Can't readily use the N1 (or any Android phone) as a modem

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lchiu7

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Topic # 57556 17-Feb-2010 12:23

Just discovered another annoying thing about the N1 and apparently with all Android phones.

The OS doesn't allow tethering - that is using the phone as a modem via BT or USB. Apparently the US telco's ban tethering so that Google in order not to get offside with them, disabled that in the phone.

I find this a very useful capability and was initially annoyed. There are a couple of solutions out there though. One is to root the phone and install custom code to enable tethering; something I am not keen on doing. The second is to use the app PDANET which does not require rooting the phone but costs $23.95(US) for full access (BT and USB) or free if you only require access to non SSL sites.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned this before here. Certainly given the costs of data plans in NZ, I doubt whether TNZ or Vodafone really care if you tether the phone or not since it's all data to them.

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peejayw

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Reply # 299957 17-Feb-2010 21:56

I have found PDANet to be great and free is a bonus. SSL I dont need much.

NZtechfreak

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Reply # 299981 17-Feb-2010 23:18

Isn't there software for sharing your 3G connection as a WiFi hotspot on Android?

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lchiu7

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Reply # 300034 18-Feb-2010 09:05

I mentioned PDANET as a solution and it does work but it seems crazy that you have to use a 3rd party app and pay for it to use what is standard capability in most BT phones. And it's surprising how often you need to use SSL. For example you might be wanting to access a corporate VPN or check your bank account etc. And some sites for reasons that escape me are SSL all the time.

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peejayw

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Reply # 300205 18-Feb-2010 18:56

There is another app that handles secure sites and is free, will have a hunt for it.

peejayw

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Reply # 300210 18-Feb-2010 19:10

Have a look at this one............

http://www.mobile-stream.com/easytether/android.html

Linuxluver

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Reply # 300701 21-Feb-2010 14:13

It boils down to either rooting the phone and tethering for free or buying PDANet. EasyTether is another option, but I haven't tried it.

I rooted my phones, though I can restore them to stock at any time and it is undetectable they were ever anything else.

Enomther do a rooted version of the Nexus One ROM. Their claim to fame is their ROMs are essentially stock ROMs....but rooted. The way these ROMs have been going, if there is an OTA, the rooted ROMs get it added within days.....or hours.

But US$24-ish for PDANet is an easy solution. Thinking back to what it used to cost to buy even the most minor PC apps, the fact phone apps - even "expensive" ones like PDANet - cost "lunch money" is amazing.

Having said that....in the US telco market tethering is discouraged...and the Nexus One is a product of that environment.

Might be worth looking into how this will handled by the HTC Bravo ("Nexus Two") - a Euro / AP phone.

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lchiu7

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Reply # 300706 21-Feb-2010 14:23

OK - the US Telco's don't like tethering (not sure why not) but why no HID profile? What's the harm in that? Also what about the HTC Magic here - does that allow tethering? I am sure VF don't care since they charge for data no matter how you use it or share it.

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Linuxluver

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Reply # 300927 22-Feb-2010 10:39

lchiu7: OK - the US Telco's don't like tethering (not sure why not) but why no HID profile? What's the harm in that? Also what about the HTC Magic here - does that allow tethering? I am sure VF don't care since they charge for data no matter how you use it or share it.

The US telcos typically offer unlimited data.

So they don't want phones being used as wifi APs for an office full of PCs for peanuts / month.

So they don't like tethering. AT&T keeps testing the water about introducing data charging. But their iPhone offering has been a huge success, in part, due to no data quotas. In the US it IS practical to watching streaming TV or listen to streaming music 24/7.

Telcos hate that.

Bluetooth for tethering? I've never had a PC that can do it. But wifi or USB work fine with any computer I have.

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lchiu7

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Reply # 300930 22-Feb-2010 10:52

Yes that's interesting. A quick look at ATT's plans show for $15/month you get unlimited data on the phone. But it does say

"Net and Data Unlimited are not available on PDAs/Pocket PCs, RIM? devices or LaptopConnect cards" which of course implies using the phone as a modem.

But if you have a data card the rates are not so good (but better than ours)

$35 for 200MB (compare with $10/100MB that VF offers) or
$60 for 5GB

No wonder why they don't like tethering.

Yes the Android is the only phone that I am aware of that doesn't allow it (possibly the iPhone but I don't have any experience in that area).

Certainly I have tethered with SE and Nokia with no problems.

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