Canadian X on AT&T/GoPhone - Tethering entitlement check? - Moto X Q&A

I have a Canadian Moto X (SIM unlocked) running Rogers firmware and will be going to the US for a few weeks. I'd like to use my phone on AT&T's GoPhone service, but I've heard tethering is blocked on GoPhone (usually disabled on iPhones & AT&T-branded phones). Since I'm running a non-AT&T FW, will the tethering option disappear or is it an AT&T/VZW-specific thing? I haven't seen anything about an entitlement check on Canadian phones, except for the iPhone of course.
I know there are a bunch of tethering apps but I'd rather use the stock software. Thanks.

Related

Tether on unlimited AT&T plan with Developer Edition?

Does anyone know if we will be able to utilize cellular data tethering using the HTC One developer edition on an unlimited AT&T plan? That could put the developer edition over the top for me compared to the subsidized device from AT&T. Thanks.
Its the same device, if its not in your contract that you can tether then no you can't without violating your contract.
There are various ways to tether if you wish to, but the device isn't going to magically trick at&t that you aren't tethering
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
superchilpil said:
Its the same device, if its not in your contract that you can tether then no you can't without violating your contract.
There are various ways to tether if you wish to, but the device isn't going to magically trick at&t that you aren't tethering
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
When I got the unlocked galaxy nexus tethering wasn't disabled like it has been on every subsidized android device I've owned. Wasn't sure if that was a nexus thing or an unlocked/unbranded device thing.
So does anyone know if tethering would be enabled or is it something that AT&T has the ability to block from the carrier end?
On the developer edition it should work without having to pay extra. AT&T branded phones have addition software that ties into your account to allow or disallow tethering. This won't have that software obviously.
NextNexus said:
So does anyone know if tethering would be enabled or is it something that AT&T has the ability to block from the carrier end?
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Click to collapse
It's likely that you will be able to tether, since the phone will not check with the carrier if the tethering feature is enabled. Regardless, AT&T will still notice that you are tethering, because they can differentiate packets originating from other devices. If you use a lot of data, even just a short tether will raise a flag and you'll get a text or a letter from AT&T, saying that they want to switch your unlimited plan to a capped one.
I bet HTC would or will be providing the dev imei's to att since they all are in bed with the useless carriers.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
mgxplyr said:
It's likely that you will be able to tether, since the phone will not check with the carrier if the tethering feature is enabled. Regardless, AT&T will still notice that you are tethering, because they can differentiate packets originating from other devices. If you use a lot of data, even just a short tether will raise a flag and you'll get a text or a letter from AT&T, saying that they want to switch your unlimited plan to a capped one.
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Click to collapse
I've literally been using tethering without paying for it on my unlimited plan for years by buying unlocked phones. They have never noticed. I don't go crazy with it though. I use around 500MB via tethering each month when I'm on the go and need to get some work done.
This is very good news if true. I'll be going with the dev edition.
I'm using a new plan they have called 'mobile share' and it has tethering included for free. I use so little data I went with the 1GB plan (I'm almost always on wifi) but an upgrade isn't terribly expensive.
I had been using a 550 minute, 300MB data plan with no texting for my wife and I but this new plan only costs $15 more and gives us unlimited calls and texting with free tethering on 1GB shared data.
Honestly, if ATT does it like VZW, they have a built-in "entitlement check" in the database of the phone that tells it to talk to the mobile carrier for authentication.
I'm not sure if this phone will try to handshake with ATT for verification, but if it doesn't that is a huge boost to people who'd normally have to pay for it or change plans.
kirdroid said:
I bet HTC would or will be providing the dev imei's to att since they all are in bed with the useless carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tethering has nothing to do with your IMEI. I've been tethering on a AT&T branded One X (purchased directly from AT&T) practically since it was released last May. The phone will tether properly with any custom or stock rooted ROM, except for AT&T based ROMs; and on the AT&T based ROMs, it will tether with the proper hack.
My bet is that the unlocked One will be able to tether out of the box. But we won't know for certain until the devices are delivered, and somebody tries it.
The other thing to note, as another mentioned, AT&T can (and does) check on the network side for tethering. The exact methods and policies are unknown to probably anyone outside AT&T. But from what folks on XDA suspect, is that if your network usage is high, it will put you under scrutiny by AT&T. They will then look at the data packets, and see you are tethering. They give you one warning by SMS, and if they catch you tethering again, they will add a tethering plan on your account.
However, the monitoring process seems far from consistent. A few XDA users have reported receiving the tethering warning, despite swearing up and down that they never tethering even once. On the other hand, as I mentioned, I've tethered occasionally for years, and never received a warning. But I only use it for limited times, and for limited data amounts. Typically only while traveling, in a hotel where WiFi is not available, WiFi signal is too crappy, or WiFi charge by the hotel is excessively expensive. And then, I usually only tether to down/upload work emails and files, then disconnect.
Keep your usage low, and stay under the radar (so to speak) and you may be okay. But there are no guarantees.

[Q] Different versions of Moto X??

After many months of consideration, I am considering upgrading my old Droid 2 to a Moto X. I am currently with Verizon, on a very old grand-fathered plan, which works just fine for me. If I pay for the device, I can keep this plan, and avoid a significant increase to my monthly fees. I want an unlocked phone I can use for European travel, and at home, if possible. I am also considering switching to ATT. Verizon still has better coverage for the places we live and visit most often. ATT has a more attractive data plan for the way I use a smartphone, if I upgrade my current plan.
I would like to purchase a global SIM before I leave, in order to avoid ATT or Verizon expensive international fees, and to be able to have both a European and US phone number, and to have support available in English.
As much as I would like to avoid both Verizon and ATT, the other US carriers do not have service where I am.
There are several ways to buy this.
1) Through Verizon - Cost $399
2) Through Motorola Moto X Motomaker website - Cost $299. When it comes time to select the version, I have the choice of
a) GSM Unlocked - ATT and T-Mobile 4G LTE with Global HSPA
b) Verizon
c) ATT - I am assuming this is a locked version???
c) other versions I have probably ruled out
After 2 sessions with Motorola on-line chat help, I am more confused than ever.
In the first conversation, I was told that the Verizon phone will not work in Europe, and does not have GSM.
In the second session, I was told that the ATT version is not guaranteed to work in Europe. Huh???? Have the specs changed? Or is Motorola support totally incompetent?
3) Through Telestial - Cost $799 - Really?????
Help would be much appreciated.
REPLY
I guess the GSM unlocked should work!!
Sent from my XT1052 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Buy the developer edition for Verizon. If you have a very old grandfathered plan on VZW, wouldn't that mean you have unlimited data? By upgrade, do you mean adding more talk time minutes?
@beachkatz, if you want any possibility of using the phone on Verizon, follow @nhizzat's advice and buy the Verizon Developer Edition X
Why?
Only The Verizon XT1060 (Dev Edition, Moto Maker, Retail edition) supports CDMA/EVDO needed for Verizon's voice, sms, and 3G service. Since the other X's don't support CDMA/EVDO they can NOT be used on Verizon.
The XT1060 supports GSM, HSPA/HSPA+ for global roaming
The XT1060ships SIM unlocked, and can be used with domestic GSM providers as well as global (some conditions apply)
The Dev Edition allows you to unlock the bootloader and root the phone and disable write protection, and does not void the warranty. The Moto Maker and Retail editions cant be unlocked via Moto, and while a 3rd party China Middleman (see thread in general section) has been selling unlock codes again, it hasn't been as consistent and reliable, and could go away at any moment) it would void your warranty.
because you can unlock the Dev Edition's bootloader and thus root and disable write protection, you can have better success when using the phone with another provider's SIM card, and their settings.
The conditions on GSM Use... the X supports the standard QuadBand GSM for global roaming, as well as the GSM bands carriers like ATT and T-Mobile use. HSPA/HSPA+ frequencies supported by the XT1060 are compatible with ATT in the US. T-Mobile support varies. Where T-Mo has completed their "network modernization" (refarming 1900mhz from 2G to HSPA+) the XT1060 will get HSPA+, but if you are in an area where T-Mobile hasn't, you'll only get EDGE.
The XT1060 only supports LTE Band 4 and 13. T-Mobile does use Band 4, I am not sure if ATT does, but if they do its not their primary band. LTE when global roaming will not be possible.
When trying to use the XT1060 with a GSM carrier, expect to be limited to HSPA/HSPA+ if you want voice to work as well. There are some tweaks outlined for getting the XT1060 to work T-Mobile for voice/data/LTE. Having an unlocked bootloader along with root and write protection disabled is crucial for this. This tweaks may allow you to work for other GSM based carriers that support LTE band 4 as well.
$324.
doitinthedirt said:
$324.
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Click to collapse
This is really the best choice. I love my unlocked Verizon Moto X. With a custom ROM it doesn't even show a trace of being carrier branded.
I just asked a related question since I have the verizon Developer Edition phone. Read this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/using-verizon-1060-phone-uk-gsm-t2830139

N6 reports your tethering to your network?

att nexus 6, (sim unlocked), but running on att's network with att sim...
i know how to edit the build.prop to disable the tethering eligibility check, and i did just that.
BUT...
i have a vague recollection that newer devices like the nexus 6 report to the network when you are tethering, regardless of whether you are a legitimate subscriber. but i can't find where i read it, and i don't know what to do about it if it's true. so even though i disabled the eligibility check,so i _can_ tether, i have not actually done it. which is no big deal as i don't have any real need to tether, but i like to know i can.
so what's the latest on the n6 reporting tethering to the network?
-peter
I believe this only affects vzw unlimited plans which I have but I will not care, if it does and VZW bills me then we'll know.

Tether on grandfathered AT&T unlimited

I'm on an old grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan and I can tether using my current jailbroken iPhone but it's starting to die and I'm looking at the Note 8 as a replacement. I see a lot of info about the Verizon plans, but can anyone confirm that if I buy an unlocked Note 8 from Samsung that I'll still be able to tether on AT&T? I gather that pdanet/foxfi no longer works so I also wonder if there's a way to hide the tether usage, and/or if AT&T even still cares about this.
Thanks!
tomkiwi said:
I'm on an old grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan and I can tether using my current jailbroken iPhone but it's starting to die and I'm looking at the Note 8 as a replacement. I see a lot of info about the Verizon plans, but can anyone confirm that if I buy an unlocked Note 8 from Samsung that I'll still be able to tether on AT&T? I gather that pdanet/foxfi no longer works so I also wonder if there's a way to hide the tether usage, and/or if AT&T even still cares about this.
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
Not trying to get off Subject but I was facing the same thing when I was about to buy my S8+. I had the grandfathered plan (in some form) since my old Palm Treo 650 and hated the thought of losing it. Then ATT came out with a new unlimited plan that has a 10gb/month hotspot for each phone, free texting & calling in US, Canada, Mexico. So I asked my family if they wanted to all be on the same plan so we share the $100. Access fee and the rest is cheaper too. The whole plan is cheaper for me than it was with the "limited" grandfathered in plan (every year ATT had been raising the price of the grandfathered unltd but what could we do? Nothing!). Plus I have DirecTV & get a $25. monthly credit and $17.99 monthly credit for HBO. I think streaming DirecTV on their app is totally not going against data usage (which can slow after 22GB). This is what finally made me give up the old plan.
I could not find any reliable way to otherwise tether. I never did root though. Now I have the N8 and I use the hotspot all of the time but not enough to reach 10gb/month. I do not work for ATT! Lol.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
If you root it follow this thread. It will work. I bought a Verizon note 8 then switch to att sim. You will experience a little bug with phone calling. It will not place the country code leaving you with a number instead of contact name and volte and wifi calling will not work. You have to switch carriers on the phone using this method to fix everything:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...m-n950u-u1-t3685884/post74087340#post74087340
After that root it and follow these steps to enable wifi tether:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/enable-native-mobile-hotspot-galaxy-t3693784
burrzoo said:
Not trying to get off Subject but I was facing the same thing when I was about to buy my S8+. I had the grandfathered plan (in some form) since my old Palm Treo 650 and hated the thought of losing it. Then ATT came out with a new unlimited plan that has a 10gb/month hotspot for each phone, free texting & calling in US, Canada, Mexico. So I asked my family if they wanted to all be on the same plan so we share the $100. Access fee and the rest is cheaper too. The whole plan is cheaper for me than it was with the "limited" grandfathered in plan (every year ATT had been raising the price of the grandfathered unltd but what could we do? Nothing!). Plus I have DirecTV & get a $25. monthly credit and $17.99 monthly credit for HBO. I think streaming DirecTV on their app is totally not going against data usage (which can slow after 22GB). This is what finally made me give up the old plan.
I could not find any reliable way to otherwise tether. I never did root though. Now I have the N8 and I use the hotspot all of the time but not enough to reach 10gb/month. I do not work for ATT! Lol.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Thanks, I looked into it and it doesn't make financial sense for me yet, but I'm sure it will eventually.
alukarulz said:
If you root it follow this thread. It will work. I bought a Verizon note 8 then switch to att sim. You will experience a little bug with phone calling. It will not place the country code leaving you with a number instead of contact name and volte and wifi calling will not work. You have to switch carriers on the phone using this method to fix everything:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...m-n950u-u1-t3685884/post74087340#post74087340
After that root it and follow these steps to enable wifi tether:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/enable-native-mobile-hotspot-galaxy-t3693784
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'm new here so bear with me.
I thought that since Verizon and AT&T use different networks, the phones were not interchangeable.
Is there a benefit to buying an unlocked Verizon phone as opposed to an unlocked AT&T phone?
Is rooting necessary? A number of people on here claim that using a factory unlocked phone allows them to tether W/O any modifications. Just trying to verify before I shell out $1k.
tomkiwi said:
Thanks, I looked into it and it doesn't make financial sense for me yet, but I'm sure it will eventually.
Thanks, I'm new here so bear with me.
I thought that since Verizon and AT&T use different networks, the phones were not interchangeable.
Is there a benefit to buying an unlocked Verizon phone as opposed to an unlocked AT&T phone?
Is rooting necessary? A number of people on here claim that using a factory unlocked phone allows them to tether W/O any modifications. Just trying to verify before I shell out $1k.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just buy unlocked and u can use and tether on any network
you can tether with anyones plan; if you are crazy and use 100's of gigs, then you should pay your way instead of stealing bandwidth from those of us that pay for what we use

Xfinity Mobile version? ($300 off via prepaid card rebate)

I'm surprised I haven't seen much talk about this version here, or Xfinity Mobile in general. It is definitely the best option in price (to purchase a single Note 9 with little service commitment) over the unlocked version without being being too much of a hassle to get the rebate.
For myself, that means I activated a prepaid line (T-mobile, $10 sim, $6 for 2 months of service) to port to Xfinity in order to get the rebate. I'm on Sprint's 1 year free plan until the middle of next year, and since I already subscribe to Xfinity Internet at home, I might as well use that as an advantage to get the discounted phone. Since my main # is on Google Voice, I use their call forwarding to the carrier number currently, so I can do the same on Xfinity -- forwarding calls for the first month (or 2) until I can request an unlock code. For the first few months, I will actually use the service in part and keep it active to get the rebate (and get paid for it!), since I also have a BankAmeriDeals $50 cashback offer from Xfinity Mobile once 2 monthly billing charges hit. The timing was very sweet on that one, ha!
For others, I understand this offer might be too much work, as would be the alternate solution of switching carriers altogether to Xfinity Mobile, which is more than likely why it doesn't have that much appeal. That being said, I wanted to point out that this option is available, and start this thread for discussion on supported bands related to the Xfinity, or Comcast (CCT) model.
Known/deduced information so far:
128 GB model #s: SM-N960UZBACCT (Ocean Blue), SM-N960UZPACCT (Lavender Purple)
512 GB model #s: SM-N960UZBFCCT (Ocean Blue), SM-N960UZPFCCT (Lavender Purple)
I cannot find any information on the supported bands for this CCT variant other than (what I hope is) a limited list from the Xfinity website (B2, B5, B13, B4, B66).
Is the below assumption incorrect? I've been on Google devices for a while and I've been out of the loop with Samsung:
1) Once released, factory unlocked US firmware (XAA) can be flashed to this CCT (or any other) US carrier variant, and this should enable the bands supported by the US unlocked firmware.
Finally, if anyone has a previous Galaxy S9 or similar on Xfinity, can they comment if the bands on the device are the same or similar to the Verizon (VZW) variant?
References:
SM-N960 model number differences
Cellular frequencies in the US
I disagree that it's definitely the best option for a discount in price. Verizon BOGO and T-mobile $500 off are better, in my opinion. Yes, they're bill credits, but I'm not going anywhere anyway. More money off = better to me. I think T-mobile is the best one since it's basically just half off the phone.
I have Comcast and had Verizon. I thought about the Xfinity thing but then it's the same old game is taxes and fees increasing your bill. I'd pay about $36/mo for 3GB (still restrictive) and then with taxes and crap I'd be at $45/mo for limited data and I'd be watching my usage still (as I did with my 3GB on Verizon). Instead, I opted for T-mobile and will be paying $33/mo (as part of a 6-line account) for unlimited data and no taxes and fees. That makes me a happy camper. Plus with T-mobile Tuesdays, I'll get free Pandora Plus for year, I get free Netflix for life, free MLB TV each season, etc. I'm loving this company so far! And for $10 more, I can get 20GB of 4G Hotspot a month. ?
Anyway, I really did consider Xfinity wireless. The biggest turnoff was the lack of phone options, promotions, and the data is costly.
PsiPhiDan said:
I disagree that it's definitely the best option for a discount in price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I clarified for a single phone purchase. I think I needed to be more specific and mention without a long term service commitment. With any other carrier I would have needed to:
(1) Do a credit pull
(2) Stay with the carrier for 2 years to deal with bill credits (no thanks)
(3) Pay more than I do now for service (current bill w/ Sprint's free 1-year plan is <$20/mth for 4 lines) -- I'm not staying w/ Xfinity after I get the rebate, heh. Once the Sprint taxes+fees gravy train is over I'll see where I move
If anyone has any insight for the supported bands on CCT (Comcast/Xfinity models) I'd appreciate it.
Would US XAA firmware be able to be cross-flashed to this CCT (or any other) US carrier variant to enable the bands supported by the XAA US unlocked firmware? From the searches I did yesterday, it seems like it is possible, but may require a modified Odin version?
vacaloca said:
This is why I clarified for a single phone purchase. I think I needed to be more specific and mention without a long term service commitment. With any other carrier I would have needed to:
(1) Do a credit pull
(2) Stay with the carrier for 2 years to deal with bill credits (no thanks)
(3) Pay more than I do now for service (current bill w/ Sprint's free 1-year plan is <$20/mth for 4 lines) -- I'm not staying w/ Xfinity after I get the rebate, heh. Once the Sprint taxes+fees gravy train is over I'll see where I move
If anyone has any insight for the supported bands on CCT (Comcast/Xfinity models) I'd appreciate it.
Would US XAA firmware be able to be cross-flashed to this CCT (or any other) US carrier variant to enable the bands supported by the XAA US unlocked firmware? From the searches I did yesterday, it seems like it is possible, but may require a modified Odin version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since the S8, all of the S and Note line devices that are US based have the exact same hardware and features. It's the exact same phone with different carrier software. What funny is, if your unlock the device and just pop in another major carrier sim, Xfinity apps and bloat will be gone and the carrier sim you put in will populate.
Jammol said:
Since the S8, all of the S and Note line devices that are US based have the exact same hardware and features. It's the exact same phone with different carrier software. What funny is, if your unlock the device and just pop in another major carrier sim, Xfinity apps and bloat will be gone and the carrier sim you put in will populate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good to hear. So assuming anything else is unchanged in the Samsung ecosystem, the US XAA firmware can be loaded onto any US carrier variant, yes? My understanding is that the different carrier firmwares enable/disable specific bands.
If root was available, it would seem that bands could be added regardless of the carrier firmware [1], however, root seems unlikely for a new flagship device unless the engineering firmware happens to leak.
References:
[1] https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/qualcomm-phones-add-lte-band-using-qxdm-t3785458
vacaloca said:
That's good to hear. So assuming anything else is unchanged in the Samsung ecosystem, the US XAA firmware can be loaded onto any US carrier variant, yes? My understanding is that the different carrier firmwares enable/disable specific bands.
If root was available, it would seem that bands could be added regardless of the carrier firmware [1], however, root seems unlikely for a new flagship device unless the engineering firmware happens to leak.
References:
[1] https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/qualcomm-phones-add-lte-band-using-qxdm-t3785458
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, the bands that are open is dependant on the SIM Card inserted. The firmware on the device has every single supported US carrier required files with the exception of a small few. Carriers such as Total Wireless or the Walmart ones won't have firmware specific files, but because those carriers don't have their own towers, the device will use the files for the carriers that own the towers.
Example of Xfinity mobile. They just use Verizon towers for their service coverage. Xfinity however piggie backed their files or Verizon's in the firmware. Rooting could allow more bands to open.
Man I would love to see some hardware hacking of the S and Note series to allow them to work fully on Google's Project Fi.
I have the Xfinity Note 9, and having come from Verizon I immediately save the $20 line access fee, so it's a win if you want to be on the Verizon network.
So far my only complaint is that voicemail isn't transcribed. Should be, but doesn't seem to work.
For those wondering, Mobile Hotspot (using your device as a hotspot) works just fine with either plan. It's just hard to Google search for an answer because Xfinity has mobile hotspots that augment their signal.
I made the switch and save money too. Got the $300 rebate card, save $20/month so it is less when you factor it all in. That's $540. [emoji3]
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

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