Root Will WiFi Tethering get me into trouble with Verizon?

[i.am.root]

For the next 6 month I will not have regular access to broadband internet or wifi hotspots. I was wondering if I used my phone to wifi tether to my laptop will Verizon freak out? I am going to use a lot of bandwidth over the 3g network for large file downloads, streaming audio/video, and to play online games; probable a few gigs a month...

Is there anyway for Verizon to know that I am doing this and will they cut me off or something? I will be going from 200mbs a month to 2gbs or more a month on 3g...lol there's no way they're not going to notice.

 

[irmac]

For the next 6 month I will not have regular access to broadband internet or wifi hotspots. I was wondering if I used my phone to wifi tether to my laptop will Verizon freak out? I am going to use a lot of bandwidth over the 3g network for large file downloads, streaming audio/video, and to play online games; probable a few gigs a month...

Is there anyway for Verizon to know that I am doing this and will they cut me off or something? I will be going from 200mbs a month to 2gbs or more a month on 3g...lol there's no way they're not going to notice.

You should be fine. Monitor your data and just make sure you don't surpass 5GB a month. That is when the system flags yours account and they take a look at it.

 

[i.am.root]

You should be fine. Monitor your data and just make sure you don't surpass 5GB a month. That is when the system flags yours account and they take a look at it.

Really??? 5GB is all I get on my "Unlimited" plan for $30 a month???

Verizon is evil...what happens after I've been flagged? Can they tell how I have used up the 5GBs?

 

[quickaudi]

5 gb is a lot for a phone

he's not saying the world will cave it, but that's the generally accepted "soft limit" for VZW - you can go over it, but they will possibly monitor your account

 

[Vihzel]

Something that I find odd is how easy it is to wifi tether via bluetooth. There's no restrictions or anything. Surely if Verizon contacts me, I'll just say that I thought it was fine since my computer asked me if I wanted to connect to the internet via phone.

 

[irmac]

^and potentially throttle your data so you get slower speeds/less bandwidth.

 

[Vihzel]

^and potentially throttle your data so you get slower speeds/less bandwidth.

HAH!

 

[irmac]

HAH!

Was meant for the post above yours

Vihzel, did you used to have an Eris? Your name seems familiar

 

[i.am.root]

Has anyone ever been in trouble with Verizon from using to much bandwidth on the 3g network before? What did they do about it?

 

[apavolka]

You should be fine. Monitor your data and just make sure you don't surpass 5GB a month. That is when the system flags yours account and they take a look at it.

False. I use on average 6bg/month. Never heard anything. I've gone up to 7gb at one point. Lots and lots of internet use.

 

[Vihzel]

Was meant for the post above yours

Vihzel, did you used to have an Eris? Your name seems familiar

Hehe I know, that's why I said "HAH"

I never owned an Eris. My first Android device was the Droid.

 

[Eris_2.1_2010]

Last month I used 81gb and nothing happened. 58gb the month prior, and still have been able to hit 300kbs! In good areas. And thats not from tethering all the time. Most data is used from my X.

 

[irmac]

Last month I used 81gb and nothing happened. 58gb the month prior, and still have been able to hit 300kbs! In good areas. And thats not from tethering all the time. Most data is used from my X.

That is a ridiculous amount of data. Is your primary internet for your computer the android phone so tethering is constantly running?

 

[Eris_2.1_2010]

I tether maybe 2-3 days a week but usage is under a gig there. I'd say that 90 percent of data used is just from the x itself without tether

 

[irmac]

I am in no way trying to be rude but I can't believe you use that much data from the X itself..It doesn't use that much data browsing webpages

 

[Eris_2.1_2010]

I do alot of streaming and downloading. My current usage is at 15.6 gb now.

 

[Outlaw71]

Last month I used 81gb and nothing happened. 58gb the month prior, and still have been able to hit 300kbs! In good areas. And thats not from tethering all the time. Most data is used from my X.

You can expect Verizon's 'Mechanic' team to be paying you a visit any minute now...

 

[Vihzel]

Last month I used 81gb and nothing happened. 58gb the month prior, and still have been able to hit 300kbs! In good areas. And thats not from tethering all the time. Most data is used from my X.

BE CAREFUL. Not wanting to sound pessimistic but I think Verizon knows about this already. Data usage like that wouldn't just go unnoticed.

 

[apavolka]

BE CAREFUL. Not wanting to sound pessimistic but I think Verizon knows about this already. Data usage like that wouldn't just go unnoticed.

There's no reason to "be careful." Its an UNLIMITED data plan. As stated most of the data does not come from tethering. So there's nothing to worry about. I'm sure there are others, myself included who use their x as their main computer. Nowhere in the contract does it state that using so much data will make them cancel your service. Just saying. No reason to get people worrying... Now if you use tether to download illegally, that's a different story. My cable provider (when I still had cable) didn't have to look into anything because of a lot of use during the month. Also keep in mind, almost every app in android uses internet access.

 

[i.am.root]

I will be mostly streaming movies and shows on hulu. I can already see myself going over 5gbs a week just on hulu. Then, on top of that, there will be the regular internet browsing, facebook, email, ebay, youtube, music downloads, and online gaming.

What's the worst Verizon can do? I doubt they will shut me off. Just like the post above, I will tell them I stream a lot of videos on youtube or something.

 

[scotthanna]

Really??? 5GB is all I get on my "Unlimited" plan for $30 a month???

Verizon is evil...what happens after I've been flagged? Can they tell how I have used up the 5GBs?

No, you get much more than 5g on your "unlimited" plan. It is unlimited usage ON YOUR PHONE. That is what they agreed to and that is what you agreed to. People that tether typically use much more bandwidth. So they charge more for that.
Why are they evil because you want to change the agreement midstream and use the device in ways that they did not agree to?

I think it would be evil if they decided NOT to live up to their agreement and start charging you for things you didn't agree to. Just as I don't agree with you not wanting to live up to your agreement.

 

[Outlaw71]

People that tether typically use much more bandwidth...

Just wanted to clarify something here, people who tether don't use anymore bandwidth than those who don't simply because..... well they can't. 3g only operates in the 5ghz range of the bandwidth (I believe, or maybe it was the 3ghz range? Oh well, either way it's very narrow). Now the big advantage to 4g is that it will operate all the way from 1ghz to 20ghz, which will allow users to GULP data soooooo much faster than 3g ever did.

Wanna stream 1080p high def video instantly? On 4g this will be cake. 4g is a monster compared to 3g, hence the capped data plans that are rumored to come. Think 81 gigs of data for the month is high? On 4g you could probably hit that mark in a days time if you REALLY tried!

 

[Vihzel]

There's no reason to "be careful." Its an UNLIMITED data plan. As stated most of the data does not come from tethering. So there's nothing to worry about. I'm sure there are others, myself included who use their x as their main computer. Nowhere in the contract does it state that using so much data will make them cancel your service. Just saying. No reason to get people worrying... Now if you use tether to download illegally, that's a different story. My cable provider (when I still had cable) didn't have to look into anything because of a lot of use during the month. Also keep in mind, almost every app in android uses internet access.

Verizon Droid Tethering Will Cost You - PCWorld Business Center

I don't know if things have changed since then. From what I've heard also, Verizon Wireless can cancel your account for "abuse". So unless things have changed since then... BE CAREFUL.

 

[cultldr]

Just wanted to clarify something here, people who tether don't use anymore bandwidth than those who don't simply because..... well they can't. 3g only operates in the 5ghz range of the bandwidth (I believe, or maybe it was the 3ghz range? Oh well, either way it's very narrow). Now the big advantage to 4g is that it will operate all the way from 1ghz to 20ghz, which will allow users to GULP data soooooo much faster than 3g ever did.

Wanna stream 1080p high def video instantly? On 4g this will be cake. 4g is a monster compared to 3g, hence the capped data plans that are rumored to come. Think 81 gigs of data for the month is high? On 4g you could probably hit that mark in a days time if you REALLY tried!

Have a 4g mobile broadband usb device and have seen speeds as high as 20 meg down 6 up with the average around 16 down 3 up. I could definitely see people dropping their home internet service and going with a device like this but I can also see people eating thru 5 and 10 gig (the plans they offer here, 50 and 80 dollars a month, i think it is) in no time flat.

 

[PSkeptic]

No, you get much more than 5g on your "unlimited" plan. It is unlimited usage ON YOUR PHONE. That is what they agreed to and that is what you agreed to. People that tether typically use much more bandwidth. So they charge more for that.
Why are they evil because you want to change the agreement midstream and use the device in ways that they did not agree to?

I think it would be evil if they decided NOT to live up to their agreement and start charging you for things you didn't agree to. Just as I don't agree with you not wanting to live up to your agreement.

I didn't agree to an unlimited amount of data on my phone. I agreed to an internet connection using the CDMA modem of my phone, that is un-metered.