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Prepaid Plan?

I have a question, because a lot of people here seem to do it. How exactly do you go about getting an international version of a phone(GS3 or HTC One X) and using it with a prepaid plan? Do you just go out and buy cards or what? Also what prepaid plans are worth using and which aren't so hot?

it's a good question, I would like to know it too

There are a few good plans out there. Not sure about the phones you listed as I have the GT-N7000 but Straight Talk is probably on of the best prepaids that I have ran across. Unlimited everything for $45/mo (data is not truely unlimited though read others about it).
You can buy the sim card only from their website straighttalksim dot com and it states "Use any compatible or unlocked GSM phone – including smart phones".
May be worthing into for you.

+1 on the Straight Talk. I've used it on a Euro Pre3 as well as a German market Omnia7. The speeds are the same as AT&T and if you behave on the usage you won't have any problems. They frown on streaming so keep it at less than 50 megs per day (it's actually in violation of their T&C's). Same goes for tethering, I tether on a daily basis but I keep it limited to emails and attachments of less than 10 megs. For $45 a month, we can't really complain about the limitations. You could always go legit, but you will be seeing your proctologist on a regular basis.

fatclue said:
The speeds are the same as AT&T
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No.
I do not believe they have LTE.

sitizenx said:
No.
I do not believe they have LTE.
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Not the LTE speeds but there 3G speeds. I'm averaging ~3mbps to 9mbps depending on where I'm at. It works for everything I do including light streaming.

sitizenx said:
No.
I do not believe they have LTE.
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I'll amend my statement for clarity. Based on the devices I've owned and used on Straight Talk, the speeds are the same as AT&T. This includes H+ on the Pre3 which is advertised as 4G. I've never tried on any LTE device so I can't, or won't, comment on it.

So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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Any AT&T branded phone or any unlocked GSM phone works on Straight Talk. Just need to change the apn and MMS settings for data to work. Voice & text work without modification.

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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Yes. I am currently using ST on my International Note but like above, any GSM phone should work.

fatclue said:
Any AT&T branded phone or any unlocked GSM phone works on Straight Talk. Just need to change the apn and MMS settings for data to work. Voice & text work without modification.
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How is this done?

hawkeye2188 said:
So would new devices such as the Note and Nexus work on straightalk?
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Click to collapse
The Nexus also works on the t-mobile, $30, 100 minute, 5 gig data, unlim text plan. However, most "new" phones are coming without the 1700 band, hence won't get hspa+ on t-mobile (unless you buy it straight off them).

Check properly before doing anything.

[Q] which phone to use for household broadband (t-mobile)

Hi everybody. I need to use a phone as an access point for broadband in my home. Long story short there are no other options available. What I was doing before was using a rooted thunderbolt on verizon and a grandfathered unlimited data plan, then used a wifi bridge to hook it up to my router and it worked great,
Now I need to replicate this on t-mobile by-passing their damn hot spot limit. I've already rooted my HTC one and tried doing this with that but I cannot get anything to successfully connect to it, and i'm reading that the mode was removed in version 4.2 or something to that effect..
So which t-mobile phone would be the best to root and use in this situation if it can be done? Preferably an LTE handset since I just barely get it but if not oh well, H+ works better most of the time.
Thanks a lot
-Robbie

rtlarson3 said:
Hi everybody. I need to use a phone as an access point for broadband in my home. Long story short there are no other options available. What I was doing before was using a rooted thunderbolt on verizon and a grandfathered unlimited data plan, then used a wifi bridge to hook it up to my router and it worked great,
Now I need to replicate this on t-mobile by-passing their damn hot spot limit. I've already rooted my HTC one and tried doing this with that but I cannot get anything to successfully connect to it, and i'm reading that the mode was removed in version 4.2 or something to that effect..
So which t-mobile phone would be the best to root and use in this situation if it can be done? Preferably an LTE handset since I just barely get it but if not oh well, H+ works better most of the time.
Thanks a lot
-Robbie
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I use my tmobile Gs4 with no problem.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

If I were in your situation, I would install openwrt on the router and hook a USB HSPA+ or LTE dongle to it. IMO, that's a much better and cheaper solution than using a dedicated smartphone.

i agree with troolie's recommendation....

Nexus 5 tethering block?

I'm on T-Mobile US and tethering have been working fine for me without paying for the extra tethering fee on my Nexus 4. I can do wifi and bluetooth tether to ipad, nexus 7, and a laptop with user agent switching. Got my Nexus 5 today and nothing works, I keep on getting the upsell page even after playing around with different APN settings. Put my sim back in my N4 everything works. Anyone experiencing the same issue? Maybe Google changed something in KitKat.

bobafuzz said:
I'm on T-Mobile US and tethering have been working fine for me without paying for the extra tethering fee on my Nexus 4. I can do wifi and bluetooth tether to ipad, nexus 7, and a laptop with user agent switching. Got my Nexus 5 today and nothing works, I keep on getting the upsell page even after playing around with different APN settings. Put my sim back in my N4 everything works. Anyone experiencing the same issue? Maybe Google changed something in KitKat.
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What T-Mobile plan do you have?
Supposedly they are giving free wifi hotspot access with nearly all of their plans now, even prepaid.
Perhaps you need to check your APN or register the imei # somehow with T-Mobile.
I had to upgrade/downgrade myself today cause I was using a $10 unlimited web plan with my galaxy nexus, but when I tried to use the fast.-t-mobile.com APN (for LTE access) I got the upsell page as well, no data at all.
What I went ahead and did was sign up for the $30 prepaid plan (100 mins 5gb data) and transferred my number over etc, worked great. I had a micro sim activation kit though, which asked for IMEI number etc. Supposedly I will have wifi hotspot access @ 100mb/month but I haven't tested it yet.

bobafuzz said:
I'm on T-Mobile US and tethering have been working fine for me without paying for the extra tethering fee on my Nexus 4. I can do wifi and bluetooth tether to ipad, nexus 7, and a laptop with user agent switching. Got my Nexus 5 today and nothing works, I keep on getting the upsell page even after playing around with different APN settings. Put my sim back in my N4 everything works. Anyone experiencing the same issue? Maybe Google changed something in KitKat.
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Click to collapse
Blocked for me as well. I'm on a post-paid plan. 1000 minutes and unlimited data. I mainly use the tethering with my iPad. Works with Nexus 4, but not with the Nexus 5.
I may be sending the 5 back, as this is a major issue for me.

quick_ said:
What T-Mobile plan do you have?
Supposedly they are giving free wifi hotspot access with nearly all of their plans now, even prepaid.
Perhaps you need to check your APN or register the imei # somehow with T-Mobile.
I had to upgrade/downgrade myself today cause I was using a $10 unlimited web plan with my galaxy nexus, but when I tried to use the fast.-t-mobile.com APN (for LTE access) I got the upsell page as well, no data at all.
What I went ahead and did was sign up for the $30 prepaid plan (100 mins 5gb data) and transferred my number over etc, worked great. I had a micro sim activation kit though, which asked for IMEI number etc. Supposedly I will have wifi hotspot access @ 100mb/month but I haven't tested it yet.
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Click to collapse
I'm on old grandfather plan with prefer android unlimited web. I think this is something new with 4.4, maybe a custom ROM will fix it.

bobafuzz said:
I'm on old grandfather plan with prefer android unlimited web. I think this is something new with 4.4, maybe a custom ROM will fix it.
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Maybe, but I don't think you will get LTE with that plan, T-mobile seems to be blocking it with the fast.t-mobile.com APN.
At any rate, I've already switched to the $30 plan, and its working fine (haven't tested wifi hotspot yet though)
---------- Post added at 11:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------
jarredduq said:
Blocked for me as well. I'm on a post-paid plan. 1000 minutes and unlimited data. I mainly use the tethering with my iPad. Works with Nexus 4, but not with the Nexus 5.
I may be sending the 5 back, as this is a major issue for me.
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Click to collapse
Not exactly sure which plan you have but I'm pretty sure T-Mobile is now including free wifi hotspot/tethering for free now. How much monthly data allowed depends on your plan.
If they are giving it to prepaid folks there is no reason why you shouldn't be getting it.
If you install the T-Mobile My account app from the play store see if it shows "mobile hotspot balance". If not I would call them as inquire about it. Don't return it too quickly...

quick_ said:
Maybe, but I don't think you will get LTE with that plan, T-mobile seems to be blocking it with the fast.t-mobile.com APN.
At any rate, I've already switched to the $30 plan, and its working fine (haven't tested wifi hotspot yet though)
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Click to collapse
LTE been working fine for me on both N4 and N5, I wish I can drop down to the $30 plan, but I use more than 100min a month =(.

bobafuzz said:
LTE been working fine for me on both N4 and N5, I wish I can drop down to the $30 plan, but I use more than 100min a month =(.
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Ok I remember reading you need to have one of their "Simple Choice" plans to get the free mobile hotspot. You might have to change your plan, not sure if it will cost you more to do so though...
I'm assuming the plan you have now is unlimited, and you don't want to switch to the 2.5gb plan, and if you go up to unlimited its probably going to cost you more than you are paying now...

quick_ said:
Ok I remember reading you need to have one of their "Simple Choice" plans to get the free mobile hotspot. You might have to change your plan, not sure if it will cost you more to do so though...
I'm assuming the plan you have now is unlimited, and you don't want to switch to the 2.5gb plan, and if you go up to unlimited its probably going to cost you more than you are paying now...
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Only their new plans offer free wifi hotspot. The issue is I don't think it's my plan, if I put my sim back into my N4 tethering works fine.

bobafuzz said:
Only their new plans offer free wifi hotspot. The issue is I don't think it's my plan, if I put my sim back into my N4 tethering works fine.
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I've used tethering with my Value Plan (1000min/unlimited data) for over a year now. It just doesn't work with the Nexus 5, put the sim back in my Nexus 4 and it works fine. My plan didn't officially come with tethering. It worked fine with my iPad and android tablets. It would present the blocked message on my laptop. I was okay with that, since I didn't subscribe to an "official" tethering plan.
I don't know if this will be fixed with a custom rom, becuase it seems like it is at the core of KitKat. I also tried flashing the bare AOSP ROM, and tethering was blocked with that as well.

Also seeing the blocked tethering over here. On the $30 Tmobile plan and the Nexus 4 works perfectly tethering. Put the same sim into the Nexus 5 and it just redirects me to the sign in page for Tmobile. Hope this is fixed or this will be a massive negative towards this phone, probably even a deal breaker.

jarredduq said:
I've used tethering with my Value Plan (1000min/unlimited data) for over a year now. It just doesn't work with the Nexus 5, put the sim back in my Nexus 4 and it works fine. My plan didn't officially come with tethering. It worked fine with my iPad and android tablets. It would present the blocked message on my laptop. I was okay with that, since I didn't subscribe to an "official" tethering plan.
I don't know if this will be fixed with a custom rom, becuase it seems like it is at the core of KitKat. I also tried flashing the bare AOSP ROM, and tethering was blocked with that as well.
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My doesn't officially comes with tethering either, but it always worked for tablets. On laptop I just change the user agent and it works fine. Have you look into any of the tethering apps? I have no idea if they're any better than the built in one.

muyoso said:
Also seeing the blocked tethering over here. On the $30 Tmobile plan and the Nexus 4 works perfectly tethering. Put the same sim into the Nexus 5 and it just redirects me to the sign in page for Tmobile. Hope this is fixed or this will be a massive negative towards this phone, probably even a deal breaker.
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Click to collapse
You are seeing the redirect on your PC? In the past I noticed I had to change the user-agent on my PC's web browser to Mobile for it to let me past T-mobile's blocking.
Are you trying through a PC? Try tethering another mobile device like a tablet or phone and see if it works...

quick_ said:
You are seeing the redirect on your PC? In the past I noticed I had to change the user-agent on my PC's web browser to Mobile for it to let me past T-mobile's blocking.
Are you trying through a PC? Try tethering another mobile device like a tablet or phone and see if it works...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try that in a minute. Either way, the chromebook was able to tether with the nexus 4 without problems every time.

quick_ said:
You are seeing the redirect on your PC? In the past I noticed I had to change the user-agent on my PC's web browser to Mobile for it to let me past T-mobile's blocking.
Are you trying through a PC? Try tethering another mobile device like a tablet or phone and see if it works...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does not work on tablets or mobile phones. Changing user agent on laptop no longer works.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

jarredduq said:
Does not work on tablets or mobile phones. Changing user agent on laptop no longer works.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Yep, its pretty well borked. Sure hope this is figured out soon, or there might be another Nexus 5 put up on craigslist.

Wth! Wow, this is worst news I've heard about the N5
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 02:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------
Why are there more people not talking about this? is a t mobile thing>? does anyone think this issue will get sorted out??

s_special said:
Wth! Wow, this is worst news I've heard about the N5
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 02:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------
Why are there more people not talking about this? is a t mobile thing>? does anyone think this issue will get sorted out??
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Click to collapse
I think it is a T-Mobile thing, as I see other people talking about successfully tethering their nexus 5 all over the place. Might just be a small subset of T-Mobile users. Either way its very annoying. Wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to use a different app to tether, but I don't even know if that would or could work.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

muyoso said:
I think it is a T-Mobile thing, as I see other people talking about successfully tethering their nexus 5 all over the place. Might just be a small subset of T-Mobile users. Either way its very annoying. Wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to use a different app to tether, but I don't even know if that would or could work.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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I wish someone could confirm a resolution before I open my box.

s_special said:
I wish someone could confirm a resolution before I open my box.
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You have to figure only a small subset of users have received theirs yet, and an even tinier subset of them even care about tethering, and even a smaller subset of then have even tried it yet. Every Nexus device is a disaster until you let it settle in for a week or two and let the wrinkles settle out.

Change 4g data plan
There's a new 4g data plan which includes 2.5GB hotspot data. You still get unlimited phone data for the same price as before. $20/mo.

[Q] Any N5 rom that has wifi calling ?

really considering jumping over since they pay the ETF
its not a mandatory feature but i safety cushion i know normally the wifi calling is only on t-mobile branded phones and wifi calling is not normally a part of the nexus line
so has any dev found a way to get this working on the n5

No. And if you go to T-mobile with the new deal, you have to turn in a phone and buy a new phone.

lowandbehold said:
No. And if you go to T-mobile with the new deal, you have to turn in a phone and buy a new phone.
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yes i have read all about it

lowandbehold said:
No. And if you go to T-mobile with the new deal, you have to turn in a phone and buy a new phone.
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Click to collapse
T-Mobile n5 does not have WiFi calling
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

seshaz said:
T-Mobile n5 does not have WiFi calling
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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The first word of his post indicated that he knew that
-----------------------
Sent via tapatalk.
I do NOT reply to support queries over PM. Please keep support queries to the Q&A section, so that others may benefit

what is wifi calling?? i never had tmobile? i have sprint..

P.Mobile said:
what is wifi calling?? i never had tmobile? i have sprint..
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In short, T-Mobile is known to have spotty coverage so they have a proprietary software that allows you to leverage wifi connection to make phone calls. Pretty great actually if you have a phone that supports it.

skyo12 said:
In short, T-Mobile is known to have spotty coverage so they have a proprietary software that allows you to leverage wifi connection to make phone calls. Pretty great actually if you have a phone that supports it.
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Click to collapse
and there's been a $1400+ bounty for wifi calling on nexus 4, no one's claimed it
so don't count on having wifi calling on nexus 5.
t-mobile do have femtocells (basically a small cell site inside your house), dunno the difficulty in getting one, or that you should even consider moving to t-mobile if your home reception is that bad.
also, t-mobile only sells the 16gb of n5.
I have a nexus 5, also have a really old froyo t-mobile android phone with wifi calling if I were to travel overseas

paperWastage said:
and there's been a $1400+ bounty for wifi calling on nexus 4, no one's claimed it
so don't count on having wifi calling on nexus 5.
t-mobile do have femtocells (basically a small cell site inside your house), dunno the difficulty in getting one, or that you should even consider moving to t-mobile if your home reception is that bad.
also, t-mobile only sells the 16gb of n5.
I have a nexus 5, also have a really old froyo t-mobile android phone with wifi calling if I were to travel overseas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile does not have femtocells all they have is cell repeaters.

Hotspot workaround for Galaxy S8/+/Nougat

I was using Foxfi to Hotspot my Verizon Grandfathered UDP .... I Just got the Galaxy S8+ and found out the hard way that Google(nougat), Samsung and Verizon teamed up to kill Foxfi's Hotspot hack. Until we have an unlocked boatloader. root or another working exploit, Hotspot isnt going to work on the Galaxy S8..The good news is I was able to find a decent workaround with an app called "Net Share-no-root-tethering" from the play store... It uses Wifi-Direct to share your phones data plan.. It does the trick and I'm able to share my data plan with other wireless devices.. I was literally just about to return my S8+ rather than wait weeks or months for the devs to crack the vault.. Hope this helps ease the tetherless pain while we wait for a new exploit ..
Edit: Please note this is not an equal substitute for native Hotspot.. I found the speeds to be much slower, but for basic internet use like checking email, and web surfing the connection was adequate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kha.prog.mikrotik&hl=en#details-reviews

For some reason, my S8 Verizon hotspot works. I'm also on the old unlimited plan.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

jahciple said:
For some reason, my S8 Verizon hotspot works. I'm also on the old unlimited plan.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
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Does it show checking for subscription when you toggle it on?

anewday said:
Does it show checking for subscription when you toggle it on?
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Click to collapse
It doesn't give me the subscription check. I'm still on the $30 UDP.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

How did you get it to work? How do you configure it?

Yeah my Galaxy s8 plus also lets me toggle hotspot without telling my that I need to be subscribe. I have unlimited but I never bought the hotspot plan. Would using the hotspot show on my bill?

Weird since I have Verizon with the Unlimited plan and hotspot does not work, even though it IS included with the plan. OP's app is garbage tbh, I get 50+mbps on speed test on the phone but on my computer I can hardly get above 10. Something is being lost in transmission and it isn't the fault of my PC. Is Wifi direct trash or something?
My phone also tells me that I need to "Subscribe" to the Hotspot feature at Verizon but it is already included in my plan, what gives?

Haven't tried this yet but hope it works on my at& t.

It got my tether on but I can't get it to share my data… it shows up on my pc but it says can't access.

App doesn't work for me. Im on Verizon.

TeMpTeK said:
I was using Foxfi to Hotspot my Verizon Grandfathered UDP .... I Just got the Galaxy S8+ and found out the hard way that Google(nougat), Samsung and Verizon teamed up to kill Foxfi's Hotspot hack. Until we have an unlocked boatloader. root or another working exploit, Hotspot isnt going to work on the Galaxy S8..The good news is I was able to find a decent workaround with an app called "Net Share-no-root-tethering" from the play store... It uses Wifi-Direct to share your phones data plan.. It does the trick and I'm able to share my data plan with other wireless devices.. I was literally just about to return my S8+ rather than wait weeks or months for the devs to crack the vault.. Hope this helps ease the tetherless pain while we wait for a new exploit ..
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kha.prog.mikrotik&hl=en#details-reviews
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain how it works? ?

kkrear said:
How did you get it to work? How do you configure it?
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Click to collapse
I didn't do anything. Just changed the SSid and password. Also I checked my plan online and I don't have hotspot as an added feature.

Not working successfully with my AT&T S8 and my MacBook Pro. I do have EasyTether Pro working great but that requires a usb connection.

Hey Guys, I tried this on my S7 Verizon and it works, you have to check the help option on the app. I had to change my HTTP Proxy and port number on my iPad to connect successfully.

nobdlikeme said:
Hey Guys, I tried this on my S7 Verizon and it works, you have to check the help option on the app. I had to change my HTTP Proxy and port number on my iPad to connect successfully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup works fine here too.

AngelRyu said:
Can you explain how it works? ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it creates some type of wifi direct connection.. the speeds arent as good as hotspot but it does make a wireless connection that can be used to share your phones data plan.

anubis2048 said:
Weird since I have Verizon with the Unlimited plan and hotspot does not work, even though it IS included with the plan. OP's app is garbage tbh, I get 50+mbps on speed test on the phone but on my computer I can hardly get above 10. Something is being lost in transmission and it isn't the fault of my PC. Is Wifi direct trash or something?
My phone also tells me that I need to "Subscribe" to the Hotspot feature at Verizon but it is already included in my plan, what gives?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speeds arent good at all with wifi direct but considering native hotspot doesnt work its all I got for wireless tether.... I cant get USB/ or bluetooth tether to work from phone to another Android tablet..

kkrear said:
How did you get it to work? How do you configure it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make sure when u are typing the password that you also select manual proxy and enter 192.168.49.1 and then for port enter 8282

I got this to work without the app.

Hey guys, just got an s8+ today and found out that the native hotspot will work if you pop sim tray out, it will then take you to lock screen, pull down tray and turn on hotspot. You may get an error saying no sim installed but just keep pushing hotspot button until it turns on. It is working on mine now but now I am trying to figure out how I can disable ota updates. Anyone have any help for me? Thanks