Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Use iPad on Verizon Wireless for free

baypharm

baypharm

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 15, 2007
1,951
973
If you order the iPad with 3G and you already have wireless service with Verizon and don't want to pay extra for AT&T, you can use a program called PDANET and "tether" for free. That means you can get high speed internet anywhere there is a signal. And since it's tethered with no root access required, you are not limited to 5gb per month. It is unlimited. I use this with my Droid and it works perfectly. And I pay nothing for it beyond the $30 data charge every month. Verizon wanted me to pay $59 a month plus a host of insane taxes for accessing 5GB of data usage monthly. Forget that.

I don't think the current generation iPhone is tether capable so all of you iPhone carriers are out of luck. Perhaps the new iPhone coming out will allow for it.
 
actually the current iPhone is completely tetherable. It's built into iPhone OS 3.0. You can purchase tethering plans from several providers around the globe. AT&T doesn't officially allow you to and don't have any plans that you can purchase to do so.

I believe there are hacks that allow you to enable tethering still, but I haven't kept up with it.
 
baypharm said:
If you order the iPad with 3G and you already have wireless service with Verizon and don't want to pay extra for AT&T, you can use a program called PDANET and "tether" for free. That means you can get high speed internet anywhere there is a signal. And since it's tethered with no root access required, you are not limited to 5gb per month. It is unlimited. I use this with my Droid and it works perfectly. And I pay nothing for it beyond the $30 data charge every month. Verizon wanted me to pay $59 a month plus a host of insane taxes for accessing 5GB of data usage monthly. Forget that.

I don't think the current generation iPhone is tether capable so all of you iPhone carriers are out of luck. Perhaps the new iPhone coming out will allow for it.
Click to expand...
I could be wrong, but I don't think you'd need the 3G to tether.
 
30 second jailbreak and the MYWI app and you can tether the iPad and iPhone like a champion.

That is why I am not getting the 3G...don't need to. Also, my tether set-up will work on edge when there is no 3G around.
 
So how will this work with the ipad? In order to tether a laptop to a verizon phone, don't you have to install PDAnet on the laptop? Well, we can't exactly install that on the ipad, eh? Or is there another way?

EDIT: ok, it requires a jailbreak. Was posting at the same time as the previous poster.
 
jeffy777 said:
So how will this work with the ipad? In order to tether a laptop to a verizon phone, don't you have to install PDAnet on the laptop? Well, we can't exactly install that on the ipad, eh? Or is there another way?

EDIT: ok, it requires a jailbreak. Was posting at the same time as the previous poster.
Click to expand...

There are Apps to make the iPhone basically a little MiFi, sending out a WiFi signal. That's what I plan to use with my iPad, no sense in paying another $30 when I already pay for a device I always have with me.
 
JMB1911 said:
30 second jailbreak and the MYWI app and you can tether the iPad and iPhone like a champion.

That is why I am not getting the 3G...don't need to. Also, my tether set-up will work on edge when there is no 3G around.
Click to expand...

1) The iPad won't be jailbreakable for a while... and even when it is, it'll be another while before there's solid software for it including tether-ability.

2) It'll be a lot less awkward to just have the 3g version. Sure its $15 more a month, but you don't have to lug a stupid cable around everywhere... jailbreak your iPad... risk getting huge service charges from AT&T... you actually will have a phone to use while using your iPad (tethering temporarily "disables" your iPhone from its normal use right?)... etc

3) The iPad 3G will work over edge too...


I just hope AT&T allows downloads over 10mb on the iPad via 3G... they might, who knows... it's getting annoying considering most Apps are over that now-a-days.
 
Squid7085 said:
There are Apps to make the iPhone basically a little MiFi, sending out a WiFi signal. That's what I plan to use with my iPad, no sense in paying another $30 when I already pay for a device I always have with me.
Click to expand...

That sounds like the way to go. I have an android phone, but I'm guessing there's a similar app for android, so I'll go that route, which means it will work with the ipad even if there's no jailbreak available. Nice.
 
ArcAngel66 said:
1) The iPad won't be jailbreakable for a while... and even when it is, it'll be another while before there's solid software for it including tether-ability.

2) It'll be a lot less awkward to just have the 3g version. Sure its $15 more a month, but you don't have to lug a stupid cable around everywhere... jailbreak your iPad... risk getting huge service charges from AT&T... you actually will have a phone to use while using your iPad (tethering temporarily "disables" your iPhone from its normal use right?)... etc

3) The iPad 3G will work over edge too...


I just hope AT&T allows downloads over 10mb on the iPad via 3G... they might, who knows... it's getting annoying considering most Apps are over that now-a-days.
Click to expand...

Refer to my previous post.
 
ArcAngel66 said:
1) The iPad won't be jailbreakable for a while... and even when it is, it'll be another while before there's solid software for it including tether-ability.

2) It'll be a lot less awkward to just have the 3g version. Sure its $15 more a month, but you don't have to lug a stupid cable around everywhere... jailbreak your iPad... risk getting huge service charges from AT&T... you actually will have a phone to use while using your iPad (tethering temporarily "disables" your iPhone from its normal use right?)... etc

3) The iPad 3G will work over edge too...


I just hope AT&T allows downloads over 10mb on the iPad via 3G... they might, who knows... it's getting annoying considering most Apps are over that now-a-days.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant that you jailbreak the iPhone, not the iPad. Jailbreak the phone, get mywi, and you are good to go.:)
 
jeffy777 said:
So how will this work with the ipad? In order to tether a laptop to a verizon phone, don't you have to install PDAnet on the laptop? Well, we can't exactly install that on the ipad, eh? Or is there another way?

EDIT: ok, it requires a jailbreak. Was posting at the same time as the previous poster.
Click to expand...

You install PDANET on both the wireless phone you are using and the iPad. Then you simply connect the phone to the iPad via USB and blast off. In fact, you can install PDANET via your phone. I am not familiar with AT&T wireless network - I use Verizon. I am tethering now as I write this on my MBP. I have PDANET installed on my MBP and of course the phone. No need to worry about 5GB limits anymore.
 
wingnut8 said:
I could be wrong, but I don't think you'd need the 3G to tether.
Click to expand...

Actually wingnut8 - you are correct. I should have done more research before I posted. Yes, there is no need to order the 3G version if you wish to tether using PDANET. Thanks for the input!
 
baypharm said:
You install PDANET on both the wireless phone you are using and the iPad. Then you simply connect the phone to the iPad via USB and blast off. In fact, you can install PDANET via your phone. I am not familiar with AT&T wireless network - I use Verizon. I am tethering now as I write this on my MBP. I have PDANET installed on my MBP and of course the phone. No need to worry about 5GB limits anymore.
Click to expand...

It's not certain whether PDANet will work with the iPad. We don't know if there will be any ability to create/modify networks or have the iPad and a smartphone "talk" to each other in the way that a MBP and iPhone do. Using PDANet wirelessly requires creating a Bluetooth DUN, IIRC, which is probably not possible with an iPad.

The best way to get "free" 3G on the iPad is to create a wireless hotspot with your phone. I'm able to do this with my Droid, but it does requiring rooting in order to run the app.
 
How to Install - version 1.60 ( Update History )

Apple has not accepted PdaNet into the App Store due to understandable reason. You will need to jailbreak your iPhone and install it through Cydia.

To use WiFi mode you do not need anything installed on the computer end. To use USB mode, download the desktop client on Mac or Windows.

If you have installed PdaNet, we strongly recommend you follow the latest PdaNet updates at Twitter so that you will know when it is safe to update your iPhone OS or iTunes.
 
Abyssgh0st said:
Or I can use MiWi on my iPhone for free. No reason to use Verizon.
Click to expand...
MiWi costs $10 IIRC which isn't free but is a lot cheaper than $30 a month

baypharm said:
You install PDANET on both the wireless phone you are using and the iPad. Then you simply connect the phone to the iPad via USB and blast off. In fact, you can install PDANET via your phone. I am not familiar with AT&T wireless network - I use Verizon. I am tethering now as I write this on my MBP. I have PDANET installed on my MBP and of course the phone. No need to worry about 5GB limits anymore.
Click to expand...

Good luck trying to get PDANET on your iPad :D
 
Nexus One (Android) with Native Wi-Fi tethering app. I've always got my phone on me and an extra battery in my bag for those heavy use days. It would be pretty silly to pay extra for a 3g ipad and then pay extra for another 3g service when I already have 3g on my phone!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back