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Tethering Enabled!!

So I went to a t-mobile store today to pick up a MT4G, and noticed that the demo handset had wireless tethering enabled. So, I went ahead and bought one on my Even More Plus plan (installments, not subsidized/contract.)
Once I got it set up and working, I had a look in the Wireless settings again, and....vanilla Froyo tethering is enabled?!?
Now, I'm sure they plan on handing this similar to the T-Mobile TV stuff (trialware with a big fat agreement before you can run it) - but why would this be enabled out of the box? They can't charge you without you agreeing to the extra fee.
Now, apparently there's an OTA already, but I'll be damned if I'll install until someone confirms that tethering still works without an up-sale screen.
Anyone have any insight on this? Why is this enabled without me having to agree to paying the bill?

http://androidandme.com/2010/11/car...ile-users-about-to-lose-their-free-tethering/

I just called customer service about this an the associate stated that it will deduct out of ur minutes. That being said, I dont know what the statement is saying.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

How will they know if you're tethering or not?

tonyriceroni said:
How will they know if you're tethering or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint blocked the traffic from traversing to and from the remote gateway, but I believe this was only in their provided app. Other apps worked without much issue, but required rooting.

tonyriceroni said:
How will they know if you're tethering or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can't. It's impossible to tell the difference without doing deep packet inspection on a massive scale (ie. all network traffic.) In other words, they can't.
aiwapro said:
Sprint blocked the traffic from traversing to and from the remote gateway, but I believe this was only in their provided app. Other apps worked without much issue, but required rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*sigh* bull****.
1) if other apps work, then it is (by definition) not blocked.
2) TCP/IP traffic which originates at the phone (either via masquerading / IP forwarding or an application) looks the same from the outside. There is no way to distinguish one from the other.

You can still use PDANet without root though. It's wired, but is it really worth the battery power to use wireless when you don't need it?

Product F(RED) said:
You can still use PDANet without root though. It's wired, but is it really worth the battery power to use wireless when you don't need it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is if you want to tether non-windows/mac or multiple devices. Besides, you can still plug it in while using wireless...
As for PDA net, I've noticed some weird stuff there, like 1000+ms latency, DNS failures, etc. Stuff that doesn't happen from the phone itself. Odd...

Looks like the tether option is still there also, if you look at the Connect to PC menu. But my wireless is working. If it goes down, just soft root and install the app that replicates the feature.

I just installed the OTA that finally allowed WiFi calling. Tethering still works for me, using the $20 preferred data plan. If they try to hit me with a charge in a few days or weeks, I'll just call and *****. If they can't sell it to me for super cheap, I'll just use PDAnet. Problem solved.

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.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using Tapatalk

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^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.

Free tethering (with Verizon at least)

I want to preface this with that I am on Verizon so this is using the Verizon hotspot app and I have rooted my phone but I expecet this to do the same on a non-rooted phone.
I have noticed that if I go directly into the app, the service will not work because it does a check to see if I pay for the tethering option. When it checks, it fails and tells me that if I want it that I need to call a number and add it to my plan. However I have found out that if you have a 3rd party app/widget, it will activate the tethering without the check. I have done this both through "Locale Wifi Hotspot Plugin" and "Tethering Widget". Other tethering apps seem to be flaky and either not work at all or timeout.
I have not had any issues with this; I watched an hour long show on Netflix on my tablet yesterday and used my old DInc(now deactivated), which I have the video out wired into my car, to play a few kids shows this morning on the way into work. I hope Verizon doesn't catch onto this workaround.

I too have found this to work! I downloaded switchpro widgets and it allows you to turn it on through the stock app and configure at will. More reliable than foxfi for me! Give it a try if you want wifi tether without root

haha nice. I wonder if it VZW can detect this and bill you?

Failed on my sprint version, cool that it works on vzw

I bypass all that and just use FoxFi.

Barnacle of Free wireless tether for root

ericlmccormick said:
I want to preface this with that I am on Verizon so this is using the Verizon hotspot app and I have rooted my phone but I expecet this to do the same on a non-rooted phone.
I have noticed that if I go directly into the app, the service will not work because it does a check to see if I pay for the tethering option. When it checks, it fails and tells me that if I want it that I need to call a number and add it to my plan. However I have found out that if you have a 3rd party app/widget, it will activate the tethering without the check. I have done this both through "Locale Wifi Hotspot Plugin" and "Tethering Widget". Other tethering apps seem to be flaky and either not work at all or timeout.
I have not had any issues with this; I watched an hour long show on Netflix on my tablet yesterday and used my old DInc(now deactivated), which I have the video out wired into my car, to play a few kids shows this morning on the way into work. I hope Verizon doesn't catch onto this workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks this worked for me on my unrooted verizon. Does anyone know any other teathering widgets that work? Im not a fan of the icon.

I would just hope this doesnt come back and get billed for it.
I just installed FoxFi and it works good.
Also if you are on the new shared plans, tethering should be "free" now.

i can't believe FoxFi hasn't gotten yanked for VZW customers yet like they did with PDANet

Ok I need help. I have foxfi and the wifi plugin both working. What do you guys suggest I stick with? Am I better off sticking with foxfi, since the other way uses verizon's hot spot?

foxfi works for me, unrooted at&t s3

Does ICS have tracking files like GB that notify vzw about tethering? I remember having to flash a file to remove them.

Also on that note, apparently toggling on the built in hotspot is much easier to track, according to lifehacker... Not exactly sure how FoxFi works but sounds like that might be the "safer" option, despite the cleanliness of just toggling on the built in. Also, I can confirm that using the toggle method works on AT&T as well.

I installed it on my non rooted TMo, and it turns wireless tethering on, what ever that connects to the tether gets directed to TMo to add wireless tethering to my account.

set it up on 2 sgs iii last night, both took a little while to connect my win 7 laptop the first time, but all is good.

stupidchicken03 said:
I would just hope this doesnt come back and get billed for it.
I just installed FoxFi and it works good.
Also if you are on the new shared plans, tethering should be "free" now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They would have a hard time collecting on something you didn't agree to pay for, and you aren't doing anything wrong if it "just works" using a 3rd party app.
Still I just use Wireless Tether.
Tethering sounds great on a "shared plan", but what the heck are you going to do with a gig or two of data?

Wow totally works! Stock Verizon...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2

turbosrrgood said:
They would have a hard time collecting on something you didn't agree to pay for, and you aren't doing anything wrong if it "just works" using a 3rd party app.
Still I just use Wireless Tether.
Tethering sounds great on a "shared plan", but what the heck are you going to do with a gig or two of data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on Verizon? I am and I want to use the good ol' Wireless Tether app hosted on google code. I chose the generic ICS profile but it starts with errors. Log says failed setting ad-hoc mode. .

npompei said:
Wow totally works! Stock Verizon...
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Curious, did you actually use another device and go on line using the tether?

preusstang said:
Are you on Verizon? I am and I want to use the good ol' Wireless Tether app hosted on google code. I chose the generic ICS profile but it starts with errors. Log says failed setting ad-hoc mode. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the Galaxy Nexus profile. Mine works like that without any problems.

[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

[SOLVED] One Click Wifi Tether with t0mmy not working... any ideas?

For some reason, I am getting an error when I try using t0mmy (found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1677261) one click tether enabler. I've done some searching and cannot find anyone else who has had this issue. What the heck am I missing (screenshots attached)?! Any ideas?
Info:
- Stock AT&T ROM
- Rooted
- Android 4.0.4
- Used on StraightTalk... all APNs are setup correctly... data works on the phone.
For solution, SEE BELOW

One other thing I should mention is that even when I am using `android-wifi-tether` it will not work. It just shows up as a device on my computer when it is turned on as a wifi hotspot.
I've downloaded SQLite Browser and have changed all fields with "broadband" to "pta". Still no go.

I don't understand what you need that program for...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

When I click to activate the native wifi hotspot, it says that I cannot have a hotspot and to call 611. So I am trying Android Wifi Tether, which works for a little bit then after about 3 seconds, says "what the hell, your phone is taking over. shutting down wifi." Something like that. I'm just trying to get this phone setup so my friend can use it as a hotspot.
SQLite is to edit my `telephony.db`

Well, I do believe that it could be because you are using a stock rom, so att bulit in securities could be taking over. Also, I do want you to know that ATT does have advanced technology to detect tethering. without notice, they can upgrade you data plan to 5gb ($50) because you were caught tethering. it is the way the apn connects. now you can try to change your apn to BROADBAND, which is tethering, but again, but warned. if your data plan changes (esepcially if you are grandfathered into one), then that's on you...
so here are my suggestions: change the APN to broadband, get off the stock, and im sure there are a plethora of apps in the play market that should work

Herc08 said:
Also, I do want you to know that ATT does have advanced technology to detect tethering. without notice, they can upgrade you data plan to 5gb ($50) because you were caught tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will send you a warning (physical letter or SMS, can't remember which exactly) notifying you have been caught tethering without the appropriate data plan. Then, if you are caught again, they will change you plan.
Probably nobody except folks at AT&T know the exact methods they use to monitor for tethering. But the thought here is that a high amount of usage will raise red flags, then they will examine data packets for the signs of tethering.
Some folks (myself included) have been able to tether without getting caught, by just doing it occasionally, and keeping the data usage low. But even then, the system seems far from consistent. I've seen a couple of folks report on here getting the tethering warning from AT&T, despite having never even tethered.

The days when you could easily pirate tethering may be coming to an end. AT&T has really cracked down on it and improved their methods of detection. Even if you get this working, you will get caught if you start tethering regularly.

redpoint73 said:
They will send you a warning (physical letter or SMS, can't remember which exactly) notifying you have been caught tethering without the appropriate data plan. Then, if you are caught again, they will change you plan.
Probably nobody except folks at AT&T know the exact methods they use to monitor for tethering. But the thought here is that a high amount of usage will raise red flags, then they will examine data packets for the signs of tethering.
Some folks (myself included) have been able to tether without getting caught, by just doing it occasionally, and keeping the data usage low. But even then, the system seems far from consistent. I've seen a couple of folks report on here getting the tethering warning from AT&T, despite having never even tethered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do apologize, you are right. You will get a notice first. And then if you continue, then you will still bumped out. It is an email AND a SMS. Using small amount of data is usually the way to go. But if you trying to tether a computer, then most likely the data usage will be high. As I mentioned in other posts, as a former AT&T employee, if you want to tether, just upgrade your data plan. If you are on unlimited data, you will already get throttled at 3gb, so the Unlimited data and 3gb are basically the same thing, which is why the price is the same.
I have seem some accounts when excessive tethering is done, that the data is actually suspended, no matter what the case is. It's weird that AT&T can do that, but it is in their wireless agreement, which is at section 6 i think.

Thanks for the heads up about AT&T clamping down on this. It is good to know. I am doing this for an elderly couple who rarely use the internet. This is their first smart phone. They are savvy enough to know what that message means if they get it. I will let them know about it too.
They mainly will be accessing on the device itself but wanted the option to use it as a hotspot as well. They are already paying for data... they purchased the phone used and are under no contract (on Straight Talk). They want to use something they own, however they want. It's too bad AT&T is so mean.
It's like buying a computer and then the manufacturer says you cannot use bluetooth unless you pay them a monthly service charge.

[SOLUTION]
Oh yeah, I forgot to post that I figured a way out to get 'android-wifi-tether.apk' to work on the stock AT&T ROM.... here we go:
Get "Proxoid" from the Google Play Store
Get WiFi Tether from the Google Play Store (or from here [QR Codes in link]: http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/)
Get a mobile data widget
Once you have them installed, get them all lined up somewhere you can easily run them one after the other.
Make sure mobile data OFF before you turn anything on.
Open Proxoid and check the box to start/stop Proxoid... you want it ON
Open WiFi Tether and turn on tethering
Now you can turn on mobile data
This worked successful for me. I tested it for about 10-15 minutes, playing YouTube videos, reading some blogs, checked out some google image searches and so on. If you do not turn Proxoid on before mobile data is on, this will NOT work.
ENJOY! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
UPDATE: This only worked on my Mac and Android phone. Mac picked up the HOX as a "device" instead of a wifi connection but it worked. Windows cannot find the connection at all. If someone knows how to get Windows to find the device and use it as a hotspot please let me know.

While tethering is a feature of the phone they own, the data being used is a service that is not owned and while I don't agree with what at&t does, I can understand why they would discourage tethering and it is technically within their right to limit how their data is used. They/you could have picked another company that allows tethering but as a consequence you may face saturation from all those heavy tether users.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

exad said:
While tethering is a feature of the phone they own, the data being used is a service that is not owned and while I don't agree with what at&t does, I can understand why they would discourage tethering and it is technically within their right to limit how their data is used. They/you could have picked another company that allows tethering but as a consequence you may face saturation from all those heavy tether users.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is the reason behind the detection. Same as throttling. With the explosion of bandwidth needed, the big companies cannot keep up. Hence why smaller companies offer unlimited data.
Sent from my Carbon-ize Evita using xda-developers app