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[Q] Need Help with Pdanet vs Netflix

I don't have internet at my location, so I have to use my phone as a tether. When I run Pdanet, I have to run it with level 1 hidden usage or T-Mobile will pop up saying I've run out of hotspot data. However, if I try to view Netflix with hidden usage, I get message 51 saying my computer isn't compatible. Is there a workaround for this that I'm not aware of?
Edit: I'm using a crappy MyTouch 4G for the phone and my computer is Windows 7, browser is Chrome.

I'm having the same/similar issue. It takes me directly to the page that lists the system requirements to watch Neftlix instantly. Obviously this is caused by whatever method PdaNet+ uses to hide the tether usage (it works fine if I use WiFi).
It's my guess that the problem lies with Microsoft Silverlight, because when I go to the webpage to install/update Silverlight, it just hangs and the url string in the browser ends with "?reason=unsupportedbrowser&_helpmsg=NoKnownBrowser.mozilla#sysreq"
I've tried a couple different user agent switchers to no avail. I can use the WiFi Share option on PdaNet or a similar separate program (or connect directly with PdaNet and BT) and watch Netflix on my tablet just fine, but the Android app for Netflix doesn't use Silverlight.

Planterz said:
I'm having the same/similar issue. It takes me directly to the page that lists the system requirements to watch Neftlix instantly. Obviously this is caused by whatever method PdaNet+ uses to hide the tether usage (it works fine if I use WiFi).
It's my guess that the problem lies with Microsoft Silverlight, because when I go to the webpage to install/update Silverlight, it just hangs and the url string in the browser ends with "?reason=unsupportedbrowser&_helpmsg=NoKnownBrowser.mozilla#sysreq"
I've tried a couple different user agent switchers to no avail. I can use the WiFi Share option on PdaNet or a similar separate program (or connect directly with PdaNet and BT) and watch Netflix on my tablet just fine, but the Android app for Netflix doesn't use Silverlight.
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Click to collapse
What I've been doing to circumvent this is disable hiding tether usage when I click on a show/movie to watch, but then I turn the hiding back on as soon as the page loads, so it doesn't use USB tether info for the loading of the video.

ThunderOrb said:
What I've been doing to circumvent this is disable hiding tether usage when I click on a show/movie to watch, but then I turn the hiding back on as soon as the page loads, so it doesn't use USB tether info for the loading of the video.
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And that doesn't use up the Mobile Hotspot allotment?

Planterz said:
And that doesn't use up the Mobile Hotspot allotment?
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If it does, it's no more than loading a normal page. I switch back over to hidden as soon as the "loading circle" shows up on the screen. Before it gets to the red page with the long loading bar. (If that makes sense.)
In other words, I have never used up my mobile hotspot allowance by doing this and I've been averaging about 50gigs of data a month. It WILL use up your hotspot allowance if you leave it unhidden. I learned that the hard way my first month.

Very cool. Depending on the time of day I get 25-40+ Mb/sec download speeds at my apartment (there's T-Mobile antennae on the roof), and with PdaNet, I don't need home internet. But trying to get Netflix to work was frustrating the crap out of me. Even spent an hour talking with a higher-level tech support guy and he couldn't figure out the problem either. Tried Chrome/Iron, Firefox, and IE. Uninstalled/reinstalled them all, Silverlight, etc.
I really wonder how PdaNet hides the tether usage. It's not a user agent switcher, because you can go to websites that detect your system, and they identify my set-up exactly.
Now that I know how to get it to work and not drain my Hotspot, the only question is do I start with "24" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?

I know this thread is very old but i had to share what i experimented yesterday. I have Windows 8 in my PC and downloaded the Netflix app from the Marketplace. PDANet seems to work flawlessly with the Netflix app.

[Q] What is the random key icon in the status bar

I recently upgraded my z3 dual to android 5.0.2. I found that there is a random key icon in the status bar and I cannot figure out what it is, I don't have any VPN's active and that was my only conclusion to what it could be. What is it? and what does it do???

It means you're are connected or disconnected from a vpn connection.
Of you remove the connection from your phone (active or inactive doesn't matter) it will disappear again. But you were right on your first guess, it is vpn

If you pull down the menu and click on "Network may be monitored" (below quick access) it will tell you which connection is running.

Hi, did you solve it, I have the same key icon and cant get rid of it. !

Dr. Web
If you're running the Dr. Web anti virus app it'll gain permission to operate soley off a VPN it doesn't change your phones network status as far as what you are connected to for data.... The app itself operates using a VPN which will display the key symbol in status bar!

For me it has happened when using the app doze when I activated the aggressive mode of the app DOZE and would see the key icon popping up and disappears when i deactivate this mode after granting it access to my device.

Could be Opera Max
do
Opera max did it for me.

Hi, did not check how old this is, but recently I got Xperia XZ premium and noticed same icon , and I Remember when it appear on my phone, it is after installed netguard firewall it using vpn locally on your phone, so it does not transmit data to some vpn server in any case. I love it, it do job very well and it cause that small icond to appear in my status bar.

No VPN on Marshmallow

After I updated my sprint galaxy s6 edge to marshmallow OTA, VPN is not working for me. I have tried more than 5 different VPN apps, but none of them work. They say they are connected, but as soon as I switch to a new app, they stop working. VPN worked fine before I updated, but now it is not. Please help!

Yoshi20017 said:
After I updated my sprint galaxy s6 edge to marshmallow OTA, VPN is not working for me. I have tried more than 5 different VPN apps, but none of them work. They say they are connected, but as soon as I switch to a new app, they stop working. VPN worked fine before I updated, but now it is not. Please help!
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Click to collapse
I've got this problem too, on chinese 9250

Go to Settings > More > VPN
Set up your VPN in there. I've set up VPN on my Galaxy S6 and S7 using L2TP IPSec with a signed certificate from GoDaddy.
I had it working on the S7 with a PSK also. Both phones are running Android v 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
It's strange but the VPN connection settings are different. My S6 is a Sprint phone, and I can't assign it a Certificate Authority. But the Verizon S7 won't let me save the VPN connection without a CA. I have to install the certificates in different ways for each phone as well. Very odd.
Anyway good luck.

MrKrunch said:
Go to Settings > More > VPN
Set up your VPN in there. I've set up VPN on my Galaxy S6 and S7 using L2TP IPSec with a signed certificate from GoDaddy.
I had it working on the S7 with a PSK also. Both phones are running Android v 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
It's strange but the VPN connection settings are different. My S6 is a Sprint phone, and I can't assign it a Certificate Authority. But the Verizon S7 won't let me save the VPN connection without a CA. I have to install the certificates in different ways for each phone as well. Very odd.
Anyway good luck.
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Click to collapse
Could you tell me how to do this please?

same problem for me Samsung s6 edge android 6..0.1 VPN apps work.... cyberghost / opera max/ and the rest .
PS after Zamber88 suggestion go to settings>> battery>app power saving > turn off for opera max or other vpn app.
PPS: if that is not enough do this: Settings >>Battery >> Battery Usage >> more (right up cornet button) >> Optimize battery usage >> select All apps and choose your VPN app and turn off .
also if in OPERA MAX when u use mobile data u get the error "enable background data " is because of the power saving.
CASE CLOSE !

That's a really strange issue. We did a lot of testing on MM with Nexus devices and everything works as intended. We even have a S6 Edge with MM that works fine (SM-G925F with one of the Unknown build listed on sammobile IIRC).
All I can come out with now is that you could try checking if there aren't any battery saving features interfering with the VPN apps.

Solved.
S6 edge.. disabled powersaving features. Vpns are working fine. Strange but cant figure out how powersaving is meddling with vpn. Solved.

Its not power saving . its restrict background data . just off the restrict background data and will work fine

zamber88 said:
That's a really strange issue. We did a lot of testing on MM with Nexus devices and everything works as intended. We even have a S6 Edge with MM that works fine (SM-G925F with one of the Unknown build listed on sammobile IIRC).
All I can come out with now is that you could try checking if there aren't any battery saving features interfering with the VPN apps.
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I'm not sure if anyone can help me over here, but I'm not finding anything in the Nexus forums. Since @zamber88 did MM testing with Nexus, maybe you can help me with my Nexus 6. I have a 10 day trip to China coming up in a couple weeks and really need to get VPN working.
Google searches haven't helped, except to point me here. I have purchased VPN Unlimited and tried it with their app and an OpenVPN app. I got a free Galaxy J7 as a spare through the T-Mobile promotion a while back, and both apps work on it with no changes at all. Neither work on my Nexus 6, despite turning off power saving and restricting background data for both apps.
When I select a server, the J7 the Allow connection pops up, I OK it, and connect. On my Nexus 6, the refused to grant permission pops up. See the attached screenshots.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JimSmith94 said:
I'm not sure if anyone can help me over here, but I'm not finding anything in the Nexus forums. Since @zamber88 did MM testing with Nexus, maybe you can help me with my Nexus 6. I have a 10 day trip to China coming up in a couple weeks and really need to get VPN working.
Google searches haven't helped, except to point me here. I have purchased VPN Unlimited and tried it with their app and an OpenVPN app. I got a free Galaxy J7 as a spare through the T-Mobile promotion a while back, and both apps work on it with no changes at all. Neither work on my Nexus 6, despite turning off power saving and restricting background data for both apps.
When I select a server, the J7 the Allow connection pops up, I OK it, and connect. On my Nexus 6, the refused to grant permission pops up. See the attached screenshots.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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I'll try to cover all of the bases from easiest to most cumbersome. Given you have some time on your hands this should helpful. Read through the list before doing anything and once you start doing stuff note it down as you're going so that we'll be able to pinpoint any other problems that could pop up. If you succeed then you'll have an answer pretty much ready for posting .
Reboot. Sometimes freshly installed VPN apps fail exactly like the screenshots show.
Try setting up a VPN connection with another app. Shameless plug: Opera Max, Opera VPN (note: there's an issue in Max which makes some VPNs disconnect after a couple of minutes so make sure to kill it before running any other VPNs).
Scan the device with Avast, AVG and Avira to rule out any worms.
Rule out any other apps interfering by booting into safe mode and try connecting again (with your app and, Opera Max for a sanity check).
If you don't want to commit to steps that will follow (or the step before this one succeeded) remove apps from least to most needed retesting with your app and Max after each uninstall.
Upgrade to Android Nugat. It shouldn't break anything and could potentially fix this issue. Either ways it's always a good idea to upgrade when updates are available. It's not like you're on iOS .
Now it's a god time to make a backup (frankly, anytime is good for a backup). If you went over with uninstalling apps making one will be easier. If you have root on your device you probably have TWRP, make a backup with it and download it to your PC. You could also make a Titanium backup if you're not big on setting up basic apps but it's optional. If you don't have root just backup all sensitive data (photos, videos, settings if it's possible to export these in-app). Also note down all apps you can't live without. Google Play has a history of installed apps but going through it is a pain and the "Copy settings from another device" option when setting up a fresh device is helpful but will not restore in-app settings. Also I would advise to not use it given that the culprit can sill be lurking in your apps.
MAKE THAT BACKUP, there's no going back from here . Do a factory reset. After that as mentioned before don't restore settings and set up a "new" device. Set up your accounts and check if both VPN apps work (they should by this point). Now start installing your basic app setup and after configuring each one make sure that the VPN still works.
If somehow this didn't help make sure you're not running a ROM that's botched by flashing the official system image (and upgrade to Nugat as a bonus). If you know what I'm talking about then you will know how to do it, if you don't know AND the issue still reproduces the there's something really strange going on.
By now you should have your issue solved, hopefully in the first three steps at most. There's one other thing to take into account. The great firewall does not like VPNs and there's a fair chance that Unlimited VPN will not work so be prepped to have a backup plan. You could try with Opera VPN (no idea if it works, not my project, would be nice to get feedback) and also get a trial for any service that looks interesting to you on this list.
Hope this helps and that you'll have a safe trip .
UPDATED minutes after posting:
One simple step I missed: reboot. In most cases it solves exactly the issue you're having. No idea why it happens but probably there's a 2y bug opened and tagged as low prio in the Android project .

Thanks for the quick reply!
1. Besides VPN Unlimited, I've already tried OpenVPN for Android and OpenVPN Connect. They both use .ovpn files from VPN Unlimited. I just installed Opera VPN and whether I swipe through the intro screens or skip them, I can't click on "GOT IT"; nothing happens. I think this might be the crux of the problem as some of the buttons in the other VPN apps don't respond either. I'm "almost" positive it's not a screen overlay problem because I used to use f.lux that did that, got rid of it, and haven't had any problems since.
2. I run Lookout Security & Antivirus and just scanned again to be sure. Nothing found.
3. I tried safe mode earlier, only to learn that you can't install or run any aftermarket apps.
4-7. Nougat hasn't been released yet and I'm too dependent on systemless root and Xposed, I'm still stock rooted on MM 6.0.1 with the September security update. I do run TWRP and Titanium Backup and make sure their backups are up to date before I try anything dangerous.
8. Unless you can think of why I can't click on "GOT IT" in Opera VPN, I guess my next step is to sideload the latest OTA again and try all of the VPNs before installing TWRP, SU, and Xposed. That's about all that's left.

JimSmith94 said:
Thanks for the quick reply!
1. Besides VPN Unlimited, I've already tried OpenVPN for Android and OpenVPN Connect. They both use .ovpn files from VPN Unlimited. I just installed Opera VPN and whether I swipe through the intro screens or skip them, I can't click on "GOT IT"; nothing happens. I think this might be the crux of the problem as some of the buttons in the other VPN apps don't respond either. I'm "almost" positive it's not a screen overlay problem because I used to use f.lux that did that, got rid of it, and haven't had any problems since.
2. I run Lookout Security & Antivirus and just scanned again to be sure. Nothing found.
3. I tried safe mode earlier, only to learn that you can't install or run any aftermarket apps.
4-7. Nougat hasn't been released yet and I'm too dependent on systemless root and Xposed, I'm still stock rooted on MM 6.0.1 with the September security update. I do run TWRP and Titanium Backup and make sure their backups are up to date before I try anything dangerous.
8. Unless you can think of why I can't click on "GOT IT" in Opera VPN, I guess my next step is to sideload the latest OTA again and try all of the VPNs before installing TWRP, SU, and Xposed. That's about all that's left.
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Click to collapse
1. Some of the buttons don't respond? What about Opera Max? Opera VPN is fairly new in the game and it still can have issues (though I haven't found any during the brief time I was testing how it works with Max). This sounds really strange. Does it happen in other apps?
2. Rerunning the same Antivirus app will not double the likelyhood of finding a thread . Try with Avast too. You can safely uninstall it after that.
3. What aftermarket apps you have in mind? APK's installed not from the Play Store? It shouldn't impact testing if Unlimited VPN works fine. All background stuff shouldn't run by definition in safe mode.
4-7. Nougat is released. After beta 4 they started releasing OTAs and images for the final release on the beta channel and now it's going to go global. There are factory images for Nexus 9 which I upgraded recently and we have a Nexus 6 but after checking it looks like got the OTA from the beta channel, so it will take a while for the official release to roll out to 6 (though 6P and 5X already have it). Also you're right, there's no systemless root for it yet. We're rolling standard SuperSU on test devices in the office (no need for Android Pay or banking apps there).
8. I'll reach out to the VPN guys for info on gathering debug information for this. Meanwhile try with Opera Max or even Betternet. Do these also fail to connect? Also does it reproduce on mobile and on WiFi?
Got a response from the VPN guys. Most probably your network blocks VPNs. Try pinging http://api.surfeasy.com/ from mobile and WiFi. If it doesn't go through then your network provider is blocking it. Probably it will be the same case for other VPNs. The issue is known and they'll probably add an error message in the next release .

zamber88 said:
1. Some of the buttons don't respond? What about Opera Max? Opera VPN is fairly new in the game and it still can have issues (though I haven't found any during the brief time I was testing how it works with Max). This sounds really strange. Does it happen in other apps?
2. Rerunning the same Antivirus app will not double the likelyhood of finding a thread . Try with Avast too. You can safely uninstall it after that.
3. What aftermarket apps you have in mind? APK's installed not from the Play Store? It shouldn't impact testing if Unlimited VPN works fine. All background stuff shouldn't run by definition in safe mode.
4-7. Nougat is released. After beta 4 they started releasing OTAs and images for the final release on the beta channel and now it's going to go global. There are factory images for Nexus 9 which I upgraded recently and we have a Nexus 6 but after checking it looks like got the OTA from the beta channel, so it will take a while for the official release to roll out to 6 (though 6P and 5X already have it). Also you're right, there's no systemless root for it yet. We're rolling standard SuperSU on test devices in the office (no need for Android Pay or banking apps there).
8. I'll reach out to the VPN guys for info on gathering debug information for this. Meanwhile try with Opera Max or even Betternet. Do these also fail to connect? Also does it reproduce on mobile and on WiFi?
Got a response from the VPN guys. Most probably your network blocks VPNs. Try pinging http://api.surfeasy.com/ from mobile and WiFi. If it doesn't go through then your network provider is blocking it. Probably it will be the same case for other VPNs. The issue is known and they'll probably add an error message in the next release .
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Click to collapse
I installed Opera Max and it was the only app that gave me a helpful error message, so thank you and the coders for that! The message said something like it couldn't establish a VPN connection due to an Xposed module. I disabled Xposed, rebooted, and all of my VPN apps worked. Further searching found this thread saying that Xposed's Immersive Mode was the cuprit. http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/help/vpn-to-t2850981
I re-enabled Xposed and disabled only Immersive Mode and VPN still works. Hopefully this will help others in this thread too.

JimSmith94 said:
I installed Opera Max and it was the only app that gave me a helpful error message, so thank you and the coders for that! The message said something like it couldn't establish a VPN connection due to an Xposed module. I disabled Xposed, rebooted, and all of my VPN apps worked. Further searching found this thread saying that Xposed's Immersive Mode was the cuprit. http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/help/vpn-to-t2850981
I re-enabled Xposed and disabled only Immersive Mode and VPN still works. Hopefully this will help others in this thread too.
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Click to collapse
I missed that you mentioned Xposed earlier. We implemented Xposed detection to prevent abuse so it's good to hear that it helped you to resolve your issue . Thanks forwarded to the developer behind it . Enjoy your trip!

Captive portal login notifications

Hi
My S7 doesn't prompt me to login to captive portal websites - my old MotoG2 did. I'd assumed this was an Android feature and not a Motorola feature.
Can anyone help clarify?
Thanks

Are you sure the network you are connecting to has a captive portal setup? The 3 wireless networks with portals I connect to all prompt me to login.
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Hi
Thanks for replying: I think I wan't explicit enough in my description.
For captive portals, if I open the browser and navigate to a URL then I'm taken to the portal login pages just fine.
What's missing is that on my MotoG I used to get an actual notification (with vibrate) that I needed to log onto connected portals. From what I've read this was an android feature from 5.0 not something specific to Motorola.

Weird. I don't get a vibration alert or anything when it auto-connects to a known network, but when I click on a network to manually connect, I get a "click here to login" link appear on-screen that opens the web browser and takes me to the login screen.
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

So, had this problem on my S7 and found a fix.
Go to Settings->Applications->Reset app preferences.
I think what happened is that somehow something else either was grabbing the captive portal, or it was disabled after being ignored as my problems started after several runs through Seattle's transit tunnel without finishing the wifi connection and ignoring the notification that popped up.

Wifi Captive Portal Login Blank?

I've noticed this on a few wifi's I've visited. It'll connect in the wifi settings, you press "tap here to sign in" (the notification), then you get the captive portal app pop up (system app), but it's a blank page rather than a login. These are guest wifis with passwords you would input on the portal page.
Is this a oneplus problem or a general android/pie problem? I noticed other Android users near me with older phones getting their captive portal with no issue, and my laptop also connects to these wifi portals with no issue.
Opening a browser and going to Google.com doesn't trigger a login portal, whether mobile data is on or off.

EVEDork said:
I've noticed this on a few wifi's I've visited. It'll connect in the wifi settings, you press "tap here to sign in" (the notification), then you get the captive portal app pop up (system app), but it's a blank page rather than a login. These are guest wifis with passwords you would input on the portal page.
Is this a oneplus problem or a general android/pie problem? I noticed other Android users near me with older phones getting their captive portal with no issue, and my laptop also connects to these wifi portals with no issue.
Opening a browser and going to Google.com doesn't trigger a login portal, whether mobile data is on or off.
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Click to collapse
This is odd. I use plenty of login portals with no issues. What os and version are you running?

At my job we have this kind of portal logins and don't have any issues too

Same issue for me - OnePlus6
I am facing this issue as well for the last few weeks.
Using a Oneplus6. Was able to connect to my company wifi till a few weeks back, and then out of the blue i start getting blank pages when i click on "Tap here to sign in". This is also happening for a few other public wifis as well. But not all.
Oxygen OS version: 9.0.4
Build Number: OnePLUS A6000_22_190123
Can anyone give any suggestions on how to solve the problem? (restarting the phone does not help)

Same here
I'm on a one plus 6 and my WiFi portal shows up blank for my college it uses fortinet if that helps . My friends have one plus6s
But have no problems connecting and accessing the page

Solution
I had a problem similar to yours ,I've fixed it by removing the private DNS server I was using ,
Settings>WiFi & internet>private dns

Any update about this problem ? I have exactly the same problem at work, from my Oneplus 5