[Q&Soln] USB tethering creates endless new "Windows networks" - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Whenever I tether my laptop via the USB cable it takes a long time for the laptop to connect and when it does, it says "Connected to Network X", where X is a number. Everytime I reconnect via USB X increases by 1 so the last time I did it I was on Network 43!!!!! I accept that this could be in part a windows thing and not a GS3 thing BUT when I connect via a Wifi Hotspot it connects really really quickly and always says I am connected to AndroidAP. Its as if the USB tethering firmware is
Therefore connecting via hotspot seems much more stable and smooth however I was under the impression that the laptop internet speed will be quicker using USB tether rather than wifi and as I primarilly use my SGS3 as my home broadband connection I want to try and configure it to get the fastest speed on my laptop as possible. If I do an internet speed check on my SGS3 while my laptop is tethered the phone connection is always faster than the doing the same on the laptop. I guess this should be perhaps expected but as much as 4Mbits/s. I.e My phone was getting speeds of 6Mbits/sec but without having any apps open on the phone, my laptop would only get 2Mbits/s????
Any advice?

Ginyons said:
Whenever I tether my laptop via the USB cable it takes a long time for the laptop to connect and when it does, it says "Connected to Network X", where X is a number. Everytime I reconnect via USB X increases by 1 so the last time I did it I was on Network 43!!!!! I accept that this could be in part a windows thing and not a GS3 thing BUT when I connect via a Wifi Hotspot it connects really really quickly and always says I am connected to AndroidAP. Its as if the USB tethering firmware is
Therefore connecting via hotspot seems much more stable and smooth however I was under the impression that the laptop internet speed will be quicker using USB tether rather than wifi and as I primarilly use my SGS3 as my home broadband connection I want to try and configure it to get the fastest speed on my laptop as possible. If I do an internet speed check on my SGS3 while my laptop is tethered the phone connection is always faster than the doing the same on the laptop. I guess this should be perhaps expected but as much as 4Mbits/s. I.e My phone was getting speeds of 6Mbits/sec but without having any apps open on the phone, my laptop would only get 2Mbits/s????
Any advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does not related to Device problem.
It related to Windows,your computer create a new network when each time you connect to internet.
This may due to Firewall,Antivirus etc..

Are there any apps out there which are better than the stock USB tethering method. I do get slightly faster speeds on the laptop when USB tethered but the Windows network methodolgy seems unsatble compared with the wifi hotspot method

I was suffering the same and finally found a solution for this (at least on my S2).
It requires root, plus a kernel that supports init.d scripts (or running a script yourself every time you start the phone and will want to tether before restarting).
Just run this script:
Code:
chmod u+w /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
echo 5a:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx > /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
chmod u-w /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
Just replace xx's with whatever hex values (0-9 or a-f) you want. Example: 5a:10:20:30:40:50
Windows detects the network you're connecting to by identifying the MAC address of the gateway. It can then know whether you're connecting to your home router (safe), an internet cafe (public), etc.
Whenever it finds a gateway whose MAC address is not recorded yet, it will state it's an unknown network, ask you what type is it (home / public), and assign a new number to it.
The thing is that android (or at least mine) is generating a completely random MAC address for itself whenever tethering is turned on, and naturally that will be different every time.
If you run those commands above, you're overriding that randomness and the device will start having always that MAC address and Windows will remember you're connecting to the same gateway.
PS: This is obviously dependent on whether the kernel you're using includes that /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr file. I'm inclined to think it's standard, but I'm not sure.

I'm having the same "problem".
Is there any other (nicer) way to permanently disable that random MAC generation? Other than using the method Tungstwenty explained above. Does anyone know why is that android "feature" even implemented, it doesn't make much sense to me.

Has anyone else figured out any solutions to this besides running a script everytime you boot? Seems kinda crazy to have to go to that extent for something that should be standard...

^ Exactly. Any updates yet?

This thread should be moved to general android (not device specific)

Report it via report button .
jje

ketanmatrix said:
This thread should be moved to general android (not device specific)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that the same issue happened on my new Xperia Z, and the solution I posted above has also solved it.
The new device was even recognized by Windows as the already identified router, since I reused the same value from the previous device.
So I agree it's a cross-device issue with apparently the same solution, at least in a few of them.

Tungstwenty said:
I can confirm that the same issue happened on my new Xperia Z, and the solution I posted above has also solved it.
The new device was even recognized by Windows as the already identified router, since I reused the same value from the previous device.
So I agree it's a cross-device issue with apparently the same solution, at least in a few of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
reported it as bug to google! hope it goes away in jb 4.3
anyway running that script didnt help on xperia z connecting to windows 8 pro

Moved to Android Q&A

Tungstwenty said:
I was suffering the same and finally found a solution for this (at least on my S2).
It requires root, plus a kernel that supports init.d scripts (or running a script yourself every time you start the phone and will want to tether before restarting).
Just run this script:
Code:
chmod u+w /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
echo 5a:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx > /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
chmod u-w /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr
Just replace xx's with whatever hex values (0-9 or a-f) you want. Example: 5a:10:20:30:40:50
Windows detects the network you're connecting to by identifying the MAC address of the gateway. It can then know whether you're connecting to your home router (safe), an internet cafe (public), etc.
Whenever it finds a gateway whose MAC address is not recorded yet, it will state it's an unknown network, ask you what type is it (home / public), and assign a new number to it.
The thing is that android (or at least mine) is generating a completely random MAC address for itself whenever tethering is turned on, and naturally that will be different every time.
If you run those commands above, you're overriding that randomness and the device will start having always that MAC address and Windows will remember you're connecting to the same gateway.
PS: This is obviously dependent on whether the kernel you're using includes that /sys/module/g_android/parameters/dev_addr file. I'm inclined to think it's standard, but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have rooted htc desire with CM 7.2.0.1... aaaand.. i no have g_android folder.. but i found the dev_addr file in sys/module/u_tether/parameters/dev_addr ... my question.. that file its same? or better when i dont toutch this file?

ktomi22 said:
i have rooted htc desire with CM 7.2.0.1... aaaand.. i no have g_android folder.. but i found the dev_addr file in sys/module/u_tether/parameters/dev_addr ... my question.. that file its same? or better when i dont toutch this file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the path ("...tether...") it's likely that it might be the right one for your device.
Simply try running the commands manually from an ADB shell and seeing if it works for you. If it does, put it on an init script. If not, it should be gone after a reboot.

A possible solution
For Windows to recognize your mobile device as the same first one needs to create a bridge in Windows 7.
Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type adapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View Network Connections.
Hold down the Ctrl key and Select internet connection from your android phone with your alternate connection you usually use. If you use only your android phone for internet, just select the mobile device.
Hold down ALT to reveal Advanced Menu and click Bridge Connections. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
You should now have a new network type named "Network Bridge" created.
Leave this internet bridge on your system.
Now whenever you connect your android phone, it will show up as the same network connection always. This will stay so even after you restart your system.

maxmumbai said:
For Windows to recognize your mobile device as the same first one needs to create a bridge in Windows 7.
Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type adapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View Network Connections.
Hold down the Ctrl key and Select internet connection from your android phone with your alternate connection you usually use. If you use only your android phone for internet, just select the mobile device.
Hold down ALT to reveal Advanced Menu and click Bridge Connections. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
You should now have a new network type named "Network Bridge" created.
Leave this internet bridge on your system.
Now whenever you connect your android phone, it will show up as the same network connection always. This will stay so even after you restart your system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey MaxMumbai.....
what about windows 8.1.....? The right click on the network adapter in question in win 8.1 reveals 'Bridge connections' in the menu.
Can you make this much clearer please "Hold down the Ctrl key and Select internet connection from your android phone with your alternate connection you usually use. If you use only your android phone for internet, just select the mobile device."
You need at least 2 LAN connections to make a bridge so how can I only select my mobile device connection....? This is what I have in my adapters panel :
Bluetooth Network Connection .... Not ConnectedX
Ethernet.... Network cable unpluggedX
Local Area Connection..... Remote NDIS based internet sharing device (this is my tether)
WiFi... Not Connected X
Can you please explain where I make the bridge....?
Cheers

Ginyons said:
Whenever I tether my laptop via the USB cable it takes a long time for the laptop to connect and when it does, it says "Connected to Network X", where X is a number. Everytime I reconnect via USB X increases by 1 so the last time I did it I was on Network 43!!!!! I accept that this could be in part a windows thing and not a GS3 thing BUT when I connect via a Wifi Hotspot it connects really really quickly and always says I am connected to AndroidAP. Its as if the USB tethering firmware is
Therefore connecting via hotspot seems much more stable and smooth however I was under the impression that the laptop internet speed will be quicker using USB tether rather than wifi and as I primarilly use my SGS3 as my home broadband connection I want to try and configure it to get the fastest speed on my laptop as possible. If I do an internet speed check on my SGS3 while my laptop is tethered the phone connection is always faster than the doing the same on the laptop. I guess this should be perhaps expected but as much as 4Mbits/s. I.e My phone was getting speeds of 6Mbits/sec but without having any apps open on the phone, my laptop would only get 2Mbits/s????
Any advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try this if you don't mind the network icon not showing that you're connected.
Open Registry Editor ( Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog, then type regedit and press Enter ).
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
There are numbered subkeys starting with 0001. Look in each subkey in descending order for the one with the DriverDesc value having your smartphone's RNDIS driver name (same name shown in your Network Connections view as the "Connect using" value).
Once located, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Enter the name as *NdisDeviceType (remember to include the asterisk sign * in front).
Edit the newly created DWORD value and enter the value data as 1 (Base choice doesn't matter). Click OK.
Once done, disable and re-enable usb tethering
You will no longer get a prompt asking for network location whenever you connect your smartphone, but you will still get the prompt when connecting to other devices.
Important Note: When you are only connected to your smartphone, your computer's network icon will continue to show that you are not connected to any network. However, the internet will still work fine.

I just found an easier way to avoid windows (10) to generate a new network number and reset the settings:
Tether your phone using USB, then:
Open device manager and find "Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device"
Then go to properties, advanced, select network address and assign a value.
That's it.

Zibri said:
I just found an easier way to avoid windows (10) to generate a new network number and reset the settings:
Tether your phone using USB, then:
Open device manager and find "Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device"
Then go to properties, advanced, select network address and assign a value.
That's it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to work, as long as you don't restart your PC. After every restart it still counts 1 Number up.
Still a neat trick as long as the PC keeps running, thanks for posting it :good:

I am still searching for a better one....

Related

***HOWTO: Internet Sharing over WiFi*** (Updated 08-Nov-2007)

I have figured out how to use Internet Sharing over WiFi, which essentially makes my Hermes an Access Point.
Do the following:
1) Open Settings->Internet Sharing. Enable IS for Bluetooth PAN.
2) Change HKLM\Comm\ConnectionSharing\PrivateInterface to "TIACXWLN1" (for the Hermes). It should currently be "BTPAN1".
3) Open Settings-> Connections -> Wi-Fi. Select Network Adapters tab. Click IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wi-Fi.
4) Enter IP address 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Click OK.
5) Select Wireless tab. Add New.. to add the Network name for your ad-hoc network (I prefer "adhoc")
6) Set the client computer to use the same ad-hoc network. Client will receive an IP address from the device (don't need to manually set the IP).
And it works!
Interestingly, while IS was enabled, wifi stayed on and connected when the phone went to standby mode. Normally wifi turns off to save battery during standby. I imagine this will drain your battery in a hot minute, so bring your charger.
UPDATE (28-Oct-2007): Attached are some more beta releases of patched intshare.dll. I've created versions for most of the adapter names people have requested. By renaming this dll to intshare.dll and copying it to \Windows, Internet Sharing will use TIACXWLN1 (or whichever dll you use) when Bluetooth PAN is selected. I.e., if you use this, you will not need to make the registry changes above.
This will handle the registry part, but of course you'll still need to set up the ad-hoc network on your own.
UPDATE (03-Nov-2007): I've attached a beta version of the patched Internet Sharing app. It's in its own cab so it won't overwrite your existing IS. This app replaces Bluetooth PAN with 802.11b/g Wireless Ethernet. No registry hacking required. This app is well suited to replace the MS version on cooked ROMs.
If you use an adapter other than TIACXWLN1 then replace intshare.dll just as before.
UPDATE (08-Nov-2007): Attached is v 0.9.1 of the Internet Sharing Mod. This update addresses the 10 minute disconnect bug most people have experienced.
best,
fluxist
This is the first thing I'll try when i'm at home again!
I can't believe this! Waiting for this since i got my Hermes. Thx for this development. This is the greatest effort since Hard-SPL and WM6 upgrade.
Now I can connect my XBOX360 to the Internet without starting my PC and sharing it over PC-LAN. USB-Charger is at the Front of the XBOX360.
I hope it will work.
You said the Max-Connections can be reworked. Does this mean it will support Ad-Hoc AND WLAN-Routing to many recepients too?
This worked for me too on a Kaiser/TYTN II
I'm doing some additional experimentation to see what exactly this can do - for instance to replace a bluetooth connection to a laptop with a wifi one?
odessaranger said:
I'm doing some additional experimentation to see what exactly this can do - for instance to replace a bluetooth connection to a laptop with a wifi one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure what you mean by replacing the connection. With ICS, obviously you cant share your connection over BT while sharing it over WIFI. and you can normally use wifi to connect to another computer by using an ad-hoc connection and manually entering a private ip on the same subnet for each computer.
this is awesome. worked perfectly for me.
After trying to stuff around with a proxy server for days and then you come along with something as simple as this....
boniestlawyer said:
this is awesome. worked perfectly for me.
After trying to stuff around with a proxy server for days and then you come along with something as simple as this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to use more than one client connected?
I'll admit..when I saw this my first thought was that this was another "How can I do internet sharing via wifi" and the title was just misleading..instead I find myself very impressed with your accomplishment. Very well done! As a "hack" untill you figure out how to mod the dll which I'm sure is only a matter of time now that you have pointed everyone in the right direction, you can export the registry key for both the Bluetooth adapter and the Wifi one and "import" whichever one you want to use at a given time...it's not pretty but it should work.
Some issues of concern would be that the AP is wide open and can be connected to by anyone with no password etc...the bluetooth pairing allowed some security but using the wifi doesn't have the same shared key protection...or am I missing something obvious?
fluxist said:
I have figured out how to use Internet Sharing over WiFi, which essentially makes my Hermes an Access Point.
Do the following:
1) Open Settings->Internet Sharing. Enable IS for Bluetooth PAN.
2) Change HKLM\Comm\ConnectionSharing\PrivateInterface to "TIACXWLN1" (it should currently be "BTPAN1").
3) Open Settings-> Connections -> Wi-Fi. Select Network Adapters tab. Click IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wi-Fi.
4) Enter IP address 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Click OK.
5) Select Wireless tab. Add New.. to add the Network name for your ad-hoc network (I prefer "adhoc"
6) Set the client computer to use the same ad-hoc network. Client will receive an IP address from the device (don't need to manually set the IP).
And it works!
When I used it I was only able to get one client to connect, however there is a reg value, HKLM\Comm\BTPAN1\Parms\MaxConnections that may help if it is changed from 1 to 2 (or whatever). But I haven't tried.
Interestingly, while IS was enabled, wifi stayed on and connected when the phone went to standby mode. Normally wifi turns off to save battery during standby. So that's a good thing, although I imagine this will drain your battery in a hot minute, so bring your charger.
I was going to release a patched intshare.dll so that the normal Internet Sharing utility can do this, but I'm having trouble changing the section addresses in the dll to the right values after I add data. If anyone knows how to do this PM me and I'll give you the details.
best,
fluxist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you.
this work actually stemmed from my trying to share my phone's tethered connection with another client. by which i mean, my laptop is in a cafe online through my 8525 using Internet Sharing(IS) over usb. and i want to provide a connection, through wifi or ethernet, to my gfriends laptop. this actually isnt normally possible b/c WM IS and XP Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) both have 192.168.0.1 hard-coded as the gateway IP. so the phone uses that IP to give my laptop a connection, and my laptop tries to use the same IP with ICS. anyway, it fails because of this. i was able to get past that problem by going into Settings -> Wi-Fi -> Network Adapters -> Remote-NDIS and manually setting 192.168.1.1. This lead to the breakthrough with regards to wifi. prior to that id been trying all different ways to have the wifi adapter spoof the bt pan, however i could never get dhcp to assign an IP to the client. this is what it took.
and it's great that DHCP does in fact work here. it makes it dead easy for any arbitrary client to get online. just join the adhoc network as if it were an AP.
anyway, security-wise the ad-hoc network can use WEP or WPA, so security doesn't have to be a problem. the procedures for doing this are the same as normal.
and i haven't tried that reg key to enable multiple clients. but it looked like an obvious choice. i'll leave that as an exercise for the reader
fluxist
I ran into same issue with XP internet sharing. Another workaround is to have a linux machine do NAT( since you can specify the IP used there) to whatever other clients you want and have it connected via bluetooth dun or bluetooth PAND (which is the solution I use to give internet to my replaytv and a couple of laptops in the house)...my edge connection is my main internet feed..a cacheing proxy such as wwoffle, squid of my personal preference "polipo" helps alot to when using gprs/edge etc since it helps with the latency.
fluxist said:
thank you.
this work actually stemmed from my trying to share my phone's tethered connection with another client. by which i mean, my laptop is in a cafe online through my 8525 using Internet Sharing(IS) over usb. and i want to provide a connection, through wifi or ethernet, to my gfriends laptop. this actually isnt normally possible b/c WM IS and XP Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) both have 192.168.0.1 hard-coded as the gateway IP. so the phone uses that IP to give my laptop a connection, and my laptop tries to use the same IP with ICS. anyway, it fails because of this. i was able to get past that problem by going into Settings -> Wi-Fi -> Network Adapters -> Remote-NDIS and manually setting 192.168.1.1. This lead to the breakthrough with regards to wifi. prior to that id been trying all different ways to have the wifi adapter spoof the bt pan, however i could never get dhcp to assign an IP to the client. this is what it took.
and it's great that DHCP does in fact work here. it makes it dead easy for any arbitrary client to get online. just join the adhoc network as if it were an AP.
anyway, security-wise the ad-hoc network can use WEP or WPA, so security doesn't have to be a problem. the procedures for doing this are the same as normal.
and i haven't tried that reg key to enable multiple clients. but it looked like an obvious choice. i'll leave that as an exercise for the reader
fluxist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Impact on BT?
What a brill find. Well done.
Does it break anything with bluetooth?
Tx
can someone elaborate what this is for, maybe give a sample scenario on using this?
Is this basically allowing a computer to use the internet connection of the pda phone (ie EVDO, 1RxTT, etc.) through wifi, instead of bluetooth or USB cable? (ie tethering?)
if someone manages to get this working with xbox 360 make a tutorial plx ;D
superflysocal said:
can someone elaborate what this is for, maybe give a sample scenario on using this?
Is this basically allowing a computer to use the internet connection of the pda phone (ie EVDO, 1RxTT, etc.) through wifi, instead of bluetooth or USB cable? (ie tethering?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats what i wanna know , could i use my hsdpa connection via wifi to my psp?
I'll do a tutorial when i'm at home again. Maybe somebody with know-how can make a cab-file v1.0 for this "WLAN-Modem hack".
This surely will be a great app.
yes, your xbox and your psp should be able to connect just fine, as long as they support ad-hoc wireless (which i imagine they must). this hack will allow the phone to act like any normal wifi access point. the only difference is the client has to be seraching for ad-hoc networks in addition to normal APs.
the difficulty with creating a cab file at this point is that the registry setting is not persistent. that is, it must be set each time you enable IS. the setting is lost every time IS starts. this is why i am trying to patch the dll - so wifi will work as a normal, additional option in Internet Sharing (and hopefully this should be ready soon).
fluxist
when you say click "IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wi-Fi" do you mean the wifi network adapters in my case would be "tiacxwln compatible wireless ethernet"? im trying it on a 6700 WM5
I would LOVE to get this working on my TMO WM6 Wing, but I'm having issues:
1) Open Settings->Internet Sharing. Enable IS for Bluetooth PAN.
Got it - except on my device it's Programs -> accessories -> IS
2) Change HKLM\Comm\ConnectionSharing\PrivateInterface to "TIACXWLN1" (it should currently be "BTPAN1").
Check - but is the T1ACXWLN1 device specific? If so, how can I find the interface ID on my device?
3) Open Settings-> Connections -> Wi-Fi. Select Network Adapters tab. Click IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wi-Fi.
For me it's settings -> connections -> network cards, but I don't have an IEEE 802.11 listed. I connected to an existing AP, and found that my 'SDIO WLAN Wireless Adapter' does receive a DHCP address, so I tried changing it to 192.168.1.1...
4) Enter IP address 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Click OK.
5) Select Wireless tab. Add New.. to add the Network name for your ad-hoc network (I prefer "adhoc"
Found this and set up my WING-FI network.
6) Set the client computer to use the same ad-hoc network. Client will receive an IP address from the device (don't need to manually set the IP).
The client PC connects to WING-FI, but never receives an IP address...
What could I be doing wrong? Is it the hardware ID in the registry? I've created the network with WPA, then after the connection problems, with no security - but still no change.
Thanks!!
Ryan
neonstorm said:
I would LOVE to get this working on my TMO WM6 Wing, but I'm having issues...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very likely the string TIACXWLN1 needs to be something different. Check HKLM\Software\WZCSV\Parameters\Interfaces\
There should be a key there with the name of your wireless adapter. It should end in "1".
And if not there, it should also be visible under HKLM\Comm\
Let us know how it works out.
EDIT: I just noticed you typed T1ACXWLN1. The string must be TIACXWLN1. That's "i" not one.
fluxist
I own a PPC6700 as well and I was able to get it working no problem other than the fact that our wireless adapter is not the same as the one mentioned. The reg edit is the same it's just the first network adapter in the list when you create the network settings.
fluxist said:
yes, your xbox and your psp should be able to connect just fine, as long as they support ad-hoc wireless (which i imagine they must). this hack will allow the phone to act like any normal wifi access point. the only difference is the client has to be seraching for ad-hoc networks in addition to normal APs.
the difficulty with creating a cab file at this point is that the registry setting is not persistent. that is, it must be set each time you enable IS. the setting is lost every time IS starts. this is why i am trying to patch the dll - so wifi will work as a normal, additional option in Internet Sharing (and hopefully this should be ready soon).
fluxist
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you send me the dll I could look into it.
i have some experience with editing dlls.
good work man

Wifi Access Point With Athena

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332736
I have managed to get the athena working as a wireless access point using the technique from the above thread - I have connected an N95 and a toshiba portege successfully and browsed the internet through my athenas connection over wifi with ONE slight drawback - after about 5 seconds the wifi disconnects and I cannot browse any more - up until then it literally whizzes the page up. This is very frustrating as im sure the athena COULD provide very fast wireless internet to my laptop etc (based on these initial few seconds!)
All I want to know is has ANYONE managed to get this working with their athena? users of other handsets report success but I have tried everything and it just doesn't work...if you've got this working and staying connected then please post your exact procedure here
It works great, Here is what I did
I have gotten this working and it works pretty good except for it disconnects after 10 minutes but that is an Internet Sharing "Feature". The exacts procedures that I followed are:
1. I copy the attached .dll to the Windows/ directory.
2. I open up Internet Sharing and connect to Bluetooth PAN
3. I then go to Wifi settings then the Network tab and change the IP information for IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wifi to 192.198.1.1 and the subnet to 255.255.255.0
4. I then go back to the Wireless tab and click "Add new"
5. I put in whatever network name. Check the box for "This is device-to-device..."
6. I turn off all data encryption and then press next, then finish.
7. The network should show connecting. I then connect my device. It probably takes about 20 seconds to establish the connection.
Let me know if you have any questions.
MWillis561 said:
I have gotten this working and it works pretty good except for it disconnects after 10 minutes but that is an Internet Sharing "Feature". The exacts procedures that I followed are:
1. I copy the attached .dll to the Windows/ directory.
2. I open up Internet Sharing and connect to Bluetooth PAN
3. I then go to Wifi settings then the Network tab and change the IP information for IEEE 802.11b/g Compatible Wifi to 192.198.1.1 and the subnet to 255.255.255.0
4. I then go back to the Wireless tab and click "Add new"
5. I put in whatever network name. Check the box for "This is device-to-device..."
6. I turn off all data encryption and then press next, then finish.
7. The network should show connecting. I then connect my device. It probably takes about 20 seconds to establish the connection.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have to repeat #1 each time?
Does this replace Bluetooth PAN?
Is there anyway to automate any part of this process?
THANKS!!
but HOW?
It seems so easy that I'm ashamed to ask ... well almost!
How did you managed to copy the dll in the \WINDOWS directory?
I have tried, and tried and gave up. Al I got every time is access denied.
Where is it the magic?
Thanks for a brilliant idea.
You do not have to redo step 1 every time and it does replace the Bluetooth PAN. Make a copy of the original .dll file from your windows/ folder first. That way you can just copy it back overif you need to use Bluetooth PAN. Right now they are working on editing the Internet Sharing application to create a whole new chose for Wifi access point. Also there is no program yet to automate this whole process. There are some people who are working on it. I will post to this thread when they release something.
I used activsync to do it. If you use normal file explorer it won't work. If activsync doesn't work download the trial of resco explorer. It will allow you to do it.
the procedure i implemented is a little simpler and simply involves clicking on a mortscript which is provided in the original link. It automatically overwrites the dll and initiates internet sharing. You do not need bt pan selected - it will work with usb also. (you will also need mortscript 4.0 on your ppc but this is easy to google. You will also need to create an ad hoc connection as per the thread above. You then run the mortscript and turn on wifi. (it MUST be done in this order to work). When i first posted this thread it would connect perfectly but subsequently the 'wifi connected' symbol would turn into a triangle and no further downloading would be possible from the connected computer (all this within a few seconds). Now today i did a hard reset of my athena, followed the procedure again and it works perfectly! I also turned off power save mode. I tested by connecting an n95 and the speed is great, connection was maintained for the full hour until i disconnected - even when the devices were left for ten minutes. I tested the mortscript on a tytn following the same procedure. This device is running windows black satin. Again the disconnect problem occurred despite initial success. This leads me to believe that either a program or setup procedure is causing this bug. It certainly needs further investigation
leoni1980 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332736
I have managed to get the athena working as a wireless access point using the technique from the above thread - I have connected an N95 and a toshiba portege successfully and browsed the internet through my athenas connection over wifi with ONE slight drawback - after about 5 seconds the wifi disconnects and I cannot browse any more - up until then it literally whizzes the page up. This is very frustrating as im sure the athena COULD provide very fast wireless internet to my laptop etc (based on these initial few seconds!)
All I want to know is has ANYONE managed to get this working with their athena? users of other handsets report success but I have tried everything and it just doesn't work...if you've got this working and staying connected then please post your exact procedure here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just used WifiRouter ( use search it's posted in several threads ) works great only thing i found is that you sometimes have to like either open your browser to force a data conenction to happen or use gprs monitor to initiate the connection then wifirouter picks up on that and sets everything from there. I must admit the extra step is a pain as it worked without the need of it with my former vario II, but will not complain as works great. only other thing i always do is under the wireless settings i set for Best Perfomance as beest battery wil have it drop the connection after periods of no activity.

Internet Sharing with a Mac? USB and/or BT

Hello all, I have the xv6800, dcd rom 3.3.4 and activesync and internet sharing setup on Windows just fine. However, I have recently gotten a MAC, and I have not been able to get the internet sharing to work via BT or USB. I can understand BT cause I was never able to get it set up on windows either. I don't mind the USB connection, it's alwasy been more stable and a snap to set up with the ROM. However I can't get it working on the MAC. Is there a driver or app that needs to be installed on the mac side? The only think I remember doing on the WIN side is installing the modem driver.
On Mac, I have installed Missing Sync installed and I have been able to attach and sync my winmo phone without issue, so I know I have connection. but I cannot get the internet sharing to work. I checked out the verizon site and they state that they do not make a modem driver for the mac os.
I should also mention that I have winXP set up on the mac thru VMware, but I have been unsuccessful getting this to work the way my original windows laptop is setup. I dont want to set it up that way anyway if I can avoid it.
I am curious if anyone has this working via USB?? I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere. I couldn't find anything related and certainly not specific to this ROM.
I did find this, http://www.keithtastic.com/post/3997...-to-sprint-htc, but it states to buy an app called USB Modem program from www.mobile-stream.com. but wouldnt the ISC app on the dcd rom provid the same functionality?
Thanks for any/all help
i use BT in OSX... system prefs, bluetooth, setup a connection to the phone(+ button)... hit the bluetooth icon on the menubar, select the phone -> connect to network, thats all i have to do.
bmorrisj said:
i use BT in OSX... system prefs, bluetooth, setup a connection to the phone(+ button)... hit the bluetooth icon on the menubar, select the phone -> connect to network, thats all i have to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then just use internet sharing form the phone as normal?
no offense but that didnt help at all. I can connect my phone via BT themac sees it, but all I can do is browse device. I need to set up a connection with my phone to the mac and get online via my phone. I dont careif its bluetooth or not. I have the new macbook btw, if it matters
goon55: Like you, I always used a VM workaround to tether back when I had a Mac. I haven't tried this, but I've heard Syncmate allows Internet Sharing on Mac systems. Good luck!
I have no issues connecting my macbook for my 6800.
After you set it up like the other poster told you to, you should have a phone icon next to the bluetooth icon at the top right of the screen. click the phone icon then "connect bluetooth".
goon55 said:
no offense but that didnt help at all. I can connect my phone via BT themac sees it, but all I can do is browse device. I need to set up a connection with my phone to the mac and get online via my phone. I dont careif its bluetooth or not. I have the new macbook btw, if it matters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
also when setting up the BT relationship, make sure you select the network services (i believe, there are one or two services you can check)...on the phone make sure you start BT and internet sharing (with BT selected) and when you go to the BT menu on the mac, your phone name should be under "devices", expand your phone name and select connect to network.
just trying to clarify a bit.
i had it
i had bt working for a bit and then was disconnected abruptly.
after deleting the profiles of the pairings on both the titan and the mac, it still wont share the connection although the phone will be connected in bt system prefrence pane, (where you select devices).
when it worked, i would select the phone in the device select, and underneath clicking on the gear to a menu option to 'connect to network'
it worked that wayfor 3 mins.
also, when i configure the device, if i set the phone to internet share while the mac is discovering the services, i get two options to select instead of just one:
access the internet
use device as network port.
edit: got it, apple talk active
best software you can use is http://www.wmwifirouter.com/ it works over BT or wifi and uses your phone's regular data access address which means you don't get tethering charges. NOTE I use the free version, and I have tried the tiral and although it does work, my mogul does not seem to like it and has little quirks after I install it (wifi turns on when I reset even if the switch is off, I don't why but its there).
Hi everyone, I've been trying to use my Windows Mobile phone as a modem for the Macbook, but so far I only see people being able to connect via BT. Problem with that for me is that BT drains both my laptop and phone battery quicker, so I'm trying to find a solution to connect via USB instead. Has anyone been able to surf on their Mac using their Windows Mobile phone as a modem via USB cable?
What you want is Mobile Stream USB Modem for Windows. Windows here being Windows Mobile, it works with my Mac.
Once you set it up, your phone is seen as a USB Modem and you dial from the Mac to this port. There is a free trial, take time to test it, read the forums, I had some initial issues to get it work right, but now it is good, I ended up purchasing it.
Tried BT sharing too, but too instable and drops. Tried the WiFi sharing, but eats battery...
Only downside: as you dial the data modem, it will fail if it is already in use (background email checking on your phone...). I have to disconnect the data connection on the phone to be able to dial from the Mac, otherwise it reports Port Busy.
Thanks for the recommendation, will try it out. Any other solutions in the meantime to connect and share the Internet connection from my Windows Mobile phone to Mac via USB?
I had the same problem, and tried everything recommended in the thread - no dice. I ended up just installing WMWifiRouter and that works like a champ.
http://networkjew.com/2009/03/30/tether-windows-mobile-phone-mac/
This is for cingular, but I'm sure this can be attempted no matter what the provider.
I've been looking for a solution as well, and have yet to find one for USB Internet Sharing on a Mac. I currently just use Bluetooth with an external charger on the phone and laptop since it'll eat the battery of both quickly.

How to run WiFi Tether

Hi All,
Bit new to tethering -
As I understand it, it will allow me to tether my laptop to my phone, and enable me to access the internet via my phone if I'm out of a regular WIfi
network. So if I'm in the middle of nowhere ( but have phone signal ) - I can access the net. and emails.
Also - may be possible to share files between phone & laptop ( not sure about this though ).
So on to the running problem.
If I start up WiFi Tether, I press the 'start' button, and in minute or so it appears on my laptop list of wifi networks - as G1 Tether.
When I select it I get a notification on my phone sayin ' Wireless ether Authorized ( connected ) '
On my laptop the usual WiFi symbol changes from its usual fan shaped stripes to a grey fan shape with what looks like a little white TV set inside it .
Thats as far as I get - email and web not working on my laptop.
Any ideas?
ps - on the Wifi Tether screen on my phone - it does indicate Down & Up traffic ( 43 kb & 56 kb ).
BTW your not alone I tried to tether and got the same connects fine, but no interent
Ok, I am very new to the wifi tethering thing (I got mine set up on Monday), but here's what I had to do in order to get online via wifi on my laptop through my phone. Under the security section of setup, I had to disable access-control. Once I did that, I was screaming on the internet. I am using a HTC Hero through Sprint.
I forgot to say that I had done that Muppet.....other than chosing the G1 tether network, did you have to do anything on your laptop - such as changing any network settings?
AFAIK the US Sprint version of the phone has had the standard tethering capability on the Hero disabled. So the only way to tether with a Sprint Hero is to get an app from the Market. Can't remember what it is called but a quick search of past posts in the Hero CDMA forum should easily find it, as it has been covered many times before. I don't know how that works because I have never needed it.
For those of us using the European Hero tethering on a PC (again don't know about Mac) should be easy and does not need any additional app from the Market. First make sure HTCSync is installed on your PC. Even if you do not use it to sync you still need it on the PC because it has the necessary drivers. Then connect the USB cable to both devices. Do not at this stage mount the USB. If it tries to sync automatically, just cancel that.
Then go into menu > settings > wireless controls. Scroll down to the bottom and the last item "Mobile Network Sharing" should now be available to you. Click on it and it should automatically make a connection to the PC which should show in your icon tray (may take a minute or so) with the usual wireless network connection symbol (2 little computer screens with a couple of arcs radiating). After that just use your browser or email programme and it should work fine.
Are you doing the above in the order set out? Is the Mobile Network Sharing option on the phone available or grayed out? What OS are you running on the laptop? It works fine with my Windows XP, but have heard of problems with Vista, and especially in 64bit.
One more thing. You do need to have 3G phone signal to make it work - GPS will take forever. And you obviously need data switched on on the phone.

[Q] Make apps think you're using Wifi

I've searched around for some solid technique or, preferably, app that allows you to trick apps into thinking you are using Wifi when in reality you are still on 3g/4g.
- I am NOT looking for alternatives or workarounds for a specific app
I found it crazy that the iPhone has over a dozen apps, tweaks, etc that can easily do this type of thing, but the only stuff I've found on the subject for android were either ridiculous techniques that don't work, or people questioning WHY you'd want to do this...
If anyone has ANY information on this subject, please tell.
Is there a reason why this is so much harder on Android than on iPhone? I'd be happy to learn exactly what the problem is here.
bump
Im also interested on this. I have unlimited data and i find it ridiculous that devs make apps to only work on wifi. I use to use 3g unrestrictor all the time back when i had my iPhone.
bump
bump again...
Well i know this works with certain android games like zenonia and modern combat which require wifi not data connection so you can try it with other stuff. You have to be rooted.
The first step is to turn your Wi-Fi on and*download Android Wi-Fi tether app*available in Market.
Once you have the app downloaded, launch the app and go to Menu > Settings > Change > Setup Method and select Softap option.
Now start tethering and drag down the notification bar.
In case your Wi-Fi icon is still enabled, it means that you have done it right so far.
Do not press the Wi-Fi toggle icon and launch the game you want to play
-------------
I am a dishonest man, and you can always honestly trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.
xMrArnoldx said:
Well i know this works with certain android games like zenonia and modern combat which require wifi not data connection so you can try it with other stuff. You have to be rooted.
The first step is to turn your Wi-Fi on and*download Android Wi-Fi tether app*available in Market.
Once you have the app downloaded, launch the app and go to Menu > Settings > Change > Setup Method and select Softap option.
Now start tethering and drag down the notification bar.
In case your Wi-Fi icon is still enabled, it means that you have done it right so far.
Do not press the Wi-Fi toggle icon and launch the game you want to play
-------------
I am a dishonest man, and you can always honestly trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It didn't work.. My wifi is turned off as soon as the tethering starts. What app exactly am I supposed to use?
Thanks!
Try wifi tether for root users.
---------------------
Give me a thanks if i helped
Lg Lucid running Cm10
w/ Cm10 Kernel
Asus Tf700 running Cromi-X 4.6.5
w/ Max's v4 kernel
Some Android games and application require a Wi-Fi connection due to the large amount of data that they use. If you don't have Wi-Fi available, however, you won't be able to use the apps or play the games, even if you have a fast 3G connection. You can trick your phone into believing that the Wi-Fi is connected by saving a small text file to your SD card so the phone will play games and apps as if it's on Wi-Fi when it's only connected to 3G.
Things You'll Need
PC
Data cable
Text editing app
Instructions
1) Launch a text editing program on your computer and type "FALSE" in all caps. Save the file and give it the name "qaWifiOnlyMode.txt" exactly with all the lower-case and capital letters duplicated precisely, otherwise the Android operating system won't see the file. Close the text editing program.
2) Plug your Android device into your computer and drag your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification area. Tap "USB Connected" and then confirm that you want to mount your SD card as a drive on the computer.
3) Find the qaWifiOnlyMode.txt file on your computer and click to select it. Press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the file. Browse to the location of your Android device's SD card on your computer. In the base(root) directory, not in any sub-folder, press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste the text file to the card.
4) Drag down the notification area on your Android device and tap the USB connection to disconnect the device from the computer. Unplug the USB cable. Your device will now play games and apps as if it's on Wi-Fi even if it's only on 3G.
Diablo67 said:
Some Android games and application require a Wi-Fi connection due to the large amount of data that they use. If you don't have Wi-Fi available, however, you won't be able to use the apps or play the games, even if you have a fast 3G connection. You can trick your phone into believing that the Wi-Fi is connected by saving a small text file to your SD card so the phone will play games and apps as if it's on Wi-Fi when it's only connected to 3G.
Things You'll Need
PC
Data cable
Text editing app
Instructions
1) Launch a text editing program on your computer and type "FALSE" in all caps. Save the file and give it the name "qaWifiOnlyMode.txt" exactly with all the lower-case and capital letters duplicated precisely, otherwise the Android operating system won't see the file. Close the text editing program.
2) Plug your Android device into your computer and drag your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification area. Tap "USB Connected" and then confirm that you want to mount your SD card as a drive on the computer.
3) Find the qaWifiOnlyMode.txt file on your computer and click to select it. Press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the file. Browse to the location of your Android device's SD card on your computer. In the base(root) directory, not in any sub-folder, press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste the text file to the card.
4) Drag down the notification area on your Android device and tap the USB connection to disconnect the device from the computer. Unplug the USB cable. Your device will now play games and apps as if it's on Wi-Fi even if it's only on 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this whole text file thing didn't work for me. Do you have to be rooted for this to work?
It didn't work for me either and I'm rooted
Work for anyone
Did the above fix work for anyone?
.txt thing didn't work for me either and I'm rooted]
I am having a rooted phone with busybox and this text file trick doesn't work.
Sent from my GT-S5360 Gadget of Mass Destruction using xda-app
Using CWM........Busybox Commands........No I use my hands
I've been searching for a way to fool apps into thinking their on WiFi. No luck.
I hate to beat the dead horse but I switched from an iPhone to a HTC One and its turning out to be a bad deal. Your telling me all these yrs and no one has been able to make one of the most basic apps the iPhone can get via cydia yet.
We should start a bounty ...
I'll throw in 100 to start it off with.
omf05 said:
I've been searching for a way to fool apps into thinking their on WiFi. No luck.
I hate to beat the dead horse but I switched from an iPhone to a HTC One and its turning out to be a bad deal. Your telling me all these yrs and no one has been able to make one of the most basic apps the iPhone can get via cydia yet.
We should start a bounty ...
I'll throw in 100 to start it off with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's pretty pathetic really
I'll be abroad next week and wanted to catch a bit of the French Open Tennis but one of the TV apps I'm using requires a wifi connection. The fact there is no workaround yet is almost as idiotic as the morons who implement this "feature" in their apps.
Why should I care if someone is dumb enough to rinse their 1GB Data limit when I have unlimited 4G internet?
I asked about this in the Xposed forum, since it seems like an Xposed module might be the way to trick apps into thinking you're on wi-fi.
For me, the issue is with PdaNet+. I have unlimited data with T-Mobile, and I can pair my tablet via bluetooth and use my phone's data on my tablet. However, some apps don't work because they don't detect a data connection (ie: wi-fi), even though there is one. I can browse the internet. I can browse Google Play. But I can't download anything from Google Play, because it keeps waiting for a network connection. I can use Facebook, but I can't use the Facebook Messenger.
The work-around I can use at home is to use a virtual wi-fi router program on my laptop, connect my tablet to my laptop's wifi, and then connect my tablet via PdaNet+ bluetooth. Even there's no data going through the wi-fi, it still "tricks" my tablet into thinking there's a network connection, and it proceeds to download through bluetooth. Of course, this only works at home or if I have my laptop with me.
Yeah, I can always just tether my phone to my laptop and run my tablet off the laptop's virtual wi-fi router (which I typically do), but that's slower, and again, only works when my computer is with me.
Planterz said:
I asked about this in the Xposed forum, since it seems like an Xposed module might be the way to trick apps into thinking you're on wi-fi.
For me, the issue is with PdaNet+. I have unlimited data with T-Mobile, and I can pair my tablet via bluetooth and use my phone's data on my tablet. However, some apps don't work because they don't detect a data connection (ie: wi-fi), even though there is one. I can browse the internet. I can browse Google Play. But I can't download anything from Google Play, because it keeps waiting for a network connection. I can use Facebook, but I can't use the Facebook Messenger.
The work-around I can use at home is to use a virtual wi-fi router program on my laptop, connect my tablet to my laptop's wifi, and then connect my tablet via PdaNet+ bluetooth. Even there's no data going through the wi-fi, it still "tricks" my tablet into thinking there's a network connection, and it proceeds to download through bluetooth. Of course, this only works at home or if I have my laptop with me.
Yeah, I can always just tether my phone to my laptop and run my tablet off the laptop's virtual wi-fi router (which I typically do), but that's slower, and again, only works when my computer is with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you provide a little more detail in how to do this? What program are you using on your laptop? So the phone is running PDANet and then you connect it to your laptop via Bluetooth. Then after that you connect your tablet to the laptop's virtual wifi router?
Don't know if I understood completely but thanks in advance.
taino211 said:
Could you provide a little more detail in how to do this? What program are you using on your laptop? So the phone is running PDANet and then you connect it to your laptop via Bluetooth. Then after that you connect your tablet to the laptop's virtual wifi router?
Don't know if I understood completely but thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have T-Mobile's Unlimited plan, which has unlimited data and 5gb free hotspot. My phone is a T-Mobile branded Samsung Galaxy Light SGH T399. On my phone I have PdaNet+ installed, with the full unlock key purchased ($8).
There's a free one to try, to make sure it works with your phone; whether it works or not depends on the phone itself, the version of Android it runs, and the provider from which you got it (if you didn't get an unlocked version). For example, a particular phone might work fine with T-Mobile, but the Sprint version of that phone might not. That's why there's the free version - to test before purchasing. The limitation with the free version is that it times out after about ~10 minutes and you have to reconnect.
PdaNet can connect to your computer in 3 ways. Wifi, Bluetooth, or USB tethering. Again, depending on your phone, carrier branding, and Android version, some methods may work while others won't.
Wifi works just like any wifi hotspot. However, depending on the afore mentioned conditions, wifi hotspot might not work the way you want it to. For example, on my T-Mobile branded Samsung Galaxy Light SGH-T399, using the wifi hotspot on PdaNet also loads up the pre-installed T-Mobile hotspot, which drains the 5gb mobile hotspot allotment. I haven't found a way to break that on this phone. On other phones (like Nexus devices), I know there are ways to only use your phone's data, and not the hotspot allotment, but frankly, these are very complicated and need a VPN subscription (ie: more money) to work. Wifi hotspot use is often broken anyway, depending on your carrier and Android version.
Bluetooth and USB tethering work differently than wi-fi, but otherwise work essentially the same way as each other. Both require a companion program to be installed onto your computer. A good idea is to keep a copy of this program on your phone, so you can install it on other people's computers if necessary (and perhaps the USB drivers for your phone as well).
I haven't messed around with Bluetooth much, because the Bluetooth on my laptop (via a dongle) is glitchy as $#@!, and I've never been able to get PdaNet to work with it properly except for a couple times which didn't last. Actually, I've never gotten anything to work properly with Bluetooth on my laptop, so this is probably just a problem with my computer/dongle/drivers, and YMMV. On the few times I've gotten PdaNet or other internet via Bluetooth (which some phones have built-in, and don't require PdaNet at all), speeds have been much, much slower, and I'd rather tether via USB anyway.
I connect my phone's internet to my laptop with USB tether. Make sure USB debugging is enabled, and plug it in. Make sure it's set as a Mass Storage device (4.1 or earlier), or as a Media Device (4.2+). Then on your phone, open PdaNet+ and Activate USB Tether (you can do this before plugging it in, it doesn't matter). On your computer, load PdaNet, and select Connect Internet (USB). If everything has been set up correctly, it should say "Connected", and you can now use your phone's internet on your computer.
Here's the important part:
If you don't have an Unlimited plan, tethering (via any method) will suck down your data. If you do have an unlimited plan, there's an option in PdaNet's settings (on your computer) to "Hide Tether Usage". This uses a proxy or VPN (not sure which) to fool your provider into thinking you're on your phone, and not on your computer. This works for me, with my phone, on T-Mobile. No guarantees that this will work with other phones, or other providers. Try the free version first, monitor your data usage (use your provider's account app, not the built-in Android one), and see if it works for you.
As for the virtual wifi network, there are a couple ways to do this. The PdaNet program for your computer actually has this built into it. Once you're connected, select the "WiFi Share" option, and it'll set up a wi-fi network that you (and others) can use on other devices, like other phones, tablets, computers smart-TVs, etc. Obviously, the computer you're tethered to needs to have wi-fi capability for this to work. But as long as you have a wi-fi modem, it can be turned into a wi-fi router with this option. It's not as strong as a real wi-fi router, but you don't have to buy and network a different piece of equipment either.
There are also stand-alone virtual wi-fi router programs. The one I've used mainly is Virtual Router Manager beta 0.9. A while ago, I tried a newer, non-beta version, but it was extremely unstable, so I went back to the 0.9 beta. I haven't tried any newer version in quite some time. I used this when I had proper internet (cable) in my apartment, but wanted to use wi-fi instead of my phone's data to do downloads or updates on my phone.
Neither the Virtual Router Manager or the WiFi Share option on PdaNet are 100% stable. Every once in a while, something glitches out, and I have to reboot my computer (I usually reboot my phone at the same time, just to be sure). But hey, apart from the $8 for PdaNet+, I get unlimited mobile and home internet for $80/month, so I can't complain.
To recap, I have my phone USB tethered to my laptop (which is plugged into a 42" HDTV) via PdaNet+. I use a virtual wi-fi router option to give wi-fi to my tablet. One internet connection, 3 devices connected.
My problem is that, even though I own a laptop, it practically never goes with my anywhere. It sits on a cooling pad, plugged into 2 external HDDs and my 42" HDTV, and I sit at my couch with a wireless mouse/keyboard. But when I'm away from my apartment, and I have my tablet, there's certain things I can't do on the tablet connected via PdaNet and Bluetooth, because it doesn't have a wi-fi connection, and these certain apps don't detect a network connection.
Planterz said:
I have T-Mobile's Unlimited plan, which has unlimited data and 5gb free hotspot. My phone is a T-Mobile branded Samsung Galaxy Light SGH T399. On my phone I have PdaNet+ installed, with the full unlock key purchased ($8).
There's a free one to try, to make sure it works with your phone; whether it works or not depends on the phone itself, the version of Android it runs, and the provider from which you got it (if you didn't get an unlocked version). For example, a particular phone might work fine with T-Mobile, but the Sprint version of that phone might not. That's why there's the free version - to test before purchasing. The limitation with the free version is that it times out after about ~10 minutes and you have to reconnect.
PdaNet can connect to your computer in 3 ways. Wifi, Bluetooth, or USB tethering. Again, depending on your phone, carrier branding, and Android version, some methods may work while others won't.
Wifi works just like any wifi hotspot. However, depending on the afore mentioned conditions, wifi hotspot might not work the way you want it to. For example, on my T-Mobile branded Samsung Galaxy Light SGH-T399, using the wifi hotspot on PdaNet also loads up the pre-installed T-Mobile hotspot, which drains the 5gb mobile hotspot allotment. I haven't found a way to break that on this phone. On other phones (like Nexus devices), I know there are ways to only use your phone's data, and not the hotspot allotment, but frankly, these are very complicated and need a VPN subscription (ie: more money) to work. Wifi hotspot use is often broken anyway, depending on your carrier and Android version.
Bluetooth and USB tethering work differently than wi-fi, but otherwise work essentially the same way as each other. Both require a companion program to be installed onto your computer. A good idea is to keep a copy of this program on your phone, so you can install it on other people's computers if necessary (and perhaps the USB drivers for your phone as well).
I haven't messed around with Bluetooth much, because the Bluetooth on my laptop (via a dongle) is glitchy as $#@!, and I've never been able to get PdaNet to work with it properly except for a couple times which didn't last. Actually, I've never gotten anything to work properly with Bluetooth on my laptop, so this is probably just a problem with my computer/dongle/drivers, and YMMV. On the few times I've gotten PdaNet or other internet via Bluetooth (which some phones have built-in, and don't require PdaNet at all), speeds have been much, much slower, and I'd rather tether via USB anyway.
I connect my phone's internet to my laptop with USB tether. Make sure USB debugging is enabled, and plug it in. Make sure it's set as a Mass Storage device (4.1 or earlier), or as a Media Device (4.2+). Then on your phone, open PdaNet+ and Activate USB Tether (you can do this before plugging it in, it doesn't matter). On your computer, load PdaNet, and select Connect Internet (USB). If everything has been set up correctly, it should say "Connected", and you can now use your phone's internet on your computer.
Here's the important part:
If you don't have an Unlimited plan, tethering (via any method) will suck down your data. If you do have an unlimited plan, there's an option in PdaNet's settings (on your computer) to "Hide Tether Usage". This uses a proxy or VPN (not sure which) to fool your provider into thinking you're on your phone, and not on your computer. This works for me, with my phone, on T-Mobile. No guarantees that this will work with other phones, or other providers. Try the free version first, monitor your data usage (use your provider's account app, not the built-in Android one), and see if it works for you.
As for the virtual wifi network, there are a couple ways to do this. The PdaNet program for your computer actually has this built into it. Once you're connected, select the "WiFi Share" option, and it'll set up a wi-fi network that you (and others) can use on other devices, like other phones, tablets, computers smart-TVs, etc. Obviously, the computer you're tethered to needs to have wi-fi capability for this to work. But as long as you have a wi-fi modem, it can be turned into a wi-fi router with this option. It's not as strong as a real wi-fi router, but you don't have to buy and network a different piece of equipment either.
There are also stand-alone virtual wi-fi router programs. The one I've used mainly is Virtual Router Manager beta 0.9. A while ago, I tried a newer, non-beta version, but it was extremely unstable, so I went back to the 0.9 beta. I haven't tried any newer version in quite some time. I used this when I had proper internet (cable) in my apartment, but wanted to use wi-fi instead of my phone's data to do downloads or updates on my phone.
Neither the Virtual Router Manager or the WiFi Share option on PdaNet are 100% stable. Every once in a while, something glitches out, and I have to reboot my computer (I usually reboot my phone at the same time, just to be sure). But hey, apart from the $8 for PdaNet+, I get unlimited mobile and home internet for $80/month, so I can't complain.
To recap, I have my phone USB tethered to my laptop (which is plugged into a 42" HDTV) via PdaNet+. I use a virtual wi-fi router option to give wi-fi to my tablet. One internet connection, 3 devices connected.
My problem is that, even though I own a laptop, it practically never goes with my anywhere. It sits on a cooling pad, plugged into 2 external HDDs and my 42" HDTV, and I sit at my couch with a wireless mouse/keyboard. But when I'm away from my apartment, and I have my tablet, there's certain things I can't do on the tablet connected via PdaNet and Bluetooth, because it doesn't have a wi-fi connection, and these certain apps don't detect a network connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the great explanation! This helps quite a bit. I'll give this a shot to see how it goes.

Categories

Resources