Should my phone be able to use USB to connect via my PC?

Forums › Android › Should my phone be able to use USB to connect via my PC?

unspecified

19 posts

Geek

#105706 8-Jul-2012 23:54

I am the happy owner of a Samsung Galaxy 3 GT-i5801 (not Galaxy S3), running FroYo.

I think I should be able to do stuff on the internet with it, at home; the phone disagrees.

Shouldn't I be able to connect via the USB connection, rather than having to use the 3G/HSPDA service Vodafone offers (and charges thru' the nose for)?

Is there a setting I've missed? Set up another wireless and network profile?

Suggestions welcome. The manual's a bit thin, to say the least..

Edit:
(And I object to the Geekzone system calling me a 'wannabe geek'. I geek on the inside.)

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#652694 9-Jul-2012 00:07

Do you have a WiFi network at home?
If so, surely the phone can just connect to your home Wireless network?

Also, welcome to geekzone.

unspecified

19 posts

Geek

#652695 9-Jul-2012 00:16

Nope, no Wiffi.

(And I've been lurking for a year...)

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#652702 9-Jul-2012 00:40

I know you can use your phone as a gateway to the internet when it's plugged into a PC via USB (i.e. your PC uses the 3G data connection on your phone), but I'm not sure you can do it the other way round.

The easiest option is to get a wireless modem-router, and then connect your phone to the WiFi network.

Actually, do you have a Windows 7 laptop that has wireless built in?
If so, you could have the laptop connected to your home broadband connection via Ethernet (wired), and then broadcast a Wireless network using the laptop.

You can do so using this application
http://www.connectify.me/

tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#652703 9-Jul-2012 00:51

You're wanting to reverse tether which is currently not very well supported by anyone.
There's an app called Reverse Tether on Play which may work for your chipset but you'll have to get root first to try it out.

Your first option should really be to get a wireless network sorted :)

unspecified

19 posts

Geek

#652707 9-Jul-2012 02:30

OK, I give in. I've ordered a $10 USD b/g/n dongle.

Stupid phone; it should connect.

Thanks all.

cyril7

9058 posts

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#652717 9-Jul-2012 07:37

unspecified: OK, I give in. I've ordered a $10 USD b/g/n dongle.

Stupid phone; it should connect.

Thanks all.

Ummm, no, thats not a taken, the dongle has to support AP mode, most dont. I recommend you just get a normal wireless AP either integrated wtih the DSL modem/router or independant.

Cyril

eXDee

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#652817 9-Jul-2012 11:14

What devices these days can actually reverse tether? I haven't seen one since windows mobile.

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DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#654839 13-Jul-2012 00:22

It may be possible and like everything, there's an app for that.

Reverse Tether [Trial]

It may be hit and miss if your phone works or not. And the application does require root access.

I was able to successfully use it on a Sony Ericsson X10i v2.3.3 (Rooted).

I could browse the Internet using Opera Mobile and use apps like MetService and Google Play, Google Earth and Email and etc.

Network access wise there wasn't anything 'blocking' access for the time I used it. [See update]

There does seem to be some sort of 'timed' trial access which may throw a spanner in the works if you're testing at the wrong time.

I did have aeroplane mode on and my 3G data disabled, as I'm not familiar with what the whole app does.

But there's an option for those that like to walk the road less travelled.

A WiFi router would probably still be my solution to the problem though.

WiFi Hotspot Dongle

I have a few Cnet 150Mbits USB WiFi thumb dongles that have hotspot software as part of the CD distro. Works on Win XP and Win 7. The funny thing was, that it was so simple to install I almost didn't know I'd installed it until I was a new SSID and was wondering where it came from.

http://www.cnetusa.com/product_CQU-906.php PB Tech used to sell them

[Update]

There are a few problems. Quite a few Android apps rely on WiFi access and if they don't get it, they spit the dummy.
Fing is one such application. Also Speed Test doesn't seem to think there is a valid network connection for whatever reason.

Google play applications can not be downloaded over the reverse USB connection, as I have it set up now.

I haven't looked at the network configuration in depth, but the IP addressing may need a bit of tweaking as I see I have a private class C network on my phone accessing a Private class B network which then connects to the net.

Iperf returned a bandwidth to my NAS via USB onto a notebook with 300Mbps WiFi access and gives 45.8Mbits throughput.
This is a bit better than the 802.11g bandwidth of 10.3Mbits at the same distance on my phone.
So there's one reason to use USB tethering if all required network access is functional for a given task.

Ragnor

8220 posts

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#655049 13-Jul-2012 13:42

unspecified:
Stupid phone; it should connect.

Unfortunately reverse tether is not a common feature because pretty much everyone has wireless networks these days.