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I don't think any of the UK networks charge for tethering providing you've got a monthly contract with them. So the networks here probably don't care, but that doesn't mean they don't have the tools to detect the situation...04-19-14 03:59 AMLike 0 - 04-19-14 06:46 AMLike 0
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You could connect that Playbook to the internet via the BB phone in two ways.
1) Via Bridge, which was undetectable to the networks as it used the phone's dataplan to connect (and the phone then bluetooth'ed the data to/from your Playbook). So the network only "saw" the connected phone regardless of whether you were tapping away on the Playbook or the Phone.
2) Via a Tethered connection to your BB phone (using a WiFi hotspot). The network could see the phone being used as a tethered modem, and could charge for it if they had a mind to do so.
In fact, just so US customers couldn't use their network for "free", ATT's versions of Bridge were "special" and set-up the Bridge connection as a tethered modem so they could levy a charge. Though, you could download the Bridge software available everywhere else to avoid paying an additional tethering charge to ATT.
Bridge only works with the Playbook. If you're using any other tablet via a WiFi hotspot, it's tethered.
AFAIK, there is nothing magical about using a BB phone to establish a WiFi hotspot. It's using a phone (any phone) as a tethered modem, and your network can detect that and may charge. IIRC, the small print of many mobile phone contracts, even draws your attention to the fact that tethering may attract charges.
However, as I've said, in the UK the networks don't generally charge for tethering.04-19-14 07:29 AMLike 0 - Back in the day, I had a Playbook... stay with me on this.
You could connect that Playbook to the internet via the BB phone in two ways.
1) Via Bridge, which was undetectable to the networks as it used the phone's dataplan to connect (and the phone then bluetooth'ed the data to/from your Playbook). So the network only "saw" the connected phone regardless of whether you were tapping away on the Playbook or the Phone.
2) Via a Tethered connection to your BB phone (using a WiFi hotspot). The network could see the phone being used as a tethered modem, and could charge for it if they had a mind to do so.
In fact, just so US customers couldn't use their network for "free", ATT's versions of Bridge were "special" and set-up the Bridge connection as a tethered modem so they could levy a charge. Though, you could download the Bridge software available everywhere else to avoid paying an additional tethering charge to ATT.
Bridge only works with the Playbook. If you're using any other tablet via a WiFi hotspot, it's tethered.
AFAIK, there is nothing magical about using a BB phone to establish a WiFi hotspot. It's using a phone (any phone) as a tethered modem, and your network can detect that and may charge. IIRC, the small print of many mobile phone contracts, even draws your attention to the fact that tethering may attract charges.
However, as I've said, in the UK the networks don't generally charge for tethering.
Also, we tethered on 3 pay as you go until we had Internet (used 40+ gb every month) and tethering was not allowed at the time. They didn't say anything ;D
Posted via CB1004-20-14 08:45 AMLike 0 - I use Giffgaff Pay as You Go. However, tethering isn't allowed unless you have a gigabag. I, and many others, still tethered (didn't abuse it though). It's true that they didn't have the technology to detect it, I mean, how could they. It's basically data being sent and received from the phone, and then the phone communicates with the other device. Right? They wouldn't be able to tell...
Also, we tethered on 3 pay as you go until we had Internet (used 40+ gb every month) and tethering was not allowed at the time. They didn't say anything ;D
Posted via CB10
If you google "tethering detection", you'll find pages and pages on how networks detect it. So the technology exists and they can most definitely do it. I believe it relies on analysis of traffic patterns.
Funny you should mention giffgaff, the 4th google hit was this: http://community.giffgaff.com/t5/New...2/td-p/9187628
if my skim-reading works, as of last Summer, auto detection of tethering was activated on giffgaff.
Just because there's been no action, doesn't necessarily mean nobody knows it's happening. Being aware of something, and choosing not to react, is something parents do every day!anon(4185604) likes this.04-20-14 09:47 AMLike 1 - LOL, I'd apologise about derailing the thread, but I reckon that's already happened.
If you google "tethering detection", you'll find pages and pages on how networks detect it. So the technology exists and they can most definitely do it. I believe it relies on analysis of traffic patterns.
Funny you should mention giffgaff, the 4th google hit was this: http://community.giffgaff.com/t5/New...2/td-p/9187628
if my skim-reading works, as of last Summer, auto detection of tethering was activated on giffgaff.
Just because there's been no action, doesn't necessarily mean nobody knows it's happening. Being aware of something, and choosing not to react, is something parents do every day!
But why would 3 not take action on 40 gigs of data for like half a year, on Pay as you go when they clearly state no tethering on Pay as you go...
Posted via CB1004-20-14 10:07 AMLike 0 -
Longer answer: 3 might not have thought it worth their time or trouble to haul you up. 40GB sounds a lot every month, but... in the big scheme of things... unless loads of people on 3 PAYG were doing the same and it started to impact on the overall network experience... your 40GB was probably lost in the noise. It sounds like GiffGaff did decide it was becoming a problem... and acted.04-20-14 10:50 AMLike 0 -
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TechCraze C0008DDD104-20-14 02:06 PMLike 0 - Double speed 4g here... as not too far from liverpool.
Just need to upgrade my contract to 4g now
Posted via CB1004-20-14 05:52 PMLike 0 -
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1) I hardly ever saw what more than one bar looked like
2) customer service was so poor, it may have changed now but that definitely put me off, EE are throwing away 4G if you know how to speak to them nicely and you get combined coverage of Orange + T-mobile now I hardly know what anything that's not 4g looks like Lool
TechCraze C0008DDD104-21-14 02:50 AMLike 0 -
TechCraze C0008DDD104-21-14 04:10 AMLike 0 - Yeah which is nice, but for me in the past with three i had too many problems,
1) I hardly ever saw what more than one bar looked like
2) customer service was so poor, it may have changed now but that definitely put me off, EE are throwing away 4G if you know how to speak to them nicely and you get combined coverage of Orange + T-mobile now I hardly know what anything that's not 4g looks like Lool
TechCraze C0008DDD1
Oh, and the customer service... I am with Three for few months now, but as long as I remember, I have contacted Customer Service once - when I ordered my SIM... and it was ok.
Posted vis glorious Z10 powered by 10.2.1.294704-21-14 05:05 AMLike 0 - Funny enough, that all operators in my house show no bars at all. But the town is perfectly fine with all except Vodafone, which offers edge only. However, Three and it's home signal box was a deal breaker for me. Add unlimited data and bills below 20 gbp for that - you cannot go wrong with this.
Oh, and the customer service... I am with Three for few months now, but as long as I remember, I have contacted Customer Service once - when I ordered my SIM... and it was ok.
Posted vis glorious Z10 powered by 10.2.1.2947
TechCraze C0008DDD104-21-14 05:10 AMLike 0 - 04-21-14 05:44 AMLike 0
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TechCraze C0008DDD104-21-14 06:04 AMLike 0 -
TechCraze C0008DDD104-21-14 06:57 AMLike 0
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