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Best way to tether iPhone 3G? Can I get caught?

S

SandersHokie

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 16, 2006
419
0
Ok, so I tethered my iphone, but the way I did it (connecting it to my MBP via computer-to-computer network) just seems like a lot of steps. I don't have netshare, so is there an easier way to do it?

Also, what should I avoid when tethering it? I'm not going to download anything right now.

Is it easy to get caught? I mean it is an unlimited plan on AT&T but I know how that works with Verizon where they don't actually give you unlimited. So i'm wondering if that is the same with AT&T? I won't be doing it daily, but just if I am on the road or at an airport or something.

thanks for the tips.
 
ok I just found that PDAnet to be easy as pie.

So how do I get caught (I don't want too)? Is it easily possible to get caught tethering my iphone?
 
Yes, PdaNet is definitely the best tethering option.

Create a 'computer-to-computer' network on your Mac, join that network on your phone, then just open PdaNet. Fantastic and works extremely well. Feel free to put your phone to sleep or even close the app. It stays enabled until you disable it within the app.

Get caught? Just don't use it download lots of data. Don't use it to download large media files, but use it to check your email, instant message, read your rss feeds, or browse the internet. AT&T will raise their eyebrows when you exceed a large amount of data in a short time. Although it's called an unlimited data plan, it really isn't. :) You'll be fine, just don't be stupid. E.G. torrents, or p2p programs. :rolleyes:

For me, I've found it to be very fast and reliable. I was getting nearly 100Kb/s. That's amazing, especially when I remember the days of dial-up getting less than 5Kb/sec, or ISDN with 12Kb/sec.

:apple: It's a mobile world now. :apple:
 
theaustinpeay said:
Yes, PdaNet is definitely the best tethering option.

Create a 'computer-to-computer' network on your Mac, join that network on your phone, then just open PdaNet. Fantastic and works extremely well. Feel free to put your phone to sleep or even close the app. It stays enabled until you disable it within the app.

Get caught? Just don't use it download lots of data. Don't use it to download large media files, but use it to check your email, instant message, read your rss feeds, or browse the internet. AT&T will raise their eyebrows when you exceed a large amount of data in a short time. Although it's called an unlimited data plan, it really isn't. :) You'll be fine, just don't be stupid. E.G. torrents, or p2p programs. :rolleyes:

For me, I've found it to be very fast and reliable. I was getting nearly 100Kb/s. That's amazing, especially when I remember the days of dial-up getting less than 5Kb/sec, or ISDN with 12Kb/sec.

:apple: It's a mobile world now. :apple:
Click to expand...

exactly...just dont use it in excess and you will be fine. PDANet is definitely the best solution.
 
theaustinpeay said:
Yes, PdaNet is definitely the best tethering option.

Create a 'computer-to-computer' network on your Mac, join that network on your phone, then just open PdaNet. Fantastic and works extremely well. Feel free to put your phone to sleep or even close the app. It stays enabled until you disable it within the app.

Get caught? Just don't use it download lots of data. Don't use it to download large media files, but use it to check your email, instant message, read your rss feeds, or browse the internet. AT&T will raise their eyebrows when you exceed a large amount of data in a short time. Although it's called an unlimited data plan, it really isn't. :) You'll be fine, just don't be stupid. E.G. torrents, or p2p programs. :rolleyes:

For me, I've found it to be very fast and reliable. I was getting nearly 100Kb/s. That's amazing, especially when I remember the days of dial-up getting less than 5Kb/sec, or ISDN with 12Kb/sec.

:apple: It's a mobile world now. :apple:
Click to expand...

so as long as i don't download torrents and other things i'll most likely be fine? i won't be using it every day, just when i'm on the road or cannot get internet connection.
 
SandersHokie said:
i won't be using it every day, just when i'm on the road or cannot get internet connection.
Click to expand...

If you want to be extra cautious, I am thinking it might be worthwhile to connect for light to moderate use on a regular basis to establish a pattern. That way when you do go on the road it's not a sudden spike that might get noticed.
 
marker227 said:
Does AT&T really monitor it that much anyway?
Click to expand...

Just don't go over the 5 GB monthly softcap and you'll be fine. There have been a lot of other people on other forums that have reported heavy tethering for a while now and have not been bothered at all...plus, unless you're planning on cancelling your internet service at home and replacing it with your iPhone, 5 GB would still be reasonably hard to use up with just moderate tethering.
 
I wouldn't recommend using PDAnet instead of subscribing to cable internet at home to save few bucks.
 
Windows???

is there a way to use PdaNet on windows???

If so, how do you need to set up the wireless network. I've looked at it but i have no idea. It would be helpful if someone could post some steps.
 
If I tethered my phone and played world of Warcraft. Would that be pushing too much data?
 
If you do it for too long, with all of your other usage, I wouldn't be surprised if you go over the invisible 5gig cap on your account. They would probably never check, but they COULD do packet analysis to see that you are tethering if you really do pull a lot of data.

Can't imagine your ping would be very good though.
 
Just to clarify...

"Get caught? Just don't use it download lots of data. Don't use it to download large media files, but use it to check your email, instant message, read your rss feeds, or browse the internet. AT&T will raise their eyebrows when you exceed a large amount of data in a short time. Although it's called an unlimited data plan, it really isn't. :) You'll be fine, just don't be stupid. E.G. torrents, or p2p programs."

So just for me to clarify, does this mean if i play around on the internet, probably facebook or twitter or just playing around (no internet games or something heavy duty) for llike 2 hrs a day, every day, will i be ok?

i REALLY dont wanna be caught, so should i do it a little less, or will 2 hours be ok?

and that way if i do it daily i can get a pattern going and next time i am on a road trip it wont spike and alert AT&T.

thanks
 
What do you mean by "be caught"? If you're asking whether it is theoretically possible for them to detect that you are tethering, the answer is yes; if you are asking whether they are likely to do anything about it, the answer is probably no.

And what would they do if they "caught" you? Nobody can say for sure because to my knowledge nobody has ever had anything done in response to tethering. It is within their rights under the contract to cancel your service (you would get to keep your phone and would have no ETF), but I think that's pretty unlikely since they would be out the cost of their subsidy and the value of your remaining contract. Chances are they would send you a sternly-worded text message.
 
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