some of the other ones ive found. but anyways im rooted and i was wondering what a good wifi tethering app to use is. obviously a free one that i wont have to pay ridiculous amounts of money for each month on my bill if i use it

Good luck with that. Most carriers are trying to crack down on this theft...check the market place they are there

Speaking of tether I have three questions.
1. If you start using a ridiculous amount of data you think vzw would catch on and try to charge you for it?
2. When vzw transitions to tiered data, they can't modify your plan if you currently have unlimited data can they?
3. Does vzw throttle data at a certain point?
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I use android-wifi-tether
code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/list

yep use wife tether
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/list
answers
1. probably if ur in the top 5% of users of data
2. no they cant. you are grandfathered in
3. not the 4g. i heard of people saying they used 40, 65 even 80 gb and they did not get throttled or cut off.

Jaskwith said:
Speaking of tether I have three questions.
1. If you start using a ridiculous amount of data you think vzw would catch on and try to charge you for it?
2. When vzw transitions to tiered data, they can't modify your plan if you currently have unlimited data can they?
3. Does vzw throttle data at a certain point?
Sent from my VS910 4G using XDA App
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these phones can use quite a bit of data themselves. I think most of the apps use the "stealth" type of tether where verizon would have to guess that you were tethering based off of overall data usage.
verizon can throttle you. According to their policy, they will throttle the top 5% of data users, esp during peak times so as to not effect their network.

Jaskwith said:
Speaking of tether I have three questions.
1. If you start using a ridiculous amount of data you think vzw would catch on and try to charge you for it?
2. When vzw transitions to tiered data, they can't modify your plan if you currently have unlimited data can they?
3. Does vzw throttle data at a certain point?
Sent from my VS910 4G using XDA App
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1. If you have unlimited data, then it wouldn't matter. If they can't prove you tether, then they can't charge you.
2. If you have unlimited data, you will be grandfathered into unlimited until you change your plan.
3. I've heard reports that they do and don't. I have never noticed being throttled, but I don't use a lot of data.
Verizon will soon be able to detect tether users. If you ever get an official update to your phone, say goodbye to tethering. Also google is starting to restrict downloads of tether apps to certain carriers, and you can bet verizon will be one of them.
Tethering days are numbered.
Sent from my rooted stock HTC Thunderbolt using Swype

I would recommend wireless tether.
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im running open garden wifi...same thing as wifi tether. i can't find wifi tether on the market

To find Wireless Tether on the market, you have to go into Airplane mode, enable WiFi and then search for it there.

or simply go to this website
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/

Those of you saying that VZW can't change your data plan/charge you extra and can't detect tethering are fools. The valid question is not whether they can do these things, it is a matter of whether they care or not. Right now I'm sure that they don't. The future is always an unknown.

I wonder if its downloaded through the phone if VZW would have record of it somewhere?

sg1dan said:
or simply go to this website
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/
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I've used that particular tethering app on various phones successfully in the past, and am in fact tethered with it over my Droid Charge (with version 3.1 beta). On most phones it's shown as an ad-hoc connection, not a real "access point" or "hotspot" like it does with the official tethering app. (The Charge right now is showing as an ad-hoc device, not a real wifi ap.)
Which version are you using on the Thunderbolt? What settings? I tried it this morning on the TB with 3.1 and while it appeared to work and connect as a real hotspot with the laptop, the laptop couldn't get any connections beyond the TB. I had everything on "auto".
Any hints/tips appreciated.
The connection right now for me on the Charge is more stable than with the official hotspot app...and it was the same with the official app on my Thunderbolt. I've posted youtube videos of both phones being used as a hotspot where the mobile data connection keeps flickering off, sometimes as rapidly as on for 5 seconds, no data for 5 seconds. It was maddening. Yesterday I had to pull out my TMobile Nexus S and use it's CM7 hotspot (which shows as a real access point, btw) to get a useable connection to the web.
Seems like the VZW official offerings aren't very stable.

I use the Wireless Tether 3.0 beta but you have to go to settings and click hTC routing fix for it to work.

BariB523 said:
I use the Wireless Tether 3.0 beta but you have to go to settings and click hTC routing fix for it to work.
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Thanks! I missed that one in the settings. I also had to change the Device Profile from Auto to Generic, but now I'm tethered on my MacBook via the Thunderbolt, and it shows as a real access point.

I have been using wireless tether for root users on Das Bamf 3.0 RC4 with MR2 radio and have not had any drop issues thus far.

Just downloaded this as well. Works great! Thanks for the tip

I believe the 2.0.7 one from the Google site is the only one that works on the thunderbolt.

JetBlk said:
Just downloaded this as well. Works great! Thanks for the tip
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Dude, you're on Verizon now too Cool!
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AT&T killing of illegal tethering?

I couldnt get my phone to tether last night and i saw a few people mention in other custom rom forums that it wasnt working... I was just wondering if anybody else could try if your on custom rom to see if its on my end or if at&t is cracking down? im on apex9.0 and talon 4.4.13 my tethering has always worked before???
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Well.. I was ready to post and just tell you 'no its still working' cus i used it just last night. But I just tried using my capt to connect via wifi and although it connects like normal and says internet, when you try and reach the outside world it gives you a "invalid IP" thing on the windows 7 troubleshooter program. Tried tethering and got the same thing, even though it says connected..
Decided to see if it was just my android, so pulled out my windows mobile 6.5 phone that can tether and fired it up... connects just fine, im posting from it now. So i guess maybe they just figured out a way to break however android does it? Bummer.. anyone else able to give it a try?
I use cognition rom fyi.. has always worked before. I'll try again here in a bit...

Works for me
Don't know what the difference is but I just tried tethering on mine still using the older Precetion Beta 2 rom and it seems to work without any problems.

Oops spoke too soon... rebooted computer and phone and now it works.. shoulda fiddled with it more i guess.
Tried via wifi and tethering, on tethering now. Both worked.. so confirmed working on android and WM.. so no they havent been able to break it yet.. muahahaha!
You had me all upset though that I'd have to switch my damn sim card over to another phone to tether each time

Seeing this thread scared me... I dont use it that often but I am paranoid AT&T will find a way to stop us one day and I wont realize it only to find out when I need it most.

Ill have to try again when i get off of work, but i couldnt get it to work fof the life of me!
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I just tried, worked great. Using continuum
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Working on my Cappy (CM7), for now

Working on mine....using continuum 6.1....
BTW, there was a big solar flare came through last night or the night before....my phone was acting weird yesterday

Must have been the talon test kernel or something because i flashed new test tonight and all is working well
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I don't see what the big deal is, if you have a data plan and available bytes to use not sure why ATT restricts wifi tethering. I downloaded a Mandriva linux cd iso onto my phone the other day, some 680 megabytes. I can pretty much do on my android what I do on my computer. If you have the data to use on your plan, not sure why ATT cares how you use it.
Just more innovative ways to screw the customer.
And my wifi tether works fine too, must be the solar flares.

It's more directed towards people with unlimited data plans and use large amounts of data instead of using a home internet connection.
They say these users big down the network for others that use the service normally. For those of us on tiered data plans it shouldn't matter.
I'm not saying I agree with them, just trying to explain it.
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Hmmm, looks like I don't use my data soooooo much lol cause I can still tether

artvandalay22222 said:
It's more directed towards people with unlimited data plans and use large amounts of data instead of using a home internet connection.
They say these users big down the network for others that use the service normally. For those of us on tiered data plans it shouldn't matter.
I'm not saying I agree with them, just trying to explain it.
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It matters to them even for tiered plans because people who tether use more data (that they are paying for). This prevents them from overselling their network. Like an airplane or a fitness gym, they want to sell you the service and get your money. They don't actually want you to use it to your fullest or they will be overwhelmed.

Still works for me, it's a damn shame they don't have unlimited data anymore.

For your entertainment, CNN has posted something related -
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/08/12/carriers.stop.tethering.gahran/index.html?hpt=te_bn4
and this one too -
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/08/12/avoid.tethering.fees.gahran/index.html?hpt=te_bn1

artvandalay22222 said:
It's more directed towards people with unlimited data plans and use large amounts of data instead of using a home internet connection.
They say these users big down the network for others that use the service normally. For those of us on tiered data plans it shouldn't matter.
I'm not saying I agree with them, just trying to explain it.
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That is not true. I work for At&t from what i've read in our LSO classes we take everday, is that At&t will be able to see the MAC id of the device you are tethering with. So when they cross check the MAC id with your device, because your device's "MAC" will always identify itself when it talks which is everytime it has to communicate with a tower.
So if they catch you now after Aug 11, regardless of data usage they will automatically remove you from your unlimited data to the tiered data/ tethering plan. So don't think you have to be a big user to be affected. I know it's easier for them to track iphones but i'm not so sure about Android. This is why i'm posting!
SO my question is how do we spoof the MAC id? I use Cm7 anyone?

TheTodFather said:
That is not true. I work for At&t from what i've read in our LSO classes we take everday, is that At&t will be able to see the MAC id of the device you are tethering with. So when they cross check the MAC id with your device, because your device's "MAC" will always identify itself when it talks which is everytime it has to communicate with a tower.
So if they catch you now after Aug 11, regardless of data usage they will automatically remove you from your unlimited data to the tiered data/ tethering plan. So don't think you have to be a big user to be affected. I know it's easier for them to track iphones but i'm not so sure about Android. This is why i'm posting!
SO my question is how do we spoof the MAC id? I use Cm7 anyone?
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So, if im on a tiered plan, what are they gonna do? Automatically add a tethering plan?
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Tether Not working CM7
Hola all, just trying to find out if Im the only one that cant use the tether function on any of the Nightlys after 62, anyone else having this issue????? I keep having to go back to 62 if I need to use tether
Thanks YARRRR

Still working on mine...