Is WIFI Tethering a thing of the past.

[Chowderhead72]

When I bought my first android phone (Note 1) it was for the capability to tether to my Ipad at work. I send less than 50 text messages a month and use less than 100 minutes a month. However I use the hotspot feature via FoxFi/PDANet 15gigs most months. All was well through the Note1, next the s3, and finally the s4. I left iOS for android and all was going great until the release of 4.3 and it has been all downhill from there. Now it's time for a new phone. What can I do with any of the new phones to bring my long lost wifi tethering to functional status once again? Samsung has been acceptable thus far but the no wifi tether issue has me looking for a better solution, the S5 looks great, as does the m8.

If I bought the Google edition of either s5 or m8 would my foxfi work again? Or is Wifi tether just a thing of the past?

 

[srkmagnus]

It's hard to say if Foxfi will work prior to the release of the device since it's dependent on may variables. It's likely that it will, but we won't know for sure until it's released.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[LeoRex]

Well... I can't be 100% sure, but I would say that it is the carrier that is messing with the tethering, not Samsung or HTC....

I have a Nexus 5 and it had Wifi tethering ability straight out of the box (no need to download any 3rd party tether app)....easy to configure and launch. Works great to let the kiddos use my Nexus 7 (wifi) when we are on the road.

 

[Geodude074]

Yes, I too have a Nexus 5 and creating a mobile hotspot is as easy as turning it on.

 

[Vsweety]

When I bought my first android phone (Note 1) it was for the capability to tether to my Ipad at work. I send less than 50 text messages a month and use less than 100 minutes a month. However I use the hotspot feature via FoxFi/PDANet 15gigs most months. All was well through the Note1, next the s3, and finally the s4. I left iOS for android and all was going great until the release of 4.3 and it has been all downhill from there. Now it's time for a new phone. What can I do with any of the new phones to bring my long lost wifi tethering to functional status once again? Samsung has been acceptable thus far but the no wifi tether issue has me looking for a better solution, the S5 looks great, as does the m8.

If I bought the Google edition of either s5 or m8 would my foxfi work again? Or is Wifi tether just a thing of the past?

You may want to try the free app OpenGarden. No root access required. Similar to a Wi-Fi hotspot, but uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct.

 

[Chowderhead72]

You may want to try the free app OpenGarden. No root access required. Similar to a Wi-Fi hotspot, but uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct.

I will check it out. I realize this may not be the place to ask but will a stock ipad4 do WiFi direct?

 

[Chowderhead72]

According to WiFi alliance ipad4 is capable of WiFi direct. I will see when I get home. Looks promising! Thank you immensely.

 

[Chowderhead72]

No joy... Ipad4 is supports wifi direct however open garden doesn't have software for IOS. Waiting again. Any other ideas?

 

[Chowderhead72]

Well I guess I am at a crossroads of sorts. I love my iPad however my phone is a tool to be replaced every year or so and the two must work together. So maybe a jail broken iPhone is the solution?

 

[Almeuit]

Well I guess I am at a crossroads of sorts. I love my iPad however my phone is a tool to be replaced every year or so and the two must work together. So maybe a jail broken iPhone is the solution?

It may be but the new iPhones take longer to JB. Apple is trying to stop people from doing that.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[dpham00]

I don't have a problem tethering, I have used over 100gb and paid just a buck for that data. I just use the stock hotspot app. I am on Verizon Unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE and just activate the unlimited unthrottled hotspot whenever I need it. Different carrier's policy are different, but I believe every major carrier allows hotspot at least on some of their plans, though cost varies by carrier.

To me this is the most efficient and reliable way, but of course it costs. To me, a buck a day is worth it, especially when you can run up several tb a month.



dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[Chowderhead72]

Wow! Unthrottled tethering for an extra 1$ a day? Wish ATT would come up with something like that. I would definitely be interested in that.

 

[Chowderhead72]

It may be but the new iPhones take longer to JB. Apple is trying to stop people from doing that.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

My question is why would apple care? Tim Cook has lost his way. SJ never pandered to the telecom companies as a matter of fact neither did Google. I suppose the better question when did balls become optional as a large wireless device innovator. Google/Samsung and Apple have the power but refuse to use it, pathetic!

 

[eggantom]

Some of my friends use certain apps and wifi tethering to transfer large file between Android and Apple.

 

[Old Stoneface]

Tethering anything I've wanted via WiFi hotspot to my HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile is just a question of turning it on, but I imagine 15GB/mo. would be pretty expensive--regardless of carrier.

 

[tgp]

If I bought the Google edition of either s5 or m8 would my foxfi work again? Or is Wifi tether just a thing of the past?

I've never had a GE device so I can't advise there, but I use Nexus devices. The reason you can't tether is because the carriers are getting more adept at blocking it. A colleague of mine has a Verizon Note 3, and he can't tether unless it's rooted. Even then, it's not that easy to set up. If you're on Verizon you have to jump through the proverbial hoops, but otherwise you can get something like the Nexus 5 and simply turn on tethering in Settings.

 

[sting7k]

I have no issues using wifi hotspot on my Moto X to tether my iPhone or laptop with an app I got from the Play Store. I technically should not have it as I still have unlimited data with AT&T.

To use the feature on an iDevice you must have tethering enabled by your carrier or jailbreak.

 

[rkortes]

When I updated my HTC one from 4.3 to 4.4, Foxfi Wifi ceased to work. Wish I would have known. What I do now is tether to my Mac using PdaNet USB and then create a hotspot from my mac to run my PS3 and Ipad. Works pretty well. You can Youtube all of this. I still have unlimited data from Verizon.

 

[dpham00]

Tethering anything I've wanted via WiFi hotspot to my HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile is just a question of turning it on, but I imagine 15GB/mo. would be pretty expensive--regardless of carrier.

Verizon Unlimited tethering for legacy unlimited data plans is $30 per month, before discount. And their tethering is truly unlimited and unthrottled for 4GLTE devices. Be it 15gb or 150gb or 1,500gb.

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[Old Stoneface]

Verizon Unlimited tethering for legacy unlimited data plans is $30 per month, ...

Yes, I know. I administer the wireless plan at work. The key word there is "legacy."