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Help Mobile Hotspot on Verizon?

Duckster

Android Enthusiast
Jul 20, 2010
467
349
On the Verizon version, it is under:

SETTINGS
MORE SETTINGS
MOBILE HOTSPOT

...having said that, mine is greyed out. Maybe I need to have it out of Wi-Fi mode, but I'm out of the country right now. Is this setting working for anyone else on Verizon?
 
On the Verizon version, it is under:

SETTINGS
MORE SETTINGS
MOBILE HOTSPOT

...having said that, mine is greyed out. Maybe I need to have it out of Wi-Fi mode, but I'm out of the country right now. Is this setting working for anyone else on Verizon?

Works fine for me on Verizon, just as you describe. Mobile antenna needs to be on, and wi-fi off, on the Note 3 --- my tablet recognizes my Note as simply another wi-fi network.
 
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On the Verizon version, it is under:

SETTINGS
MORE SETTINGS
MOBILE HOTSPOT

...having said that, mine is greyed out. Maybe I need to have it out of Wi-Fi mode, but I'm out of the country right now. Is this setting working for anyone else on Verizon?
I'm back in the country and I just tried it. It seem to set up okay, but then I get notification telling me that this service requires a subscription to Verizon Mobile Hotspot or Mobile Broadband Connect and it wants me to subscribe for another $20/mth.
 
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Unless you're rooted, I believe the majority, if not all the US carriers charge a monthly fee to use the hotspot, no matter what your data plan is. I'm on Verizon, been with them for 7 years, unlimited data and the only way I get it to work is rooted and running a custom ROM. Hotspot and removing bloatware are the only reasons I root my phone. And I'll continue to root every Verizon phone I get :D
 
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Unless you're rooted, I believe the majority, if not all the US carriers charge a monthly fee to use the hotspot, no matter what your data plan is. I'm on Verizon, been with them for 7 years, unlimited data and the only way I get it to work is rooted and running a custom ROM. Hotspot and removing bloatware are the only reasons I root my phone. And I'll continue to root every Verizon phone I get :D
Verizon made me give up my my unlimited plan when I got the Galaxy Note 3. I wish that I could have kept it just for "peace of mind". I never get close to going over. Thanks for the info.
 
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This is a little confusing. I'm stock on VZ, 6GB plan. No hotspot upcharge, at least not separately identified as such on the bill. My N3 works perfectly as a hotspot for my Tab 3 tablet: here's my sign-on sequence:

On N3, Wi-Fi antenna off, Mobile antenna on
On N3, Settings - More Settings - - turn Mobile Hotspot on
On Tab 3 Settings Wi-Fi page, find the SM-N900V hotspot and select. The first time I connected I had to enter the password provided by the N3.

Once connected, my tablet shows as a 'Connected Device' on the N3 Mobile Hotspot page, and everything works fine. I'm puzzled as to why you're having problems.
 
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This is a little confusing. I'm stock on VZ, 6GB plan. No hotspot upcharge, at least not separately identified as such on the bill. My N3 works perfectly as a hotspot for my Tab 3 tablet: here's my sign-on sequence:

On N3, Wi-Fi antenna off, Mobile antenna on
On N3, Settings - More Settings - - turn Mobile Hotspot on
On Tab 3 Settings Wi-Fi page, find the SM-N900V hotspot and select. The first time I connected I had to enter the password provided by the N3.

Once connected, my tablet shows as a 'Connected Device' on the N3 Mobile Hotspot page, and everything works fine. I'm puzzled as to why you're having problems.

Because you don't have unlimited the the FCC requires that they allow hotspot.

When you have unlimited the carrier can and typically does charge for it.
 
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Because you don't have unlimited the the FCC requires that they allow hotspot.

When you have unlimited the carrier can and typically does charge for it.

I have a Verizon 6 GB data plan (I gave up my unlimited a couple weeks ago to get a subsidized price on the upgrade to a Note 3).

I just tried it on my Note 3 and when I turn the Mobile Hotspot on in the N3 settings, a message pops up that says it is checking subscription status; then it pops up a message that says a subscription is required and I should contact Verizon.

If you are sure you're right about the FCC requiring carriers to allow hotspot when the data plan is limited, I think I will contact Verizon about this.
 
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working fine here, as it is my whole internet at home (live in the woods, no landlines or cable) i would not even be posting without it.

that being said, no surcharge here, it says 'checking subscription status' then activates flawlessly. have to have at least a 3G or 4G LTE data connection. wont work with 1x (in fact nothing seems to work in 1x)
 
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I have a Verizon 6 GB data plan (I gave up my unlimited a couple weeks ago to get a subsidized price on the upgrade to a Note 3).

I just tried it on my Note 3 and when I turn the Mobile Hotspot on in the N3 settings, a message pops up that says it is checking subscription status; then it pops up a message that says a subscription is required and I should contact Verizon.

If you are sure you're right about the FCC requiring carriers to allow hotspot when the data plan is limited, I think I will contact Verizon about this.

http://www.cnet.com/news/what-verizons-fcc-tethering-settlement-means-to-you-faq/
 
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Thanks for the link. If I understood the article correctly, it seemed to say that those with limited data can legally use 3rd party apps (like Fox-Fi), but if they want to, they can still pay the monthly charge to use Verizon's hotspot service. Here is an except from the article:

"You can avoid the tethering fee by downloading a third party app from an application store. If you tether using Verizon's service, you will still be charged the $20 a month to access Mobile Broadband Connect."

Yet some here are reporting that they can simply turn on the hotspot in settings, without using a 3rd party app, and it works. I wonder why mine doesn't. Could it be because when I upgraded to the N3 and gave up unlimited data, they had a deal whereby I could get 6 GB for the same price as I was paying for unlimited ($30/mo.) They said this special was only available to people giving up unlimited data. So maybe the special deal prevents me from using the Verizon hotspot feature? (I wouldn't think so, but that's the only explanation I can think of.)
 
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I am on Verizon and using a non-rooted note 3, the hotspot works fine with no extra charges. I do get the pop up thats says, checking subscription, but it always connects after a few seconds. This feature also worked on the note 2....so I've been using it almost 2 years.

Thanks. After reading your reply, and those of others who are able to use Hotspot, I went to the local Verizon store and asked why I can't use Mobile Hotspot without a subscription, but other people with limited data are able to. The agent said that although I have limited data, my voice plan is a grandfathered plan and only current voice plans are eligible for free Hotspot (such as the More Everything plans).

He said those who are on grandfathered voice plans aren't eligible for free Mobile Hotspot. My voice plan is $20/mo for 50 minutes, which is an old plan that is not available anymore. But I was able to keep it when I upgraded to the Note 3 for a subsidized price a couple weeks ago (which also meant I had to give up my unlimited data plan.)

I don't know why my voice plan should be a factor in how I use my data plan, but according to the agent, it is.
 
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I don't know why my voice plan should be a factor in how I use my data plan
Because it's not illegal, and they can make more money that way (unless you use a 3rd party app).

Any time you wonder why a business does something that seems screwy, think money first. If that doesn't explain it, think money. It's all about money.
 
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