Rooted hot spot

[blackstangs281]

Hey everyone,
I rooted the TB a couple weeks ago, and (as easy as it was) have no idea why I did not do it sooner. Thank you to all those who post on the subject. It really helped me and gave me a lot of good info.
The one question I have, I've not been able to find the answer to.........Do you have to use the wireless tether that comes with the rom?........... Or can you use the Verizon wireless hot spot also without them charging me for that feature? Does vzw even know what your doing after your phone has been rooted?

Thanks everyone

 

[spartanguy81]

If you want to use the VZW hot spot, you have to pay for it.

 

[waker]

Just google wireless tether for android. It's just an app. Good luck.

Sent from my Thunderbolt via Tapatalk.

 

[blackstangs281]

The rom I'm using came with the wireless tether app, and also the vw hot spot. I know the wireless tether app works great with no charge from Verizon. I was just wondering if you could use the vw hot spot also without charge when your phone is rooted.

Thanks to answers so far.

Sent from Thunderbolt with Tapatalk

 

[mrbates]

I've seen some ROMs link the VZW Hot Spot to the tether app, just so you can push that button, but other than that--I don't think you can use it without paying for the feature.

 

[waker]

The rom I'm using came with the wireless tether app, and also the vw hot spot. I know the wireless tether app works great with no charge from Verizon. I was just wondering if you could use the vw hot spot also without charge when your phone is rooted.

Thanks to answers so far.

Sent from Thunderbolt with Tapatalk

Just google wireless tether 2.0.7 apk. Sideload that. I won't link to it.



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[paintdrinkingpete]

On some older Froyo ROMs, you will find a version of the "official" Verizon Mobile Hotspot app that you can use for free without being charged. For the most part, however, if you use the official MH app, then yes, you need to pay for the hotspot plan.

Many devs include the "official" app because there are people who, like myself, actually do pay for MH access because it's a job requirement (that I can expense). Other folks may want subscribe to the service just to make sure they're doing everything on the up and up.

There are, of course, also the free tether apps out there, but again, they do violate Verizon's TOS. There's no guarantee they won't someday bring the hammer down on those that use them.

To answer the question "Does vzw even know what your doing after your phone has been rooted?": Yes, they most certainly do.

 

[blackstangs281]

Thanks for the answers guys. Very helpful!


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[waker]

On some older Froyo ROMs, you will find a version of the "official" Verizon Mobile Hotspot app that you can use for free without being charged. For the most part, however, if you use the official MH app, then yes, you need to pay for the hotspot plan.

Many devs include the "official" app because there are people who, like myself, actually do pay for MH access because it's a job requirement (that I can expense). Other folks may want subscribe to the service just to make sure they're doing everything on the up and up.

There are, of course, also the free tether apps out there, but again, they do violate Verizon's TOS. There's no guarantee they won't someday bring the hammer down on those that use them.

To answer the question "Does vzw even know what your doing after your phone has been rooted?": Yes, they most certainly do.

Yeah. I have no use for it myself. Just fun to figure stuff out.

Sent from my Full Blown Thunderstick via Tapatalk.

 

[Devils Advocate]

So you guys are saying that they can see that we have rooted and know that we are using the hotspot?

 

[stratejaket]

They do not know that you are rooted. They can only tell if you have accepted software updates when they push them out. If you are using their hotspot they could tell, and unless you pay for it, it will not work. As far as other tether methods as long as you don't go crazy with data they will most likely not have any reason to suspect you are.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

So you guys are saying that they can see that we have rooted and know that we are using the hotspot?

Hard to really tell for certain if they can tell if you're rooted or not (I'm not a VZW employee with that knowlege), but I've read that they can see what software version your device is running, which if true, could be a definite giveaway.

Keep in mind, there's nothing that says you can't root your device (even if the carriers and and manufacturers continue to discourage it) as far as I know...but it does void your warranty. If you need to call customer service and believe you may need to make a warranty claim, probably best to revert back to stock OS prior to making the call, and certainly if you're taking the phone into the store!

Now, when it comes to "hotspot", keep in mind there are two different distinctions:
The official Mobile Hotspot app that VZW supports -- if you use this, regardless of what ROM you're running, you do need the MH plan on your account. I'm pretty sure there's a warning that pops up when you open the app to alert you to this. When turned on, all data is routed through the hotspot, and VZW definitely knows you're using it, rooted or not.

Wifi Tether apps -- there are a few of them out there, and most (possibly all) require root access to run. These are "under the radar" of Verizon and do not require a separate MH plan, i.e. they are free. In my years on these forums, I've yet to come across a horror story of any user that VZW has brought the hammer down for using (but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened), and assuming that your intended use with the app is pretty light, then I doubt you have anything to worry about. I don't know for sure, but my guess is that *if* VZW wanted to, they could analyze your data usage and determine whether or a tether app had been used -- and if you were to start using large amounts of data, they just may do that. I feel it is important to stress that using these tether apps does violate VZW's Terms of Service.

Keep in mind, I'm not preaching or judging anyone here, nor am I defending or validating VZW's policies, I'm just trying to pass info along and answer questions based on what I've read around here.

If it were me, my general comfort level with this whole thing tells me that if I thought I was only gonna use the tether every once in a while (like on road trips with my wifi tablet or with my laptop when traveling), then I'd probably just root and use one of the free apps. If I thought I'd be using the tether quite regularly, then I'd advise spending the $$ to be safe...but that's just me.

 

[Buzzy42]

So here is a sort of random variation of the question -- I actually do pay for MH. I've been debating rooting the phone for various issues, but one I have is that my 4G drops a lot when using MH (but didn't in the past; I think my radios are a bit wonky as I have issues getting 3G as well). I have read that the Verizon app causes the issue in some of these cases, and that rooting and using Wireless Tether or some other app works around the issues.

Since I do actually *pay* for MH, I don't feel like I'd necessarily be in any trouble using another app-- or is it the app itself that's the issue with the ToS? (even if it's a Google app, IIRC?)

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

So here is a sort of random variation of the question -- I actually do pay for MH. I've been debating rooting the phone for various issues, but one I have is that my 4G drops a lot when using MH (but didn't in the past; I think my radios are a bit wonky as I have issues getting 3G as well). I have read that the Verizon app causes the issue in some of these cases, and that rooting and using Wireless Tether or some other app works around the issues.

Since I do actually *pay* for MH, I don't feel like I'd necessarily be in any trouble using another app-- or is it the app itself that's the issue with the ToS? (even if it's a Google app, IIRC?)

I'm not sure anyone here could really give a definitive answer to this, unless they actually work for Verizon (and have a role in enforcing policy), but I personally, as a MH subscriber myself, feel that as long as I'm paying for the service, then it really shouldn't matter *how* I'm tethering my connection. At the very least it gives me a solid defense to stand on should I ever be questioned about it, although I never have.

I've run a few different ROMs in my time, and with some the MH works, and with others, it doesn't. When it doesn't, I tend to use Wireless Tether 2.0.7, since I've had the best luck with that.

Just as an FYI, Verizon MH does work with BAMF Forever -- which is one of the reasons that I've stuck with that ROM for so long now.

 

[Devils Advocate]

Pete thanks for the answer and I am not sure if uploading a high school football/basketball game's worth of photos during the game would be enough data to get noticed or not but I think I am going to wait until I can use it ethically before doing this. In other words I will pay for it.

 

[Jrocker23]

Some quick answers

1) Yes they can tell if your rooted IF the name & details of the rom & kernal are not an exact match with what is currently available (such as name of rom, software version, firmware version & kernal version)

2) If you already pay for Mobile Hotspot and you use a different app, not a problem you are paying for it.

3) If you are not paying for Mobile Hotspot & using another app, yes its against the TOS & they can act on it if they want.

4) Lets say there are 2 data channels (A & B), Mobile hotspot sends data through channel A (A is specifically for hotspot feature & has its own data address) while the other wireless tether apps send the data through channel B which is normally the channel that is used for surfing the net and such. So to verizon wireless tether apps make it seem to them as you surfing the net the normal way through your phone. Now depending on how much data your using can make verizon look at your account and maybe make them think your getting around their hotspot feature.

5) Now how much data triggers an issue, I don't know for sure but I average between 15 to 20 gb per month and I have gone as high as 35gb with no issues. As for throttling, its the top 5% of users and even then I have heard they are in the 70-80gb or more area.

Hope this helps

 

[blackstangs281]

This thread clears everything up..... Thanks everyone.

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[Devils Advocate]

Thanks for the detailed answer