WiFi Tether on VZW GN - What Did I Just Stumble Upon?

[Jet300]

it works for me too : I'm rooted and running axion 2.3

Good deal!

 

[bstrong04]

I just stumbled across this thread and I'm glad I did. The widget works great. Thanks!!!!

 

[ConTejas]

Free widget works great. No phantom calls etc. in the hours I've had it. Love sticking it to the man with my GNex. Whoever asked how they should respond in the even big red calls, I would most certainly play dumb and/or say I downloaded a free app from the official android market. Thanks Jet and Samis! Props.

 

[Stang68]

Works great with Extended Controls!

I hope this isn't patched by Verizon...

 

[Revolutionary]

You can do the same thing with Extended Controls Widget.

Thank you, Nechasin for this! I missed it the first time I read through this thread and didn't even think to try EC for this. I use EC to jump straight to the "Mobile Networks" settings page (to toggle between 3G and 4G. I added the hotspot toggle to my switch panel and it works like a charm!

 

[ctechnow]

Just installed and did a speedtest on 3g. Only got .91 mbps down.. Then I disabled the hotspot and did a speed test on my phone and the phone rebooted. Hoping the app didn't cause a random reboot. Will wait and see if it happens again.

 

[ajsciutto]

I'll take it please Would love it with my Galaxy Tab 10.1

 

[ekinnyc]

ive had 2 random reboots since installing the free widget. not sure if its the cause, but its too much of a coincidence.

 

[Jet300]

ive had 2 random reboots since installing the free widget. not sure if its the cause, but its too much of a coincidence.

Weird that a widget would cause a reboot problem; but anything is possible ... I have both Switch Pro and the Portable Wifi Hotspot Widget on my Nexus with no rebooting issues ..

If the free widget is causing you problems, I suggest using Switch Pro Widget. It's a paid app, but it's only 99 cents. I have been using Switch Pro widget for a couple of years now on several different phones with no issues whatsoever ...

Good luck and I hope you get it sorted out!

 

[ekinnyc]

just uninstalled the free widget, since my phone started dialing a number by itself..... stupid me didnt realize that *22899 is to update the PRL... still, strange that the phone was dialing it by itself.

can switch pro or extended controls go up into the notification bar? i am currently using widgetzoid for that.

 

[diesteldorf]

I decided to purchase EXTENDED CONTROLS instead of SwitchPro or the free option since Extended Controls actually seemed like a pretty good app that had a lot of positive reviews regarding ICS compatibility and other cool features.

I did a quick reboot after installing and it took a minute or less to configure the widget and access the native Hotspot feature.

Has anyone been able to get the widget to successfully access the USB Tether feature?

It's not a huge deal since I've already got the paid version of PdaNet if I need that capability but was just curious. Pressing the USB Tether widget option on Extended Controls does nothing.

Currently running Android 4.02 stock, unlocked and rooted

 

[Orioncigars]

Wow, I downloaded the free version and unplugged my LAN connection on my laptop. I just speed tested at 26.54 Mbps down and 6.75 Mbps Up on Verizon 4G with 3 of 4 bars on my Galaxy Nexus!!!

I am not rooted.

 

[JoeNM84]

Wow, I downloaded the free version and unplugged my LAN connection on my laptop. I just speed tested at 26.54 Mbps down and 6.75 Mbps Up on Verizon 4G with 3 of 4 bars on my Galaxy Nexus!!!

I am not rooted.

Jealous! I wish I had 4G so I could stop stealing a neighbors internet but since I get about the same speeds with the stolen internet as my 3G no sense in stopping yet.

 

[Orioncigars]

This is awesome. I never have to worry about bringing my laptop or tablet with me anywhere without connectivity. God I love Droid. I can't believe I wasted so many years with Apple and Blackberry. This is revolutionary!

 

[weboston]

OK .. Somehow, I am using the built in WiFi together feature on my VZW GN with NO subscription ...

Here's what happened.... Today I was playing around setting up my widgets and such and decided to nose around the new version of Switch Pro Widget since I haven't touched it in AGES .. Anyways, I notice that there is a WiFi hotspot toggle now so I added it to my widget. When is selected the toggle I thought it would activate the WiFi tether app (rooted) I have installed. Low and behold when I hit the button it takes me to the hot spot page in Settings under "Wireless & Networks" ---> "Tethering & Portable Hotspot". The "Portable WIFi Hotspot" box checks automatically and the built in tether app starts. Very strange I thought.

So I turned the button off in the Switch Pro Widget and tried to initiate the hot spot manually through the same menu in Settings ... When I do this the phone says its "Checking Subscription Status" and then pops up a menu asking me to subscribe for $30 per month... I obviously cancelled. I tried it manually three times and each time got the menu ..

I have since initiated the hot spot a dozen times on and off through Switch Pro and get no such subscription check or message from VZW. Very weird... I never did connect a device.

I got home and have tried this hotspot with my iPad and it works perfectly. No warnings or anything. Several speed tests show normal 3G speeds with the 1 bar connection I normally get at my house.

Did I inadvertently stumble upon something here? Very curious to know. Thanks.

I'm sending this from my iPad tethered to my GN right now. Gonna stop and go back to normal WiFi. Don't want to get in trouble with Big Red. . Have WiFi at home .. No need to tether.

I signed up with Verizon and bought the Galaxy Nexus just a few days ago. This "free" hotspot feature is a real nice bonus. I ditched my AT&T iPhone and ported my number to Verizon.

I just spoke with a Verizon Wireless tech support and asked about this issue. I had to call anyway because my ported number was unable to get incoming calls. When the ported number problem was resolved, I asked the rep about the hotspot app. c The first tech had no idea what I was talking about so she forwarded my call to a level 2(?) tech.

The rep said if I can access via hotspot without having to call Verizon and subscribe to it first, then it should be free. The rep told me he has the exact same phone! He followed my directions and downloaded the app to try it on his Galaxy Nexus. He said he got it work... but since he didn't have a laptop or tablet to try it on, he couldn't really do much.

Just to be sure, he searched my account again just to make sure I wasn't being charged the $30 hotspot fee. He talked with his supervisor to verify it. He said he left notes in my account about my call. If I somehow see the $30 charge on next month's bill, I can call back and have them remove the charge.

 

[Jaycemiskel]

Notes about how you're getting away with free tethering. Classic lol.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Jet300]

I signed up with Verizon and bought the Galaxy Nexus just a few days ago. This "free" hotspot feature is a real nice bonus. I ditched my AT&T iPhone and ported my number to Verizon.

I just spoke with a Verizon Wireless tech support and asked about this issue. I had to call anyway because my ported number was unable to get incoming calls. When the ported number problem was resolved, I asked the rep about the hotspot app. c The first tech had no idea what I was talking about so she forwarded my call to a level 2(?) tech.

The rep said if I can access via hotspot without having to call Verizon and subscribe to it first, then it should be free. The rep told me he has the exact same phone! He followed my directions and downloaded the app to try it on his Galaxy Nexus. He said he got it work... but since he didn't have a laptop or tablet to try it on, he couldn't really do much.

Just to be sure, he searched my account again just to make sure I wasn't being charged the $30 hotspot fee. He talked with his supervisor to verify it. He said he left notes in my account about my call. If I somehow see the $30 charge on next month's bill, I can call back and have them remove the charge.

Well, I'm really glad your enjoying use of the free hotspot. But, let me get this straight .... You CALLED Verizon, got through to Tier 2 tech support and actually TOLD THEM about his work around???? They made notes in your account about it? SERIOUSLY?

You do realize that this isn't a REAL NICE bonus given to us by VZW? They want you to activate the hotspot via the menu and pay every month for the privilege of using it. What has been posted here as a work around circumvents that process by exploiting a BUG in the software that bypasses the activation check with VZW's servers.

I know you probably don't mean harm and were just trying to get some more information and prevent being charged for the service. But, it's safe to say it's probably not the best thing in the world to call up your wireless carrier and notify them that you found a way around giving them $30 bucks a month. Let alone letting their Tier 2 tech support (and their supervisor) know about such an issue where it WILL be logged and chance having the exploit being plugged in a future release .... :-\

I hope your kidding

 

[budmonster]

Well, I'm really glad your enjoying use of the free hotspot. But, let me get this straight .... You CALLED Verizon, got through to Tier 2 tech support and actually TOLD THEM about his work around???? They made notes in your account about it? SERIOUSLY?

You do realize that this isn't a REAL NICE bonus given to us by VZW? They want you to activate the hotspot via the menu and pay every month for the privilege of using it. What has been posted here as a work around circumvents that process by exploiting a BUG in the software that bypasses the activation check with VZW's servers.

I know you probably don't mean harm and were just trying to get some more information and prevent being charged for the service. But, it's safe to say it's probably not the best thing in the world to call up your wireless carrier and notify them that you found a way around giving them $30 bucks a month. Let alone letting their Tier 2 tech support (and their supervisor) know about such an issue where it WILL be logged and chance having the exploit being plugged in a future release .... :-\

I hope your kidding

Lol priceless

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Mooem]

Well, I'm really glad your enjoying use of the free hotspot. But, let me get this straight .... You CALLED Verizon, got through to Tier 2 tech support and actually TOLD THEM about his work around???? They made notes in your account about it? SERIOUSLY?

You do realize that this isn't a REAL NICE bonus given to us by VZW? They want you to activate the hotspot via the menu and pay every month for the privilege of using it. What has been posted here as a work around circumvents that process by exploiting a BUG in the software that bypasses the activation check with VZW's servers.

I know you probably don't mean harm and were just trying to get some more information and prevent being charged for the service. But, it's safe to say it's probably not the best thing in the world to call up your wireless carrier and notify them that you found a way around giving them $30 bucks a month. Let alone letting their Tier 2 tech support (and their supervisor) know about such an issue where it WILL be logged and chance having the exploit being plugged in a future release .... :-\

I hope your kidding

They will plug up the hole inevitably. Believe it or not, they do scour the message boards for these types of things and not to mention it has been mentioned in a few regular Android blogs I believe. Just enjoy it for the time being and hope they don't plug it up in 4.0.3 (so at least it gives a little more time to enjoy free hotspot!).

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

Too bad they don't take more about how much people hate bloatware and advertising on the phones they hundreds of dollars for.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk