techrider62

Will the nexus 4 tether out of the box?

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JunBringer

Let's find out! Brb!

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JunBringer

Yes.

techrider62

Thanks I can't wait until tomorrow.

alfick3

Cool! Does it include the tethering app our do you need to get one from the Play Store?

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lunatic59

You don't need an app. It's a setting. In JB 4.1 it's in menu>settings>more (under networks)>tethering

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alfick3

Thanks. I'm still running on GB, so wasn't aware of that.

Bob Loblaw1

Tethering means you've got a cord connecting phone to pc right? What about using it as a hot spot? I used to be able to do it with my N1 but T-Mo won't let me do it with my Note II so I was curious if I would be blocked with my N4 as well.

techrider62

If you look at the picture it is a wireless connection.

Bob Loblaw1

Awesome! So how is tethering different from a hot spot? In a hot spot, anybody can use the signal, provided it's not secured or they have the WEP key but in tethering only 1 device can use the signal?

Rcarnes91

tethering is when you wirelessly tether your device to another one to use the the internet connection a hot spot is a dedicated device normally but you could could call a tethering a hot spot to i guess

techrider62

I guess i should of said hot stop not tether.I didn't mean to confuse anybody.The first person knew what i meant.

Last edited by techrider62; November 18th, 2012 at 10:34 PM.

Bob Loblaw1

So does your carrier not dictate whether or not you can use the Internet signal from your phone with another device? I've heard if you root you can get around this restriction but are you guys saying root is not required?

Rcarnes91

If it is a carrier locked phone they can tell but if it is an unlocked/rooted/custom rom they can't tell

techrider62

Right the phone just needs to be unlocked

Bob Loblaw1

Which it is if you order from Google. Which is why I could do it with my N1 (light bulb goes on). Thanks everybody. I was going to root right away but I may wait a bit now.

chrlswltrs

Me, my wife, and my daughter tethered using our Nexus S's that we bought from T-Mobile using the built in tethering without ever having an issue for 2 years. It is built into android and without carriers adding their bloat tether apps it's part off the OS that T-Mobile doesn't block.


Also, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.aquarla.android.tethershortcut will give you a shortcut straight to enable tethering. I've already used it on my nexus 4 and it works just fine. Root is not even needed to tether a Nexus phone.

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JunBringer

Yup! It's super handy!

knoxieman

It really is handy, whilst holidaying I was getting very fast speeds through my phone to my laptop, a total godsend, also some carriers whilst allowing tethering will limit or charge you more for the privilege and again they can not tell if you are using an unlocked phone, they can of course still claim fair usage policy against you based on your overall download GB if you are excessive.

kristalsoldier

I did not know that! This is good news. I don't care if the carrier enforces a fair usage policy, but I do have a problem when I am told that on unlimited data connections, I can't tether my devices!

Thanks!

chrlswltrs

Not true. The built in tethering on the Nexus from T-mobile is identical to the one from Google Play.

There are 2 types of unlocking:
SIM - allows you to use the phone on any network. This is the ONLY difference in the phone if you get it from Tmobile, you can only use it on Tmobile until you get an unlock code.

Bootloader unlocking: Allows rooting and custom OS's to be installed. Nothing to do with the carrier seeing anything different about your phone. On non Nexus phones you need to install a root tethering app, not on a Nexus though


If the locked one from Tmobile came with a different tethering app installed then yes there would be a difference. But, the Tmobile version has 0 bloat including no different tethering app

Tinmania

To expand on the OP's original question it can tether via wifi, bluetooth, and USB--the latter working only on windows apparently. Yep, nothing happened when I plugged it in with USB tethering enabled on my mac, but on my windows machine it installed the driver for it right away.

Also, you can tether via USB while also using bluetooth tethering or wifi hotspot. I currently have a windows machine tethering via USB while my iPad and iPhone are using the wifi hotspot (just for testing). Sweet.




Michael

Last edited by Tinmania; November 22nd, 2012 at 04:50 PM.

RaLeX

So... with this tethering out of the box, if I go with a tMo plan that offers the "truly" unlimited data...

500talk, unlimited text and data for $60/value if I buy n4 from PlayStore
or
500talk, unlimited text and data for $70/individual if I buy n4 from tMo

Then, I could technically go without home internet, correct?

Does anyone else do this? If so, how is it? I surf the web, watch Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV Sunday Ticket, listen to Pandora/Spotify... that's really about the jist of it.

FYI: I live in the LA area so I should be getting HSPA+42 speeds.

I actually bought a SIM card to go $30/prepaid, but having only 100minutes and 5gb of usable data speed plus paying Charter for internet seems like a lesser deal than the above idea...

Banished Angel

How's your signal inside your house? T-Mobile is notorious for weak building penetration (Ex: 5 bars outside, 2 bars inside). If you get good signal and speed inside your house then go for it.

Ping is usually not the best on mobile data though. If you play online games that's something to take into consideration.

chrlswltrs

I don't use my home WiFi on my phone at home because T-Mobile is faster. I don't tether at home though. If you abuse it enough, they will probably terminate your service after a couple warnings. It comes installed on your phone and you can use it, but technically it does violate your TOS. I usually stay under 15GB a month and that isn't all the time, only when I watch a few extra movies at work sites without WiFi.

Also the fastest I have got is about 20Mbps, and I live 20 miles from T-Mobile USA headquarters.

Bob Loblaw1

I've got that $60 plan you are talking about and even though it is "unlimited" data I think I got a nasty message from T-Mo once that I was using too much. They may have throttled me or something, it was a while ago so I can't remember. I would imagine if you abuse it, they'll come calling.

Daniol

So, if I were to root my phone, t mobile would have no way of tracking my data use? Or can they not track my data use since it does not have t mobile bloatware? Not entirely sure which is true after reading the replies.

I have the root toolkit downloaded just incase, as I would really want to use the wifi hotspot feature built in. thanks in advance for the advice / answers.

hstroph

Depending on your service plan, probably the best, most authoritative answer to your question can be found in Terms and Conditions if you search for the word tether.

chrlswltrs

They do not track it on a Nexus because it is not a bloat hotspot app. It is just a feature of Android. You can tether just fine straight out of the box without an issue.

But keep in mind if you abuse it they may take action.

RaLeX

To my understanding, tMo can't track your data as far as where this data is being used, but they can still see how much data you use. Which is why they can contact you if you're using an insane amount of data each month (even though they say unlimited)

lunatic59

Did T-Mobile put their own software on the N4? It was my understanding that there was no difference between the one you got from a T-Mobile store and the one you get directly from Google.

Daniol

Excellent thank you. I have the unlimited data plan and dont plan on using it much, except for when the wife and I are moving around on the weekends and are bored.

No bloatware on the tmo nexus. still pure google. =).

chrlswltrs

They are identical except the T-Mobile one is locked to T-Mobile until you get an unlock code. That is the ONLY difference

syntrix

EVERY Carrier can detect the difference in packets or traffic if you are tethering right now. Research DPI boxes (deep packet inspection).

Please don't spread misinformation. I believe right now it's possibly the top % of people on some carriers OR carriers are choosing not to enforce at this time.

I've touched and looked at many dpi boxes over the years

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JunBringer

Thanks for the heads up dude!