haven't paid Sprint bill and they are blocking my wifi, is there a workaround?

Tough situation. I'm wondering if "pay as you go" would be an option for you. Or "pre-paid?"

http://www.sprintprepaid.org/

rhettoric said:

i wish, i think i could easily get by on 50 minutes a month seeing as 95% of my calls last less than 30 seconds, but since i have a smart phone i have no choice but to pay the 69 buck plus 10 for "4g" even though i've never once used 4g in the almost 2 years i've had my phone. it's a real shame

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If it's about phone calls and not wifi (wifi being something between your device and which ever router/network you're connecting to) then one of those cheap phones from Best Buy, often hanging in blister-pack cards in the store, may be the way to go.

Twenty or thirty bux for the phone and you're good to go:

No-Contract Phones: Pay As You Go, Prepaid Cell Phones - Best Buy

You can a Straight Talk Sim Card if you are unlocked, maybe. $45.00 unlimited data, talk and mess.

On all Sprint phones, all network access goes through Sprint proxies, including your home wifi.

With that, you are validated to access various services like Sprint TV.

But it breaks streaming media and using an old phone as a simple wifi appliance.

OP, had you complained to Sprint back when your account was current, they would have cleared that for you without charge.

So, I don't see ToS issue showing the solution -

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-3d/361521-streaming-media-tyrrany-sprint-proxies.html

Trying to use your phone without that fix for the proxies is actually using Sprint services for free. So, I think under that light, it's best if you follow that fix.

Don't sell that phone until the bill is satisfied, otherwise you will be ripping someone off.

Best luck on the job front, these are tough times.

Sprint. Wow.

Thanks for that exacting info, EarlyMon.

On one hand, that level of service is pretty cool and allows them to give service access without all sorts of filtering or DRM. I have used Sprint TV for example rather often, in those boring airport layovers between flights (Sprint TV is a combination of free and PPV).

But of course, you can't get something for nothing, so that extra routing breaks other services.

Oddly, Sprint is well-positioned to use that for throttling without violating any packet privacy, but they don't. Interesting carrier.

As the OP is rooted, he can get his MSL in a jiffy and be square in about a minute.

lunatic59 said:

It is not Android Forums to help you circumvent your carrier's policies. If they determine that non-payment dictated discontinuation of your data connection and rerouting outgoing calls, then you need to take that up with them.

It's unfortunate that this economy has negatively effected so many people but we cannot support what is essentially violating your TOS (Terms of Service) agreement. I am not a Sprint customer so I don't know what their TOS states concerning WiFi on a subsidized phone while still under contract.

As far as WiFi access goes, I wasn't aware that any carrier could disable WiFi access remotely. If you turn on WiFi does it connect to an access point but not deliver data or does it not connect at all?

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first off, do you work for sprint or something?
while ur discussing "policy" how about the "coverage" in the "contract"?
sprint has ZERO coverage in orange county and horrible in san bernardino county. this is not rural s dakota, these are major cities which are clearly covered in their service area map and most with 4G. yet... dropped calls no service even call switching (ie. your girlfriend dials your number, some chick answers... your gf double checks and confirms she hit your contact name on her list. then your phone rings and some guy is askin for his gf... yea the calls "bumped" and rerouted. hopefully you have a understanding/trusting gf, or u have some major issues). when telling sprint youve had enough and cancel your service plan they insist u are bound to a contract that they can even live up too. in anycase, when a carrier sells you the phone it is YOURS it is not a lease. the 3-400 dollar ETF and damaged credit isnt enough? this esn block is going to go away (for non payment) very soon. Theft is completely different, except... you are at a casino... playin a couple games, havin a drink someone approaches you and asks if you are interested in purchasing a cell. youre smart enough to grab ur phone, get online and check to make sure its a clean esn. comes back good... you pay for the phone and all is well. two days later, your new phone rings and someone is demanding their stolen phone back... the same person that just got 75 bucks from u at the casino.... guess u could always carry around a receipt book and write a bill of sale for ever item u purchase. these carriers expect to live in this "risk free" world and just haul in the cash by the truck load, all while providing substandard service at a small ransom... ps if u ever call customer "service" and they are closed... try calling again from a number with an area code in a timezone where they are still open... (moved from east coast to west kept my east coast number and customer service is closed at 730pm when it clearly says they are open till 9. called from a 949 google number and they answer...)

seth714 said:

first off, do you work for sprint or something?
while ur discussing "policy" how about the "coverage" in the "contract"?
sprint has ZERO coverage in orange county and horrible in san bernardino county. this is not rural s dakota, these are major cities which are clearly covered in their service area map and most with 4G. yet... dropped calls no service even call switching (ie. your girlfriend dials your number, some chick answers... your gf double checks and confirms she hit your contact name on her list. then your phone rings and some guy is askin for his gf... yea the calls "bumped" and rerouted. hopefully you have a understanding/trusting gf, or u have some major issues). when telling sprint youve had enough and cancel your service plan they insist u are bound to a contract that they can even live up too. in anycase, when a carrier sells you the phone it is YOURS it is not a lease. the 3-400 dollar ETF and damaged credit isnt enough? this esn block is going to go away (for non payment) very soon. Theft is completely different, except... you are at a casino... playin a couple games, havin a drink someone approaches you and asks if you are interested in purchasing a cell. youre smart enough to grab ur phone, get online and check to make sure its a clean esn. comes back good... you pay for the phone and all is well. two days later, your new phone rings and someone is demanding their stolen phone back... the same person that just got 75 bucks from u at the casino.... guess u could always carry around a receipt book and write a bill of sale for ever item u purchase. these carriers expect to live in this "risk free" world and just haul in the cash by the truck load, all while providing substandard service at a small ransom... ps if u ever call customer "service" and they are closed... try calling again from a number with an area code in a timezone where they are still open... (moved from east coast to west kept my east coast number and customer service is closed at 730pm when it clearly says they are open till 9. called from a 949 google number and they answer...)

Click to expand...

So...what is your question exactly?
You bought a device, full price, and are not happy with the coverage and cannot cancel service without an ETF?

well the question i had was posted 2 years ago, and unless i missed something it wasnt really answered. other than people tellin him to buy prepaid, make more money, etc.

im not certain but suspect that sprint is blocking my wifi as i was able to access internet yesterday, but cannot connect today.

going to try to unlock (carrier) first and if unsuccessful look into rooting options.

I understand turning off the service, cant just give it away free. but to block the wifi really limits options for people who are unable to pay their bill because of unemployment. makes job searching, interviewing pretty difficult. (no mobile email access, driving directions, Craigslist/monster/career builder, etc) (similar to taking someones drivers license for not paying child support, tickets, alimony, etc)

aside from it being semi immoral, i believe its unlawful (will be researching that later, have bigger fish to fry, see: unemployment...)

Well (and I sympathise with you, I really do) ive never heard of a phone carrier being able to disable a phones wifi... Only cellular data, calls, sms etc (in my country anyway, UK)
You checked everything else?

Don't think it's Sprint blocking the phone's WiFi as such, but they're blocking access to their proxy, which is only provided to paying Sprint subscribers of good standing. That's what it sounds like is going on. The phone is still trying to connect to Sprint's proxy even though it's on WiFi.

There's probably a process in the Sprint customized phone that's doing it. Maybe at the system level, in which case you'd have to root it to disable it, if that's possible.

Some carriers might be doing this, so customers can still connect to carrier exclusive services, even though they're not using the carrier's network, e.g. NASCAR content, that's exclusive to Sprint subscribers.

Edit: just realized EM posted about Sprint's proxies two years ago.

Yep - all connections, including wifi, go through Sprint proxy servers.

Here's how to defeat it -

http://androidforums.com/threads/streaming-media-and-the-tyrrany-of-the-sprint-proxies.361521/

You won't necessarily need to be rooted but you will need two things - your phone's MSL number and your phone has to have the standard EPST software available from the dialer.

The EPST code used to be included, standard - but lately, I've been seeing new phones without it.

You can usually call a few times to get your MSL from Sprint - but maybe not if your bill is behind.

First dial ##3282# (##DATA#) to see if you even have an EPST view or edit menu pop up. If not, and if you can't find a root mod to give it back, you're done.

You can get your MSL with a root app for most - but these days, not all - models.


Obviously, we don't usually sanction advice to bypass the carrier when there's a billing issue as it can lead to theft.

But in this case, I can't see how NOT using a Sprint server so that you can get on the Internet to find a job represents bad intent. If anything, I'm sure that you'll want to get your phone service back (along with other luxuries like food, clothing and shelter) (see what I did there? ).

You can also try calling Sprint (I think that either *2 or *3 will work even on a dead phone) and keep going up the chain to management. Plead your case and ask them to take the same action to clear problems on streaming media - iow, turn off your proxies (and yes they can too do it remotely) so that you can use wifi, get a job, and pay them.

I know that many reps just follow the script but my experience is that management is human and after the script, will work with you. It's not impossible that they may give you limited phone service to help you find a job in trade for a promise to pay.

It's a tough economy and I am pulling for you.

mikedt said:

Don't think it's Sprint blocking the phone's WiFi as such, but they're blocking access to their proxy, which is only provided to paying Sprint subscribers of good standing. That's what it sounds like is going on. The phone is still trying to connect to Sprint's proxy even though it's on WiFi.

There's probably a process in the Sprint customized phone that's doing it. Maybe at the system level, in which case you'd have to root it to disable it, if that's possible.

Some carriers might be doing this, so customers can still connect to carrier exclusive services, even though they're not using the carrier's network, e.g. NASCAR content, that's exclusive to Sprint subscribers.

Edit: just realized EM posted about Sprint's proxies two years ago.

Click to expand...

Im not what you would call a "computer science major". some things related are very easy for me to understand (i have a VERY strong mechanical aptitude, metal fabricator, carpenter, landscape/hardscape) but other electronic things are just beyond me. i learn a lil hear and there, almost everyday. Plus im pretty damn good with google. I said that to say this... no idea what a proxy is... but, i was able to connect again today. maybe just a fluke, maybe not. the sprint phone (like the original poster i believe) is a S4. nice enough phone, but way smaller than the verizon note 2 i gave up going to sprint. so started thinking, my old note is in the drawer with the cracked screen doing nothing. (and two small boxes next to it each containing a replacement screen, yea yea, im workin on it...) decided whats the difference, other than i hate sprint (and everything their service has seemed to do to an otherwise descent phone). But go figure at some point, while in deep hibernation, the note acquired a password protected lock screen... i sure as hell didnt do it, which made accessing it , ummm, challenging... downloading every piece of developer software on the planet currently... (not really jdk7 and SDK package) trying to teach myself how to adb sideload a script that i hear is pretty good (aurora.rar or somethin). it supposed to give you access to function codes, one of which will contain the password info, which i will delete. meanwhile i was foolin with the sim car on the S4, researching unlock and root procedures, when the lightbulb went off (or turned on). take out the sim dumb ass... ok, so it was a good idea, but the S4 says, "nice try pal, but not happenin". "oh its on now, you pos!!" (yea, literally had a conversation with an inanimate object...). cleared, forced stop, uninstalled and disabled every app that said sprint, was yellow in color, or just didnt look like anything interesting. sure enough, internet connection made. and i didnt have to throw my phone through the plate glass window, at a sprint sales person. i actually think it was the app that said "sprint connections optimizer (or something to that effect).mean while im still working on tryin to brick the note, im pretty tenacious so it shouldn't be an issue... to my fellow masons,, material is on the way!

Anyway - that thread that I linked to above - explains what a proxy is in the last post - and you're not going to get rid of it by uninstalling Sprint bloatware or changing the Connection Optimizer.

You can expect the old device to not be blacklisted because it's not registered as belonging to / being active on your bill.

For now at least.