USB Tethering discussion (updated)

udchemist · Sep 13, 2011

aaronmach1 said:
why do u guys use pda net and easy tether apps?????? all i had to do was plug phone in to computer and click tether. i was instantly connected.

this is how im online right now - usb tethering - didnt make me pay extra or anything. got 9Mbs down

on 4g

rexboe · Sep 13, 2011

ChiefIlliniwek5 said:
When the OG Droid was given USB tethering capabilities, I tried it out and it worked the first time even though I didn't buy a tethering package. But when I tried it another day, it gave me the message that I had to pay for the tethering data package and wouldn't let me browse. So for those of you who have tried this, try turning it off, then turn it on a try it again and let us know if it still works. Or wait a day or two and try it again and see if it still works. If so, this is awesome.

Yep mine only worked one time and after that it is a no go.

JoCo1289 · Sep 13, 2011

Well I wanted to make sure I wouldn't get charged if I used the USB tethering so I called the verizon hotline number and asked according to the rep they consider it the save as a mobile hotspot since it's doing the same service so you will get charged is what he told me. I'm not going to use it just to be safe giving a heads up tho

Darkhawk_76 · Sep 13, 2011

I.paid for Pdanet when I had my Droid X so I just used that before I knew Bionic could do it for free.

clipperqb · Sep 13, 2011

Darkhawk_76 said:
I.paid for Pdanet when I had my Droid X so I just used that before I knew Bionic could do it for free.

There is no way Verizon is giving this service for free unless it is an introductory offer.

redsoxfan66 · Sep 13, 2011

I have installed PdaNet on both my Bionic & Mac. When I try to connect by clicking on the PdaNet phone icon on my computer, it just keeps trying to connect, & never does. I have tried this numerous times, along with uninstalling & reinstalling the app with the same results. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

jbdan · Sep 13, 2011

My internet (cable with Charter) was down tonight and I remembered this thread. Hooked up the old Bionic, turned usb tether on and wow! Quite a bit faster than my cable very nice. 4G rocks! :cool:

browntown · Sep 14, 2011

Worked for me just now. Got nervous though and disconnected. I'll fiddle with it later.

Lars · Sep 14, 2011

Hard to say. The big beef with Hotspot/wifi tether is that you are adding multiple devices to VZWs network. usb tethering you are simply substituting the phone for a laptop. Maybe they are allowing this scenario now.

d6racer · Sep 14, 2011

rossman26 said:
Or you could continue to work around Verizon though I find that distasteful and you then run the risk of Verizon discovering you are tethering and then forcibly converting your unlimited plan to a tiered plan. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

If I ever lose unlimited Data, Verizon will lose a customer.

I don't tether as I really have no need to do it. I may get the lapdock for travel though just because it is small and compact and it will suit all my computing needs.

However, I am a firm believer that if you pay for a data package, it should be up to you how you use that data. Now for us that are grandfathered in, it ends up being a sweet deal, but it is what it is.

I was real close to going to US Cellular as their coverage is good in my area, their plans are cheaper, and they allow free tethering. Only reason I stayed was that with my corporate discount, the price is the same and I wanted the bionic and 4g. Not being able to tether (legally) for free was not a big deal and I figure if I ever decide I want to do it, I will just root the phone.

skwalk47 · Sep 14, 2011

redsoxfan66 said:
I have installed PdaNet on both my Bionic & Mac. When I try to connect by clicking on the PdaNet phone icon on my computer, it just keeps trying to connect, & never does. I have tried this numerous times, along with uninstalling & reinstalling the app with the same results. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I too have not been able to figure out any tethering option with my Mac. Are they that incompatible?

MechGator · Oct 11, 2011

I am a little surprised that the USB tether feature is so readily available with no warning/reminder that use of that feature is not allowed w/o a specific plan option. They do that with the Wi-fi Hotspot feature, why not do the same for the USB tether if it truly is not allowed.

I was able to USB tether the Bionic to my laptop within seconds including activating my corporate VPN client and https sites without a problem and without any warnings. Only been a week so I'll be interested to see if the feature gets shut down as others have suggested. Hopefully not. It would be real nice to know I have the option here and there to USB tether, I'll never be a heavy data user...only ever got close to 1 GB one month I think.

alekyoo · Oct 12, 2011

it's been more than a month since someone used USB vs. Bionic, can you tell me if you got a charge on your verizon bill? if so, how much was it?
how would verizon know that you tethered your laptop or ipad/ipod?

Thank you

PS:
got my Bionic yesterday and very excited.
I had htc incredible rooted, and used tethered a lot w/o any charge for over a year

(but it was 3G)

Droooiiid · Oct 22, 2011

Some say it's not suppose to be free but isn't it possible that since the Bionic is a Lapdock phone, wouldn't connecting via USB be the same thing. Unless there is something built into the Lapdock it seems to me connecting to your computer would be the same thing. If you have unlimited data (as I do) this would be an added perk, If you are tiered then you most likely wouldn't tether much.

I also can't see how you could get in trouble for tethering your phone when it allows you to do it without so much as a warning ( Like when you try to check the WiFi tethering, you get a message to call Verizon to activate service.) So if Verizon contacts me I will be asking why it allowed me to do it if it wasn't suppose to be free. I'm not trying to cheat the system. If they tell me not to do it then I won't do it but until that time comes. I will be Tethering

alostpacket · Jan 11, 2012

As Frisco stated earlier in the thread, you may just get a bill for the added service or bandwidth.

I highly recommend reading VZW's official tethering policy here:

http://androidforums.com/verizon/455585-verizons-official-tethering-policy.html

One of our excellent Guides Yeahha put together a list of all tether policies for all the carriers we could find. (feel free to toss him a "thanks"

).

Additionally, AF cannot support circumventing terms of service or contract. This is a new policy for AF and we're still getting the word out.

Discussing what you think of the policy, or what you think of tethering is fine, but discussing ways to get around the ToS is not.

Thanks for understanding

Lars · Jan 12, 2012

AF is now enforcing the contractual obligations of third parties. They have that right but it's a slippery slope. Do they have liability if they don't? Do they have liability if they enforce only some selective items? Do they have more liability if they only enforce some? Is it not about liability and just because? All within their right so to speak. Start brushing up on all the finer points of all carriers contracts so you don't miss something. It could also be that wifi tethering will be distinguishable from USB tethering at some point by VZW.

You should also look at application contractual issues such as watching video on a rooted device where the app prohibits it; enabling hdmi ports to stream video as not intended; running apps on devices not intended by the author, etc. And yes tethering the phone to the dock is essentially violating the TOS despite which processor is doing the heavy lifting. Is a wireless modem a device that uses wifi to communicate to a computer? Is a modem wired to a computer still a wireless modem if it transmits OTA to the internet? Someone needs to interpret all the legal terms.

El Presidente · Jan 12, 2012

Lars said:
AF is now enforcing the contractual obligations of third parties. They have that right but it's a slippery slope. Do they have liability if they don't? Do they have liability if they enforce only some selective items? Do they have more liability if they only enforce some? Is it not about liability and just because? All within their right so to speak. Start brushing up on all the finer points of all carriers contracts so you don't miss something. It could also be that wifi tethering will be distinguishable from USB tethering at some point by VZW.

You should also look at application contractual issues such as watching video on a rooted device where the app prohibits it; enabling hdmi ports to stream video as not intended; running apps on devices not intended by the author, etc. And yes tethering the phone to the dock is essentially violating the TOS despite which processor is doing the heavy lifting. Is a wireless modem a device that uses wifi to communicate to a computer? Is a modem wired to a computer still a wireless modem if it transmits OTA to the internet? Someone needs to interpret all the legal terms.

None of what you've mentioned there could be interpreted as theft though (unless certain features were only unlockable in paid for versions of free apps and we provided instructions on how to unlock)?

Without getting in to the finer legalities of it, to tether wirelessly, the majority of carriers state you need to be on a specific plan and those plans cost money. Therefore WiFi tethering if you don't have a specific plan means you're getting a paid service for free. Whichever way you look at it, that's equivalent to theft. Regardless of whether or not you think it's right or wrong, we can't be seen to be endorsing that sort of thing unfortunately.

As ALP has stated, it's a relatively new rule and we're doing our hardest to ensure that the user base knows why this is the stance we've taken.

Lars · Jan 12, 2012

El Presidente said:
None of what you've mentioned there could be interpreted as theft though (unless certain features were only unlockable in paid for versions of free apps and we provided instructions on how to unlock)?

Without getting in to the finer legalities of it, to tether wirelessly, the majority of carriers state you need to be on a specific plan and those plans cost money. Therefore WiFi tethering if you don't have a specific plan means you're getting a paid service for free. Whichever way you look at it, that's equivalent to theft. Regardless of whether or not you think it's right or wrong, we can't be seen to be endorsing that sort of thing unfortunately.

As ALP has stated, it's a relatively new rule and we're doing our hardest to ensure that the user base knows why this is the stance we've taken.

I agree with you mostly and I'm not looking to start an argument. Theft of service is not something to be endorsed here. This thread is about USB tethering which is enabled on the phone as provided by VZW with no indication that it is not permitted. As you noted, WIFI tethering which is enabled in AOSP, is disabled on VZW phones unless you subscribe to Broadband connect. The obvious reason being that WIFI tethering allows multiple additional devices onto verizon's network connection ie load. It is not really clear what their policy will be in the future but it will be interesting to watch.

El Presidente · Jan 12, 2012

That's cool, I'm not looking to cause an argument either. WiFi Tethering is a very contentious subject at the moment and when mentioned, threads can kinda get derailed and the line between what borders on acceptable conversation and what's discussing ToS violation can get blurry.

Hopefully this thread can get back on track now/fade accordingly.

Thom · Jan 12, 2012

I pay the money every month for Mobile HotSpot and am glad to do so.

I mostly work at my workstation with a DSL connection and WiFi for my Bionic.

I have a small laptop that I sometimes take out in the field and need to have Internet access. It required me to have a separate phone number and pay about $60.00/mo.

With Mobile HotSpot I have no additional number and cut my cost in half.

I find it difficult to argue that it is anything but a great deal.

... Thom

Jetster220 · Jan 12, 2012

I can attest that the tethering with USB does work on the phone stock as ships from Verizon. Ive used it on a few occasions, not sure if Verizon intended to allow it though, seemed strange. Never had anything unusual on my bills or any surprise charges.

Tenzen · Jan 13, 2012

So if usb tethering works then how do i get it to tether my ps3. I always get unknown usb device message when trying to tether it.

kingnut · Jan 13, 2012

Tenzen said:
So if usb tethering works then how do i get it to tether my ps3. I always get unknown usb device message when trying to tether it.

no driver for the bionic to work USB on the PS3. wifi only.

billd · Jan 27, 2012

I'm a little confused. I just bought a laptop running Windows 7 64-bit. I plugged my Droid into the USB and enabled USB tethering on the phone. It seems to make the "Network and Sharing Center" in Windows 7 hang. I tried downloading and installing the latest drivers from Motorola. Same thing.

Everything I'm seeing from Google searches is that it just works. I must be missing something.

BTW, I have the grandfathered unlimited data plan that I carried over from my OG Droid if that makes any difference.

rdsok · Jan 27, 2012

billd said:
BTW, I have the grandfathered unlimited data plan that I carried over from my OG Droid if that makes any difference.

The unlimited data is for your smartphone only... it doesn't cover tethering which is an additional feature you may purchase from Verizon.

USB Tethering discussion (updated)

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