Phones that will Wifi with Nexus?

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 03:34 AM

I'm getting more and more frustrated with this Bluetooth (often lack of) Bluetooth connection between my Rezound and N7. I didn't buy my N7 to leave at home! I'm going in circles and winding up at a dead end.

Rezound tethering was banned by VZW. My N7 isn't a VZW device so adding it to my account would be a waste of money and ongoing monthly expense I don't need. FoxFi won't work because of the ban.

My Rezound is only 5-6 mos old so I can't do a subsidized upgrade but getting a little desperate so considering outright purchase of a Galaxy S3 although would prefer the Note, don't think the Note will run on the VZW network

Much as I'd love a new Galaxy device it would be a HUGE stretch to justify purchasing a new phone.

Will my old Thunderbolt also fall under the banned Wifi thing? I have a feeling if I fired it up again it would probably update the software. What OS version (by name not number please) would I have? I don't really want to go backwards but VZW has my hands tied. When you have a 6mos old phone you do not expect it to not work with something just 6mos newer.

Is there a way to get VZW to lift this ban?

If my TBolt is not tether-banned could I not just get an additional sim card so that I wouldn't have to swap out my sim card if I wanted to use my TBolt for WIFI but my Rezound for everything else? On VZW's new plans I would not have to pay for two phones it doesn't look like because you can add up to 10 devices.

**dotism** · 07-30-2012, 04:40 AM

I don't have an answer, but . Baffling, even.

When I got my Nexus 7, I immediately thought about tethering. I pulled out my bottom-tier, cheap-o plan T-Mobile LG Gingerbread phone and found the WiFi tethering option right there in the settings. Turned it on, and the Nexus 7 is fully wireless.

Is this a problem with Verizon? Does anyone else know about this? Am I simply lucky with T-Mobile?

**EpicRavensFan** · 07-30-2012, 05:53 AM

If you can use up to 10 devices on Verizon's shared data plan, why not get a lte hotspot ? Do they charge you the same monthly fee as an extra phone ? I would call and check into that option.

**EJT** · 07-30-2012, 06:31 AM

Root? That should give you the ability.

**FormerIphoney** · 07-30-2012, 06:34 AM

SGS3 production

**Bossxii** · 07-30-2012, 06:53 AM

My Droid RAZR rooted with hotspot hack works great.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

**dotism** · 07-30-2012, 06:57 AM

My silly LG G2x from T-Mobile gives me tethering towards the Nexus 7 for nothing more than data deficits against my most basic plan.

You seriously have to root your phone to get such a simple piece of functionality? I have been slightly embarrassed about my allegiance towards T-Mobile, I'm now wondering if that was not an OK position to be in.

**jeres88** · 07-30-2012, 08:31 AM

Unfortunately, the only way to tether on Verizon is to root your device or pay extra on your plan. This is one of the main reasons I am going to leave Verizon once my plan is over.

**Jeremy8000** · 07-30-2012, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by jeres88

Unfortunately, the only way to tether on Verizon is to root your device or pay extra on your plan. This is one of the main reasons I am going to leave Verizon once my plan is over.

Have you tried ?

Originally Posted by dotism

My silly LG G2x from T-Mobile gives me tethering towards the Nexus 7 for nothing more than data deficits against my most basic plan.

You seriously have to root your phone to get such a simple piece of functionality? I have been slightly embarrassed about my allegiance towards T-Mobile, I'm now wondering if that was not an OK position to be in.

T-Mo isn't that bad... Tbh, the only embarrassment I feel in that connection is that, like you, I too still own and use one of the great Pintos of the wireless world, the G2x. Though now its primary function is serving as a hotspot, lol - glad I picked up those extra batteries a ways back.

**releveler** · 07-30-2012, 12:04 PM

I have a Samsung Charge with Verizon. FoxFi works great as a FREE wifi hotspot. The phone gets kind of hot and does eat up battery quickly when the hotspot is active.

**dotism** · 07-30-2012, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy8000

[O]ne of the great Pintos of the wireless world, the G2x.

I love this.

I keep looking at my phone and laughing... Oh, how I adore you, you silly thing.

**wormy987123** · 07-30-2012, 12:11 PM

Google barnacle wifi tether, its most likely blocked in the play store but it should work.

Sent from my LG-LS670 using Tapatalk 2

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:11 PM

Yes, I because tethering is banned on the Rezound it doesn't work for wifi only bluetooth which sucks.

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by wormy

Google barnacle wifi tether, its most likely blocked in the play store but it should work.

Sent from my LG-LS670 using Tapatalk 2

Just looked it's for a rooted phone.

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by EpicRavensFan

If you can use up to 10 devices on Verizon's shared data plan, why not get a lte hotspot ? Do they charge you the same monthly fee as an extra phone ? I would call and check into that option.

because currently I have their unlimited plan which requires an additional 30 dollars per month to add the hot spot. My only alternative he's moving to 1 of their new shared plans and because my device is not a Verizon device it's not supposed to work on that either.

**natehoy** · 07-30-2012, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by debsdroid

because currently I have their unlimited plan which requires an additional 30 dollars per month to add the hot spot. My only alternative he's moving to 1 of their new shared plans and because my device is not a Verizon device it's not supposed to work on that either.

An LTE hotspot is a separate device that provides WiFi access to anything, Verizon or not, using Verizon's LTE network.

It connects to the Internet through Verizon, and offers that connection up as a WiFi network connection locally. You can put as many devices as you want on it, as far as I know.

My father-in-law has one through AT&T so he can connect his Android tablet and his laptop to the Internet while in his motor home.

Unfortunately, a hotspot is going to cost you more than simply adding tethering to your existing account.

PS: Anything you can do (other than adding tethering to your existing account) will probably require rooting and will absolutely violate the (patently unfair) terms of service with Verizon. If they catch you tethering your phone without you having a tethering plan, the results could be unpleasant. I'm not saying it's right, it's just the way things are, sadly.

**kC_** · 07-30-2012, 12:23 PM

Stock Gsm galaxy nexus = fine no extra apps needed.. built in tether.

**MikeLip** · 07-30-2012, 12:37 PM

Motorola Razr Maxx with the FoxFi app. Works fine.

**zedorda** · 07-30-2012, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by debsdroid

because currently I have their unlimited plan which requires an additional 30 dollars per month to add the hot spot. My only alternative he's moving to 1 of their new shared plans and because my device is not a Verizon device it's not supposed to work on that either.

It is not only because your Nexus7 is not a Verizon device it is because the Nexus7 has no cellular abilities at all.

I have the Verizon Novatel 4510L jetpack mobile hotspot. I use it to supple my Asus Transformer and Nexus7 with mobile data. I have one of the previous mobile broadband plans $50 for 5gb and $10 for each additional 1gb.

You should try FoxFi it works on most devices to share your phones data even if it is locked down..

**Jeremy8000** · 07-30-2012, 12:37 PM

Check out FoxFi. No root required, and it enabled me to use my phone as a hotspot without subscribing to the feature (the built-in feature turns out on but doesn't allow data to pass through as the network recognizes it as being passed to a secondary device).

**natehoy** · 07-30-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy8000

Check out FoxFi. No root required, and it enabled me to use my phone as a hotspot without subscribing to the feature (the built-in feature turns out on but doesn't allow data to pass through as the network recognizes it as being passed to a secondary device).

Unfortunately, for older phones, Foxfi supports a Bluetooth connection only. That's the problem that OP was asking for a solution to (since not all services on the Nexus 7 work over a Bluetooth Internet connection).

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy8000

Check out FoxFi. No root required, and it enabled me to use my phone as a hotspot without subscribing to the feature (the built-in feature turns out on but doesn't allow data to pass through as the network recognizes it as being passed to a secondary device).

Foxfi doesn't work on it. I get the message "Wifi has failed on your phone, please use bluetooth" and " Fail to activate, Internet not detected." I'm sitting in front of my home computer right now with my N7 and my phone and that's what I get and I've tried Foxfi probably 6-8 x over the past couple of weeks and keep getting the same thing.

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by natehoy

Unfortunately, for older phones, Foxfi supports a Bluetooth connection only. That's the problem that OP was asking for a solution to (since not all services on the Nexus 7 work over a Bluetooth Internet connection).

My phone is only about 6mos old. I realize technology keeps marching on but seriously? A 6mos old phone is to old to use Foxfi?

**ShaggyKids** · 07-30-2012, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by EJT

Root? That should give you the ability.

Not only am I technically challenged with something like rooting it's beyond ridiculous that I should have to do that with a 6mos old phone that's SUPPOSED to have the capability to do this without rooting.