Excessive tethering use - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Anyone use tethering to download too much data and had repercussions from T-Mobile? I'm just wondering if/how much I should limit my bandwidth use. Use tethering frequently on the train and such.

After 5gb of data you will likely get throttled to EDGE-only speed. You will receive a message from TMO if this happens. If you are just checking email, chat, facebook, etc it is highly unlikely you will kill your 5gb.

I just recieved the text message yesterday and I have to say the speed that they throttle you down to renederd my laptop practically useless. Even just trying to log into Yahoo my browser timed out. Just FYI.

How much bandwidth did you use? I was up to 2.3 gigabyte last month.

KerryG said:
After 5gb of data you will likely get throttled to EDGE-only speed. You will receive a message from TMO if this happens. If you are just checking email, chat, facebook, etc it is highly unlikely you will kill your 5gb.
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its not even EDGE speeds. more like a little bit better than GPRS speeds around 50-59kbps. my edge speeds is almost triple this and my 3g speeds peak at 5.3mbps at night and 3-4mbps during day
to OP- Tmobile used to allows 10GB of bandwidth but now its cut to half to 5GB which can be easily used up by tethering,but then again tethering using USB in settings, MobileAP, or an app like EasyTether and PDAnet is not covered in the contract and actually goes against the terms of use

Of course, most probably already know tethering is expressly forbidden by the terms and conditions for most (if not all) contracts with TMO. While they've cast a blind eye to in the past, this is changing.
Beginning Nov 3, TMO will offer a $15 Tethering option which is less expensive than other carriers. Each activated IMEI (phone serial) will get no more than one IP address. All tethered data will count toward your 5GB monthly limit. Like other carriers, your monthly data cap doesn't increase just because you pay more. Unlike other carriers though, you will NOT be charged overage fees unless perhaps you somehow manage to tether without a proper plan in place.
The DHCP pool which currently assigns / allows acquiring of the additional addresses for any tethered devices that you may be using will be limited to just "one" address. In order to tether after this change, you'll require a minimum of 2 IP addresses. This limitation will only be officially lifted upon adding a monthly paid tethering plan to your account. Being rooted or on an unoffical rom likely won't change this as it'll all be controlled by the TMO's network hardware which is out of our reach.
Update to reply to the post by 2000nits below...
That assumes that TMO won't modify the normal operation it's APN gateway to prevent Private DHCP then tethering as we know it might not be possible. Then, you'd be forced to get your addresses from their DHCP server alone.

Yeap . this is a sad sad day for tmob...
I am going to look for a better carrier ./ option
I can get Virgin mobile wifi unlimited , and someone else cheaper for the phone

You think they will send a notice to all users with a 'Change of Terms' letter enclosed???
Also, does anyone know how to monitor my usage?? How do I know how much data I've transfered thus far in my billing cycle??

ndhr3d said:
You think they will send a notice to all users with a 'Change of Terms' letter enclosed???
Also, does anyone know how to monitor my usage?? How do I know how much data I've transfered thus far in my billing cycle??
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Click to collapse
You can monitor usage with netcounter in market. Free and I have been using it since g1.

epakrat75 said:
Of course, most probably already know tethering is expressly forbidden by the terms and conditions for most (if not all) contracts with TMO. While they've cast a blind eye to in the past, this is changing.
Beginning Nov 3, TMO will offer a $15 Tethering option which is less expensive than other carriers. Each activated IMEI (phone serial) will get no more than one IP address. All tethered data will count toward your 5GB monthly limit. Like other carriers, your monthly data cap doesn't increase just because you pay more. Unlike other carriers though, you will NOT be charged overage fees unless perhaps you somehow manage to tether without a proper plan in place.
The DHCP pool which currently assigns / allows acquiring of the additional addresses for any tethered devices that you may be using will be limited to just "one" address. In order to tether after this change, you'll require a minimum of 2 IP addresses. This limitation will only be officially lifted upon adding a monthly paid tethering plan to your account. Being rooted or on an unoffical rom likely won't change this as it'll all be controlled by the TMO's network hardware which is out of our reach.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as tethering still works like it did with usb tethering on cyanogen roms we do not get 2 ips from the carrier. Your phone gets 1 ip address from carrier and then acts as a router giving you private ip addresses that your carrier does not see. Same as you home ISP does not give out multiple ip addresses if you have multiple PCs at home conneted to a router.
Conclusion: Pay tmo $15/mo extra or root and do it for free (at your own risk). I have done it since the g1 days but very rarely, never had a prob.

Removed by author.

2000nits said:
As long as tethering still works like it did with usb tethering on cyanogen roms we do not get 2 ips from the carrier. Your phone gets 1 ip address from carrier and then acts as a router giving you private ip addresses that your carrier does not see. Same as you home ISP does not give out multiple ip addresses if you have multiple PCs at home conneted to a router.
Conclusion: Pay tmo $15/mo extra or root and do it for free (at your own risk). I have done it since the g1 days but very rarely, never had a prob.
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Click to collapse
^ This. I don't see how t mobile could track that you are tethering. Your phone requests the data, than transfers the data to the device you are tethering just like a router. The "outside world" only ever sees your router, or phone in this case. Unless I am misunderstanding the way tethering works.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

AFAIK, an APN is required for tethering to work. The carrier controls this. Without APN access and one that plays nice with tethering apps, tethering may become impossible with existing tethering / wifi router apps?

Tethering Via Kies or Tethering Via Dial-Up Connection
Currently you can easily tether via Samsung Kies or by creating a dial-up connection. How will these two options change?
How would T-Mo know you are tethering via keys or dial-up connection?
I do have Kies and I've set up dial-up tethering, it works, however I have internet everywhere I go, so I never have really tethered other than just testing to see if it works. I think it is a shame though, people who abused tethering kinda ruined it for everyone. Now if you need to tether in an emergency, which in my case would be maybe like once a year or something, now the option is closed to everyone? Maybe they can create an emergency tethering plan. You pay for the 1 time you need to tether. I dunno.
*dial-up isn't really dial-up in the sense you may be thinking like in the old modem dial up days.

Related

[Q] Cannot connect view to iPhone4 for bluetooth tethering

I would like to be able to tether my HTC View to my iPhone 4 via bluetooth to share the internet connection. It works successfully via MiWi with the wireless hotspot. I would like to use the bluetooth instead though since the wifi hotspot kills my battery and makes my phone physically hot to the touch after a few hours of it. Is this possible?
The 2 devices do pair through mywi using bluetooth. But when i click to connect and use for internet access the View just sits there and says connecting.
iPhone is running 5.0.1 and is jailbroken
HTC View is running 3.2.1 and is rooted and s-off
jonesychris said:
I would like to be able to tether my HTC View to my iPhone 4 via bluetooth to share the internet connection. It works successfully via MiWi with the wireless hotspot. I would like to use the bluetooth instead though since the wifi hotspot kills my battery and makes my phone physically hot to the touch after a few hours of it. Is this possible?
The 2 devices do pair through mywi using bluetooth. But when i click to connect and use for internet access the View just sits there and says connecting.
iPhone is running 5.0.1 and is jailbroken
HTC View is running 3.2.1 and is rooted and s-off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I don't have a solution for you. I was just more curious if your wireless carrier has found out about you tethering and tried to force you into a tethering plan? I really want to jailbreak my iPhone for tethering but it sounds like there isn't a fullproof way of not letting carriers find out you are doing this.
I would like to do the same. I've read on other forums that some have success with honeycomb connecting to 4.0 miwi
I've been using tethering for about 6 months now. In the beginning it was only when wifi wasn't available for my laptop, or my wife's iPhone on trips (she has 200mb data)
They have not complained yet but it was very low data usage before. I'm sure my data will increase now so I will have to see. I work in IT, everywhere I go has wifi. I've used 702mb of data this month (1/2 through cycle). I'm normally around around 300 - 400mb of data a month. I'm also grandfathered into unlimited plan, so they get $30 a month from me for data. I doubt they are complaining much since i'm such a light user. This bill will be my first full month with the view, so we will see if I ever get any complaints.
jonesychris said:
I've been using tethering for about 6 months now. In the beginning it was only when wifi wasn't available for my laptop, or my wife's iPhone on trips (she has 200mb data)
They have not complained yet but it was very low data usage before. I'm sure my data will increase now so I will have to see. I work in IT, everywhere I go has wifi. I've used 702mb of data this month (1/2 through cycle). I'm normally around around 300 - 400mb of data a month. I'm also grandfathered into unlimited plan, so they get $30 a month from me for data. I doubt they are complaining much since i'm such a light user. This bill will be my first full month with the view, so we will see if I ever get any complaints.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok, well keep us updated. I too am grandfathered in on unlimited data on my iPhone 4. And I also am a fairly light user (< 1GB/month), but everyone makes it sound like the carriers are jumping on illegal tethering pretty hard. Regardless of how much data is actually used, they know from the ports that tethering is happening. I almost wouldn't mind paying for a tethering account, but the worst part about doing it is that you lose unlimited regular data.
Reading your posts, I can't understand why tethering is "illegal" or forbidden. I you pay for a data plan, why can't one use it on any device?
Because they want to charge for it. Not sure
No one has successfully tethered with bluetooth?
Sent from my PG41200 using Tapatalk
I found this article with some searching.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1374213&highlight=bluetooth+tether
I wonder if this would work with the View. Same WPA file work?
tito12 said:
Reading your posts, I can't understand why tethering is "illegal" or forbidden. I you pay for a data plan, why can't one use it on any device?
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Click to collapse
Its not "illegal", in that I don't think you can get thrown in jail or sued for it.
But you agree to the carrier's Terms & Conditions when you sign up to use their network, whether you like it or not (or bothered to read them). Violation of the Terms means that the carrier can terminate your service, add charges to your account, or other repercussions, depending on what the Terms state.
Not sure what carrier's policies are in Israel. But in the US, most of the big carriers have specific statements in their Terms of Use, that prohibit tethering other devices to your phone without a tethering specific plan. If you are caught violating this policy, they reserve the right to add that plan to your account, or even drop your account if they want.
And yes, its of course so they can charge you extra. I completely agree that data should be data. And if you pay for a certain amount of data, or on an unlimited plan, then ideologically it should not make a difference if you are tethered or not. But there are many times in life where the most logical or fair concept is not what happens in reality. Especially in the for-profit business world.
No one has any ideas? Surely i'm not the first person who has tried to do this.
I just posted a possible solution related to this except I did it on the View:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1469997

Tethering UK

Just wanted to know if you could tether the GS3 without your network knowing?
I've only owned a wifi android tablet - so not clued up on how android handles 3g tethering etc?
There's some UK operators offering unlimited data with the GS3 at the moment...
Most of them allow it anyway. Three do for definite anyway, same with T-Mobile.
Scottymeuk said:
Most of them allow it anyway. Three do for definite anyway, same with T-Mobile.
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Click to collapse
The only way is tether then "do not download" anything.
---------- Post added at 12:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------
mrdeviance said:
Just wanted to know if you could tether the GS3 without your network knowing?
I've only owned a wifi android tablet - so not clued up on how android handles 3g tethering etc?
There's some UK operators offering unlimited data with the GS3 at the moment...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way is tether then "do not download" anything.
You should check whether your data is actually unlimited or (which it usually is) 1GB . I tethered my phone to my tablet and only appears as mobile data on my allowance (o2)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Why can you not download. Ive hit 40gb a month on tmobile tethering and its fine. If you have unlimited, then its fine. You will just get traffic managed on Three if your in the top 5% of their users.
there is literally no way for any netwsork to know that you are tethering. i dont even know why people worry about it.
if you run over your data allowance they will just charge you for the extra. its basically in their interest for you to tether.
hefonthefjords said:
there is literally no way for any netwsork to know that you are tethering.
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Click to collapse
Tethering can be detected by browser string interception and network address translation detection quite easily. Many providers around the world do detect and block tethering. I'm with T-Mobile on an account where tethering is not allowed but I've done it loads and exceeded my 3gb limit and they haven't done a thing about it.
Both those methods of detection do not work. NAT makes it HARDER for someone to detect whats going on beyond your device in the local network, not easier. They cant detect what is happening beyond the modem in your phone any more than the cable company can detect whats going on in your physical wired network beyond your router in your home cable line.
Browser string is not device specific and can be modified on most if not all devices by any user.
The only thing stopping you tethering is them saying you cant do it. Been tethering since the days of my nokia 6233 and never had any hassle from providers and never payed an extra penny for the priveledge.
Sent from my LG-P920 using xda premium
hefonthefjords said:
NAT makes it HARDER for someone to detect whats going on beyond your device in the local network, not easier. They cant detect what is happening beyond the modem in your phone any more than the cable company can detect whats going on in your physical wired network beyond your router in your home cable line.
Browser string is not device specific and can be modified on most if not all devices by any user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course NAT makes detection harder but all sorts of protocols such as rDNS lookup and SMTP leak local IP addresses. Personally I find it unrealistic that any network provider would be employing these techniques, all I'm saying is they are possible.
What interests me is that some networks do block tethering. I'm not sure if any UK ones do, but the question I'd have is how do they do it?
Are they relying on default APN entries and blocking the ones a phone would access for tethering?
Sorry to butt in to this, but I have just installed Salmon rom on my gs2 and since this whenever I try to connect to the net I am taken to a screen from Three that says tethering is not allowed on my unlimited plan. It is turned off on my phone. I have to turn off mobile data then turn it back on again to be able to get on the net. Tried other roms and stock, and all are fine. So Three at least know when you are tetherd and do not allow it.
Basic gist i got of this (via a giff gaff comment) is that they will only guess based on massive download totals in a day or a few hours. So don't go over 1GB for example in a few hours, limit what you download and spread it over days. Giff Gaff (02 network) WILL ban if it detects this way.
Fortunately Ive had no such problems with 3 network

[Q] how does aT&t know your tethering??

[Q] tethering caught with fox fi- with proxy
i have been a big fan of tethering since my old iPhone days.
the switch to android has been a big step and i am not telling anyone to tether so please don't abuse this.
i used foxfi with proxy for about 4 months until last night. got a email from AT&t stating that i would be moved to a tethering plan for 65 dollars more a month and one less gig than i had before. so for all those that use foxfi with proxy, it doesn't work. i know pda net dosent work from friend who also got a letter, before me.
so i am stuck .. no more tethering for me.. i am actually retiring from it. but i still keep the option on my phone if such an emergency arises.
hears where i am asking for the opinions of the xda members. i am not sure how at&t knows, but they did, and it doesn't make sense that they scan all every packet of data. any ideas how they know?
i did do one thing that i found hidden on my samsung notei717. under network settings it only shows ONE apn. but... if you download a apn-manager it shows a hidden APN-att-entitlement. is this how they know? i thought it was only used for people who pay for tethering? is it also used to track tethering?
i ended up using a sql editor and removed the line for this APN from the(/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.db) rebooted phone and now its gone, phone works well and i havent seen any problems yet. ( i did make a copy if anyone wants to see the original)
might anyone in here have any ideas of how at&t knew ?
i am more curious if anything.. even my wife told me, that i have a big enough screen, just use it as a computer from now on.
was it this APN that gave it away? (i tethered a android tablet for internet and games)
I'm on T-Mobile and have been caught tethering, I use chrome extension user-agent switcher. Choose the Android user-agent. If some pages require IE then just precede with HTTPS.
Try it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Another thought you could use the tether, establish a VPN tunnel to a home machine and then use the internet that way. it'll encapsulate your traffic from your laptop to your home PC so AT&T could see is traffic but not what and where. From what I've read it's either 1 of 2 ways how AT&T detect if you're tethering:
1) by detecting what type of response headers and ports your connecting on. A VPN tunnel would protect you.
2) the other rumor is that by using a tethering program (or one that's built in for that matter) uses a tethering specific APN which AT&T tracks that way. So in theory if you could specify which APN you use for tethering that would protect you.
I haven't wanted to test out these theories because I have unlimited plan and don't want to risk it.
Theoriginalgiga said:
Another thought you could use the tether, establish a VPN tunnel to a home machine and then use the internet that way. it'll encapsulate your traffic from your laptop to your home PC so AT&T could see is traffic but not what and where. From what I've read it's either 1 of 2 ways how AT&T detect if you're tethering:
1) by detecting what type of response headers and ports your connecting on. A VPN tunnel would protect you.
2) the other rumor is that by using a tethering program (or one that's built in for that matter) uses a tethering specific APN which AT&T tracks that way. So in theory if you could specify which APN you use for tethering that would protect you.
I haven't wanted to test out these theories because I have unlimited plan and don't want to risk it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have deleted the alternate APN ( which is hidden even from root users) so i am not sure if that is it.
is it possible to alter the TTL ? and if so how?
- also how would i tweak my note to use a VPN?
mac1845427 said:
i have deleted the alternate APN ( which is hidden even from root users) so i am not sure if that is it.
is it possible to alter the TTL ? and if so how?
- also how would i tweak my note to use a VPN?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I'd handle the VPN on the laptop/computer instead of the phone itself. Inherently there's an overhead for a VPN and requires processing power which would slow down your throughput on your phone if the phone was handling that.
Here's a link that has a decent walk through if you want to use the phone for the VPN.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/securely-connect-your-android-smartphone-via-vpn/3321
What APN did you delete? can you post the values of it? Also why do you want to change your TTL?
I do not know how at &t does it, but a friend was one of the first owner of a 10" tablet with internal 3g years ago. His provider accused him doing tethering.
We assumed that they check the screen resolution of the browser which some web sites use to optimise the layout.
After short discussion, he could convince them and they droped the case.
Not that I'm in any way knowledgeable in the context of this topic, but when you mentioned the alteration and/or deletion of hidden APN data...
Bear in mind that a stock GB build for the ATT note, contains 1352 separate APN's....
And I'm not sure if the hidden file will capture the additional data or not to prevent detection, but I thought I'd post anyway just in case it helps at all ...g
Edit : I can't say for sure where these APN logs are stored or how/when they are accessed, but I know they exist as they can be seen when backing or restoring the GB or ICS UCLF6 Builds when tracking the line by line process.
Good luck to you gentlemen, I have nothing else to offer on the subject ....sorry ....g
xblosa said:
I do not know how at &t does it, but a friend was one of the first owner of a 10" tablet with internal 3g years ago. His provider accused him doing tethering.
We assumed that they check the screen resolution of the browser which some web sites use to optimise the layout.
After short discussion, he could convince them and they droped the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's the case, that sort of data can be masked by a VPN tunnel. But I think it's a little more complex than that because there's quite a few tablets on AT&T now.
Theoriginalgiga said:
If that's the case, that sort of data can be masked by a VPN tunnel. But I think it's a little more complex than that because there's quite a few tablets on AT&T now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, they will have improved their detection, but it will be based on fingerprinting for the traffic of commonly used desktop applications. VPN will avoid this, but using VPN all the time might be suspiscious per se.
xblosa said:
Sure, they will have improved their detection, but it will be based on fingerprinting for the traffic of commonly used desktop applications. VPN will avoid this, but using VPN all the time might be suspiscious per se.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, it would look suspicious, but suspicion isn't enough to warrant AT&T to switch your account.
I got the email from AT&T about a year ago warning me about tethering and I called the number and she said their system looks for many thing and throws up red flags when it can prove you are tethering. She said they have to have proof before they can warn people. I was using my device to tether an iPod touch and she told me the reason I was caught was because I had downloaded apps from the App Store on an I device but my sim card was never shown to be inside an Idevice. It was crazy because I used several devices to tether for at least three years without being caught and within a week of using the iPod I was caught.
How dare we use the services we pay for! Such arrogance I have never seen to think att shouldn't be able to double dip. Vote Romney 2012 and deregulate more!
I got a warning once after watching Netflix... on my phone. They're usually bull****.
Sent from my SGH-I717 using xda premium
Earlier this month, I was on vacay and decided to use my phone to tether to my laptop (wasnt going to pay $12 at the hotel for damn sure), and I forgot and left it on thru one night. I didn't really "tether" per say, I turned my phone to a hotspot actually and it's not like my internet usage was higher than normal neither.
Why does at&t trip when you gotta pay anyway? (if no unlimited plan of course)
SayWhat10 said:
Why does at&t trip when you gotta pay anyway? (if no unlimited plan of course)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well because AT&T wants to get you for every single penny they can. They want to charge you for a data plan, then a tether plan and roaming plan, and idevice plan, a non-idevice plan, a gps plan, a navigation plan, a text to speech plan, your grandma is a dirty girl plan, your connected to more than one tower at a time plan, a video chat plan. I'm sure you get the point, if they can squeeze that extra penny from the people and force them to pay higher prices, even though it alienates their consumers, they know people aren't going to leave. The market isn't who has the best service gets the most customers anymore. It's you will use us because we're all owned by the same company and we just give you the illusion that you have choices, but in reality all your money are belong to us.
/climbs off of soapbox
I have a 3 gig plan and use about 8 gigs a month.. I tether my ps3 and play online and stuff like that.. I have never heard from AT&T..
Surely they can see when I'm connected to Playstation Network using massive amounts of data..
Its powered by Jellybeaned AOKP!
Did you delete the tethering manager program?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
johnrippa said:
How dare we use the services we pay for! Such arrogance I have never seen to think att shouldn't be able to double dip. Vote Romney 2012 and deregulate more!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly !!..g
drnecropolis said:
I have a 3 gig plan and use about 8 gigs a month.. I tether my ps3 and play online and stuff like that.. I have never heard from AT&T..
Surely they can see when I'm connected to Playstation Network using massive amounts of data..
Its powered by Jellybeaned AOKP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aside from charging you for tethering...they dont charge you for the overage from the 3gig to 8gig? that has to be a lot

[Q] No server connection after tether activation on rooted Rezound

I have a rooted (via this wonderful site) HTC rezound on a grandfathered unlimited Verizon plan. As soon as I was rooted I installed the only wifi tether that I could get to work. After a few months of wonderfully excessive data usage both via tether and phone use, I can no longer maintain a connection to the internet if i use a wireless tether. I can stay connected with a USB tether.
Starting from a fresh boot the phone has a great 4G connection with speed tests over 20mbps. Once I start the wireless tether, I can connect a device and download no more than a few mb of data before the connection is lost. The phone continues to say that I have a great connection to the tower, but I can not connect to the internet via the tether or any app on my my phone. Speed test apps say there is "no server connection" but that I am on the Verizon network. The only way to get the server connection back is to reboot the phone. I have found that I can use Foxfi USB tether to connect a device without losing a server connection, but what good is that to multiple devices?
Is it possible that Verizon can tell that I am wirelessly tethering and is blocking my server connection? It seems like a stretch, seeing as Foxfi USB works (wireless does not), but I would not be surprised. And if they are doing this, wouldn't that be illegal according to the "Open Access Rule" they are required to abide by?
If not that, then what could be the problem?
Thanks for your help.
I have never had an issue tethering the three years I have been doing it with Verizon. I am also a grandfathered Unlimited user. The Open Access Agreement only works with new contracts. Unlimited contracts have to follow Verizon's old policy as we aren't paying extra if we go over a certain amount (like tiered plans do).
I would blame either the ROM or program. I use the native tether from AOSP ROMs and have no issues you are experiencing
Sent from my Infected Rezound using xda app-developers app
Uzephi said:
The Open Access Agreement only works with new contracts. Unlimited contracts have to follow Verizon's old policy as we aren't paying extra if we go over a certain amount (like tiered plans do).
I would blame either the ROM or program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uzephi, if you are going to post a reply, know what you are talking about first. Aside from not knowing anything about “Open Access” standards, you didn’t even notice that the problem materialized after months of usage without issue. So it couldn’t be an issue with the ROM or program. YOU NEED TO READ AND UNDERSTAND A POST BEFORE REPLYING.
The Open Access Agreement or Rule is a condition of Verizon’s usage of the C-Block 700 Mhz spectrum that was won at an FCC auction in 2008. It is a stipulation that was enforced in 2012 when the FCC fined Verizon $1.25 million for blocking access to tethering apps. It has nothing to do with grandfathered accounts or new customer contracts. It is all about how Verizon manages data transmission via its LTE network.
What I was proposing was that Verizon has figured out a way to detect tethering and is able to shut down network connections. The loss of a network connection is intermittent and hard to predict. Sometimes my connection to a network server is maintained while my tethered device cannot make a decent connection. Sometimes neither my tethered devises nor my phone can connect to a server. Sometimes the connection is strong. The reason I think that this is something that Verizon is doing is because if I reboot my phone, most of the time everything goes back to normal, at least for a little while. I have considered throttling, but I am in a small town, I can’t imagine that Verizon would throttle their LTE in a small town, let alone throttle it at all.
So, any INFORMED thoughts?
slyckt said:
And if they are doing this, wouldn't that be illegal according to the "Open Access Rule" they are required to abide by?
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Click to collapse
"The FCC also is saying that Verizon cannot charge customers on tiered data plans the $20 a month tethering fee, but it can charge it for those customers who are on an unlimited data plan." source
slyckt said:
It has nothing to do with grandfathered accounts or new customer contracts. It is all about how Verizon manages data transmission via its LTE network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read response above. I was informing you of a stipulation you apparently do not know about your own contract.
I have a similar contract and plan: unlimited. Why would one be stopped and not the majority? I use well over 150GB a month(mostly all tethered) and never had an issue, so I know it isn't Verizon stopping it. Please read up on what you are raging about before making accusations. It is not illegal for them to stop unlimited plans from tethering as you claim.
Edit: my hypothesis for previous post?
Similarities: Phone, data plan
Differences: ROM, Program
Goal? Trying to tether.
Results: my phone, Plan, ROMs (AOSP) and program (app) let me tether a lot.
Why can't you? Check the differences.
Maybe the app updated in the background and broke your tether.
Please act more respectful to a suggestive post instead of raging at my hypothesis.
Sent from my Rezound using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:03 PM ----------
slyckt said:
...... I have found that I can use Foxfi USB tether to connect a device without losing a server connection, but what good is that to multiple devices?
......It seems like a stretch, seeing as Foxfi USB works (wireless does not).....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the app... Please check before raging.
http://pdanet.co/help/devices.php
" *If you have one of the following models, the latest Android update has broken WiFi mode but it may still be possible to support it in future FoxFi updates: Samsung Epic Touch (Sprint), HTC Rezound (Verizon), LG Lucid (Verizon), T-mobile Galaxy SII and Samsung Proclaim."
Our device is not supported by foxfi anymore..... Please for the love of god check your APP before claiming that it isn't it!
You most likely got the Global update and it broke your foxfi, or somehow it was working and now it doesn't anymore and you didn't look at the app first.
Even though you were mean, I helped you. Please return the favor and help another @$$hole today
Sent from my Rezound using xda app-developers app

AT&T Letter asking to stop tethering or getting rid of unlimited

So I am using a stock rooted rom, and using the built in tethering hotspot in android. Now I got a letter from at&t saying to stop tethering or they will remove my unlimited plan.
How do they know if I am tethering or not and what can I do about it? Is it just that they know because it's a stock rom and maybe it sends data back to them?
I read using a vpn may work, but should the vpn be on your phone or on the devices connected?
Nobody around here seems to know for certain how they are monitoring. Of course AT&T knows, but they aren't saying.
Its been theorized that is probably on the network side, its not ROM (phone) related. I've seen it stated that tethered data packets are tagged differently than non-tethered, and its easy to tell the difference (others have contested this, I'm not personally knowledgeable enough to say either way). And there are almost certainly other factors involved. For instance, tethering volume might make a difference. I've tethered just a little here and there, and never been caught. While others have claimed to tether lots of data, and never caught. The amount of non-tethered data is probably irrelevant. I consistently go close to the 5 GB throttle limit on my unlimited plan, and sometimes tethering is a small portion. So its not just volume alone, but likely a variety of "red flags" they use to enforce the policy.
Is there anything you can do about it? I'd say no. I haven't seen any mod that successfully "masks" tethering usage. Try not to get caught again. If they catch you again, you lose your unlimited plan.
Have you been tethering large volumes of data?
It is network side,after a certain amount of data the system will redflag your account for high data usage. No way around it other than to stop tethering or they will automatically change your account based on usage and you will loose "unlimited" account. Or i have seen a termination of accounts as well.

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