Tethering/Hotspot control - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have what probably is a strange request, but here goes:
I'm getting the kid a Galaxy S2 for Christmas - it costs just as much to add her to my plan as it does to buy the prepaid minutes for her
I need to know if there's an app out there that can "lock" the ability to use tethering and mobile hotspot. Yeah, I know she can just download a different tethering app from Google Play and use that, but I want to make it a little more difficult for her Ideally it would have a "schedule" where it can be locked out during certain times, or at the very least a "passcode" that can be entered to allow the access.
I'm not concerned with data usage, but at home I have the Wifi turn off at midnight so she'll actually go to bed, and I know if she can tether or use the hotspot she'll just do that and stay up and watch anime all night :laugh:
So, is there something out there that can do this? My searches have been rather fruitless so far.

Related

[Q] Wifi hotspot.

Hi,
Does anyone know if the SGS2 lets you set up a wifi hotspot, like you can on stock android? I know this is probably disabled on on-contract phones, but I'm planning to buy one SIM-free.
Cheers
It does. Was using it sat out in the sun on College Green today
I was using it in the early hours of this morning, it's great
I was surprised that it allowed me to hotspot. I rooted the thing in anticipation of that feature not working. I don't know much about rooting so I fumbled through it. I think the developers need to do a special modification to enable that service if it's disabled. Anyway, it looks enabled out of the box. But I thought the providers were the ones that disable it
Does anyone know how the providers usually handle the allowing of hotspot? Do they disable it down the road sometimes? Or if it works now it will work long term.
Looks like the word is not to use any addon wifi tether for the SII and to just to use the stock hotspot function that comes with the phone.
I tried it and it worked with my laptop. However, while my laptop is connected, if I try to connect to the hotspot with a Blackberry or Nokia phone the laptop loses its connection. After that the laptop can't connect.
Is anyone else having this problem?

Are 3rd party tethering apps detectable by ATT?

I was thinking about using the app wifi tether and was wondering about ATT detecting it. I am on unlimited data and don't want to get the boot...if I used it once in a great while.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
I have been using the stock tethering by rooting and deleting some tethering apk (look for it somewhere in the forums). But I have not had any issues or messages about tethering. They will give you a warning if you are detected though and that'll give you time to stop tethering. In other words they're not gonna just take you off unlimited instantly.
If you're still on gingerbread root the phone and download titanium backup and delete tethering manager then boom. Don't have to pay for tethering services
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Ok, so back on topic here.
They can and they can't.
If you just browse the net and do normal things like that, no, they can't.
But, you start sucking up bandwidth playing MMO's and downloading torrents, then yeah, they will get you eventually.
The amount of Bandwidth you use will get you before they seek you out for tethering is what I am trying to say. Just be reasonable and responsible is all.
On my cappy I was running saurom and tethered alot of the day to my laptop. Never got anything from ATT. Now I have the Note and its stock. Installed FoxFi and within a few days of just normal browsing I got a text from ATT so I had to call them and stop tethering, don't want to lose my unlimited data plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
I have unlimited data and used to tether my laptop to my Infuse when my internet was down at my college house. My roommates also would tether to it and use their laptops and our internet connected bluray player to watch netflix. I never had any problems, until I installed a ROM that didn't have the tetheringmanager.apk removed, because the developer thought free tethering was wrong...ugh. I didn't bother to check for it being uninstalled, as most custom ROMs have it removed, and I got a text from AT&T about an hour later.
I was really pissed when I went and read that the dev didn't remove it, because it caused me to lose my tethering ability since I want to keep my unlimited data, but it was also my fault for not checking. Long story short, make sure the apk is reoved, and you should be good to go. They may still catch you if you use enormous amounts of data as others have said, but they will warn you before changing your unlimited plan to a tiered tethering one.
My suggestion, do it while you can, and just stop if you get warned! =]
Ok pretty much what I was expecting. I have a few questions but first I want to clarify that I'm on Saurom VII, does anyone know if this ROM had the APK removed and what's the name of it so I can remove with titanium if need be? Thanks in advance.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note™
Edit: I found two apps named wifi share 1.0 and wifi sharing manager 1.0...bingo?
No bingo, though I don't think it would hurt to remove those either, as those could also tip off att, not sure though. The one you need to make sure of is tetheringmanager.apk. Go into root explorer: system > app > and delete tetheringmanager.apk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk
I couldst find anything name tethering manager, but I found like 3 other apps that the wifi icon but not sure what they do lol. Here a screen shot..., well apparently I can't upload a screen shot because the JPEG had an invalid file extension (using the XDA app)
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note™
Disabling TetheringManager
This thread is very helpful. Thanks!
Posters have suggested that you delete the TetheringManager apk. Could you just freeze it (in Titanium Backup) instead?
backup then remove
You can freeze it if you have the Premium Titanium Backup. If you don't you can back it up then uninstall it. That way you can restore it if need.
Yes. Freezing works.
Sent from a Galaxy far, far away!
I'm really curious as to how exactly AT&T figures out who tethers. In the past, I tethered all the time whenever I needed to use my laptop in the field. Never a problem, and I never abused it. Then I got my international SGSII (GT-I9100). I was trying to download a wi-fi driver to my home PC so I could connect with my Cox Cable internet home network. I probably had tethering on for maybe 5 minutes, and I know I had to have consumed <5megs of data. A couple hours later I got the email and text from AT&T telling me they were moving me off the unlimited plan to the limited plan.
How'd they know? The phone isn't available on AT&T, and didn't have any of AT&T's tething apk's like tetheringmanager.apk. I've tried Googling to see if anybody knows exactly how they know, but nobody seems to know.
ClockworkMod Tether is supposed to be invisible to the phone company. I'm just afraid to test it now! Tether link: http://goo.gl/7Ay6w
diomed said:
How'd they know? The phone isn't available on AT&T, and didn't have any of AT&T's tething apk's like tetheringmanager.apk. I've tried Googling to see if anybody knows exactly how they know, but nobody seems to know.
ClockworkMod Tether is supposed to be invisible to the phone company. I'm just afraid to test it now! Tether link: http://goo.gl/7Ay6w
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's been a lot of discussion about how AT&T detects tethering. From everything I've read, I believe that they look at the TTL parameter in the packets to see if there's an extra hop. When you tether, packets originate on the tethered device and the TTL gets changed. Apparently, some of the USB tether apps like ClockworkMod Tether don't change the TTL, so they avoid detection.
I haven't tested this myself, so I don't know for sure that ClockworkMod Tether is safe to use. Maybe other people have used it and can report here.
kevinallen4325 said:
If you're still on gingerbread root the phone and download titanium backup and delete tethering manager then boom. Don't have to pay for tethering services
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't the Tethering Manager app needed for 3rd party Tethering to work? When I start FoxFi, Tethering Manager also got started immediately. I am on stock rooted.
I got the text from AT&T saying that I had to stop tethering so I called and tried to lie about but they said they were tipped off because I accessed the apple store multiple time and since I was on WM at the time it would be impossible for me to do that on my device. They were correct I was tethering to an ipod touch and they somehow knew. The women told me sometimes they get tips from their security system that tells them different things about the likelyhood of what customers are tethering and when their system gathers enough information to prove someone is tethering it automatically sends a text to that customer. I felt stupid for tryin to lie after she told me their records show I never switched my sim to an iphone and was still able to access the apple store several times. I never got caught tethering until I tethered the ipod.
porkenhimer said:
I got the text from AT&T saying that I had to stop tethering so I called and tried to lie about but they said they were tipped off because I accessed the apple store multiple time and since I was on WM at the time it would be impossible for me to do that on my device. They were correct I was tethering to an ipod touch and they somehow knew. The women told me sometimes they get tips from their security system that tells them different things about the likelyhood of what customers are tethering and when their system gathers enough information to prove someone is tethering it automatically sends a text to that customer. I felt stupid for tryin to lie after she told me their records show I never switched my sim to an iphone and was still able to access the apple store several times. I never got caught tethering until I tethered the ipod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing here, never got busted until I tethered my iPad from my iPhone. So far so good with the note...
_________________________________
www.TheShortBusRiders.com

[Q] Tethering on SPRINT via USB

I found this but it didnt answer my question completely http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1479500
I need to tether at work to a couple times during the day to show media files, pictures, etc of things while I'm teaching (4th grade). Netflix also has quite a bit of educational videos I would like to stream to supplement science and social studies. I can't use my school's network because they have so many restrictions that it blocks nearly everything.
If I tether via USB connection with PDA Net or Easy Tether, is there any way Sprint can tell that I'm tethering?
I tried the wifi feature on Pda Net and the phone brought up a message saying I did not subscribe to those services.
When I connected via USB, I didn't have that issue. I just want to make sure I can use it consistently without getting kicked off the network and before I pay for the full app.
I would assume if you are using a 3rd party USB tethering app and the phone doesn't give you Sprint's hotspot warning that you should be in the clear.
I'm also looking into tethering with my GN3 via USB and WiFi... Still looking/waiting for the best (free) options.
There is also the Bluetooth tether.
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
seoulbrova said:
I found this but it didnt answer my question completely http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1479500
I need to tether at work to a couple times during the day to show media files, pictures, etc of things while I'm teaching (4th grade). Netflix also has quite a bit of educational videos I would like to stream to supplement science and social studies. I can't use my school's network because they have so many restrictions that it blocks nearly everything.
If I tether via USB connection with PDA Net or Easy Tether, is there any way Sprint can tell that I'm tethering?
I tried the wifi feature on Pda Net and the phone brought up a message saying I did not subscribe to those services.
When I connected via USB, I didn't have that issue. I just want to make sure I can use it consistently without getting kicked off the network and before I pay for the full app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can right click on the PDA net icon on the pc, click settings, and hide tether usage.
Also, be careful about going around those restrictions at work. 1 kid mentioning it at home and parents complaining about something and it would not look good for you.

tethering ap for rooted S4

Hi All,
I'm interested in wifi tethering for my cellphone, but the information provided for the various tethering aps on google playstore website is somewhat incomplete.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone with a Verizon unlimited talk, text and data plan. I pay an extra charge each month to allow very limited wifi tethering, but it limits my tethering usage to 4 GB per month. MY PHONE IS ROOTED!!
I notice ALL wifi tethering aps require me to enable wifi tethering in my cellphone's settings menu. This is unsuitable because Verizon knows I am using the phone for tethering. I looked in the free and the paid aps listings.
I'm looking for an ap that does not use the phone to set enable wifi tethering from the phones setting menu. In other words, I do NOT want Verizon to know I am using their phone to do tethering for my other wifi devices.
Any suggestions are appreciated, perhaps I'm not searching for relevant keywords??
Thanks,
AG
I've been using foxfi to tether for at least a year now. I use at least 100 gigs every month watch Hulu and Netflix. I've haven't heard anything from them about it. I dont know if they can tell. I've never heard of anybody getting any hassle about foxfi. I think there is an xposed module that might work I can't think of the name of it. Might check it out. Good luck

Is it possble to Wifi tether without root?

Hey guys,
I have a very good legacy plan with Sprint/TMobile that does not include wifi tether. There have been ways to do that with my past devices.
Can this be done with the note 20 Ultra without root?
You could try PDANet.
Share smart phone Internet with computers or tablets, no rooting needed.
Version 5.10 has major changes, MUST read below before updating.
1. Windows side also need updating from http://pdanet.co/install
2. Original WiFi Hotspot feature remains in the separate FoxFi app if you still need it, just install from Play Store. You can also find previous (4.19) version of PdaNet+ at http://pdanet.co/install/old
3. New location permission required by Android due to WiFi scan API call.
Please be aware that with no root access there are technical limitations of what an app can do. We try our best to offer the "most convenient solution possible" for sharing phone Internet but it may not be an "ideal" or "universal" solution (e.g. a normal WiFi Hotspot). It may not work for particular devices.
=====WiFi Direct mode (new!) ====
PdaNet+ now comes with a completely new "WiFi Direct Hotspot" feature that works on all Android phones 4.1 or later. It allows you to connect computers and tablets to your phone using WiFi BUT it will require you to either install our client app or setup proxy depending on what device you are connecting to the phone. You can activate "WiFi Direct Hotspot" in PdaNet+ then tap the "Help!" button for detail instructions.
*If your Windows computer does not see the hotspot during pairing please do two things: 1. Restart Hotspot on the phone.
2. Click on "Show All WiFi Direct Hotspot". It will verify if your adapter supports 5Ghz.
====FoxFi/WiFi Hotspot Mode (the old) ====
The original WiFi Hotspot feature remains in the separate FoxFi app if you still need it. It has ceased to function on many newer phone models due to carrier updates. Even when it works, your hotspot usage may still be metered (see plan 2 below). WiFi Direct Hotspot could solve both issues. However the new feature is not meant to support game devices, TVs or TV streaming devices.
=====USB Mode=====
USB mode works on all Android phones (except for some ZTE/Alcatel models). It allows connection from Windows or Mac. In addition, there is a "WiFi Share" feature that can further turn Windows into a WiFi Hotspot so that you share PdaNet Internet with other devices.
*If your phone is not recognized by your computer after connecting USB, please see http://pdanet.co/driver
=====Bluetooth Mode=====
You can use Bluetooth mode to connect Windows. Although WiFi Direct mode is preferred.
=====Do I need this software?=====
The PdaNet software has been around since the first Treo smart phone in 2003. With over 30 million downloads in total, it must be something that everyone needs, right? Well...it really depends on the kind of data plan you have for your phone. There are 4 kinds of data plans from most carriers:
1. Your data plan (limited or unlimited) does not allow you to turn on the mobile hotspot feature on the phone (it prompts you to call your carrier).
2. Your data plan is unlimited and you can turn on mobile hotspot from your phone to use it. But hotspot usage is "metered" against a cap (say 5G/month). After that the speed will be throttled to a crawl. (FoxFi can't avoid this!)
3. Your data plan is unlimited, and you can turn on mobile hotspot from your phone with unlimited LTE usage and no throttling cap. This plan does NOT exist or not intended. But we have seen loopholes on some phone models to allow it.
4. You data plan is limited and it allows you to turn on mobile hotspot from your phone. The mobile hotspot usage goes under the same data plan limit.
If your plan falls under 1 or 2, you will need to use PdaNet+. If your plan belongs to 3 or 4 then PdaNet+ will not make any difference. If you are unsure what plan you have, it won't harm to always use PdaNet+.
=======================
Free edition of PdaNet+ will have timed usage limit, otherwise it is same as full version.
Sprint and AT&T may not allow you to install our app from Play Store, please install the apk file directly from http://pdanet.co/install or install from the computer side.
Just up to a newer plan?
I mean, this is like signing a contract with your cable provider, and you opt out of the premium channels like HBO and Starz... and now you are looking for a way to sneak those channels in without paying for them? lol
SquireSCA said:
Just up to a newer plan?
I mean, this is like signing a contract with your cable provider, and you opt out of the premium channels like HBO and Starz... and now you are looking for a way to sneak those channels in without paying for them? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Newer plans suck. I have a legacy SERO plan with Sprint which has actual true unlimited data with no caps. At the time of this plan, there were no tether options. When they were later added, it was about the same price of the plan itself to add. So, it wasn't an "opt" out as you think.
We simply enabled the native tether via root or used a different app to allow us to use the unlimited data we already had for tether. This was way back with the Note 4 time and possibly the HTC EVO LTE phones if I am not mistaken.
GastonC said:
You could try PDANet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I tried it and it didn't work.
I get it, but at the end of the day, you signed a contract that doesn't include something, and you are trying to get a service for free, that everyone else has to pay for. Hence my comment about a cable plan... Getting basic cable, and then trying to find a descrambler box to steal the premium channels that you aren't paying for... haha
With root its easy, obviously... But Samsung phones have gotten harder and harder to root, unless you have the international variants with the Samsung CPU?
This has me thinking that from here on out, I may just stick to Pixels or OnePlus... something more stock android that doesn't have all the carrier restrictions on them... I have Unlimited data and tethering, plus my truck itself is an unlimited 4G hotspot for like $20 a month.... But I do tire of the bloat, slow updates, etc...

Categories

Resources