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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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

(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.
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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.
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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...
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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
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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

T-mobileTethering access has been blocked.

I got a text msg from T-mobile this morning informing me that MY tethering access has been blocked. They want me to pay $14.00 dollars more a month for me to use my data how i want to (I currently pay $140 for unlimited talk/text and 10gb of data.) To me, this is ridiculous. Is there a work around for this? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
jononioo

Are you on the stock ROM?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

I am on the latest CM7 Nightly.

try using one of these http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/list you will have to try the different versions. I am using the latest version on CM7 and have no problems tethering. Now i do only have 5gb of data and most likely do not tether anywhere close to you do since you have the 10gb package. I have heard that if you are using the tethering under the network settings T-Mobile has away to find out. Now i am not sure if that is just with the stock rom or all roms. Give it a try you never know. All carriers charge for tethering not just T-Mobile or i think they do. So if you have to pay you have to pay.

How often do you tether, how long do you tether, and what are you doing when you tether?

interesting.. I tether daily for I'd say at least 2 hours total. hell I'm tethered right now. guess ill keep an eye out for that text.

Is your tethering actually being blocked?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

I tether constantly for hours at a time daily.
Ok, so this is really weird. I can tether without issue when using Crome, but when i try to surf out using firefox, im forced to t-mobile's tether page. So it seems to be browser specific. It just so happens that i do web chats using firefox while tethering.

How many gigabytes do you use per month?

About 10gb per.... Why?

jononioo said:
About 10gb per.... Why?
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Click to collapse
Because "unlimited" isn't really unlimited. Although you say your plan allows 10GB per month, and you say you are using "about" 10GB, which is kinda vague?
For example, 10.1GB is not "about" 10GB if it's over your limit. To T-Mobile, 10.14GB can add an additional $14 per month
Mobile providers use words in the contract like "abuse", "unusual activity", and other such words. You don't seem to know exactly how much you are using per month, but it's a sure bet you are either going over 10GB or most probably you are tethering in a way that makes T-Mobile suspect unusual activity.
For example, most users use their mobile data bandwidth in spurts, but sustained data transfers gets T-Mobile's attention and can be labelled "unusual activity". It puts a load on T-Mobile's network. By contract, anything you do that affects T-Mobile's overall service will cause T-Mobile to take action.
If you are filesharing over tethering, that is sustained data activity and T-Mobile will know and penalize you for it.

EEngineer said:
Because "unlimited" isn't really unlimited. Although you say your plan allows 10GB per month, and you say you are using "about" 10GB, which is kinda vague?
For example, 10.1GB is not "about" 10GB if it's over your limit. To T-Mobile, 10.14GB can add an additional $14 per month
Mobile providers use words in the contract like "abuse", "unusual activity", and other such words. You don't seem to know exactly how much you are using per month, but it's a sure bet you are either going over 10GB or most probably you are tethering in a way that makes T-Mobile suspect unusual activity.
For example, most users use their mobile data bandwidth in spurts, but sustained data transfers gets T-Mobile's attention and can be labelled "unusual activity". It puts a load on T-Mobile's network. By contract, anything you do that affects T-Mobile's overall service will cause T-Mobile to take action.
If you are filesharing over tethering, that is sustained data activity and T-Mobile will know and penalize you for it.
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Click to collapse
Excellent response couldnt have said it better myself. Becareful with the "abuse" of the data, i have a buddy of mine that was FORCED to have a 2gb plan. Yet again he is on att lol

Along with the above statements, I did a bit of research before I started tethering on CM7.
Put simply, you can tether all you want as long as you don't go over the data cap. The only reason you've received that message is because you went over.

T-Mobile has no special way to tell you're tethering on the G2x. They can on the SGSII, Amaze, LG MyTouch series, and a few other of the newest phones that are programmed in the tethering code to use an entirely different APN similar to the way that iPhones do. The G2x, however, does nothing of the sort.

jamadio said:
Along with the above statements, I did a bit of research before I started tethering on CM7.
Put simply, you can tether all you want as long as you don't go over the data cap...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong.
Even if you are under the data cap if you show long sustained data activity such as filesharing, T-Mobile will penalize you for it.
JaiaV said:
T-Mobile has no special way to tell you're tethering on the G2x.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they can tell. Any child can tell if the connection is tethered simply by looking at the HTTP headers!

Tethering to a tablet
Ok. I just got a Toshiba thrive for Christmas. Is tethering to that seen any different? Just curious seeing as it's an Android device. I only Tether in spurts so I don't use a **** ton of data during(no file sharing). Thanks.

EEngineer said:
Wrong.
Even if you are under the data cap if you show long sustained data activity such as filesharing, T-Mobile will penalize you for it.
Yes they can tell. Any child can tell if the connection is tethered simply by looking at the HTTP headers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way they can tell is by user agent string and that requires someone actually looking, which isn't usually being done...

I wireless tether to my laptop 4 hrs and sometime more everyday. I play games on facebook. I have a pre-paid 5 GB data, unlimited talk and txt for $70 a month and I have yet to be block since I changed to it. I did however get blocked when I was on a regular plan as I hit 2gb of the 5gb I had. I did the same amount of tethering then as I do know.
So why then and not now, I really couldn't tell you.
If you're using 10 gb a month, you're doing more than social browsing or facebook apps. Stop downloading the movies and music and you will see a difference. 10 gb? Really?
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

So I just got t989 and I wanted to tether but now I'm forced to pay, I use to have sgs4g and tethering was free. So do I have to just root or install a custom ROM to avoid adding tethering option to my plan
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

JaiaV said:
The only way they can tell is by user agent string and that requires someone actually looking, which isn't usually being done...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Wrong.
Not just the user-agent string, but the entire HTTP headers. You can examine the packets also and learn a lot (is it a TCP or UDP? Is it FTP or HTTP?)
These things are done automatically by monitoring software.
Stop making **** up.

Couple of questions about this phone and ATT

Upon searching I got too many results to filter through on these 2 questions...
1. Can i get 4g on this phone if I didn't buy it straight through ATT? I tried enabling it on my plan online and it flags that it's not my registered phone so it kicked it out.
2. Can I enable tethering without paying ATT? I've tried a few different apps but the ATT stuff still kills it.

boazjuggalo said:
Upon searching I got too many results to filter through on these 2 questions...
1. Can i get 4g on this phone if I didn't buy it straight through ATT? I tried enabling it on my plan online and it flags that it's not my registered phone so it kicked it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean 3G/4G and not LTE then yes. Have no clue what you are trying to enable online. I have a non smartphone plan and I still get 3-6mbps depending on the time of day.
2. Can I enable tethering without paying ATT? I've tried a few different apps but the ATT stuff still kills it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing a custom ROM is the simplest way. Totally against tethering so that is all I am going to say on this.

boazjuggalo said:
Upon searching I got too many results to filter through on these 2 questions...
1. Can i get 4g on this phone if I didn't buy it straight through ATT? I tried enabling it on my plan online and it flags that it's not my registered phone so it kicked it out.
2. Can I enable tethering without paying ATT? I've tried a few different apps but the ATT stuff still kills it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No way around paying for tethering. Not to mention if you use too much data and are on an unlimited data plan they will pull it and change your plan

3g only
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

bdpyo said:
3g only
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
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The phone differentiates between Edge, 3G, and H+ (HSPDA), what some *say* can be called 4G. But if it is LTE that the web site is calling 4G, then the Inspire doesn't have that.

zelendel said:
No way around paying for tethering. Not to mention if you use too much data and are on an unlimited data plan they will pull it and change your plan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I beg to differ, I've been tethering for years on my unlimited data plan and have never paid a cent for it. I don't use obscene amounts of data while doing it though.
OP, rooting and installing a custom rom will let you tether for free as long as you don't get caught.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

nooomoto said:
I beg to differ, I've been tethering for years on my unlimited data plan and have never paid a cent for it. I don't use obscene amounts of data while doing it though.
OP, rooting and installing a custom rom will let you tether for free as long as you don't get caught.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Its only a matter of time. Att is watching the packets sent, so you will be caught soon enough.

ive used tethering scince I got my iPhone 3G which was my first phone and ATT hasn't said anything about it and I don't see why people think its wrong, YOU pay for the data YOU should be able to use it any way you want including tethering.

H+, 3G, EDGE, on an aftermarket rom you can enable tethering but you may get a letter fron ATT saying they noticed you were using tethering and if you continue tethering they may add a $45 tether plan to your account...
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App

Unless you have a data plan that includes tethering, doing so is a violation of the terms of service you agreed to, that's what's wrong.
OP, call AT&T and tell them what phone you're using. They should put in the appropriate data plan at no add'l cost or loss of unlimited data, if that's what you have. I got moved from a "regular" 3G plan to one that is HSPA compatible when I got my Inspire.
Of course, if you're referring to LTE, that wont work on the Inspire.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

pseudoware said:
Unless you have a data plan that includes tethering, doing so is a violation of the terms of service you agreed to, that's what's wrong.
OP, call AT&T and tell them what phone you're using. They should put in the appropriate data plan at no add'l cost or loss of unlimited data, if that's what you have. I got moved from a "regular" 3G plan to one that is HSPA compatible when I got my Inspire.
Of course, if you're referring to LTE, that wont work on the Inspire.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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Wait they are telling people.they need a different plan for HSPA? Lol

zelendel said:
Wait they are telling people.they need a different plan for HSPA? Lol
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Click to collapse
They didn't tell me that. In fact, the personI spoke with was the one that mentioned my unlimited first. She assured me it wouldn't change.

tethering fee justified?
Agoattamer said:
Installing a custom ROM is the simplest way. Totally against tethering so that is all I am going to say on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am curious about your comment about being against tethering. Can you expand on that. I am trying to learn more on the topic. I will not flash a custom rom - have gotten use to SENSE.
I find AT&T being greedy by charging their customers a premium to tether. I pay $25 a month for 2GB and they want me to pay an additional $20 to tether and get another 2GB. I rarely use the 2GB I have now and want to tether when I am not at home when I travel usually. If I go over my 2GB limit, I have to pay $10 for each GB over 2. I am more than happy to pay the $20 more if I use the 2GB but having to pay it each month makes no sense to me - other than carrier greed. --- how does it hurt their network or other customers?

ATT is not the only one that charges extra for tethering. So does, T-mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. So before you start calling them greedy just stop and think. To say I am totally against tethering may have not been the correct words out of my mouth. ATT has let tethering slide for many years for those that just do it once in awhile for emails or occassional browsing. So they are greedy ehhh? But in this technical day and age there are those that abuse it. Some that just go too far with what they use it for and how much data they use. And that does make it bad for others in certain areas where the bandwith may get diluted. So ATT, like other carriers had to cap it off to make it fair for everyone. The ATT service is meant for your phone and not your home computer.
Buying a gun does not give you the right to take it out in the woods and shoot anything you want. You still need a license for what you shoot. If you travel that much then you can afford $20 extra a month. If you use it that little then seriously root your phone and take your chance tethering. You don't have to give up sense. I am running a ROM that looks and runs exactly like the Inspire 2.47 ROM except I don't have messaging bugs, most of my ads are gone, and I can tether with Hotspot if I so need to.

simard57 said:
I am curious about your comment about being against tethering. Can you expand on that. I am trying to learn more on the topic. I will not flash a custom rom - have gotten use to SENSE.
I find AT&T being greedy by charging their customers a premium to tether. I pay $25 a month for 2GB and they want me to pay an additional $20 to tether and get another 2GB. I rarely use the 2GB I have now and want to tether when I am not at home when I travel usually. If I go over my 2GB limit, I have to pay $10 for each GB over 2. I am more than happy to pay the $20 more if I use the 2GB but having to pay it each month makes no sense to me - other than carrier greed. --- how does it hurt their network or other customers?
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You are correct with this. Tethering should only be disallowed with the unlimited plan, as it has never been allowed with it. With the tethering plan, AT&T is not charging you more to tether. It is forcing you to buy more data for tethering. Since data is sold as blocks with the tiered plans and you pay for additional data used, tethering should be included with those plans. If you go over the 2GB, you are going to pay an additional &10 per GB and would end up paying $45 for 4GB anyways. AT&T not being so greedy would allow a person that only needs to tether a small amount in a pinch and doesn't go over the 2GB to not have to purchase additional data when they didn't need it. AT&T has it structured like everyone that wants to tether will use excess amounts of data. This is simlpy not true, and for those that do, the need to purchase additional data covers that. Now, the unlimited is different because one can tether greater amounts of data and not have to pay anymore. But with the tired plans, since data is bought I'm blocks, there is no way for abuse.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

mrhaley30705 said:
They didn't tell me that. In fact, the personI spoke with was the one that mentioned my unlimited first. She assured me it wouldn't change.
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The unlimited data is NOT lost. Data is still unlimited. But if you switch your sim from a phone that is not HSPA-compatible (like an iPhone) to one that is, you won't realize the faster data speeds unless you let AT&T know you've changed, and they change you over to an HSPA plan. But unlimited data wont change if you're already grandfathered in.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

pseudoware said:
The unlimited data is NOT lost. Data is still unlimited. But if you switch your sim from a phone that is not HSPA-compatible (like an iPhone) to one that is, you won't realize the faster data speeds unless you let AT&T know you've changed, and they change you over to an HSPA plan. But unlimited data wont change if you're already grandfathered in.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
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Just an FYI I get the HSPA speed on a 2 year old prepaid sim card.

zelendel said:
Just an FYI I get the HSPA speed on a 2 year old prepaid sim card.
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Me too. SIM doesn't matter. Coding in the system doesn't matter. Hardware (radio) in the phone and software (radio, build.prop, apn, etc) configuration on the phone matters when it comes to which network your device is going to connect to

People who tethered on unlimited: Thanks, you are the reason that AT&T couldn't handle that much data use anymore.
#sentfrommycm7desirehd

tribestros said:
People who tethered on unlimited: Thanks, you are the reason that AT&T couldn't handle that much data use anymore.
#sentfrommycm7desirehd
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There was a time awhile back when I tethered with my Windows phone, but rarely went over 1gb total usage for the month. I have never tethered with my Inspire, yet last month I went just over 4gb of usage. I know it is against the terms to tether with the unlimited, but for me, it is not more a matter if you tether or not, but a matter if you abuse it or not. And even if you don't tether, you could still use massive amounts of data on this phone. I know I could with the Netflix app alone.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

Warning! Using hotspot on at&t

I've been using mobile hotspot on my inspire for about 4-5 months after rooting the phone. All was well... I was using my laptop and speed was decent to check emails, youTube, general browsing.
But I just a mail from at&t saying that "we noticed that you have been using the hotspot feature but you don't have the feature addon on your account. If you continue to use the hotspot feature, your account will be billed $45 automatically on your next billing cycle. If don't use the hotspot, you will not be billed". Hmmm... Anyone using hotspot on at&t get something similar notification from at&t?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

I have never heard of this before. Can they do that? Being Sarcastic

Got that back in October. Yes they can do that. I just stopped tethering.
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Yeah. I stopped tethering now. It was kinda weird that at&t sent the letter now.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

This has been covered all ready. ATT is cracking down on all teathering.

Yep, I posted something about this like a month or so ago.. I got the same letter. I just stopped tethering and have yet to hear anything about my data usage since. And I haven't noticed any throttling either except when they were threatening me about the tethering and such

I also got the same message. I'm actually guessing it was because I jumped from light tethering to a temporary massive download session with it. Gonna lay off for a while and see what comes of it.
Do any of the apps out there (like WiFi Tether for Root Users) actually allow you to tether without them noticing?

voyagerfan99 said:
I also got the same message. I'm actually guessing it was because I jumped from light tethering to a temporary massive download session with it. Gonna lay off for a while and see what comes of it.
Do any of the apps out there (like WiFi Tether for Root Users) actually allow you to tether without them noticing?
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No. There are some that are saying ATT is watching the packets that are being sent. Unless there is a way to make your PC send packets like a mobile device then there is nothing that can be done short of getting a tethering plan.

zelendel said:
No. There are some that are saying ATT is watching the packets that are being sent. Unless there is a way to make your PC send packets like a mobile device then there is nothing that can be done short of getting a tethering plan.
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Adding a tethering plan when you already have an unlimited data plan is really stupid to be honest. But I guess that's American greed for you.

voyagerfan99 said:
Adding a tethering plan when you already have an unlimited data plan is really stupid to be honest. But I guess that's American greed for you.
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Does nobody read the TOS? This has been gone offer alot as of late.
But you are right. The standard of society is motivated by greed.

voyagerfan99 said:
Adding a tethering plan when you already have an unlimited data plan is really stupid to be honest. But I guess that's American greed for you.
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American greed? Maybe you better look at non-American cellular plans before you jump on that wagon. You are fortunate to be on a so called unlimited plan. Second your plan was technically never unlimited. 5GB fair use clause in the TOS that you never took the time to read.
ATT has let users slide for years with tethering and I can't remember ever being allowed to tether on an ATT plan without a tethering plan. It is one thing to use it for occassional email or browsing, but it is another to use it for streaming or online video games. It is that abuse that ruins it for everyone. So where is the greed? Is it the US cellular companies which are trying to keep it fair for everyone to enjoy fast and reliable service or is it in the consumer that is given an inch and takes a mile and then calls foul.
There is nothing wierd that anyone tethering, whether small amounts or massive amounts, is getting a letter. How many threads like this have been started? It is well known. ATT and the other major carriers have made it clear. No tethering without a plan. And they are cracking down and they mean it.

Agoattamer said:
American greed? Maybe you better look at non-American cellular plans before you jump on that wagon. You are fortunate to be on a so called unlimited plan. Second your plan was technically never unlimited. 5GB fair use clause in the TOS that you never took the time to read.
ATT has let users slide for years with tethering and I can't remember ever being allowed to tether on an ATT plan without a tethering plan. It is one thing to use it for occassional email or browsing, but it is another to use it for streaming or online video games. It is that abuse that ruins it for everyone. So where is the greed? Is it the US cellular companies which are trying to keep it fair for everyone to enjoy fast and reliable service or is it in the consumer that is given an inch and takes a mile and then calls foul.
There is nothing wierd that anyone tethering, whether small amounts or massive amounts, is getting a letter. How many threads like this have been started? It is well known. ATT and the other major carriers have made it clear. No tethering without a plan. And they are cracking down and they mean it.
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I totally agree. 10chars

Only thing that gets me is everyone releasing all this new online crap, cloud storage, music/video streaming etc and now they're capping you on data usage. It's almost like its 1997 again and we're paying for AOL by the hour lol... At least having a 5gb package instead of the normal 2gb would be a bit more reasonable
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium

I've been warned before for something from AT&T I had hacked facetime on my iPhone 3gs they sent me a text saying that my phone wasn't registered for a facetime plan and then after that I guess there were characters my phone didn't recognize and half the message was in squares. The first day I had my iPhone though I had gotten a text and email pretty much telling me to stop tethering even though my iPhone wasn't even "set" up -.- it got me worried but I never got a price change
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium

PDANET hides the fact that you are tethering and you do not need root. It only works with bluetooth or USB cable, you can not use hotspot.
Sent from my:
Inspire 4G
w/ Energy Blue Rom
& 4EXT Recovery

If you think that's bad, I got booted off my unlimited plan today for tethering when I havent tethered since October and got the warning text in November :/ The lady at at&t said something about third-party apps using tethering without my knowing and to delete all of them off my phone. Don't know who they are trying to fool

ATT is removing the unlimited plans by any means they can. This is not surprising as they stated publicly that this was the plan. They use the tethering ploy as in common use there is no reason one should be using that much data to be honest with work, family and personal lives. Then add in the fact that wifi is just about everywhere.

AT&T is rubbish.
ATT and sprint belong in the rubbish bin.

Rasa11 said:
AT&T is rubbish.
ATT and sprint belong in the rubbish bin.
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And you think big red is any better or T-Mobile? They are all doing it. It is about money plain and simple. This is nothing new or surprising

Donate me a few million and I will build us a satellite and we can have all our own service running 15g jkjk I'm tired of restrictions is all... I mean the new T-Mobile commercial says hey you get unlimited everything for 50$ a month then in fine print it says " after 100mb of 4g you're speeds get dropped to 2g" like wtf really? What's the point of having unlimited 2g? I mean I am on a plan with 2gigs of data but only have edge where I'm at I'm glad to have wifi where ever I'm at so it doesn't bother me too much but for companies to say they give us the best and then only give us a taste and tease us with it should be illegal -.-
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium