Tether? Hot Spot? Add to VZW account?

[ShaggyKids]

Need someone to guide me pls. Now that I have a tablet and a smart phone and NO experience with connecting them together... What is the least costly way to do this and what do I need to accomplish it?

I currently have VZW unlimited w/1400 min. Don't need more min. On an occasional basis I would like to b able to use my N7 off my VZW account for my phone when it's my only option but I really don't want to have to pay an additional $10 monthly fee for my tablet. Doing that would cut the savings I'd get from the new phone plan I'd have to switch to.

Sent from my Rezound via Tapatalk 2

 

[MikeLip]

For occasional use, I use FoxFi on my Razr. Running it makes the phone show up as a hotspot and you connect to it as normal Wifi. VZW hasn't griped yet. If you are going to use it a lot as a hotspot, set your phone up for tethering. Although I suspect that as long as you don't go nuts and just use the tablet on it, FoxFi will be fine.

 

[igjoe]

FoxFi is a great app, but unfortunately WiFi tether is blocked on all HTC phones made before the One X. You can still tether via Bluetooth though.

Your other two options are to root your Rezound and install any number of tether apps or set up tethering with Verizon

Sent from my Rezound using Android Central Forums

 

[ShaggyKids]

You can still tether via Bluetooth though.

Can I bluetooth tether with FoxFi? Will bluetooth be really slow? Sorry really am a networking dummy.

Sent from my AWESOME Nexus 7 via Tapatalk 2

 

[ack154]

Whatever you do, do NOT add your tablet to your VZW account. It's a wifi tablet - it should have zero effect on your wireless account, even if you use the data from your phone.

If you do that, it would be like also adding a laptop to your VZW plan because that might use some data from your phone too - which would be stupid.

 

[Edwill86]

Bluetooth tethering has some limitations so be aware of that. it wont be slow per say, but some apps wont work and what not (from my experience, that was on honeycomb)

I unlocked and rooted my gnex and got wifi tether for root. if you dont want to root or run the risk of vzw "catching" you you can always activate the paid hot spot feature on your phone
$30/month or pro rated to $1/day ( so if you only need it for a 5 day vacation you can call and activate it then call back at the end of your trip and turn it off and it would only cost you $5)

If you have unlimited then you should also have unlimited got spot data.

good luck!

 

[ShaggyKids]

I do not have mobile hot spot. Would cost me $30 more to add to my current unlimited plan.

Sent from my AWESOME Nexus 7 via Tapatalk 2

 

[gburns]

several options.

The most "complicated" which it is not really, just a leap if you're new to it, is to root your phone and follow the instructions easily found on the net to turn on the VZW hot spot feature for free.

you could change plans to the new (blah) shared plan that VZW offers and get free hot spot through them. However, you will be capped for data at a preset amount and tethering your n7 to it will eat up data if you use it a lot. I DO NOT LIKE THIS SOLUTION, last resort.

Use PDAnet. does not require root. Is cheap at aroudn $20. One time appfee. and will allow you to tether with wifi, USB, or bluetooth. I used this exclusively while working in the firehouse for 24 hrs. until I rooted. Works great and they have good customer support, but a little slow.

there is also another app called tether. Ported to Android and iOS after being a blackberry program. I have it, but have not really used it since pdanet worked so well.

I'd suggest PDAnet as a first option. I think they have a trial offer. If it is not in the playstore go to junefabrics.com

 

[igjoe]

several options.

The most "complicated" which it is not really, just a leap if you're new to it, is to root your phone and follow the instructions easily found on the net to turn on the VZW hot spot feature for free.

you could change plans to the new (blah) shared plan that VZW offers and get free hot spot through them. However, you will be capped for data at a preset amount and tethering your n7 to it will eat up data if you use it a lot. I DO NOT LIKE THIS SOLUTION, last resort.

Use PDAnet. does not require root. Is cheap at aroudn $20. One time appfee. and will allow you to tether with wifi, USB, or bluetooth. I used this exclusively while working in the firehouse for 24 hrs. until I rooted. Works great and they have good customer support, but a little slow.

there is also another app called tether. Ported to Android and iOS after being a blackberry program. I have it, but have not really used it since pdanet worked so well.

I'd suggest PDAnet as a first option. I think they have a trial offer. If it is not in the playstore go to junefabrics.com

PDAnet is a GREAT app, but I don't know if it will work in this case. I use it currently to share my phone's internet with my laptop via USB. The wifi feature is blocked by many HTC phones (including the Rezound which is the phone currently in question). Also, as someone stated above, the Bluetooth connection may be limited with some apps.

Do you know if there is a way to connect the phone and tablet together via USB and make this work with PDAnet? I assume it won't work, but I could be wrong.

 

[ShaggyKids]

PDAnet is a GREAT app, but I don't know if it will work in this case. I use it currently to share my phone's internet with my laptop via USB. The wifi feature is blocked by many HTC phones (including the Rezound which is the phone currently in question). .

I set it up and it shows connected so tonight I 'll see if it works. Does this kind of setup stop the Wifi connection? It looks like I have both currently. I don't need the bluetooth at home.

Sent from my AWESOME Nexus 7 via Tapatalk 2

 

[gburns]

If you are doing a hotspot, I believe that the radio turns off the wifi on the phone. At least you can't do both on the bionic. There would really be no need to be able to connect to wifi on the phone and transmit it. If the phone can connect to the wifi signal, then the N7 should be able to .

If it is blocked like stated, I'd root my phone and get past that once and for all.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Looks like they're both running. I I went out in the yard with both devices far enough away to disconnect the Wifi and the bluetooth seems to have taken over Also looks like I can turn off PDA et when not needed

Sent from my AWESOME Nexus 7 via Tapatalk 2

 

[pahern]

I haven't tested it yet beyond linking the N7 to my SGSII (I'm still near the office wifi) but Open Garden seems to be an option.

The phone and N7 found and linked via bluetooth pretty quickly. I'll test it out at lunch to see how it works and I'll update with more info after.

 

[ajonesma]

I would just use Foxfi, it's free and works well. You also don't need to root to use it.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Whatever you do, do NOT add your tablet to your VZW account. It's a wifi tablet - it should have zero effect on your wireless account, even if you use the data from your phone.

If you do that, it would be like also adding a laptop to your VZW plan because that might use some data from your phone too - which would be stupid.

So, I should be able to switch my plan from unlimited to the new VZW plans and just NOT include my tablet and then I can use the Hot Spot from the phone to connect them and not be billed for the tablet? I just can't see paying $10 a mo for the tablet but this bluetooth thing just isn't good enough. I can't get to enough stuff -- like Google Play for example. Can get there but can't download anything. Last night I also kept getting msgs that Internet was not working although the bluetooth was up and running.

Wouldn't VZW pick up on the wifi'd tablet and start charging me? I'm not trying to steal anything but it seems like an unnecessary monthly charge to include the tablet in the plan when it doesn't need it's own data "draw" if it's running of the phone or my home network. Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, though.