mobile hotspot

[razzyjones]

i have been reading around online and read a lot of info about mobile hotspot with the N4 and i'm not sure what is current/outdated or what is the best method.

i have a N4 with t-mobile unlimited 4G value plan

my phone is not rooted

what is the best and easiest way to block t-mobile from seeing i'm using my macbookpro or mobile hotspot??

i don't want to root. i've read about certain apps, something about changing vpn, another about a user agent switcher----
someone else said since N4 is unlocked without carrier bloatware that mobile hotspot goes undetected already (which i don't believe)

how should i go about this??

 

[friedtators]

carriers can tell you are tethering from the tcp/ip packets used in network communication. there are layers of information that tell anyone where it came from and where its going. networks will make sweeps looking for windows machines. you know if the government can intercept data in real time these same networks offer basic information like seeing your laptop

 

[jdbii]

i have been reading around online and read a lot of info about mobile hotspot with the N4 and i'm not sure what is current/outdated or what is the best method.

i have a N4 with t-mobile unlimited 4G value plan

my phone is not rooted

what is the best and easiest way to block t-mobile from seeing i'm using my macbookpro or mobile hotspot??

i don't want to root. i've read about certain apps, something about changing vpn, another about a user agent switcher----
someone else said since N4 is unlocked without carrier bloatware that mobile hotspot goes undetected already (which i don't believe)

how should i go about this??

I've only gleaned info from these threads, and I've never tethered more than 20 or 30 MB to my Nexus 7 in any given month, but from monitoring this topic on these threads since Febuary I would say the explanation that @friedtators gave you is the best I've seen because it is short, precise and clear. Whether it is true or not I wouldn't know, but it seems like most everybody more or less says the same thing.

The only success that posters have referenced as far as I can tell is using one of the following: 1) using a switch agent on your pc browser; 2) using a vpn 3) tethering to a tablet. I still think you'll get tagged by your carrier employing one of those three, but if you tether in moderation you might go un-tagged. I don't think rooting would make any difference.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

The consensus I've seen (and from my own personal experience) is if you tether sparingly and only for small amounts of data, you'll likely go unnoticed by your carrier (or get a pass). Make a habit of it, or start pulling down big chunks at a time and you'll likely get your carrier knocking on your virtual door asking for more money. Bottom line, if you need to tether on a regular basis, it's safest just to pony up the cash.

 

[zkSharks]

The response I got from a T-Mo engineer here in Seattle was that if you hit 20GB in a month through tethering, they'll take action (likely kicking you down to 3G speeds). I have yet to hit 20 on my T-Mobile lines, but I've gotten very close on two of them without any issue.

Edit: here's a post I wrote a while back that has a bit more information in it. The rest of the thread is about this same issue as well, I would definitely read through it if I were you.

 

[minnemike]

The response I got from a T-Mo engineer here in Seattle was that if you hit 20GB in a month through tethering, they'll take action (likely kicking you down to 3G speeds). I have yet to hit 20 on my T-Mobile lines, but I've gotten very close on two of them without any issue.

Edit: here's a post I wrote a while back that has a bit more information in it. The rest of the thread is about this same issue as well, I would definitely read through it if I were you.

Wow... 20GB or was that a typo of 20MB? That seems like plenty enough for me!

 

[jdbii]

The response I got from a T-Mo engineer here in Seattle was that if you hit 20GB in a month through tethering, they'll take action (likely kicking you down to 3G speeds). I have yet to hit 20 on my T-Mobile lines, but I've gotten very close on two of them without any issue.

Edit: here's a post I wrote a while back that has a bit more information in it. The rest of the thread is about this same issue as well, I would definitely read through it if I were you.

Do you know if that makes any difference if you are on one of their old "value plans" versus the new "simple choice" plans.

BTW Patrick, a couple months ago I thought I saw you post that you got a T-mobile store manager to specially approve tethering on your unlimited plan. Has that since changed, or did I misunderstand the post? (Or maybe I was mixing you up with another moderator or poster).

 

[zkSharks]

Wow... 20GB or was that a typo of 20MB? That seems like plenty enough for me!

No typo, though it's a bit of a gray area now. Initially, you could add the unlimited hotspot feature to the $70/month pre- or post-paid plans when they were first released. Then, T-Mobile started removing the unlimited hotspot feature from those plans. I saw it happen on two of my lines. I just added it again each month and kept using it. I haven't been using my T-Mo lines for the past two months, but I'll be picking them up again soon and can comment more once I start pushing the data usage again.

To be clear, that 20GB limit was with the unlimited hotspot feature added to my lines. Without that feature (in other words, tethering without any sort of tethering package), I can't really say what success you'll have. The general "don't bother them and they won't bother you" will probably hold true. Avoid peer-to-peer activity, excessive online gaming, and extremely high data usage, and you should be alright. I'm the minority, by far. All of my personal internet needs as well as those of my development studio are run through hotspots. Everything. And as for my devices, syncing is always on and all applicable settings are set to "mobile data" as opposed to "WiFi only."

Edit: jdbii, you're right that it was me. You replied while I was composing this, but I think I answered your question above. If not, ask away.

Edit, again: and as for initiating the hotspot without being rooted, I don't have enough experience with that to offer help. All devices that I tether through are unlocked, rooted, and running custom software.