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Just want to tether

CoreyV

Member
Mar 11, 2012
93
9
I've had a couple S2s since the spring. The first came with 2.3.4 and hasn't been touched (not rooted). My wife's came with 2.3.6, experienced the terrible battery life issue with WiFi - so I rolled it back to 2.3.4 (I think I followed the instructions on galaxys2root). So they've both been running 2.3.4 perfectly - no force closes and the battery life seems ok (came from Captivates).

However, I have a couple of tablets (thrive and nexus7) and a laptop and I would like to be able to tether them via hotspot from a phone when I travel. I understand in order to do so I need to root and freeze the tethering manager.apk. I understand this violates at&it's tos, but I'm not on an unlimited data plan and won't tether very often. So I'm good to take the risk.

So if I want a basic root from 2.3.4 and not mess around with any other roms (at least for starters - I'm happy with 2.3.4), is zedomax from galaxys2root fine for me? I've read/watched the instructions and it seems pretty easy to me. I read a little about super one click, but that keeps taking me to xda - and I have a little trouble following some of the more technical talk there.

One other question - what's the easiest way to freeze the tethering manager - titanium backup seems like a popular/easy option? I thought I read that the free version doesn't freeze - do I new to buy the pro version?

I read about pdanet, easytether, and barnacle - all of those cost too, and I read that using the native WiFi tether is an easier way to go anyway. Should I try one of these before rooting?

Anyone have any thoughts/advice/comments on my understanding and what I'm wanting to accomplish?

Thanks
 
Why bother with apps or rooting when you can setup a hotspot (native wifi tethering)?

If you don't have the option to set up the wifi tethering you can do as described in this tutorial:
How to Tether Android Phone to Your Computer & Avoid Detection

That's just an app like PDANet and easytehter, but an inferior one because it says it requires USB connection. The Nexus7 doesn't have USB native, so I'm looking for a hotspot solution - not to mention the hotspot solution will let me connect more than one device (both tablets, a tablet and laptop).

I'm in the US and AT&T has disabled the native tethering without forking over an extra $20/month for it. I'm on a 2GB plan, so I'm not going to be a data hog like some of the unlimited users might be (not passing judgement on them, but don't need the lecture).
 
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I think you have to root your i777 in order to use all tethering programs except PDANet, IIRC. So, rooting is the 1st step. From what I've read so far, using galaxy2root website is not recommended, at least at the XDA forum. I would suggest to use the following link:
[Heimdall][Odin][Stock][Root]UCKH7/KK6 Return/Unbrick to Stock (or Root) - xda-developers

After rooted, you may want to try Wifi Tether for Root at the Play store.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.googlecode.android.wifi.tether

That's the program I am using right now along with the default one from CM9. It's pretty good and I think is free. HTH.
 
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I stumbled upon another alternative that didn't require rooting. FoxFi is a free tethering app on the market, but AT&T has it blocked. I got the apk file, installed it on my phone and installed PDATablet (also free as far as I could tell) on my nexus 7 and was able to tether without root.

For some reason the hotspot would drop after 30 seconds, but the Bluetooth connection stayed. So I tink I've found my solution, at least for now.
 
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