Tethering with Tmo's new plans

[PWC Realtor]

I also wonder if it depends on tower load. If the tower isn't at or near capacity maybe they're not as likely to throttle or kick someone off who they believe is tethering.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[frenzy757]

What about for non N4 phones?

i ask because my brother can use his S3 on verizon to tether with an app, would this work with the unlimited data from Tmobile with like an S3/S4?

 

[theslug]

Just to clear the air about tethering:

1) T-Mobile does not have any software installed on the Nexus 4s, and whether or not they detect you tethering has nothing to do with where you got your N4 or its IMEI.

2) They do deep packet inspection and simply pull the user agent out of HTTP traffic. They block certain desktop browser user agent strings if those user agents transfer a certain amount of data. If you set a browser on your phone to use the Chrome, Firefox, or IE 10 desktop user agent string for windows, it will trigger this too, even if you've never tethered in your life. Try it with the iPad user agent string. Triggers it too after awhile. Only HTTP traffic is blocked. They don't even try to intercept HTTPS, or seemingly any other protocol for that matter.

3) Yes, this is spying on you, yes it can flag people who aren't even tethering, yes it should probably be illegal. This is the US and Big Telco makes its own rules (except very occasionally the DOJ does some small sensible thing). If you care, write a congressman. It probably won't do much.

4) Using a user agent switcher, like the "Ultimate User Agent Switcher" for Chrome will get around this. I use the linux firefox desktop string and it works 100% so far. On a broader note, it's good to see they're moving towards a more honest business model with the new plans (why does it matter how you use your xx GB? To any rational person it's like the electric company charging you one rate for power but installing cameras in your house and forcing you to pay extra if you use the power for your microwave... but I digress...) but in the meantime while the industry or government regulation (not holding my breath) catches up with common sense, this is the solution.

5) On T-Mobile branded phones, they also install spyware that checks whether you're tethering. This will also have to be disabled in those cases.

Hope this clears things up, though this is also discussed in many other places.

Source: I have an N4, T-Mobile, and witness what they do.

Cheers!

 

[jdbii]

4) Using a user agent switcher, like the "Ultimate User Agent Switcher" for Chrome will get around this. I use the linux firefox desktop string and it works 100% so far.

Could you explain this? I'm not sure what platform you are using the linux firefox desktop string -- phone, tablet, or PC?............If you are doing this on the Linux PC you are tethering to, wouldn't you want the user agent set to mobile user agent string rather than desktop? Isn't the idea to "mask" the desktop user agent so intercepted traffic appears to be mobile even though you are using a PC?

 

[theslug]

Sorry to confuse. I switch the user agent on the windows desktop PC. They don't block all desktop user agents. Which ones they block currently changes. The block is never instant anyway, you need to use a certain amount of data with that user agent before anything happens. Their intent is to obfuscate what they're doing, probably because if more people knew, they would be creeped out. Right now they pick on common windows browsers and iPads. One of the reasons they probably don't tag the Linux Firefox or chrome desktop strings anymore is that checking the "browse in desktop mode" box on your phone browser will set the Linux desktop string. The reason I figured out what was happening, in fact, was that desktop mode on my old nexus s started to trigger this for me in chrome some time last year. Customer service got a lot of calls, probably, and they excluded some user agents. Who knows what other data they're packet sniffing? The whole thing is a little creepy.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

If you don't cheat, you don't have to worry too much about getting caught cheating. Too simple?

 

[minnemike]

Anyone have an answer for this one?

I have an older $55/mo value unlimited everything plan I started a couple months ago just before this new plan lineup - no thottling - no caps - nothing. But the catch is they said you cannot tether. Back then, you had to go with the 5GB plan if you tether and that 5 GB could be used any old way.

With the new plans, I see they offer ala cart tethering to add on. WIll I be able to add this on to my existing, or will they force me to change plans? I'm guessing they will force me to change plans.

 

[minnemike]

Sorry to confuse. I switch the user agent on the windows desktop PC. They don't block all desktop user agents. Which ones they block currently changes. The block is never instant anyway, you need to use a certain amount of data with that user agent before anything happens. Their intent is to obfuscate what they're doing, probably because if more people knew, they would be creeped out. Right now they pick on common windows browsers and iPads. One of the reasons they probably don't tag the Linux Firefox or chrome desktop strings anymore is that checking the "browse in desktop mode" box on your phone browser will set the Linux desktop string. The reason I figured out what was happening, in fact, was that desktop mode on my old nexus s started to trigger this for me in chrome some time last year. Customer service got a lot of calls, probably, and they excluded some user agents. Who knows what other data they're packet sniffing? The whole thing is a little creepy.

I have read they also check your TTL value which automatically reveals a tether if left at default. Increase it by 1, and it looks like a direct connect. You can change this in windows and linux, but not android that I am aware of.

 

[jdbii]

Anyone have an answer for this one?

I saw a post by one of the forum moderators in this Forum that they had unlimited and that YES they also had tethering. They said they use 100 GB a month with tethering. It looked like they had a plan similar to yours (I don't think it was Prepaid). Anyways, what the poster said was one can go to a Tmo store, and the store manager can authorize you to tether with your plan. I don't know if it is true, but it'd definitely be worth a shot to try the next you walk past a Tmo store and have a few extra minutes.

 

[jdbii]

If you don't cheat, you don't have to worry too much about getting caught cheating. Too simple?

Excellent and fair point, but the point @theslug was making was not just about cheating per se but he was discussing privacy concerns as well. S/he also provided really excellent info that applies to everybody in that you can get tagged for tethering even if you are not tethering if you have your mobile's web browser user agent set to 'desktop.' It is good information for everybody to have.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

Excellent and fair point, but the point @theslug was making was not just about cheating per se but he was discussing privacy concerns as well. S/he also provided really excellent info that applies to everybody in that you can get tagged for tethering even if you are not tethering if you have your mobile's web browser user agent set to 'desktop.' It is good information for everybody to have.

Agreed and I wasn't pointing finger at anybody in this thread.

Privacy is a legitimate concern. However, I think we should also recognize some people do cheat. They violate their phone contract to save a few dollars, they download warez instead of paying for apps from the Play store, they buy insurance on their phone or tablet after it breaks and file a fraudulent claim, etc.

 

[saeufer]

2) They do deep packet inspection and simply pull the user agent out of HTTP traffic. They block certain desktop browser user agent strings if those user agents transfer a certain amount of data. If you set a browser on your phone to use the Chrome, Firefox, or IE 10 desktop user agent string for windows, it will trigger this too, even if you've never tethered in your life. Try it with the iPad user agent string. Triggers it too after awhile. Only HTTP traffic is blocked. They don't even try to intercept HTTPS, or seemingly any other protocol for that matter.

...

4) Using a user agent switcher, like the "Ultimate User Agent Switcher" for Chrome will get around this. I use the linux firefox desktop string and it works 100% so far. On a broader note, it's good to see they're moving towards a more honest business model with the new plans (why does it matter how you use your xx GB? To any rational person it's like the electric company charging you one rate for power but installing cameras in your house and forcing you to pay extra if you use the power for your microwave... but I digress...) but in the meantime while the industry or government regulation (not holding my breath) catches up with common sense, this is the solution.

2) is also why people who tether Android tablets to their N4s get away with it, because the User Agent is identical for obvious reasons.

4) if you have access to one, funneling your traffic through a VPN lets you use your data however you like and is easier than messing with the user agent on your non-Android equipment.

 

[minnemike]

The user agent is not identical between the N4 and tablets. FOr instance, the Nexus 7 lists "nexus 7" in the user agent string.

Go here to see yours - for the N4 it should uniquely say so in the user agent: Whats My User Agent?

That said, there are in fact mobile data enabled Nexus 7s in the Tmo and ATT networks, so flagging them would be an enormous workload to sift through. It's just easier for them to flag windows, mac and linux machines.

 

[frenzy757]

Has anyone with the "Uncarrier" $70 per month for the UNLIMITED data plan with 500MB of the SMH tried tethering past the 500 MB?

I ask because I tethered using some apps on Verizon even though I never paid for tethering...will this work for this tmobile plan as well?

 

[IAmSixNine]

I switched to TMO a few months ago.
I have a Nexus 4, 7, Note 2, GS3, One S and One X+.
Id like to use the Nexus 4 as my primary device so i can use the wifi tethering with my Nexus 7 and maybe note 2 from time to time. (playing ingress so i wont be using a large amount of data)
My question is, do i use the built in tethering option on the Nexus 4 or do i use WiFi Tether for rooted users?
Does the built in tethering option on the Nexus 4 alert TMO that im tethering or use my allotted 500megs of tethering? or since its a Nexus is that a stand alone feature that just uses the normal phone data?
Im on a business plan with unlimited 4G data, no throttling. It also comes with 500 megs of tethering, but i think all new plans do.

 

[JeffDenver]

They say if you buy the unlimited plan you have to pay for tethering...

however, ive never paid for tethering on any android phone (I have a N4)...

Has anyone switched to the new plan and tethered as normal on the Nexus? or do I have to now pay. In the past, Tmo used to let me tether whereever I wanted.

If you are on an unlimited plan, you are tied to 500mb per month. After that, tether will stop working until the next cycle. But it is completely free and included in your plan. You can get more in addition to this, but you have to set up a plan supplement for it, and they will charge you. Not sure about the exact price/MB.

If you have any other data plan, you can use as much as you want. It is considered generic data.

This is direct from T-Mobile as of last Friday. I asked them about this.

 

[anon(5719825)]

If you are on an unlimited plan, you are tied to 500mb per month. After that, tether will stop working until the next cycle. But it is completely free and included in your plan. You can get more in addition to this, but you have to set up a plan supplement for it, and they will charge you. Not sure about the exact price/MB.

If you have any other data plan, you can use as much as you want. It is considered generic data.

This is direct from T-Mobile as of last Friday. I asked them about this.

The unlimited plan has to be on the post paid unlimited plan to get 500MB free. I was using the prepaid $70 unlimited and was never able to buy any tethering at all or even use 500MB worth. I'm letting that plan expire and just have two $30 plans with 5GB data.

Almost two weeks ago, I was using my N4 to tether to my N7 since my N4 has faster T-Mobile speeds than the N7 on T-mobile. I was also downloading a TV season on iTunes on my Mac using my WiFi connected to my DSL connection. I didn't notice my WiFi on the Mac lost it's WiFi connection and so it automatically connected to my N4 and used 4.8GB in less then 30 minutes. I got the warning text from T-Mobile that I had used 4GB and that I would be throttled after 5. By the time they sent me that text, I used 4.8GB.

I had almost two weeks left and had only 250MB left to use but I made it happen and yesterday my new month started.

Never heard a word from T-Mobile about tethering.