Possible to run Tetherbot on an RC-30 G1?

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My G1 is two days old so came from the shop (T-Mobile, UK) with Android RC-30 already on. I've been trying to use it as a modem for my laptop on public transport (without success).

So far I have Tetherbot installed and the Socks service started on 1080, Android SDK is installed on the lappy (Ubuntu 8.04 LTS) and 'adb forward tcp:1080 tcp:1080) creates a port to which I can telnet to (and terminate from by pressing return). FF is configured to use a manual proxy on localhost:1080..

Also set the about:config network.proxy.socks_remote_dns flag to true.

All good, except when I enter any URL into FF, the status bar immediately shows 'Done' yet there's no rendering being done at all - still looking at a blank screen.

I've yet to try FoxyProxy which I'll give a go tonight - but I was wondering if it is currently possible to configure a instance of RC-30 w/o root access at all? Reading around, some people say it is while others say it isn't..

Many thanks,

Duncan

Definitely works in ota RC30. Snippet from the Tetherbot thread:

Make sure that you set FoxyProxy to use SOCKS for DNS lookups(under Global Settings)...this stumped me too at first

Thanks! Web-browsing now works with FoxyProxy although I have to keep re-entering the ./adb forward tcp:1080 tcp:1080 command every few minutes..

Setting up the port-bouncer for ssh on 22 was less successful though, as it usually causes the Tetherbot application to crash.

Any ideas why T-Mobile wouldn't want you to use the phone as a modem anyway? Having come from an O2/Xda package I'd just expected that all modern phones would work as modems. Shame about the root lock-down too, I was half hoping for a meaningful bash shell and porting/installing Gnu utils, etc.

I guess the G1 would have the same data problems even if it were paired with a tablet like the N-800?

Many thanks,

Duncan

Originally Posted by dsmith1974

Any ideas why T-Mobile wouldn't want you to use the phone as a modem anyway? Having come from an O2/Xda package I'd just expected that all modern phones would work as modems.

My guess is it has to do with anticipated network usage. I don't know how tethering works with data plans in the UK, but generally in the US unlimited data is divided into handset-only and full unlimited (e.g. for pc cards). Not only is data usage generally lower for mobile applications, you're also highly limited by battery life.

Shame about the root lock-down too, I was half hoping for a meaningful bash shell and porting/installing Gnu utils, etc.

A lot of people were hoping for that. The G1 isn't that device though. Full unencumbered shell access would just be a nightmare from a customer service POV. The G1 is first and foremost a consumer device. A lot of those people could end up easily and irreversibly bricking their phones from a root shell.

Yeah i hear that, thats why i really dont care if i have root access. I'm sure in time all that we are wishing for will come out for g1, dont wanna ruin my phone!!! All i really want is internet sharing on mine.

A lot of people were hoping for that. The G1 isn't that device though. Full unencumbered shell access would just be a nightmare from a customer service POV.

It has nothing to do with customer service, but T-Mobile's desire to retain control over things. They probably don't want people to do internet sharing, because it will slow down their network. What they don't realize, is that soon there are going to be a lot of unlocked android phones available which wont be subject to their policies.

What I don't get is that with any other HTC device you can boot the phone into SPL mode and flash a new image. With the G1, that is not possible.

Originally Posted by Datruesurfer

It has nothing to do with customer service, but T-Mobile's desire to retain control over things. They probably don't want people to do internet sharing, because it will slow down their network. What they don't realize, is that soon there are going to be a lot of unlocked android phones available which wont be subject to their policies.

What I don't get is that with any other HTC device you can boot the phone into SPL mode and flash a new image. With the G1, that is not possible.

Your speculations are incorrect. T-Mobile stated that they will not stop or block internet sharing, but they will not help you either. Basically they remain neutral and that is why you think T-Mobile is against you.

Google blocked the usb mode image flash. So far we just don't know how to flash a new image because we are not sure if it is supposed to be DREA100.IMG or what is even in the image itself.

Back on topic, I think you will see a real solution when Android 1.0 is released. Or at least have a way to get full root. Basically from what has been said root was locked down not because of anything we did but because the source is not open yet. They are working on things behind the scenes and they need to finish those before they want us to fool around. Give them time to finish their projects and then they will let us start our own.

Originally Posted by Datruesurfer

It has nothing to do with customer service, but T-Mobile's desire to retain control over things. They probably don't want people to do internet sharing, because it will slow down their network. What they don't realize, is that soon there are going to be a lot of unlocked android phones available which wont be subject to their policies.

It's funny you should make that statement in a thread about tethering on OTA RC30. Almost like you didn't know what the heck you were talking about...

Originally Posted by neoobs

Your speculations are incorrect. T-Mobile stated that they will not stop or block internet sharing, but they will not help you either. Basically they remain neutral and that is why you think T-Mobile is against you.

Google blocked the usb mode image flash. So far we just don't know how to flash a new image because we are not sure if it is supposed to be DREA100.IMG or what is even in the image itself.

Back on topic, I think you will see a real solution when Android 1.0 is released. Or at least have a way to get full root. Basically from what has been said root was locked down not because of anything we did but because the source is not open yet. They are working on things behind the scenes and they need to finish those before they want us to fool around. Give them time to finish their projects and then they will let us start our own.

A few things...

1. The source code has already been published (minus a few hardware specific drivers) at source.android.com. You can build an image from source and boot it on the emulator that Google has packaged with the android sdk. There still is no way to load said image on a G1 unless you have root of course.

2. Google didn't lock down SPL on the dream, HTC did. And it was probably because T-Mobile didn't want people loading their own firmware on a device that is already running on open source software.

3. Ever since this root nonsense has come to light, I don't buy the whole neutrality thing. If everyone had root access, we would have a much easier way to tether.

@jashu: I know exactly what I'm talking about because I tried doing the same thing on my friends G1 with the official RC30 firmware on it.

Originally Posted by Datruesurfer

A few things...

1. The source code has already been published (minus a few hardware specific drivers) at source.android.com. You can build an image from source and boot it on the emulator that Google has packaged with the android sdk. There still is no way to load said image on a G1 unless you have root of course.

2. Google didn't lock down SPL on the dream, HTC did. And it was probably because T-Mobile didn't want people loading their own firmware on a device that is already running on open source software.

3. Ever since this root nonsense has come to light, I don't buy the whole neutrality thing. If everyone had root access, we would have a much easier way to tether.

@jashu: I know exactly what I'm talking about because I tried doing the same thing on my friends G1 with the official RC30 firmware on it.

1. Google hasn't released the entire source code, even they have said that officially on the android site.

2. Google asked HTC to do that.

3. Google is the one that locked down root not T-Mobile. Again this goes back to them not having 1.0 released.