Related
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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??
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
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?
Click to expand...
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
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?
Click to expand...
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
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.