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Hey again,
I rooted my captivate using the JH2 Rom and the Unleash the beast rooter thingy. So i was all hunky dory playing around setting up my wireless tether and showing some friends, but then one of them told me that AT&T can find out if i'm tethering and will bill me an astronomical amount at the end of the month.
Is there any truth behind this?
p.s. off topic i know, but is it possible to unroot unleash the beast?
Thanks!!
It's unlikely that AT&T will find out you're tethering unless maybe they take a closer look at your account (due to excessive usage), and see that your user agent strings are for a desktop browser, etc. But I'm not entirely sure they can even legally do that (examine your data). Just go easy (no bit torrenting) and you'll do fine.
They will charge if you they find out - it's an extra 30 bucks for tethering, and it's only 2 gigs total - which is just absurd. If they're going to charge you extra, they should at least include extra data - a lot of extra data. Tethering is quite possibly one of the biggest rip offs in the mobile industry - neck in neck with the high fees for texting.
My thing...
The initial stock ROM allowed tethering wired whether or not you paid.
The current ROM right now has tethering removed completely.. I find it outlandish that were I paying for the tethering right now I couldn't even do it legally.
AT&T has theoretically charged extra for tethering since nearly the beginning of internet access on a cell phone ...
I tether frequently when traveling (not only on my Captivate but with several other phones previously), and have yet to see any additional charges. Have also never paid the extra $20-$30 for an AT&T data plan which 'includes' tethering.
AT&T may try to lock it down in future ROMs but I imagine there will always be developers finding 'work-arounds'. They certainly have for wireless tethering ...
Wireless tethering from unleash the beast doesnt even load (FC) on my ohone,.
I'm a former at&t employee the only way they will know is if you have excessive data use. Like downloading. A couple gigs a day. If you use the tethering for normal internet browsing they will never know. Just don't do any bit torrents from Yuri device haha. You would be surprise how many peoples accounts I saw with 10 gigs in a few days. But so you know your save there isn't away for them to know what your doing they only see how much data is being sent a received.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Is it possible to change the tethering application built into most roms so that it won't deincrement the ttl value?
where did you get this info at?
http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/17/att-cracking-down-on-unofficial-iphone-tethering-mywi-users/
http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/03/18/att.clamps.down.on.unofficial.tethering.users/
If you dig through the comments on those articles, it appears that the people who receive the letters are using in excess of 5GB on their unlimited data plan.
Case in point: One of the comments was from a guy who said that his wife was sent the notice from AT&T. From what he says, she hasn't ever tethered, but she's always listening to streaming audio or watching streaming video.
This is nothing new for AT&T. They have long held that 5GB is 'effectively unlimited' for a smartphone, and that anyone who uses more must be using a computer tethered to the phone. With the phones we have now, that simply is not the case anymore. But AT&T is using that as an excuse to try and get people off of the unlimited plans and on to something where they can charge customers more money.
Krynn! said:
If you dig through the comments on those articles, it appears that the people who receive the letters are using in excess of 5GB on their unlimited data plan.
Case in point: One of the comments was from a guy who said that his wife was sent the notice from AT&T. From what he says, she hasn't ever tethered, but she's always listening to streaming audio or watching streaming video.
This is nothing new for AT&T. They have long held that 5GB is 'effectively unlimited' for a smartphone, and that anyone who uses more must be using a computer tethered to the phone. With the phones we have now, that simply is not the case anymore. But AT&T is using that as an excuse to try and get people off of the unlimited plans and on to something where they can charge customers more money.
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I hope you're right.
Also just saw this......I personally dont tether much but have used mobile AP. Might be worth looking into for those that do tether.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2011/03/18/att-shutting-down-unauthorized-tetherers/
cnigro1279 said:
Also just saw this......I personally dont tether much but have used mobile AP. Might be worth looking into for those that do tether.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2011/03/18/att-shutting-down-unauthorized-tetherers/
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If they are using ttl to detect tethering, then mobile ap would be effected. I'm not sure if usb tethering does deincrement ttl. All the reports seem to be mentioning WiFi tethering.
i think its a scare tactic.
I don't think they are detecting tethering. I think they are targeting people going beyond a certain threshold of usage as suspected tethereres (4gb or 5gb or more likely)
bames said:
i think its a scare tactic.
I don't think they are detecting tethering. I think they are targeting people going beyond a certain threshold of usage as suspected tethereres (4gb or 5gb or more likely)
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+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
vunuts said:
+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
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WOW what are you doing to use 9gb of data lol.
Even though i think its more of a scare tactic i think it can be done...its just not cost efficient to do it wide scale unless their is a huge red flag...like oh say 9gb of data usage . I won't be surprised if you get a letter if your usage rates continually reach anywhere near that later as i suspect that is the type of red flag that may cause them to actually take the time to audit the account and look at the ttl/packet data more closely.
if you have a 2gb or even unlimited and tether never going over 2gb i seriously doubt you would received letter or raise an eyebrow.
This goes back to my initial thought on how stupid their marketing team and management decisions are.
ALLOW FREE TETHERING
Pay for the extra data you need. It breaks down to the same cost...they are just being short sighted and greedy hoping people will think oh...2gb more data for 20bucks and then continue to not even fully use the 2gb they already had paid for on their smartphones plan (they are playing on peoples ignorance of how much data they are actually using). Part of good business and sales is fitting the client with their needs so they can afford it and continue to be a good longterm customer rather than bilking them for services they don't need or use (much like requiring all smartphones to have data plans when some smartphone users could be completely happy with a smartphone and wifi only usage).
If i have $25 2gb plan and want to tether and don't go over 2gb DON'T CHARGE EXTRA or REQUIRE TETHERING. If i go over charge me by the GB just like you would if i used all the data on my smartphones. 2gb Plan + 2gb overage =$45 for that months data (shouldn't matter whether it was used tethered or untethered). If i have a 2gb plan and tether and only use 3gb for the plan why not allow my to pay for 3gb data instead of forcing me to pay for 4gb/tethering. Let people police and pay for their usage. DATA IS DATA and it doesn't cost more for att to deliver 4gb to a tethered user than it does to someone using the 4gb downloading torrents or streaming movies on their smartphone.
Seems like it would be great customer relations, marketing, and a blow to verizon if ATT and came out with a marketing campaign that said Free Mobile AP/Tethering. Use as much data as you need....pay for the data you use. If those still grandfathered under unlimited plans are the concern you could easily audit those accounts if the usage is excessive and either throttle or require tethering for unlimited plans only which might encourage more people to give up the unlimited and take one of the tiered plans. They talk about tethers using all the data while i suspect those doing a combination of significant streaming and downloading torrent using in an untethered state.
A good question is why is one industry being allowed wipe their A** with net neutrality (with so little backlash)
bames said:
WOW what are you doing to use 9gb of data lol.
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Lol, I just opened my own auto shop, and we have yet to get internet hooked up in there, so I'm tethered to my desktop there for about 5-8 hours a day. I wouldn't be surprised if I do hear from AT&T, but they can't do anything to me. They've tried before and I fought them and won. I have unlimited text and data and I'm going to use it to my advantage. If they want to try and blow smoke up my ass, go for it. I'll blow it right back
Funny how this coincided with the new bandwidth cap for cable customers... AT&T is slowly trying to eliminate all unlimited customers. I wish they spent as much time working on increasing signal strength across the US as they do finding ways to squeeze more money from their customers.
vunuts said:
+1
Just a scare tactic. I'm on my 11th day of this months cycle, and between tethering, mobile ap, and downloads, I'm sitting at 9gb of data usage and haven't heard anything from AT&T. Yet
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I thought my 3 -4 gb / month was a lot.
Isn't a byte of data still a byte of data no matter how you view your porn.
what they are doing with tethering would be akin charging us $10 per month to use google navigation.
They could say "hey our navigation per att nav with your device is $10 per month.....if you want to use navigation on your phone you must have a navigation plan add on and if you try to use another free navigation program we can tell and will change your plan without your permission"
I don't get any letters, but I get a "friendly call" from AT&T about every other month asking why I use so much data. I've been on unlimited since it first came out and I'm taking full advantage of it. When I get the call about my usage, I start downloading on my phone, just to eat more data. I've downloaded several ISOs of Linux distros and MS ISOs from the MSDN. Is it my fault I signed up for 'unlimited data' or is it there fault they didn't look into the future? ComCast tried to complain when I pulled down over 300gb in a month and wanted to charge me for it. Sent off a copy of the original contract and there was no bandwidth cap in it. It becomes a breach of contract if you haven't physically signed anything new accepting and agreeing to the new changes.
If you don't mind switching carriers (which isn't that attractive because they all suck and use the same ploys pretty much)
but if they change your plan (for example adding a tethering plan to your account) you have 30 days to cancel your contract WITHOUT penalty no matter how many months you have remaining.
bames said:
If you don't mind switching carriers (which isn't that attractive because they all suck and use the same ploys pretty much)
but if they change your plan (for example adding a tethering plan to your account) you have 30 days to cancel your contract WITHOUT penalty no matter how many months you have remaining.
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This is true. You can avoid any early termination fees and essentially end your contract in good standing credit wise.
pbclst said:
I don't get any letters, but I get a "friendly call" from AT&T about every other month asking why I use so much data. I've been on unlimited since it first came out and I'm taking full advantage of it. When I get the call about my usage, I start downloading on my phone, just to eat more data. I've downloaded several ISOs of Linux distros and MS ISOs from the MSDN. Is it my fault I signed up for 'unlimited data' or is it there fault they didn't look into the future? ComCast tried to complain when I pulled down over 300gb in a month and wanted to charge me for it. Sent off a copy of the original contract and there was no bandwidth cap in it. It becomes a breach of contract if you haven't physically signed anything new accepting and agreeing to the new changes.
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For every time they call and ask you you should place 20 calls to their customer support line asking them why someone called you again and telling them you just wanted to make sure they knew you had an unlimited data plan because someone keeps calling.
vunuts said:
Lol, I just opened my own auto shop, and we have yet to get internet hooked up in there, so I'm tethered to my desktop there for about 5-8 hours a day. I wouldn't be surprised if I do hear from AT&T, but they can't do anything to me. They've tried before and I fought them and won. I have unlimited text and data and I'm going to use it to my advantage. If they want to try and blow smoke up my ass, go for it. I'll blow it right back
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I'm sorry, but this attitude just rubs me raw. Cell phones were never designed to be ISPs. It's abusers like you that have made it hard for the rest of us by forcing AT$T to eliminate unlimited plans and by slowing down the network with your extreme usage. Why do so many feel the need to squeeze whatever they can however they can out of a company? If you think they're screwing you then simply take your business elsewhere.
People receiving the letter today are iphone users? am i correct? Did any android user receive it?
I'm just curious if ATT is just bluffing? Are there tethering solutions that hide activity from ATT? PDAnet claims it does, but you have to pay $15 to get full version that accesses secure sites. However I have no idea what PDAnet does to hide it, or it if it works.
Stock roms will have a program that sends data to att on what type of data is being downloaded. From that, they will know if you are tethering. Custom roms removes that useless program, but crazy big data usage will probably get you in hot water.
Many of us that were running stock roms got the letter/text/email
They did not change my plan....but I stopped did not tether afyer getting the warnings.
Was in a bbind last week and tethered for a few hours and nada....no warnings etc.
xdahgary said:
Stock roms will have a program that sends data to att on what type of data is being downloaded. From that, they will know if you are tethering. Custom roms removes that useless program, but crazy big data usage will probably get you in hot water.
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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
I got the message today and I called about it. I don't know how it is they know or can detect it. I stream a lot, but I haven't tethered in over 2 months. Somehow they just target big data users, apparently and assume the worst. I'm going to unroot and s-on my phone and take it in to the store and see what they have to say..
I dont have unlimted data, but i teather My laptop ALL the time at work.....watch netflix, or hulu, even download roms......i never go over 2gigs because thats all i have on my Plan......but i have never gotten a letter or text.
i think its just for the Big Data users<<<
another good reason to root/ and install a custom rom
I tethered a bunch last year when I had my iPhone, I am still currently on the "unlimited" data plan.
I just put the MIUI rom on my phone a couple weeks ago, and tethered to my wife's tablet. She only checked a couple web pages to verify it worked.
The other day I get the email telling me if I don't stop tethering after October 31st I will be charged and put on a tethering plan automatically.
I wonder if they looked back as far as a year and totaled up all my tethering..
Are they really just going after the "unlimited" users??
If that is the case, I will tether through my wife's captivate running MIUI rom, as she is on the 2GB data plan, and just monitor as to not go over...
the2rrell said:
I dont have unlimted data, but i teather My laptop ALL the time at work.....watch netflix, or hulu, even download roms......i never go over 2gigs because thats all i have on my Plan......but i have never gotten a letter or text.
i think its just for the Big Data users<<<
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I've never used over 1gig and I got a letter. I only tethered very briefly 5-6 times I have had the phone. Once for a few hours but just browsing no downloading or anything (internet outage) but that was months ago as well.
Speaking of data plans, I gave my old HTC Pure to my brother. He had a "dumb" phone with no data plan previously, but when I put his sim in and fired it up, it used a little bit of data. Therefore, AT&T signed him up for a data plan automatically. He called about it to cancel and they refused to let him off of the plan because he's using a smartphone. I know AT&T requires a data plan with the PURCHASE of a smartphone, but I didn't think you had to purchase one for merely using a smartphone. I think this is down right false. What's the story?
You have to look into blocking AT&T from seeing your phone as a smartphone which is changing the IMEI which is also illegal to my knowledge. Some people call in and change the imei every time it changes.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
You can change the imei all you want but att still ends up finding out you are using a smartphone. I get calls about the same issue everyday. Put your sim in a blackberry and use data and now u have a bb data plan. My imei shows all 1s and unknown manufacturer but still reads as a smartphone. Atts systems arent as stupid as most of you think
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
If your IMEI number shows all 1's then AT&T shouldn't notice you are on a smartphone. If they notice then there's anothing thing with your APN settings because as far as I know the IMEI number shows up in a system not our billing system but another system where I can tell you what time and day and phones you have used and switched from to.. etc..
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
I tether all the time. Custom Rom. No calls or issues.
In all the time I've done support for my organization across all the smartphone carriers (BES setup/smartphone support/etc), I've never seen any customer have a data plan 'automatically' added to their plan. Every single time, it simply fails to load webpages unless we get on the phone and make sure their data is configured in their wireless plan. I am fairly confident that when people think this happens automatically, it's because they did something wrong or agreed to a data-as-you-go option.
Just the other day I had major issues trying to set up a Blackberry on BES after moving the SIM over from an iPhone. The network refused to recognize the change in IMEI and device information. It took a call to ATT to fix it and make sure the plan was changed from 'iPhone' data to 'Blackberry' data.
Actually I see people get data plans added everyday automatically and I have to deal with them... although I haven't seen a tethered one yet.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA App
@Max. Im a tech and i handle that all day. We use 2 main systems. One will show the imei and the other is just basic t/s but it also shows what phone they are using no matter if the ime says in it. Look for all 1s on the imei and then look at the first system you pull up. It will show the model. Or take your sim and put it in a diff phone and i bet u anything that phone will show up!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
Yup Busted!!
Yup I was busted and it wasnt for tethering. ATT said I was tethering in Sept. I informed them that i was simply streaming music and that I used pandora rather then the radio in order to listen to music. And that it was not being used to provide internet access for my laptop. that while yes it was connected to my computer while streaming it was to keep the phone charging...nothing i could do to keep my unlimited data, was transferred to a 4GB tethering plan, when pressed as to why. they reffered me to paragraph 6,1-6.2. which basically states that if you are adversly affect their network (i.e larger amounts of data) or tether in any way (connect to ANY other device in ANY fashion to transfer data) they reserve the right to change plan as they see fit.
I Was averaging 6-8GB of data per month and would guess that at max actual tethering accounted for 1GB or less. Seems as if they are mainly targeting high data users and waiting for any excuse to change your plan
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Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage
Yea right i bet att told u to post that here as a scare tactic. Show prof this happen to you then i will believe that happen
. This did happen to iPhone users not androids. If this happen to android users it would have been in the media by now
socialal said:
Yup I was busted and it wasnt for tethering. ATT said I was tethering in Sept. I informed them that i was simply streaming music and that I used pandora rather then the radio in order to listen to music. And that it was not being used to provide internet access for my laptop. that while yes it was connected to my computer while streaming it was to keep the phone charging...nothing i could do to keep my unlimited data, was transferred to a 4GB tethering plan, when pressed as to why. they reffered me to paragraph 6,1-6.2. which basically states that if you are adversly affect their network (i.e larger amounts of data) or tether in any way (connect to ANY other device in ANY fashion to transfer data) they reserve the right to change plan as they see fit.
I Was averaging 6-8GB of data per month and would guess that at max actual tethering accounted for 1GB or less. Seems as if they are mainly targeting high data users and waiting for any excuse to change your plan
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Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage
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Nope and dont work for ATT and the quotes I posted are where i was told to go by a manager from att when i called protesting the change..check out paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the customer agreement that you signed/agreed to. DUH!!! its happening all over the place. I know of at least 2 other people who have gotten busted (HTC and sony erickson android devices). And NO I wasnt using app the few times i did tether it. I used the native samsung funtionality. and do yourself a favor and google it.I lost my $35 per month unlimited plan in favor of a 5GB $45 per month.
Im going to try calling and talking them out of it one more time....beware the 9am text messages from ATT
socialal said:
Nope and dont work for ATT and the quotes I posted are where i was told to go by a manager from att when i called protesting the change..check out paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the customer agreement that you signed/agreed to. DUH!!! its happening all over the place. I know of at least 2 other people who have gotten busted (HTC and sony erickson android devices). And NO I wasnt using app the few times i did tether it. I used the native samsung funtionality. and do yourself a favor and google it.I lost my $35 per month unlimited plan in favor of a 5GB $45 per month.
Im going to try calling and talking them out of it one more time....beware the 9am text messages from ATT
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Wait. Didn't you say the first time that you didn't tether? Now you did? So did you or didn't you tether data?
Sent from my not-an-iPod
Just curious if anyone as received the cease tethering email from at&t? My wife uses it because it is the only way to get wireless internet at her boss's house. Even an at&t wireless card is crap. Has anyone heard any stories of if this is a one time only warning like the throttling and if caught at any time in future it automatically changes plan? She has been using it for awhile and this is the first month the usage has shot up. I guess we should consider it good while it lasted. I know ultimately the decision is ours but just curious for any feedback.
ed20910 said:
Just curious if anyone as received the cease tethering email from at&t? My wife uses it because it is the only way to get wireless internet at her boss's house. Even an at&t wireless card is crap. Has anyone heard any stories of if this is a one time only warning like the throttling and if caught at any time in future it automatically changes plan? She has been using it for awhile and this is the first month the usage has shot up. I guess we should consider it good while it lasted. I know ultimately the decision is ours but just curious for any feedback.
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I'm not sure of this being done by AT&T -I have received no emails/letters/or any other notifications about this being so. I do know that there are ways around having a tethering plan by rooting and other things. What I HAVE heard, is that along with the 'grandfathered' unlimited data package (that is no longer available with AT&T to new customers), that once you reach a certain data usage for the month they will -at that point- throttle down your "bandwidth" so that you are not utilizing the same data speeds. Now, whether or not this is true, I don't know either. Just something I HAVE head in regards to AT&T controlling such things.
Both phones are rooted. I think At&t is fishing on unlimited plans trying to scare. Granted she has been tethering, but no more than any other month over the last six. Her usage has spiked but not due to the tethering. She needs it for work but I don't want to risk her unlimited plan. I can confirm that once you hit 3gigs of data, they will warn you about throttling. The next month it is a HUGE difference in speed once you pass that cap. I easily hit 3gigs just from streaming a podcast during my hour drive to and from work. Not sure how people get by with 250mb.
ed20910 said:
Both phones are rooted. I think At&t is fishing on unlimited plans trying to scare. Granted she has been tethering, but no more than any other month over the last six. Her usage has spiked but not due to the tethering. She needs it for work but I don't want to risk her unlimited plan. I can confirm that once you hit 3gigs of data, they will warn you about throttling. The next month it is a HUGE difference in speed once you pass that cap. I easily hit 3gigs just from streaming a podcast during my hour drive to and from work. Not sure how people get by with 250mb.
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Have you read THIS THREAD about enabling Wi-Fi "hotspot" on the Atrix 2? As for the throttling down data speeds after reaching a certain monthly usage amount, that is just downright dirty. Seems like more and more companies are becoming 'okay' with telling you one thing, and then turning around and doing another.
I use the tethering without getting any emails from AT&T. But I have unlimited data.
I know this is a frustrating subject for all AT&T users. Does anyone know what they are using to track tethering. I ask because I have been with AT&T over 10 years and have in the past tethered without a plan. However today I received notice that I am going to loose my unlimited data plan if I do not stop tethering, sad part is I am not tethering or have I been tethering at all in the last several months. I do stream A LOT so I know I am on their list, but honestly I generally go over 3GB so I am not a data hog. I spoke to AT&T's version of customer service and request that they tell me the exact technical specification of the test they are using to determine I am tethering, the answer was, "I don';t know, my system tells me that so it must be true". I then asked what app on my device is causing the issue, "I don't know". Finally I asked how can I stop a behavior my phone is doing if I do not know what if causing the problem? "I don't know". The one thing he (a "supervisor") did know was that I could fix everything by changing my plan and paying more. I am now waiting for his manager to call with an explanation, but it would be good if I actually had some facts to fight with. Most everything I know about AT&T and their policies is completely subjective and open to interpretation.
I've heard of this happening before, and I don't think they really "track" it at all. I think all AT&T is doing is going by your bandwidth. They assume if you're regularly pulling down that much data that you must be cheating somehow.
If you're regularly using 3GB a month, that's probably what's on their radar screen. Keep complaining and insisting that you've done nothing wrong, and they should back down. Ask for some proof, which I doubt they can provide.
I tether all the time, but keep my data usage down, and I've never gotten a warning.
SMH at your story. This is ridiculous! Keep fighting, man. Don't succumb to the beast! :sly:
Sent from my One X using xda app-developers app
Lol, I got a letter in the mail... Apparently they track... Now the question is .. disabling ARMS?
WCX HTC One "Hell of a fast phone" X
I got a warning to seems they can track it better now.
Sent from my One X using xda premium
Any of you guys using the Foxfi app from the Play store and the proxy addon? I've been using it on At&t with my Nexus 7 and haven't been notified.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Also, if the new share data plans work out for you, i believe tethering is included. I'm switching my wife and I over to that plan today (supposed first day they are turning it on). It'll save us about $25/month. But the plans aren't for everyone... Some it increases their price.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
I've seen this discussed on other device forums here on XDA. No definitive answer was ever given on how AT&T determines whether you are tethering. One person who seemed to have a good degree of technical knowledge stated that every single data packet coming from a tethered computer are tagged differently than just phone use, and that any carrier can detect that tagging easily. Other people disputed that statement. I personally don't have the technical knowledge to say either way, but it seems feasible.
I personally doubt they go by bandwidth alone. I frequently go over 3 GB per month, sometimes close to the 5 GB throttle limit. Sometimes download close to 1 GB a stuff in a single day. But all on the phone (not tethered), and have never gotten the warning. Maybe they look for patterns, but not bandwidth alone.
redpoint73 said:
One person who seemed to have a good degree of technical knowledge stated that every single data packet coming from a tethered computer are tagged differently than just phone use, and that any carrier can detect that tagging easily. Other people disputed that statement. I personally don't have the technical knowledge to say either way, but it seems feasible.
I personally doubt they go by bandwidth alone. I frequently go over 3 GB per month, sometimes close to the 5 GB throttle limit. Sometimes download close to 1 GB a stuff in a single day. But all on the phone (not tethered), and have never gotten the warning. Maybe they look for patterns, but not bandwidth alone.
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I've seen that theory as well. But being able to identify tethered packets is not the same thing as being able to monitor all of them all the time. It's the latter that I am not certain is feasible given the number of smartphones on AT&T's network.
One thing that is certain is that AT&T is not consistent in how they do this. I've seen people get nailed after a single tether; others--like me--have been blithely tethering for years without any trouble. I've also heard of people like the OP, who get tagged even though they aren't tethering at all.
I continue to think that bandwidth has to be the biggest part of it. I suspect they watch for heavy usage, then pay closer attention to those accounts.
Another thing: AT&T is known to give certain perks and leeway to larger accounts, such as letting you upgrade more frequently. I have a big family plan with three smartphones, unlimited texts, Family Map, etc. I've often wondered if I'm on some kind of "let them alone for now" list given how much I tether.
In any case, I'm switching to the new sharing plans (which launched today), which include tethering, so it will be moot for me at least.
iElvis said:
I've seen that theory as well. But being able to identify tethered packets is not the same thing as being able to monitor all of them all the time. It's the latter that I am not certain is feasible given the number of smartphones on AT&T's network.
One thing that is certain is that AT&T is not consistent in how they do this. I've seen people get nailed after a single tether; others--like me--have been blithely tethering for years without any trouble. I've also heard of people like the OP, who get tagged even though they aren't tethering at all.
I continue to think that bandwidth has to be the biggest part of it. I suspect they watch for heavy usage, then pay closer attention to those accounts.
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Completely know what you mean when you talk about being able to identify the packets vs. actually monitoring all accounts. My feeling is that this is the main reason the enforcement is so inconsistent, that AT&T simply does not have the resources to monitor all the accounts this way. As you suggest maybe bandwidth is the first red flag, then they look at the tagging after that. And whatever the system is, it seems to be evolving ("improving" in the eyes of AT&T), as more people are getting caught.
Interesting feedback. I think I have figured it out. I was just guessing at my data consumption at 3GB, I actually pulled a report and looked. I average between 1 and 2 GB of data a month (pretty shocking to me, guess I use wifi more than I realize), last month it doubled to 4GB. It must be because I doubled my usage in one month, that must have set off a flag.
Still waiting for that manager to get me proof.
On a side note it felt really good to answer their survey texts with a 1 and not a 10.
I will update this thread if I get more information from the "manager". I am to stubborn to let AT&T win this one. Almost makes me want to start tethering again.
cyber_pete said:
I will update this thread if I get more information from the "manager". I am to stubborn to let AT&T win this one.
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Good for you, man. Be interested to see how it turns out. Good luck.
I also just got a letter like this today. I've had unlimited data for four years, and I've tethered very sparingly over the years with the likes of PDANet, WiFi Tether, etc without being notified by AT&T. The only time I've really needed to tether was for the one week out of the year when I vacation to a cottage that doesn't have an internet connection. I went on vacation about a month ago, and tethered using the built in Hotspot with CleanRom's Hotspot Hack. I called AT&T after reading the letter over, and the rep told me that they did detect tethering activity on my end. I ended up telling her that I used a tethering app from the Play Store for the one week that I was without internet, but that I only used it in that instance and that I would prefer to keep my unlimited plan. She just asked that I delete the app from the phone, and cease tethering, and assured me that I could keep the plan by doing so. So, it seems as though their plan of attack is to enroll you in plan that enables the Hotspot functionality if they don't hear from you, but if you call and insist on keeping your unlimited plan, hopefully they will honor that like they did for me. Good luck!
Is it possible they are looking at the browser type? I've heard that browsers which don't normally run on mobile devices can get you caught.
smartphonesanonymous said:
Is it possible they are looking at the browser type? I've heard that browsers which don't normally run on mobile devices can get you caught.
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That's the User-Agent factor, and yes they can get you that way, if you've gotten far enough onto their radar screen that they're reading your packets.
But no one really knows for sure how exactly they're doing it.
I, since I went to a shared data plan a few months ago, have come in from the cold.
Wow, zombie thread.
Sent from my One X using Tapatalk 2
USB tether with SSH and VPN
To carrier, it just looks like an ssh connection from your phone, everything else is encapsulated inside that doubly encrypted channel
(openvpn encrypts, so does ssh)
-- IP packet "signatures", Browser User-Agent, all invisible to carrier.
root not required, unlock/mod not required. works on stock unrooted device.
should work with any android phone, any carrier, any plan (that includes Internet access on phone)
(usage will still count against your data limit if you have a capped plan - mostly useful with unlimited plans)
carrier will still see your usage so they still might become suspicious, they just can't prove anything
use this advice at your own risk
it will use double the bandwidth on your HOME connection - everything has to go in, and
then right back out - may not be useful if your home internet is capped
.....
setup openvpn server on home PC connected with wired broadband
setup openssh server on home PC
setup proper passwords/keys for both to protect access.
use non-standard ports for greater security
(if you have a home router, be sure to forward the ports for both SSH and openvpn through it from "the outside" to the ssh/openvpn server)
if your home router is DD-WRT or similar, you may be able to do sshd and openvpn server right on the router, skip the PC.
.. EDIT: you will need to know the IP of your home connection to connect to it remotely. a dynamic DNS service can be useful for this ..
install sshdroid on phone.
install openvpn and adb on laptop
...
ok, you are out and about, and want to tether your laptop.
turn OFF wifi on phone.
enable usb debugging on phone.
connect laptop PC to USB on phone (connect type doesnt matter, charge-only is fine)
start sshdroid, have it ssh to your home PC and forward a tcp port for openvpn
use 'adb forward' command on laptop to forward the openvpn port from the laptop to the phone.
run openvpn on laptop, configure it to connect via localhost:xxx (where xxx is the port thats forwarded by adb to the phone, then by ssh to your home PC.)
use vpn tunnel for internet access
"whatismyipaddress.com" for laptop should show your HOME internet IP.
- this is just an overview, you will need to know how to setup the details of these apps and services, especially openvpn, in order to make this work. If you don't understand how to do so, find someone that does, or pay your carrier for the service.
- no wifi support, so no way to tether a tablet or anything else that can only connect via wifi; only a laptop or other PC that has a host USB port that can recognize the phone.
Tethering
I use FoxFi or PdaNet is the same. And not require Root.
I got this same letter two or three years ago. Idk but it think they are trying to scare ppl in to the new plans. I regularly use more than 5GB a month without tethering.
Sent from my HTC One X using Xparent Green Tapatalk 2
I got a letter and called them and they are using this as a way to generate more money.