I know there is at least 1 method for bypassing T-Mobile tethering restrictions for the Nexus5
For example: This thread ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2512674&page=8 )
However, are there any other simpler methods that don't require rooting your phone?
T-Mobile's unlimited data plan includes unlimited data for the Nexus5, but not for tethering. T-Mobile gives you 2.5GB tethering hotspot for free, so you can use your Nexus5 to tether. But it appears that not even apps like FoxFi help when you've reached your 2.5GB tethering limit.
I used my Nexus7 tethered to my Nexus5 yesterday, and when i went to a chrome webpage on the tablet, it prompted me to upgrade my tethering plan....
I was stunned.........
First) because I didn't know T-Mobile could track tethering on a Nexus5......... and I still dont exactly understand how they track it...
Second) because even if they could somehow track tethering, I assumed that since I was using another android device, they wouldn't even be able to detect the traffic difference between Nexus5 and Nexus7
Third) because FoxFi didn't work !
Are there any methods (similar to FoxFi) that work? or are T-Mobile tethering restrictions unavoidable unless rooted?
Based on my understanding, Google built something into the Nexus 5 that reports tethering back to the carrier. It's unfortunately but certainly understandable as I'm sure the carriers have been asking for it for a while. The reason this breaks FoxFi as well is that FoxFi seems to use the built-in tethering with a hack to mask traffic. Since the built-in tethering is reporting it as tethering to the carrier anyway, masking the traffic doesn't help.
The modification to settings.db appears to disable that reporting with a single value, a setting that is obviously not normally available to the user. Since apps like FoxFi have been able to use the built-in tethering to work around carrier restrictions in the past, I think you will need to see development on a new app (like the old Wireless Tether for Root Users that predates the built-in tethering) to get around the restrictions without modifying system files.
What bothers me more is that my plan includes tethering and I am still hitting the paywall on my Nexus 5.
Any updates to this?
I have the $20 unlimited and unthrottled 4G data add on, it comes with only 2.5GB of tethering, then I get the upsell message.
try this link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581035
Pretty sure that they check more ways than one. They did ask Google to put in a checker (found in the changelogs for official update) but also they check via the header of the packet of info that passes through their towers. Some have had success with just changing the user agent of their browser, but if you are completely stock then I think you have to edit the framework, the sqlite option, and the browser agent. Might be easier to use a custom rom that doesn't have the framework stuff in it. I don't use Tmo anymore, so can't test this stuff out. When I had my S4 on Tmo, I had to use a VPN, custom wifi tether app, and only then could I tether without being sent to the upsell page (my plan at the time did not even include tethering either).
Related
Was just wondering if anyone knew what if any repercussions there would be using the Wifi Hotspot and USB tether app from SVTP (from the Android Market) on a non-rooted Verizon GN. The app works great and was quick to setup but I am interested to know if I will be automatically popped into a Mobile Hotspot plan (which I do not have now) if I use it.
That being said would it make more sense to root my phone to circumvent these potential charges?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Verizon has recently adopted new changes in how it monitors for tethering and when unauthorized tethering is detected it redirects you to a verizon web page on how to order a tethering package. I have heard PDA net still works, you might want to check out Koush's tether app, reported to be undetectable.
I say either way root your phone, then load a custom rom many of them have work arounds for wifi tethering
Hi guys,
I am loving the Nexus 5. I've ordered it, and should be here in 2 days. Only issue is, I need the program android-wifi-tether https://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/ to be working on this phone.
You see, I have a data plan from my carrier which DOES NOT ALLOW you to tether = (. However, the program wifi tether works great to get around this. Previously I used to use an App called Fox-Fi which did something similar.
Currently I'm running a TW based Samsung S3, because WiFi Tether will only work on TW-based roms, not AOSP-based roms.
Do you think there is any chance to get WiFi Tether, (or similar) App that will work on the Google Nexus 5?
Thoughts?
It looks like the biggest requirement is Netfilter, which is essentially IP tables. Try installing IP tables, and see if the program will run. Otherwise, you can always use another tethering app like easytether, or another program (I know that there are loads out there). If you are rooted, it should not be much of a hassle to install.
Es Filexplorer will do it for you once rooted and a great file management app also
Thanks guys. I'll give it a shot once device is in my hands. Thanks.
Another method for this I use that sometimes works is to tether using the default app and just use a User Agent switch in google chrome for HTML traffic. My video games as well as spotify ETC work like normal I only need the UA switcher for traffic within the browser.
Wait, am I missing something here? OP, tethering is a standard feature in Nexus phones, esp now that Verizon is out of the equation.
Why can't you just use the built-in tethering? If it's an issue of your provider being able to track that, then I don't think any of the 3rd party tools are going to help. Typically, just a user-agent switcher can take care of the problem on the device that you're tethered to.
I'm dealing with this issue right now. I had a note 2 running macks rom on my sprint note 2 that let you hotspot free. The N5 tether/hotspot does not work. We need a work around..
Engineer4life said:
I'm dealing with this issue right now. I had a note 2 running macks rom on my sprint note 2 that let you hotspot free. The N5 tether/hotspot does not work. We need a work around..
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My carrier has 2 data plans. 6gb for $30 gives you LTE and tether/hotspot. Or Unlimited LTE for $45 -but tether/hotspot is disabled/not allowed.
I'm on the $45 plan and built-in tether does not work. But the app "wifi-tether" gets around this and works Great!
The issue isn't user-agent. With built-in tether I can't even get a data signal. It will create the a dud Wi-Fi hotspot.
Let's hope IPTables works! I'm sure Bluetooth tether and USB tether may still work, but is much more annoying.
prettyha8 said:
My carrier has 2 data plans. 6gb for $30 gives you LTE and tether/hotspot. Or Unlimited LTE for $45 -but tether/hotspot is disabled/not allowed.
I'm on the $45 plan and built-in tether does not work. But the app "wifi-tether" gets around this and works Great!
The issue isn't user-agent. With built-in tether I can't even get a data signal. It will create the a dud Wi-Fi hotspot.
Let's hope IPTables works! I'm sure Bluetooth tether and USB tether may still work, but is much more annoying.
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which version of the wifi tether app did you use that works? It seems some versions are picky about some phones I just want to get everything I need for when my Nexus 5 arrives
orthonovum said:
which version of the wifi tether app did you use that works? It seems some versions are picky about some phones I just want to get everything I need for when my Nexus 5 arrives
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For my TW-based Samsung Galaxy S3, I used the file "wifi_tether_v3_4-experimental1.apk", then I changed the SSID and changed the WPA2-PSK phasephrase.
*** I think the trick was, if you did NOT change the default SSID or added a WPA2 password the App did not work. After you set a WPA2 password, you can then turn off encryption or change the SSID back to default.
But I don't think know if this will work for the Nexus 5. **Fingers-crossed!
bump
There is another thread with more discussion on this matter here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2512674
prettyha8 said:
The issue isn't user-agent. With built-in tether I can't even get a data signal. It will create the a dud Wi-Fi hotspot.
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Is that the case on a Nexus device or something else? In theory my plan doesn't allow tethering, but I've never had an issue with the built-in hotspot. I'm just trying to figure out how your carrier would even know you were using a hotspot versus having data requests come from the phone itself. The traffic should look the same, for the most part.
bobalias said:
Is that the case on a Nexus device or something else? In theory my plan doesn't allow tethering, but I've never had an issue with the built-in hotspot. I'm just trying to figure out how your carrier would even know you were using a hotspot versus having data requests come from the phone itself. The traffic should look the same, for the most part.
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I believe when you tether, your phone creates a secondary data connection pipe for tethering data. Apps like WiFi-Tether spoof this, and can even create an internal proxy server, such that all tethered data will look like on-device mobile browsing data.
My carrier let's me only create one data connection, thus tether is not allowed. However if I insert my SIM into a "MiFi device", then I can "share" the data connection, as only 1 data connection is being established.
I MIGHT BE WRONG, but this is what it looks like is happening in my findings. Hence the use of IPTABLES to re-route.
I'm not sure why AOSP-based custom Roms could never get WiFi tether working, but TouchWiz (TW) based roms could. I assume something in the kernel. However, I need this working badly.
Interesting, I'd never really given the process a detailed consideration but that sounds like a plausible explanation for both how they detect it, how they block it, and how software modifications let you get around it.
I am currently using wifi tether on evo lte on sprint, fine. Thinking of getting nexus 5. Will this app work on it? that link to the other thread was about tmobile and data plans and stock hotspot app. I am interested in wifi tether app with root. What are the settings to make this work on N5?
Thanks
Dungeon47 said:
There is another thread with more discussion on this matter here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2512674
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Dig through this thread. Somewhere there's a post explaining what to do to stop your carrier from checking if you are tethering. It requires editing a database and changing the proxy to ipv4 instead of ipv6.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Hey I'm trying to find a way to work around my hotspot tethering limit. I have unlimited data and want to use the most out of it, I have had unlimited data for about 3 weeks now and I have used 200 gigs of data and I want o be able to co next my Xbox and laptop for more than just a day or 2 because I only get 5 gigs of hotspot. So if anyone has a workaround for the tmobile s5 please comment and let me know
sgs5tetherhelp said:
Hey I'm trying to find a way to work around my hotspot tethering limit. I have unlimited data and want to use the most out of it, I have had unlimited data for about 3 weeks now and I have used 200 gigs of data and I want o be able to co next my Xbox and laptop for more than just a day or 2 because I only get 5 gigs of hotspot. So if anyone has a workaround for the tmobile s5 please comment and let me know
Click to expand...
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Are you rooted?
Yes via towel root
sgs5tetherhelp said:
Yes via towel root
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https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.snclab.wifitetherrouter
I use it on my T-Mobile phones. Follow the link in the description for settings. Gotta warn ya though, it might not work without further tweaks. You might need to google up some more specific instructions. The problem with this app (not the app's fault though) is that every phone/brand/ROM is different and needs different settings, and unfortunately these settings don't have descriptions. Plus the author is Italian and his English ain't too good.
You'll probably also have to create a new APN for tethering. Go to your System Settings, More networks, Mobile Networks, Access Point Names, then hit the menu button to add a new APN. Copy everything in the default APN down, then make everything in the new APN exactly the same, but instead of IPv6, use IPv4.
For tethering to just your laptop though, I recommend PdaNet+ (not a root app) and using USB tethering. The reason is that using your phone as a wifi hotspot is a processor and battery hog, and the more it's used, the hotter your phone will get and the more your battery gets used (shortening its overall lifespan). USB tethering however basically turns your phone into a conduit, rather than a rebroadcaster, and won't fry your phone. It works by using a companion program on your computer (also does bluetooth, but it's much slower), and has the option (which you need to use) to "hide tether usage". Another cool feature is you can set it up so text messages will pop up on your computer. The one single issue with USB tethering with PdaNet is with Netflix. If you try to watch something, it'll take you to the page saying your computer doesn't meet the minimum system requirements. Whatever VPN/proxy/whatever that it uses to mask your usage doesn't jive with Microsoft Silverlight, which Netflix uses. The way around this is to disable the "hide tether usage" option when loading a video, and as soon as it starts loading, select "hide tether usage" again, and you're good to go.
The really cool thing is that these two apps work simultaneously. I use PdaNet to USB tether my phone to my laptop (which is plugged into my 42" TV). The same phone is running Wifi Tether Router so I can use my tablet on wifi. Seriously, how cool is that?!? Complete home internet and cell service for $89.08/month (after taxes).
I have unlimited high speed data with T-Mobile but only 5GB mobile hotspot.
I want to use USB tether to my PC without the carrier knowing. I don't want carrier to know or else it will use up my 5GB hotspot. Is it possible to tether without the carrier knowing and using up my 5GB hotspot?
What is the difference between the built in tethering method of my BlissPop ROM vs. the ClockworkMod Tether app? Will the ClockworkMod Tether app prevent the carrier from knowing?
I use PdaNet+ with my phones and unlimited T-Mobile highspeed plan. I haven't tried ClockworkMod Tether, so I can't speak for it, but it sounds like it works the same way. Both use a companion program on the PC. With PdaNet there is an option in PC application to "hide tether usage", which creates a sort of VPN that blocks the carrier from knowing what your data is being used for. I don't know how this option is set up in CWM Tether, but by its description it has the same function. No obnoxious user agent masking plug-ins to mess with
Both have a trial version, so give them a try before deciding which one you prefer. PdaNet's trial works for ~10 minutes before turning off (you can turn it on again), CWM's works for 14 days before limiting you to 20MB/day. You might have only have one installed at any given time though, as having both might cause complications.
I use about 300GB/month with my T-Mobile high speed plan. Saves me hundreds of dollars a year not needing home internet (I live alone). I browse, stream Amazon Prime, view risque pictures of attractive females, download torrents, etc. Never been throttled, cut off, gotten angry emails, or anything.
Even more fun is that you can run WiFi Tether Router (by Fabio Grasso) at the same time and give your other devices (if you have any) at the same time. However, this is murder on your battery. Wifi tethering takes a ton of juice, so your devices is constantly charging while discharging (sometimes not fast enough, and it discharges faster than it charges). Because of this, I'd recommend using a cheap phone with a removable battery (I use a Galaxy Light). I've already blown up (not quite literally) 2 batteries on my Galaxy Light doing this, so I wouldn't recommend doing this with a phone like the OnePlus One where the battery isn't easily replaceable. Not for an extended period of time, anyway. You don't need to worry about this if you're only USB tethering. It takes extremely little juice and doesn't create any heat other than typical charger and data use.
The one caveat I've found with using PdaNet is that Netflix won't load while you're USB tethered. Whatever the PC program does to mask your data messes with Microsoft Silverlight, and you'll get taken to the page about minimum required specs and browser versions. The way around this is to disable the "hide tether usage" option, load the video, then once it starts loading (the red ring), hide the tether usage again. It's a PITA, and you have to remain vigilant about re-hiding the usage, or you'll obliviously and quickly use up your tethering allotment. Small price to pay though, right? I don't know if the ClockWorkMod Tether app has this problem. I don't have Netflix anymore, so I can't check. Amazon Prime doesn't have this issue.
I can't speak for the tethering method within BlissPop, or any other ROM. I know carriers often disable and/or hijack the tethering that is natively built into Android. But without a companion program PC side, like PdaNet and CWM Tether offer, I'd expect that it'd count against the tethering allotment.
Planterz said:
I use PdaNet+ with my phones and unlimited T-Mobile highspeed plan. I haven't tried ClockworkMod Tether, so I can't speak for it, but it sounds like it works the same way. Both use a companion program on the PC. With PdaNet there is an option in PC application to "hide tether usage", which creates a sort of VPN that blocks the carrier from knowing what your data is being used for. I don't know how this option is set up in CWM Tether, but by its description it has the same function. No obnoxious user agent masking plug-ins to mess with
Both have a trial version, so give them a try before deciding which one you prefer. PdaNet's trial works for ~10 minutes before turning off (you can turn it on again), CWM's works for 14 days before limiting you to 20MB/day. You might have only have one installed at any given time though, as having both might cause complications.
I use about 300GB/month with my T-Mobile high speed plan. Saves me hundreds of dollars a year not needing home internet (I live alone). I browse, stream Amazon Prime, view risque pictures of attractive females, download torrents, etc. Never been throttled, cut off, gotten angry emails, or anything.
Even more fun is that you can run WiFi Tether Router (by Fabio Grasso) at the same time and give your other devices (if you have any) at the same time. However, this is murder on your battery. Wifi tethering takes a ton of juice, so your devices is constantly charging while discharging (sometimes not fast enough, and it discharges faster than it charges). Because of this, I'd recommend using a cheap phone with a removable battery (I use a Galaxy Light). I've already blown up (not quite literally) 2 batteries on my Galaxy Light doing this, so I wouldn't recommend doing this with a phone like the OnePlus One where the battery isn't easily replaceable. Not for an extended period of time, anyway. You don't need to worry about this if you're only USB tethering. It takes extremely little juice and doesn't create any heat other than typical charger and data use.
The one caveat I've found with using PdaNet is that Netflix won't load while you're USB tethered. Whatever the PC program does to mask your data messes with Microsoft Silverlight, and you'll get taken to the page about minimum required specs and browser versions. The way around this is to disable the "hide tether usage" option, load the video, then once it starts loading (the red ring), hide the tether usage again. It's a PITA, and you have to remain vigilant about re-hiding the usage, or you'll obliviously and quickly use up your tethering allotment. Small price to pay though, right? I don't know if the ClockWorkMod Tether app has this problem. I don't have Netflix anymore, so I can't check. Amazon Prime doesn't have this issue.
I can't speak for the tethering method within BlissPop, or any other ROM. I know carriers often disable and/or hijack the tethering that is natively built into Android. But without a companion program PC side, like PdaNet and CWM Tether offer, I'd expect that it'd count against the tethering allotment.
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Thanks for the great detailed insight! I'll give pdanet+ a try. Btw, do you know if T-mobile allows you to track how much of the mobile hotspot data you have used?
I am curious to know if custom ROMS such as BlissPop prevent the carrier from knowing when using the native Android tethering. What if I use a VPN on my phone or on my PC along with the native Android tethering. Will the carrier find out?
Zythyr said:
Thanks for the great detailed insight! I'll give pdanet+ a try. Btw, do you know if T-mobile allows you to track how much of the mobile hotspot data you have used?
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As long as there's a T-Mobile SIM card in the phone, you can download their account app. It tells you your minutes, messages, data usage (including tethering), when your bill is due, etc. You can pay your bill through it too. I find it to be very useful. Just make sure you turn off all the diagnostics and notifications. Not because they'll learn anything you don't want them to know, but because they're obnoxious and useless.
I know it's an old question but I'll post a response for those who arrive here via a Google search. It's incredibly simply to get around the carrier limitation. Follow the instructions in this link below which, while very detailed because they want to reach a wide audience, explains how to solve the problem. You just need to add a record to a database file. It's that simple. If you're an expert then just skip to the end of the tutorial for the database that needs to be edited and for the record that needs to be added. I tried this on my Note 4 on T-Mobile. I was throttled and after making this edit I'm back to full speed.
http://nexus5.wonderhowto.com/how-to/tether-your-nexus-5-without-your-carrier-knowing-0155546/
Quick edit: the battery drain is an issue but is easily solved with either additional batteries or with a phone/charger combo that allows for fast charging. With a fast charger on my Note 4 I easily stay ahead of the battery drain.
I use and am currently using clockwork tether in conjunction with nord vpn Most of the vpn servers are very stable I always link up with them for several days to make sure it is not killing the connection before I link it on my phone but it works great. All the traffic going through the isp is encrypted so they cant tell that I am hooked up to the xbox servers on my phone there is no way to tell that it is not regular phone traffic. If you are going to do this I would deffinitely reccomend spending the money fo a good vpn service. You will not be able to game over this connection but download speeds are good. I get nord vpn servvice for less than 3 dollars a month when I buy their 2 year plan for like 71 bucks. They havve servers all over the world and it also protects me from any backlash I might see due to my heavy p2p dowloading. Clockwork tether is great because it will utilize lte networks not just the 3g networks and it does not require any root access. I am currently on lg g6 through sprint so root will be a while out if ever (encrypted bootloader) but I can still utilize my unlimited lte data. I also have a grandfathered data line with them that is unlimited but they will not let me upgrade to lte. When they let 4g wimax die i was downgraded to nothing but 3g on that line but I cant give it up because I use 250 to 300 gigs a month on just it. I had a lot of problems with the wifi air cards because of the high discharge rates and heat problems but have solved that by going to the old 3g computer dongles now and running them directly into openwrt router. Good enough to play call of duty on but not good for download speeds and if my wife is looking up a recipe for dinner it lags out. Thus I use the tethering for all downloads and the data only line for regular traffic that is permitted. (Not pirating vvideos because i dont want to give them a reason to kick me off my unlimited plan) n0sec
I'd like to use the native Wifi tethering on a rooted, stock ROM Verizon S3 WITHOUT the need for any mobile data. I'll be using it only to allow connected devices to access content that's already on the phone. It's a custom application not for any sort of public distribution. This isn't a problem on AT&T S3s (or other phones), I've done that successfully, the phone just lets it happen. But the Verizon phone won't let me do it--without a plan that includes tethering the phone shuts down the hotspot after a few seconds with the "you need to go buy a tethering plan" dialog. I'd like to use native tethering instead of another app if possible to keep my code simple and uniform across phone models, and avoid a dependency on non-free third party apps.
Anyone have an idea how I can convince the phone to leave a native non-mobile-connected hotspot up, without a tethering plan?
Thanks!
John
[email protected] said:
I'd like to use the native Wifi tethering on a rooted, stock ROM Verizon S3 WITHOUT the need for any mobile data. I'll be using it only to allow connected devices to access content that's already on the phone. It's a custom application not for any sort of public distribution. This isn't a problem on AT&T S3s (or other phones), I've done that successfully, the phone just lets it happen. But the Verizon phone won't let me do it--without a plan that includes tethering the phone shuts down the hotspot after a few seconds with the "you need to go buy a tethering plan" dialog. I'd like to use native tethering instead of another app if possible to keep my code simple and uniform across phone models, and avoid a dependency on non-free third party apps.
Anyone have an idea how I can convince the phone to leave a native non-mobile-connected hotspot up, without a tethering plan?
Thanks!
John
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I just looked at my old S3 and it works on custom roms but since it's stock that may be the problem your running into
Sent from my Nexus 5