Reply to: Android wifi only connect to 3G

[VectraMan]

The question is: how do they know you're tethering? I read something suggesting they'd look at the browser ID header (i.e. if it's running on Windows then it's clear that you're tethering), but if you're using an Android tablet via your Android phone, it's going to be running exactly the same browser.

[dezze]

If I understand you correctly, you want to connect your non 3G tablet to your android phone to use the phone's 3G capability...I connect my laptop to my phone (via USB) with EasyTether, but I do have an unlimited internet plan. I don't have a tether plan as such, so don't use wifi hotspot, but EasyTether bypasses that so I don't have any extra charges.

EDIT: Sorry, not sure if the software is available for Android tablets yet.

[IR35FanClub]

With this "wifi hotspot" stuff, surprising that a phone that can connect via wifi can also act like a router to transmit wifi, why on earth would it have the electronics for that? Dunno if it will work with my cheap phone but have to go through the routing thing to find out.
.

As other have said - the send and recieve electronics are the same, being able to broacast over the right frequency. The software is what make the device a client or a server, so you can swap your android phone between them.

Why? I guess google decided it was a cool feature that when you are away from your home wifi network, you can then swap over so your phone becomes the router and your laptop/pad/media viewer can become a client and still get to the net, without requiring yet another sim and contract. I can't understand why people pay £100 more for an ipad which requires a sim, when they probably already have a iphone (or in my case Samsung S2).

One thing to watch - running the hoptspot on the phone can eat up battery - ie. turn it off when not using it or you won't get a full days use from your phone.

[gingerjedi]

Dunno, just run out of battery but just checked and I can do an upgrade.

Seems however that T Mobile will block tethering anyway. Bummer.

Orange (same company now) are supposed to block tethering but they don't.

Give it a try.

[Spacecadet]

Settings, Wireless & Networks, more, tethering and portable hotspot.

I just tried this - and it's still enabled on my Three mobile issues Samsung S3
Just checked my plan T&C's and tethering is allowed!

So I can now get rid of the separate dongle so that's £18 a month saved
I owe you a beer

[Spacecadet]

Acer Iconia tab, coming tomorrow.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 Review - Android Tablet Reviews by MobileTechReview

Was thinking of the Kindle Fire, much cheaper, but it's rather non standard Android apparently.

Get a Nexus 7 then... can't get more "standard" android than that

[xoggoth]

Dunno, just run out of battery but just checked and I can do an upgrade.

Seems however that T Mobile will block tethering anyway. Bummer.

[VectraMan]

Sorry missed that. Nowt such on my phone unfortunately.

Which Android version? Mine's on 4.1. I have a feeling the settings were in a different place in 2.x.

[xoggoth]

WiFi works both ways, so there's no electronics required to allow a phone that can connect to a WiFi router to also share its 3G connection to other WiFi devices

Interesting but what do you actually need to do on the phone? Took it out of range of router but can't detect any wifi signal from it, can't see any relevant settings.

Settings, Wireless & Networks, more, tethering and portable hotspot.

Sorry missed that. Nowt such on my phone unfortunately.

[xoggoth]

Acer Iconia tab, coming tomorrow.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 Review - Android Tablet Reviews by MobileTechReview

Was thinking of the Kindle Fire, much cheaper, but it's rather non standard Android apparently.

[VectraMan]

Settings, Wireless & Networks, more, tethering and portable hotspot.

[original PM]

Which tablet did you buy? I just got a Coby Kryos - and have a similar sort of problem

mate of mine has managed to tether his phone though - will try and gte details of how.

[VectraMan]

IIRC Android does the WiFi hotspot thing out of the box, you don't need a specific app.

WHS. I think it was in 2.2 and later.

WiFi works both ways, so there's no electronics required to allow a phone that can connect to a WiFi router to also share its 3G connection to other WiFi devices. It can't, however, do both at the same time, not that you'd need to.

I used it when I had an el-cheapo Orange Sanfrancisco with my laptop and my home broadband connection was down. It's against the terms of my T-mobile payg access, but for occasional use they're not going to know.

[Platypus]

IIRC Android does the WiFi hotspot thing out of the box, you don't need a specific app.

[doodab]

With this "wifi hotspot" stuff, surprising that a phone that can connect via wifi can also act like a router to transmit wifi, why on earth would it have the electronics for that?

I'd guess that the electronics are going to be more or less the same as both types of devices need to both transmit and receive WiFi signals. It's the firmware/software side that makes it behave as an access point or station.