Just got a Google Nexus 7 and went to connect it to my SII as a mobile hotspot only to find out that this feature is blocked by AT$T. I found an app in the Play Store that makes it work. Used the trial to test before spending the $15 on the Pro version. Before I do I want to know if there's any way AT$T can determine I'm using the phone this way and shut me down? I don't plan on tethering or using huge amounts of data, just want the convenience of using the tablet when and where I want. It's my data and it should not matter how I use it or on what device. Can AT$T tell that I'm using my phone this way?
Miami_Son said:
Just got a Google Nexus 7 and went to connect it to my SII as a mobile hotspot only to find out that this feature is blocked by AT$T. I found an app in the Play Store that makes it work. Used the trial to test before spending the $15 on the Pro version. Before I do I want to know if there's any way AT$T can determine I'm using the phone this way and shut me down? I don't plan on tethering or using huge amounts of data, just want the convenience of using the tablet when and where I want. It's my data and it should not matter how I use it or on what device. Can AT$T tell that I'm using my phone this way?
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I've tethered several times with no problems but it has been only very minimal data. If large amounts of data is being consumed through tethering then possibly but I cannot guarantee anything
People getting busted has been on the rise. There's actually a handful of threads detailing the mixed experiences, here. It can be done, that's pretty clear, whether you're targeted for suspicious data traffic, or data hops, or if you're randomly screened, however it's happening, it is becoming prevalent. That aside, I don't recall if foxfi was free, but I know if it wasn't it wasn't very expensive, as I'm pretty cheap lol that is if you're still looking for low cost effective tethering work around.
I've been tethering my tablet for the last few months. Usually just play store updates and some internet browsing. I have received no warnings yet. I think if you don't go hog wild and stream music/videos it will increase your chances of flying under their radar.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
I understand that high data usage will trigger suspicion from the carrier. What I want to know is can they tell if you are doing this regardless of the level of traffic? Is there some identifier when you are tethering or hot-spotting that alerts AT$T even before you go crazy with data? I don't expect my usage to increase much with the tablet, but I would like to be able to connect it to my phone to download more Kindle books or check my FB without worrying that AT$T might shut me down even if I stay under my 2gb monthly plan. The program I found for enabling wifi hot spot on the phone is the best out there, but at $15 I just want to make sure AT$T won't be able to identify my using it and shut me off pretty quick somehow.
There are many theories on how they detect tethering. User agent strings. Packet times. Etc. None are proven.
The only way you can be 100% sure they won't do anything to you is get the At&t plan.
P.s. I didn't pay for any tethering app. Most of the custom roms have the hot spot feature enabled.
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Red_81 said:
There are many theories on how they detect tethering. User agent strings. Packet times. Etc. None are proven.
The only way you can be 100% sure they won't do anything to you is get the At&t plan.
P.s. I didn't pay for any tethering app. Most of the custom roms have the hot spot feature enabled.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
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What he said. There is no need to pay for an app. There are free ones out there, and more often than not, it's built into the ROM.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Well, I have no desire (or need) to run a custom ROM. I'm on stock, rooted ICS and it works fine for my needs. Reading the reviews of the free ones it appears almost all of them have issues running on ICS. The one I tested did not, so I went ahead and paid for the Pro version and it runs great. Did a little Netflix and YouTube viewing, some Slacker listening and never lost connection on the Nexus 7. more importantly, when I disconnect from the hotspot there is no need to do a reboot, unlike some of the free apps. Here's hoping AT$T has no way to tell (beyond abnormal data usage) or doesn't care.
Best of luck! I know they haven't bothered me yet.
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Related
People on iphone with jailbreak tetheringhave been getting harrassed by att for not signing up for a data plan. Can they tell if your tethering on android too?
Does anyone know how they're catching people? are they looking at abnormally high data usage? or is there something they can actually see?
i think that it would be much easier with iPhone as they know that the phone it self does not work with flash. so when they see that there is some flash activity they will send out a notice as the iPhone doesn't work with flash. and i mean cmon an iPhone there has to be something that apple lets att know when a phone has tethering activated.
know with android we have flash. it would be a lot harder for them to realizes that the phoen is being tethered. as long as your data usage doesnt get exsseive EX. 40 GBS a month i think your good.
AT&T sent warnings to people with abnormally high data usage. They assumed these people were tethering, but not all were. If you tether via APN mods they might be able to see but using an app like barnacle is relatively safe, in moderation.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
I can get around the wifi block using barnicle but the usb sent me to the page telling ne to add service. I am on community rom didn't have issue on Super Clean.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I use pda net works well
Sent from my UKB 2.0 OTB 1.6 using XDA App
Wifi tether has always worked for me
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Try wireless teather from the market..has worked for me on every single rom I've ever used on this phone...there is about a 30-45 second lag on initial connection but other then that its flawless
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Doesn't matter what you use, Verizon will still be able to tell that you're tethering. It's just that you won't get re-directed to a Add Service page. It's users such as yourself that are ruining the system for everything by tethering illegally and I hope you get a massive bill for doing so.
I can do wifi tethering but got an older computer with no wifi card its in the mail or would be using landline. USB tethering used to work but stopped on community rom.
As far as it being illegal is debatable because its a phone feature they're hijacking. I pay my monthly bill for unlimited data at a premium price.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
imnuts said:
Doesn't matter what you use, Verizon will still be able to tell that you're tethering. It's just that you won't get re-directed to a Add Service page. It's users such as yourself that are ruining the system for everything by tethering illegally and I hope you get a massive bill for doing so.
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It is our right to teather for free.. The phone has the capability.. Paying to teather is like paying to use the built in gps.. And verizon has no right to stop you from using free teather apps.
Sent from my frozen yogurt filled fascinate
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Tethering-Google-Android-Verizon,news-11423.html
Sent from my frozen yogurt filled fascinate
Furthermore, at least for 4g so yeah I realize that this isn't totally relevant here, charging additional for tethering may be in violation of the openness requirement on the spectrum that Verizon agreed to. I'm unsure if a similar condition was put on 3g as well.
Edit: Apparently I should RTFA that neh4pres posted. Oops =)
neh4pres said:
It is our right to teather for free.. The phone has the capability.. Paying to teather is like paying to use the built in gps.. And verizon has no right to stop you from using free teather apps.
Sent from my frozen yogurt filled fascinate
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This is complete drivel.
When you tether you are using resources beyond your phone. You are using Verizon's network in a way which they haven't agreed to and for which you haven't paid. It's no more legal than leeching off your neighbor's wifi without permission.
It's not at all like the built in gps as that uses public services, Verizon's network is private and they have set specific limitations on its use and charged you in accordance with those limitations and your explicit agreement to abide by them.
The mere fact that your phone has an ability does not mean that it is legal to use that ability. For example your phone can be used to hack into your bank's network, that doesn't make it legal. Your phone clearly has the ability to make phone calls on Verizon's network. But you can't just buy a phone and thereby acquire a right to make free calls on that network.
drnihili said:
This is complete drivel.
When you tether you are using resources beyond your phone. You are using Verizon's network in a way which they haven't agreed to and for which you haven't paid. It's no more legal than leeching off your neighbor's wifi without permission.
It's not at all like the built in gps as that uses public services, Verizon's network is private and they have set specific limitations on its use and charged you in accordance with those limitations and your explicit agreement to abide by them.
The mere fact that your phone has an ability does not mean that it is legal to use that ability. For example your phone can be used to hack into your bank's network, that doesn't make it legal. Your phone clearly has the ability to make phone calls on Verizon's network. But you can't just buy a phone and thereby acquire a right to make free calls on that network.
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Hacking is not comparable. Hacking is not a feature. Tethering is a feature.
And no your are not going beyond the phone capabilities if it is capable of doing it. You're using your phones 3g network which your phone is capable of using through a computer. It is comparable to GPS because there are phones that had GPS locked to Verizon's service only. What about deBinging getting around Verizon's agreement with Microsoft? Do you know if you are costing Verizon and Microsoft ad revenue?
Your complaint is date usage going to end unlimited data service. The Iphone, and 4g are more to blame than anything the rare guy using tethering.
I dont find anything wrong in that
the tethering option is there for the tethering its as simple as that
and you are paying for network usage so i dont see anything wrong TBH in this all.
btw i am using the fascinate with some other network and in some diff country , where i have opted for a unlimited data transfer plan ( precisely for this particular scenario ), and as and when the connections at my home or office ( the wireline bband connections ) are down i always connect my PCs with my fascinate and use its network.
I don't agree with blocking the tethering either. I used my droid for months before getting a tethering app and after I had it my data usage didn't go up much at all. Before tethering I would do everything on the phone. With tethering, I do the same exact things, but sometimes on my laptop instead of the phone simply for the added convience of a full keyboard and a bigger screen. I am paying for unlimited data and also using the same amount of data whether accessed on the phone or thru tethering. Why should I have to pay more for it?
IMO it is probably a small percentage of people that use their phone as their constant network connection for a pc and use a significantly higher amount of data than they would without the tethering.
I have no issue with on the fly tethering to check email, twitter, xda, surf around, etc. What I do take issue with are those who essentially use their phone as a wireless router and download torrents and stream Netflix. Eating through 100+ gb per month is pure abuse.
Found some old posts, back in May, where people were discussing whether PDANet could truly hide tethering from AT&T, or other providers. I was tethering with my rooted SGS2 and received the text, email, and snail mail notices from AT&T that I would lose my unlimited data and be forced to by a tethering plan if I continued to tether. I was utilizing the stock rom with the tethering manager frozen.
Has anybody utilizing the 3.02 version of PDANet been contacted by AT&T to c&d? If so, could the c&d be attributed to tethering done before installing PDANet?
thanks,
retnuh
I'd like to know as well.
I don't think pdanet does anything special...i use approx 3-5gigs a month all mostly teathering. I have never received any notices of any kind.
I think as long there isn't any high spikes in data usage, you'll be safe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
This is just an unproven theory by myself, but don't use internet explorer on the device you are tethering to.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Personally, I use Firefox with User Agent usually set to Iphone, but obviously if there was a galaxy s 2 user agent I would use it. I din't tether to much- maybe 500 meg a month, but I've never been caught.
I got hit with the top %5 text the other morning...managed to use just under 12gigz this billing cycle..MOSTLY from wifi tether Phone 2 Phone and i maybe used an hr tethering to a laptop..I work for the bastards..doesn't matter what you use...all ill say is the network is alot smarter than people think..trust me..
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Supposedly Barnacle "hides" it and it's a free app. Google it.
I wonder if using an SSH connection would encrypt the connection enough to hide anything they sniff out to detect tethering.
If your rooted and have root explore just delete tehtering manager. Apk in system/app and if your on a custom rom it is more than likely already removed for you. Now if I could just get decent data speeds I would use it
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That's the way I was tethering when I was told by AT&T to c&d. That's why I'm trying to find a way to tether and not get caught.
Hmmm odd you must have had huge data spikes because without that app they can't tell besides seeing you use like a gig a day. Interesting any thoughts guys?
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App
If somebody knows for sure if PDANet stealth mode works - I'd really, REALLY like to know too! Had AT&T's "Unlimited" plan for a few years now. Been teathering, but for completely trivial amounts of data - during most months my usage didn't go over a gig or two. This month I went over 4 gig for the first time ever, and suddenly all hell broke loose. I get repeated "5%" messages over text and email, warning they will throttle down my 3G speeds (they are already a complete joke here in NY-NJ). So I stopped using all data for about a week now, but the messages never stopped, and now I am getting the tether notices.
I got the letter last May when I had an iPhone that was jailbroken. Now I got the rooted Android and I just don't want to lose unlimited data. I tried once with PDA bored at an airport and wanting to do basic surfing on my laptop. I used it again the other night on my laptop for simple surfing as my main internet went down and so far as I know (/knock on wood/) I'm okay.
Most say TTL is how they find out. My problem is they have intricate logs of every phone call and text you ever sent but can't tell me a MAC addy, time, etc. of when I tethered. Fact is known that only those with unlimited data plans were the ones attacked as it seems they are slowly trying to phase these out.
I just make sure to not have Windows Updates enabled when surfing on my laptop with tethering. It's obvious any mobile phone shouldn't be accessing this site.
I dont know how they can tell but it seems they are always able to. I used my android to tether with an iphone to download Wifi only updates and after about 3 months i got the notice saying I need to not tether or they will remove unlimited.
Apparently they say that the notices aren't always Instant (I was figuring i would get it right after i used tethering). I know for a fact i had not tethered after the last time so it was roughly 3 months behind.
I do not believe sirs (referring to OP)
I have a Photon 4G on Sprint right now, and I refuse to go onto tiered Data. I've just about had it with Sprint's dynamically changing terms of service, so I'm looking for other US based unlimited data carriers compatible with the Photon 4G. I am rooted, if that means anything toward this.
Just isn't possible, but idk what your complaining about exactly, what change in terms, the data is still unlimited for your phone unless your not giving a full story as most people do...
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
taylorgrandorf said:
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
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if you not paying for tethering (even though i think it should be free to begin with) i wouldn't be surprised if they did something like that, and there's an app you really want, just google the apk through your phone
taylorgrandorf said:
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
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Sprint isn't filtering your market, it's google... They did it to me as well... Upon calling them, I was informed that rooted devices are not allowed and if google finds out you have a rooted device they lock you out of your paid apps. The only way I fixed this was by running the ruu back to stock. I re-rooted a few days later and haven't had any issues since than... I agree it sucks. As for the tethering, I 4G tether using the wifi tether app that is in dsixda kitchen, made by mueller, buxton, and somone else. I regularly top 5GB of data use every month and have never had any issues, other than Sprint's weak ass 3G signal. You could check into boost, cricket, or one of you local "small time" cell dealers, some of the local shops will even flash the phone over to their service for free. Good luck in your adventure!
Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk
Thanks, I think I'll just stay with Sprint for now. I really appreciate the responses, though. As far as Market Filtering, my issue is not full block out, but just Wireless Tether apps missing. As far as .apk installs, I'm fully familiar with those too. Sprint is otherwise a great carrier. I'm very near to Houston, and being the 4th largest City in the USA means that I get 6/6 Bars of 4G everywhere I go. Besides this, I have nothing against them. Unlimited Data is a neccesary thing on a Smartphone, in my opinion. Also, with my Bluetooth tethering (Can be done unrooted to an Asus Transformer Prime, also unrooted) I've found that as long as I put the phone into standby, it wont reboot. It only reboots if the display times-out.
Bluetooth tethering is fully within Sprint's ToS, too. (Free)
http://db.tt/BkvrkT78 ... Here you go... Here is the old school tether app if you don't have it... I too will be sticking with sprint, can't beat unlimited data with a stick. Have fun with that photon too, very nice device, I almost ditched my shift for the photon.
Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk
sprint did break down and filter out tethering apps from their market, but honetsly can you blame them? verizon and att were teh first ones to have limited data, the first ones to tell you what you could use your 2gb's of data on.
sprint filtered out the market.. after how long of us getting a free ride? chances are if your rooting you know how to google for android tether. not saying its ideal, but id much rather have them filter the apps, then drop unl data... or send text's out to users using free tether saying they will be switched to the paid tether automatically at the end of teh to month...
Fair enough.
I've currently got an Epic 4g on Sprint, and with a custom ROM I've been able to use the hotspot feature without actually having the subscription cost on my plan and it hasn't been a big deal.
I'm looking at moving to a Note, and was wondering whether AT&T is going to be able to catch on and give me grief for using the hotspot feature once in a blue moon (literally) if I root the device to get around having to pay an extra $20/mo? I know the extra also goes towards data cap increase, but I rarely use more than 400Mb of cell data so the cap increase is way overkill for me.
Maybe or maybe not,nowdays they are pretty strict about tethering, I got caught after consuming 10GB tethered and thretaned me to downgrade to a tethering plan if I wouldnt desist... Back in the day I would consume like 6-8GB tethered on my iPhone 4 and nothing would happen
tigerknight said:
I've currently got an Epic 4g on Sprint, and with a custom ROM I've been able to use the hotspot feature without actually having the subscription cost on my plan and it hasn't been a big deal.
I'm looking at moving to a Note, and was wondering whether AT&T is going to be able to catch on and give me grief for using the hotspot feature once in a blue moon (literally) if I root the device to get around having to pay an extra $20/mo? I know the extra also goes towards data cap increase, but I rarely use more than 400Mb of cell data so the cap increase is way overkill for me.
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egomezmorales said:
Maybe or maybe not,nowdays they are pretty strict about tethering, I got caught after consuming 10GB tethered and thretaned me to downgrade to a tethering plan if I wouldnt desist... Back in the day I would consume like 6-8GB tethered on my iPhone 4 and nothing would happen
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Holy cow - I don't expect to tether more than it would take to have net browsing access on my wi-fi xoom or MAYBE my laptop in a pinch, no serious downloads or streaming in mind.
You can try, go for it,if they detect your tethering they will send you a notice via mail,email or sms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
You could always go with Straight Talk for the $50 all you can eat plan.