Any half-good (free) Wifi Tethering apps out there? - One (M8) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Unfortunately this seems to be turning into a tired question that gets asked at least once a year (under different circumstances or requirements I guess), so happy 2015! The included Verizon tethering app seems OK, but I miss some of the tethering apps I used to use back in Gingerbread that would do things like restrict clients and show current upload/download speeds in-app.
At any rate, I currently have the tethering option from Verizon, and I'm rooted, so hopefully I'm pretty compatible with most of the apps out there. My issue with what I've found so far though is that there's a category of root apps that bill themselves as very hacky workarounds, and most of which haven't been updated in years which makes me a little hesitant to install on my device. Then there's another category of apps, both free and paid it seems, updated somewhat recently, but having even less features than the Verizon app, and/or most user reviews state to the effect that they do not work or are in general awful.
To help shorten the list, I've tried FoxFi, which was not so good imo, and I guess that would eliminate PDANet as well since I believe that requires a USB connection. Also, I'm looking to move away from the native Verizon tethering app.
So I guess this is a sort of "what are you using" topic, and are you happy with it?
Thanks for your input!

Just giving this a bump to see what you guys think.

At least for AT&T's tethering restrictions, flashing any custom ROM (that corresponds with your firmware) will do the trick. Or even any stock ROM that isn't carrier branded to Verizon or AT&T (most other carriers and regions have no such tethering restrictions).
I wasn't that impressed by FoxFi or PDANet either back in Gingerbread days. They seem needlessly complicated, compared to just going to the built-in HTC WiFi tethering setting and turning it on.

redpoint73 said:
At least for AT&T's tethering restrictions, flashing any custom ROM (that corresponds with your firmware) will do the trick. Or even any stock ROM that isn't carrier branded to Verizon or AT&T (most other carriers and regions have no such tethering restrictions).
I wasn't that impressed by FoxFi or PDANet either back in Gingerbread days. They seem needlessly complicated, compared to just going to the built-in HTC WiFi tethering setting and turning it on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, maybe there's some sort of "just right" when it comes to complication that isn't out there right now. I gave in and downloaded a few root-requiring apps so I'll be giving them a run later today.

Well, I gave both Barnacle and the Wifi Tether app a try - sadly, it seemed that neither could properly control the wifi radio to get it broadcasting. Also, it seemed that both would cause the system Wifi Radio controller to glitch in that I could not toggle wifi anymore after using those apps unless I rebooted my phone. 0 for 2!

Related

[Q] rooted 3g drop on wireless tether.

Im running Skyraider 3.5 sence with s-off radio 2.15.0.07.28 build 3.26.605.1
Im running into a problem with wireless tether 2.0.5 pre 14 or any version will stop working after a few mins. i have looked for something on here but I have been unable to find a fix. So I'm wondering if there is one. If there is im sorry for the repost. i can't seem to figure it out.
If any knows the right way to fix this im all ears.
This was one of the biggest reasons for rooting my phone. It worked great before 2.2 came out. Once I went to 2.2 rooted it stoped completely. I rooted into 2.2 using a method from Mejdam on youtube. I even tried the stock method that was on here to go back to 2.2. Then rerooted with unrev. still nothing.
Thanks.
Me 2
I seldom ever use my wifi tethering...but when I noticed the version number in your post, I decided to upgrade, and found 2.0.5 RC1. I decided to test this new version out because last time I used wifi tether, it worked fine. I think I was using pre-10 (it came with SkyRaider 3.3). Well, I am noticing the same problem. It starts out just fine, really fast & responsive, then after a minute or so it goes intermittent, the 3G icon comes and goes and it just becomes worthless. We are both using SkyRaider 3.5. My baseband radio is newer though.
Anyone else?
UPDATE: if you have a file: "\system\etc\sysctl.conf" then rename it, reboot your phone and try wifi tethering again. This fixed this problem for me.
Lexus One said:
I seldom ever use my wifi tethering...but when I noticed the version number in your post, I decided to upgrade, and found 2.0.5 RC1. I decided to test this new version out because last time I used wifi tether, it worked fine. I think I was using pre-10 (it came with SkyRaider 3.3). Well, I am noticing the same problem. It starts out just fine, really fast & responsive, then after a minute or so it goes intermittent, the 3G icon comes and goes and it just becomes worthless. We are both using SkyRaider 3.5. My baseband radio is newer though.
Anyone else?
UPDATE: if you have a file: "\system\etc\sysctl.conf" then rename it, reboot your phone and try wifi tethering again. This fixed this problem for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rename the "sysctl.conf" to what?
I've also been having this problem for a long time now and so far haven't found any fixes.
I looked for the file you are talking about and cannot find it using Root Explorer, either I don't have it or it's hiding really well.
Also does anyone know where I can get the stock 3G Hotspot app?
VZ has blocked you on certain tethering traffic due to 3g abuse without the tethering contact ($20/mo).
I have experienced VZ blocking various 3g tethering activity on my previous phones. This block is based on the phone's EIS#.
When I changed phones, the block was gone until I spent a couple solid days on my corporate vpn.
I've recently been blocked from my corporate vpn again. I don't know what steps I'll take to get it re-enabled, but I suspect I'll enable their tether contract, to open my access, but shortly cancel (pro rate cost).
I don't know when i'll take time to do this..
Let me know if you have success with this.
luvit said:
VZ has blocked you on certain tethering traffic due to 3g abuse without the tethering contact ($20/mo).
I have experienced VZ blocking various 3g tethering activity on my previous phones. This block is based on the phone's EIS#.
When I changed phones, the block was gone until I spent a couple solid days on my corporate vpn.
I've recently been blocked from my corporate vpn again. I don't know what steps I'll take to get it re-enabled, but I suspect I'll enable their tether contract, to open my access, but shortly cancel (pro rate cost).
I don't know when i'll take time to do this..
Let me know if you have success with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a gut feeling that VW had something to do with it once 2.2 came out and they offered the 3g hotspot for $25. Ill keep looking to see if anyone is able to get around it. I'm not gunna hold my breath though.
It's not a 2.2 thing our a smart phone thing. This has existed since my first experience in 2004, on a basic cell phone tethering with 1X.
It's easier for VZ to block us rather than hold us to the End User Agreement.
I should be able to call VZ soon to enable their tethering, see if it opens my access, then cancel the tethering service for a prorate charge of 1 day.. By the weekend.
luvit said:
It's not a 2.2 thing our a smart phone thing. This has existed since my first experience in 2004, on a basic cell phone tethering with 1X.
It's easier for VZ to block us rather than hold us to the End User Agreement.
I should be able to call VZ soon to enable their tethering, see if it opens my access, then cancel the tethering service for a prorate charge of 1 day.. By the weekend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I recall reading in the past, Verizon cannot tell if you are tethering when using the 3rd party wifi tethering application. Are your comments based on your own experience, or can you supply a link that suggests Verizon is blocking our tethering applications.
EDIT: Just FYI, I found another thread, specifically on this subject:
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-general-discussions/96761-verizon-blocking-tether.html
beecker said:
Rename the "sysctl.conf" to what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just renamed mine to "sysctl.conf.bak"
The file above was added by myself back when first posted that it would "increase your 3G speeds." And it actually did for me. But I suspected it when I tested the latest version of the wifi tethering application. When I renamed the file, things got instantly better as far as tethering goes... I have been using my wireless tether application for a little over an hour now with absolutely no problems.
So this was a guess on my part, but my tethering is now working fine and not dropping my connection. I hope this works for you as it has for me. If you don't have the file on your phone, then it's time to look elsewhere.
(don't forget to reboot after renaming the file)
Lexus One said:
From what I recall reading in the past, Verizon cannot tell if you are tethering when using the 3rd party wifi tethering application. Are your comments based on your own experience, or can you supply a link that suggests Verizon is blocking our tethering applications.
EDIT: Just FYI, I found another thread, specifically on this subject:
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-general-discussions/96761-verizon-blocking-tether.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My comments point-out that VZ can safely assume you're abusing tethering by the amount of data used within a certain timeframe. -- an amount that is not typically possible when only using phone and apps (non-tethering traffic).
Thinking back on the first time I encountered this in 2004, I did call VZ tech support. This was their answer.-

[Q] Reliable Tethering App?

I just rooted my EVO yesterday & I just can't get a tethering app to work. ONCE I had my laptop connect, but had no internet access. I've tried WiFi Tether several times with different settings & I can't get a connection. I'm just looking for a simple & reliable tethering app to use on trips & such. As far as I know I have the latest updates with no additional roms installed. Basically a rooted stock phone.
Reliable Tethering...
judbgrdmchn said:
I just rooted my EVO yesterday & I just can't get a tethering app to work. ONCE I had my laptop connect, but had no internet access. I've tried WiFi Tether several times with different settings & I can't get a connection. I'm just looking for a simple & reliable tethering app to use on trips & such. As far as I know I have the latest updates with no additional roms installed. Basically a rooted stock phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This can be a very tricky question that has perplexed many people including myself for quite some time! What I have found is wifi tether for root users is the best and most reliable but there are some conditions to this. What I have found is if you are a sprint customer you have to be sure to get the right version of wifi tether. It all depends on how much flexibility you want but if you want something reliable consider one of the early 2.0 releases instead of going for the latest and experimental one. The easiest way to determine this is to make sure that the little wifi icon is green and not yellow.
if you do decide to try to alter the sentence with the more advanced version, be sure to leave it on a generic mode with waln=0 instead of the specific evo 4G mode.
If you're using a rooted stock, a lot of the roms come with a built into hacked sprint wifi tether, so you should be all good to go.

[Q] Remove stock wireless tether

Hello, I use my unlimited data as home wifi, and have been for a while, but I am always afraid that somehow the veri$on tether app (more like fee) will somehow trigger, right now I am using the TikTak rom (for around 10 minutes) and it seems like it's not in this rom at all (the verizon tether deal) can anyone confirm if this is the case, or point me to another rom that doesn't have it?
I'm not real particular with my roms, as long as everything major works and I can still tether. my default is the stock rom just rooted, I like sense and all it's features (though I don't use them all) but am as I said impartial.
squat251 said:
Hello, I use my unlimited data as home wifi, and have been for a while, but I am always afraid that somehow the veri$on tether app (more like fee) will somehow trigger, right now I am using the TikTak rom (for around 10 minutes) and it seems like it's not in this rom at all (the verizon tether deal) can anyone confirm if this is the case, or point me to another rom that doesn't have it?
I'm not real particular with my roms, as long as everything major works and I can still tether. my default is the stock rom just rooted, I like sense and all it's features (though I don't use them all) but am as I said impartial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tiKtaK has working native wifi tethering and bypasses/does not trigger any Verizon specific restrictions.
Hopefully that answers your question...?
santod040 said:
tiKtaK has working native wifi tethering and bypasses/does not trigger any Verizon specific restrictions.
Hopefully that answers your question...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I didn't see that on there, I had a .apk for FoxFi on my storage, and it didn't seem to work on tiktak, so I switched back to wifi tether (the app) I'll pry a little more into that and see how well the native tether works.
also, is there a way to turn off fastboot in tiktak? I had trouble booting into recovery.

Developer Edition has a tethering guard now?

I just got the OTA to 3.28.1540.5, and saw that there is a new TetheringGuard app. This was definitely not there before, and while it appears to be inactive, it's curious that it exists now. I always figured that was something that carriers added.
Just for giggles, I started/stopped both wireless and USB tethering without issue with the service both "thawed" and "frozen" without any apparent change. My service plan includes tethering, though, so maybe it is getting called and just works a lot faster than the carrier supplied one on the stock AT&T image.

(Q)Solution/fix for alleged T-MB unlimited tether crackdown?

Hello everyone, so as some/most of us know t-mobile has supposedly caught onto the whole unlimited tethering evade method we've all come to use, love and appreciate...none the least I do, very much. It's the reason why I started rooting and getting deeper into "getting the most out of our device" scene.
Anyways, I have been tethering with my grandfathered unlimited plan for a long time with no issues. Methods used from native app mod's built into roms, flash able zips that modify the necessary files no matter the rom, modifying apns/xmls, foxfi, svtp hot spot app and my favorite the WiFi Tether Router app.
Recently though, I've been getting messages about mobile hostpost data usage "x amount has been used" ??? At first I thought it was related to me upgrading to lollipop rom, bootloader baseband and all via Odin...so I downgraded to kit Kat (nk3) which is what I previously had. I did so and tethered like I normally do....bam! got a message x amount of data has been used? So I read around threw a bunch of Q&A threads, general, roms, note3, s6, note4 threads and it's becoming more of a concern to people. Glad/sad I'm not the only one.
Note:I'm currently full nk3, running effortless, lean kernel tethering with the WiFi Tether Router App.
~~>☆☆IS THERE A SOLUTION OR METHOD I DONT KNOW ABOUT THAT IS WORKING FOR YOU?
PLEASE!!!!!!! DO SHARE ID APPRECIATE IT.☆☆
Changing the browser user agent string to Safari works for me. Also running through a proxy with encryption on.

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