Tethering install & performance with photon - Motorola Photon 4G

Hi,
I'm about to pull the trigger on a new photon ($49.. can't beat that)
Couple of questions:
1) To tether (usb or wifi), do I just get rooted and install a tethering app?
2) What download speed is everyone getting w/ photon tethering?
Thank you! looking forward to joining the mopho club!

1.) Root + wifi tether works fine
2.) Same speed as without tethering.
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk

You got your answer, but......David don't tether!
Phone gets warm because of fast battery drain. Battery id crap soon lasting near hours!
Want internet? Pay for it like I do!
Sent from my bone stock Photon 4G code name "Neo!" by 'Root no more me!"

if you are rooted you can tether with wireless tether, if your NOT rooted you can uses PDAnet and tether via USB cable adn it works just as well. I have been tethering for a few years adn never had an issue. yes it drains the battery, but so does anything you do on these phones.
and as far as paying for it.... sorry, but i already pay for unlimited data so I want to use it. noot trying to be a ****, just saying it like I see it.

schollianmj said:
yes it drains the battery, but so does anything you do on these phones.
and as far as paying for it.... sorry, but i already pay for unlimited data so I want to use it. noot trying to be a ****, just saying it like I see it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing drains it like ththering! problem is, battery has memory. when you use it later, it says 100% but its really 20%. Life sucks (or get a spare just for thehering?)
Reading you signature. Sgt. David Keith Sims, USMC. 1979-1987. Camp Hansen in Okinawa for 3 years. Quantico for a minute (3 years). Then Philadelphia Naval Yard. I was a Computer Geek, never saw any combat!

Want it to not drain your battery? Simple, just use open garden and change the transmit power
Wifi tether also has the same option, sprint has blocked them from our market ull have to google for "open garden apk"
(Open gardens website has a very small and hidden direct download link under that barcode type box)
Edit- i put mine on the lowest transmit power, works great and can still use my phone the entire day even after tethering for an hour or two! (Atleast if im using 4G ionno about 3G)
Sent from my MoPho!

The photon is on sale at Sam's here for @25$
I'm using foxfi on my photon without root to power my thrive with good luck so far.

have your phone plugged into the wall while your tethering if you are able to. last semester i had to use my phone to tether the internet because the internet in the dorm was down all semester. the battery never really got hot and once the phone is fully charged pretty much anything you do on your phone is pulled from the wall not the battery (might not be the case but it felt like it. battery only ever got hot while i was tethering without being plugged in. plugging it in solved that problem)

Related

Observations & Few questions

I just picked up the TB and this is my first real Android phone, I had been hanging on to an old HTC vogue and running android on it dual with windows 6.5.
Glad I made the upgrade and wanted to lock in the 29.99 unlimited plan on a 4G phone. With that said I have a few questions regarding tether.
I have used tether on my vogue for years through the windows 6.5 internet connection sharing, never been charged and tether 6 hours a day everyday for last 3 years.
I see the Thunderbolt has a "internet connection sharing" mode under the wireless settings area, now my question
Is this the same as the internet sharing in windows mobile and would verizon charge me if I use it on droid? I guess a better question would be why bother using easytether or pdanet if its built into droid?
A friend has a droid X and said he doesn't have "internet connection sharing" mode under his wireless settings.
I use an older pc at work for this and it doesnt have wifi, so I prefer to tether with a usb cable so it charges the phone as well.
in regards to the TB, I like it alot, one thing I found stupid was the fact they put the usb/charging port on the opposite site of the kickstand hinge, so you can't have it charging while using the kickstand because the port is facing the surface of the table..wow
Because those are the VZW tether options. IOW, they "see" when you are using those and charge you for the tether data plan. Just wait till it's rooted. (actually you have till may 15th to use the VZW one for free.)
Speaking of which, has anybody else used it yet? Mine kept restarting every few minutes last night when I was testing it out and wouldn't just stay on. Anyone else had any similar problems?
Right now tethering is free with the mobile hotspot until may. I don't know if the USB tethering built into the phone is free but I would assume that its until may also. Once we have root though we should be able to tether for free no matter what using third party apps.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
I see but what I am saying is I have used the built in internet sharing in windows mobile for years, never charged. no third party apps, nothing just what came on the phone from verizon
Oh, well I can't answer whether or not they will actually start charging after may. I know the one time I tried to use the builtin app with my D2 it came up to a verizon start page and said I needed to upgrade my plan or some nonsense like that. Ever since then I have just used wireless tether from the market after rooting.
update..I went ahead and tried out the "internet sharing mode" under wireless & network settings, connected to my Windows 7 netbook, was prompt to install the drivers, then it works, no verizon page warning me about having a plan or anything.
I read in previous versions on Android this was not built in, in Froyo 2.2 it was built in, verizon and other carriers generally disabled those features in the past but it works on the thunderbolt. If they charge me i'll raise hell since I have been tethering unpaid for 3+ years.
smoody said:
If they charge me i'll raise hell since I have been tethering unpaid for 3+ years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how that statement would help your case.
I have been using ICS for free on my WinMo devices too. I wasn't using the stock ROM on them though, I was running custom ROMs, so maybe that was the reason.
Not sure how that statement would help your case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
may not, but I will point out the fact I never been charged for it prior and i'll happily cancel my account and go elsewhere for service, regardless of fee's for getting out of contract. Just saying since I have yet to be charged for tethering unless I get notice from vzw stating I need to purchase a tethering plan I will continue to use it, if it works out of the box with no warnings about it being a paid feature I will not pay for it.

[Q] Teathering Apps... Working or not?

I teather with my phone a good deal... and my DINC is on its last leg. Not holding charge, sound issues, lagging, blah blah blah.
I am going to go today as long as I hear that I can use a teathering app aside from the one VZW sells.
Yeah! I've tested pdanet and easytether both with success!
Rezound
There are several you can use now, and many more once this phone is rooted.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab 10.1
That is what I wanted to hear... and I'm gone!
Wait... doesn't PDA net limit you to non HTTPS sites?
The PAID version of easy tether is rocket fast and allows access to every site.
I can't believe how much faster it is than the allegedly 4G verizon wireless hotspot .
i have the paid PDANet and it works just fine in Win 7 Ultimate x64 (although does not work in Ubuntu)
All those wifi tether apps require root though so you'll either have to do the temp root method or wait until S-OFF
So there are no wifi versions? Using the tether and connecting the USB are counter productive. The power drain is higher that the charge most times, or at least so I thought..
I'm a little hazy on this topic of unsanctioned tethering with Verizon: can I use these apps in a pinch if I don't have a data plan with "Mobile Hotspot" or will VZW know the instant that I try and slap me 20 ways with fees?
BigDASH said:
So there are no wifi versions? Using the tether and connecting the USB are counter productive. The power drain is higher that the charge most times, or at least so I thought..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can grab wifi tether from http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/ however take it with a grain of salt that it only works with root access and temp root is hardly stable at this point. You probably need to freeze the tetherguard package as well. I'm not undertaking this experiment until I get full root.
Apsalus said:
I'm a little hazy on this topic of unsanctioned tethering with Verizon: can I use these apps in a pinch if I don't have a data plan with "Mobile Hotspot" or will VZW know the instant that I try and slap me 20 ways with fees?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you may use this in a pinch without a separate hotspot plan through VZW. If you start taking advantage and your data usage increases you might throw a red flag. Just don't go crazy on 4G downloading large files and what not and you'll be fine.
Marcismo55 said:
Yes you may use this in a pinch without a separate hotspot plan through VZW. If you start taking advantage and your data usage increases you might throw a red flag. Just don't go crazy on 4G downloading large files and what not and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. It was the same thing when I was in Japan - some providers offered tethering plans, but they want an arm and a leg for them so deciding to tether on the sly with an unlocked phone was an easy choice.
BigDASH said:
So there are no wifi versions? Using the tether and connecting the USB are counter productive. The power drain is higher that the charge most times, or at least so I thought..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not what I am seeing. Using Easy Tether paid version. (10 bucks) My phone still gains charge while tethered.
But the huge advantage is that I'm seeing is that my speeds while tethered just blow away the hotspot speeds. My phone using Verizon wireless hotspot will not stream a 1080p video without stopping to buffer every 15-30 seconds. BUT, when using Easy Tether I am able to stream THREE open 1080p Youtube vids with no buffer stops! That is definitely a productive difference to me.
(BTW, You can try the free version and you just won't be able to access https sites.)
I believe Verizon wireless "4G" hotspot is throttled on this phone!
MrSmith317 said:
You can grab wifi tether from http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/ however take it with a grain of salt that it only works with root access and temp root is hardly stable at this point. You probably need to freeze the tetherguard package as well. I'm not undertaking this experiment until I get full root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed. Keeping my thunderbolt around until root is gained. My wife and I share a time warner hotspot, but for now, I told her, she would have to use the bolt to wireless tether.
Would it work to tether via usb host with adapter to a tablet?
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium

[Q] best way to turn phone in to home internet

I want to say bye, bye to TW internet, but don't know the best way to make My Razr 4G LTE internet to all PC's,Ps3 and my Xbox 360.
I put it here becouse the Razr forms are small vs this one and Is more about LTE any way.
Thanks
Not really
It's not really the solution you wanted, but assuming you are not trying to tether the world to your cell phone (which should then double nicely as a heater), why not just get a mobile hotspot and be done with it.
I hate my TWC wires (2 cables spanning 2 neighbors yards) and have pulled twice the speed on my Rezound than I am getting from TWC (although not at home, regrettably). I say this because I understand your frustration first hand; I just disagree with your proposed resolution.
looked into this a bit, my conclusion was that:
1) unless you have a fairly small network (ie just yourself), you're going to need to go the route of the mobile hotspot.
&
2) the mobile hotspot hardware currently available isn't reliable enough to trust as a dedicated home internet solution.
Don't be fooled I use mine for everything and I pay for unlimited mobile hotspot. Just can't use everything at onces.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
I wouldnt recommend using your phone or any wireless solution for gaming, the ping is too high.
Kane5581 said:
I wouldnt recommend using your phone or any wireless solution for gaming, the ping is too high.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get only maybe 20-30ms higher on my phone tether vs my FiOS.
If you are dead set on doing this, I would use your PC/Laptop as a network bridge. You should be able to connect the LAN cable to your PC and then into where your modem would plug into your router. But, you would have to setup your router first, or connect it via USB to setup since you wouldn't be able to use the provider software or the IP to connect in through that port. Just an idea, but like others said, reliability could probably be zero.
Let me tell you the "reliability" of my TW cable internet right now: It gos form 7-10DL to 3 and then even to under 1, 2-4 times A DAY. It go's out at times too, so I can't see it geting more bad then that.
P.S I am "dead set" on having home internet that has good up time and able to play 1080p video if needed.
Time Warner doesn't offer a package higher than 10mbps? Why not just get Fios or something? Have you even called TW? I had an issue like this a few years back (With a provider in GA I can't remember the name) where I wasn't getting the 25mbps I was paying for. They came out and tested my modem and it was dying. They replaced it, and it worked from then on out. It was even a modem I paid for myself, they gave me a new one and took the old one free of charge.
Koush posted that Tether is in the Android Market now.
I pay for 15DL and 1UL, But am only geting 6-10DL and .5UL. I think it's BS, but I can't poof that to them. I Have used all kinds of speed test and they all never hit more than 11-12DL and 1UL. LTE has been about the same on DL at home after the outges and DEC the 25th. ( It was geting 10-15DL and now its 4-10DL and 5-6UL.)
Now I am a bit mad at the big red, becuase on AT&T my speeds have been going up and Up and up. (I think AT&T Is about toput up LTE here soon)
LTE is extremelt cool, and will only get better. But as of right now, I wouldn't call it reliable enough to handle an entire house full of bandwidth-hungry devices.
My At&T U-Verse internet advertises up to 25mBps. This, to the average user, probably sounds like more than one would ever need. But what they don't tell you is that each TV (when its box is on) takes up to 6mBps of that bandwidth all by itself. So if you've got 2 HDTVs running in the house, and somebody gaming online, suddenly that internet speed ain't lookin' all that cutting-edge.
According to what I've gleaned from the small amount of research I've done, you need a solid 10mBps to stream 1080p HD content without bottlenecking. The top AT&T U-verse package I have can do it all day long, while also handling whatever else may be using bandwidth. I would worry about any plan below the top one though. Maybe if you only have one HDTV connection in the house.
I tried tethering off my phone when temp-root v2 came out, and I was impressed with the results. But I was also realistic about it. My tether speed tests came in at roughly 6-7mBps downloaded. Not bad in a pinch, but certainly nowhere near good enough to power a whole house. And certainly not good enough to stream HD.
I don't think the idea of a phone providing internet for the home far off, but we just aren't there yet. I'm thinking in 5-10 years.
If you want to use your phone as your home internet service, pm me. I've been using mine for my home for the last 4 years, cuz I don't have dsl. It's awesome, and I can help you get it up and running. I've averaged 40-50gb per month for the past 3 years. PM me.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk
I used 30Gb and I saw my speed in my home go down, but at work it would be fast as ever with 5 bars. My billing just started to day and my DL is now in the 20+ vs 5-7 DL before. I think I got my speeds lowered for useing 30gb. Any way TW sucks even more with that.

[Q] Am I Going to Lose Free WiFi HotSpot / Tethering?

Hi,
I have a Classic Family 1000 plan where I get 1000 shared minutes for two lines for $49.99 per month. I pay an additional $30 per line for data. I have a Galaxy 4G and a G2 on the account.
Both phones are able to turn on WiFi hot spot. This is an awesome feature. I use it all the time with my laptop and tablet. I don't push a lot of bytes, but it's super nice to use the laptop for email and light browsing. I rarely exceed more than a GB per month per line.
I see that T-Mobile is now charging an extra fee for WiFi tethering/hotspot. I'm curious to know what actions I might take will result in me losing the current "free" (no extra charge) capability I have now.
Is it my plan that gives me this capability or is it my phone? If I upgrade to a Galaxy 2, Galaxy Nexus, or HTC Amaze will I lose "free" (no extra charge) WiFi hotspot/tethering?
What if I keep the same phones, but switch to the $99.99 per month (2 lines, unlimited voice/data/text) plan. Will I then lose "free" (no extra charge) WiFi hotspot/tethering?
If I root the phone a install CyanogenMod (or some other non T-Mobile ROM) will I circumvent having to pay for WiFi hotspot/tethering? I have CyanogenMod on a Vibrant that my kids play games with and I like it enough. I feel comfortable rooting a phone and installing a new ROM, but I'm not the kind of guy that does this just for sport (there has to be a reason).
John
As far as I know, the "free" wifi hotspot is not disabled on any T-Mo phone. I can confirm it's on the SGSII. I don't know of anyone who has ever been forced to pay for the hotspot, I certainly have never been texted or warned when I use mine. I do tend to stay under my 5GB high speed limit, though.
If you change your plan, it wouldn't be disabled, either. As long as the phone has an unmolested android mobile ap on it, I think you're good to go. Even more so if you don't over use it.
Edit: I would think that if you're tethering an android tablet, T-Mobile wouldn't even pay attention. With a laptop the data packets are different and possibly detectable.
Free tethering
I don't know what triggers the restrictions but my daughter moved out and used tethering as her only internet for a couple of months. Then one day she tried it and got a message that tethering was a separate service she would have to pay for.
And, yes, she was using a laptop.
I think they can only detect tether if you use a tether app from the market which uses ad-hoc . If you have a custom rom with a native tether built in and is a true AP I don't think it will be detected .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I just lost mine when I bought my new SGS2 and they replaced my SIM. I had Hotspot for free on my Vibrant, when I tried it on the new phone today it took me to the $14.95 webpage.
I called TMo today and they said it shouldn't have ever been free...I explained that I've used it for free for the last 1.5 years...he didn't have an answer...but offered to add it to my account...I kindly said FU*K NO!!!!
zombie55 said:
I just lost mine when I bought my new SGS2 and they replaced my SIM. I had Hotspot for free on my Vibrant, when I tried it on the new phone today it took me to the $14.95 webpage.
I called TMo today and they said it shouldn't have ever been free...I explained that I've used it for free for the last 1.5 years...he didn't have an answer...but offered to add it to my account...I kindly said FU*K NO!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most likely this is because you were using a custom ROM before. Most ROM's have been edited so that when you enable tethering it treats it as Phone traffic as apposed to PC traffic. I am pretty sure you will get it back after you install a good ROM.
Raistline said:
Most likely this is because you were using a custom ROM before. Most ROM's have been edited so that when you enable tethering it treats it as Phone traffic as apposed to PC traffic. I am pretty sure you will get it back after you install a good ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope...phone was stock never flashed a ROM to it.
Well I can tell you, that tethering never worked on the stock ROM for me. As soon as I installed a custom ROM it has never failed. I would try this if I were you, otherwise you may be SOL
There is no problem tethering on the ICS Passion ROM. My kids used it on a three hour trip last week while we drove from SC to GA.
Tethering and custom ROMS
As mentioned above my daughter ( stock ROM ) was cut off from tethering.
I am still able to tether, but am using Bionix 1.3.1, and have never used it very much.
I am very interested in the info above that custom ROMS have been modified so that tethering is not detectable. I hope this is true. Does anyone know this is true for Bionix 1.3.1?
Thanks
It is that's why I said it . Trust me flash a custom rom with tether built in and you will have no problem .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
That's great news and explains why I can still tether and some can't. THANKS!
Tethering should still work, just not with the TMobile 'Wifi Hotspot' app....
Stuff like PDANet, Wifi Tether for Root, etc...
WTRU will be impacted, however, in that some phones where it 'worked' through the stock app may have trouble...
Pre-ICS, my phone would run WTRU, which would 'route' through the stock hotspot app... Now, it doesn't - which leaves me with unsecure ad-hoc wifi only (OK for PCs, not ok for tablets, etc - and the only available security is MAC-address access control, not WEP or WPA)...
Apps like PDANet (the ones that don't need root to work) use proxying, so they won't be impacted at all because the internet usage actually is occurring on the phone... Of course, you need to buy PDANet, and it may not work with all internet apps (eg, stuff other than mail/web/etc)

FoxFi

ok so look i know this is an app, but lets be honest how many of you actually go in that sub forum?
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.foxfi
foxfi is a new wifi tether app that promises no root required, is free, and claims to have a fairly high rate of allowing tablets to connect. saw it in the e4gt forums and figured you guys might like to know . it claims most moto phones, gf is on hers so i cant verify if photon is one of them :/...
edit: ok just tested, tethered my e4gt to my gf's photon XD
no hacks or nothing needed we are both unrooted stock, it didnt like trying to tether with 4g tho, so its 3g speeds only :/
Sweet find for those who aren't rooted!
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
Great Find!
I know you said no root required, but will it work on a stock rom and if so, will a carrier still be able to see if you are tethering like they can if you use wifi hotshot on a stock rom?
sent from my trained monkey playing with my electrify
foxfi
fyi....I just had total success with foxfi generating a hotspot for an ipad 2 and a transformer prime tablet from a Droid Global 2.
bryandrummer said:
I know you said no root required, but will it work on a stock rom and if so, will a carrier still be able to see if you are tethering like they can if you use wifi hotshot on a stock rom?
sent from my trained monkey playing with my electrify
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my gf's photon is stock 198_7, works fine... as for if sprint knows i guess we will find out when our next bill comes huh?
I tried it on a photon running 198-7, flashed fresh this afternoon, rooted, unlocked bootloader with CWM applied. No go. FoxFi appears to initiate the stock hotpot app which in turn results in the IP registration error you get when launching the stock app. Tried with wifi on, but not connected, and with wifi off both suggested as troubleshooting steps by FoxFi.
Curious what others are experiencing using a blur rom
yea it will give taht error, but from what ive seen let it sit for 3-4 mins and it will finally re-register
shabbypenguin said:
ok so look i know this is an app, but lets be honest how many of you actually go in that sub forum?
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.foxfi
foxfi is a new wifi tether app that promises no root required, is free, and claims to have a fairly high rate of allowing tablets to connect. saw it in the e4gt forums and figured you guys might like to know . it claims most moto phones, gf is on hers so i cant verify if photon is one of them :/...
edit: ok just tested, tethered my e4gt to my gf's photon XD
no hacks or nothing needed we are both unrooted stock, it didnt like trying to tether with 4g tho, so its 3g speeds only :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you thank you thank you ... it is buttah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shabbypenguin said:
yea it will give taht error, but from what ive seen let it sit for 3-4 mins and it will finally re-register
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As shabbypenguin stated mine does the same thing on wifi tether and this app....... Its normal and the data connection will come back
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
Just try it and can say it only works on 3g , when I try it on 4g it gets disconnected
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I told a guy at work about this, he has big red (Droid charge), tried it out and OMG. I pulled 21 mb down and 10.5 up. Makes me want to switch. If only their phones weren't so damn expensive.
sent from my MoPhoKing CM9 beast
My Photon
I have also made the connection on my Photon at 3g speeds. Is there anything at all that can be done to make it work at 4G speeds. My 4G does not disconnect when I am using it as a mobile hotspot. It appears that it is the FoxFi app and not the actual phone causing this issue.
Moto Photon Foxfi only in 3G mode and Alternative 4G tethering
I too believe that it is FoxFi that is causing the disconnection in the 4G signal when trying to activate it on the Motorola Photon (MB855). An alternative would just to grab your USB cable connect your laptop directly to your phone and get PdaNet app (I know this works on Windows with an Android Phone) and you can connect to the 4G. (with great speed too, I have gotten 1+ MB/s downstream) It's not wireless but at least it won't kill your battery and you can charge your phone at the same time!
And if you feel bad because all your friends stare you down because you are the only one connected you can get Virtual Router from codeplex website and you can turn your laptop into a hotspot
hopefully there will be a fix or a different application that does not require root
feel free to pm me with suggestions or questions
FOXFI
I got an update from PDAnet and FOXFI was the update and it works great. I have a Droid 3 and am not rooted.
Does it work with 4G? Or 3G.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA
It works with 3G on my Droid3.
I'm rooted on my SE4GT, and pc sees Android34, but cannot connect.
I disconnected 4G also.
In FoxFi, in the upper right hand corner, there are Bytes that keep flashing from 1K/316 to 1K/0 etc. Don't know if that's an issue, whether the app is activated or not.
this is working great for me......I'm stock rooted on ek02. haven't checked 4g, but 3g works like a champ. i didn't have to modify anything.... i can imagine it probably won't be on the Android market long.
My acer a500 tablet see's the connection fine
It does not work on Xperia Play for Verizon. Hotspot starts but when connected to takes you to Verizon's hot spot page.
Sent from my Motorola Photon running ICS

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