[MOD] WORKING Hotspot/Tethering WITHOUT Tethering Plan !CONFIRMED WORKING ON WEBTOP!

richhed

Senior Member
May 15, 2008
52
34
0
Cartersville
OK, this took a lot of trial and error, some bravery on my part, and SEVERAL calls to AT&T, but I finally got it working!* I am not a Dev anywhere CLOSE to the likes of DG, but I do have extensive knowledge of hacking mobile devices in general, GSM networks, CS/PS infrastructure, and industry experience from the NOC side of several MSOs (aka ISPs), so I tackled this problem from a "what would I implement if I were AT&T and wanted to force a tethering package on subscribers?" Point of view, and worked backwards from there.

Many have tried the solution already posted, and I give credit to the poster of that original "fix" while respectfully pointing out that using this "fix" accomplished AT&T deleting my data package twice, and provisioning a tethering plan automatically once, all automatically done by the system. This was not the solution I was looking for.

So, without further introductions/banter on my part, here is the step-by-step... I will try to keep explanations to a minimum for now, if they are asked for I will put them in post #2.


*Prerequisites: ROOT

*Tools required: Root Explorer, SQLite Editor (both available in market, yes they are paid apps but they are WORTH EVERY PENNY!)

----note: this can also be accomplished using adb and a sqlite database editor on your pc, but requires many, many more steps, and won't work after reboot unless you have a working busybox and can successfully chown/chmod the .db file after you copy it back to the device, and even then I still had trouble with it after reboot, so... I had success with these paid apps, so I'm writing the tutorial assuming you have them. If there is enough demand I'll write an alternate tutorial on how to do this using free tools.

*******


++++++++++++ Edited, now shorter! Thanks to all for testing these settings, the new steps are confirmed working!
*(if you used the steps prior to my editing them, you're good, your settings will work fine, the changes reflect a different, shorter way to do this)




1) Create a NEW access point setting using the following settings: (SETTINGS>WIRELESS AND NETWORKS>MOBILE NETWORKS>ACCESS POINT NAMES> {press menu} NEW APN

Name: whatever you like here, I use att
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy:
Port:
Username:
Password:
Server:
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS Port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication Type:
APN Type: default,agps,fota,supl,fota,tether,mms


(all settings I left blank, leave blank, make sure you press menu, save to save)</br>

2) Enable Airplane Mode
(hold power button for three seconds, select Airplane Mode)

3) Open Root Explorer

4) Navigate to: /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/

5) Click on "telephony.db"** (this should open the db using SQLite Editor)

6) Select "carriers"

7) You should see a long list of APN settings for various carriers, the ones you are interested in are rows 4, 6, and 7. Scroll ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT and the last column should be labeled "preloaded." You will notice that each is labeled "true" press and hold the word "true" in row 4 and select "Edit Field" from the pop up menu. Change the "true" to "false" and click "Save". Repeat this step for rows 6 and 7.


7b) Edit the type field of row 6. Right now the field says "tether". Change it so that it says "default,agps,fota,supl,fota,tether"

7c) Change the APN field in row 6 from BROADBAND to wap.cingular

8) Press back twice to close the SQLite editor and you should be back in Root Explorer. Close Root Explorer.

9) Disable Airplane Mode

10) Go back to the list of APNs you saw in step 1. You should see that the "locked padlock" is now unlocked on the preloaded APNs named AT&T US, AT&T US HSDPA, and AT&T TETHER. You now need to edit the one labeled AT&T TETHER. Change the following settings:

APN: wap.cingular
Proxy:
Proxy port:
APN type:

Press menu, save.


11) Select the radio button for the APN you created in step one. AT&T Tether.

12) Reboot phone.

13) Enjoy! Mobile Hotspot should now work first time no issues!

Note: (Due to some pre-existing (bug?) in the software, you do need to have wifi turned on BEFORE you enable Mobile Hotspot for it to set up properly. If you forget it will hang until you enable wifi.)




#########################
After staying up all night to figure this out, I have confirmed that using the Webtop without dock MOD combined with mine you CAN use webtop with your 3G/H+ connection!!! No wifi required!

Steps to make this work:

1) Connect Webtop

2) Using the window that allows you to control the regular phone interface, navigate to the ACCESS POINT NAMES menu described in step 1 above.

3) Select the radio button next to "AT&T Tethering"

Done! Open firefox and enjoy!


Credits to Fenny, author of the MOD to enable Webtop without dock!
Also designgears, author of Adeo, which is necessary to run aforesaid MOD!
And to t0dbld, who contributed significantly and led the discussion that resulted in said MOD.

##########################
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App (yes, posted entirely from my phone. Thank you swype!)

If this helped you great! I'm glad I could help! I am not asking for donations! If you still feel like this saved you enough money to buy me a beer, my paypal email's in my profile.
 
Last edited:

richhed

Senior Member
May 15, 2008
52
34
0
Cartersville
Thanks for the tutorial. Does this allow the laptop dock and media dock to work without using wifi?
It should, though I personally own neither, and therefore have not tested that particular functionality. There is no way that I am aware of that AT&T SHOULD be able to tell any difference between traffic from tethered devices and traffic from the device itself, so unless they are packet sniffing (illegal for ISPs, somewhat hazy regulation on wireless service providers, but would be a BIG shock to me if they were) or there is something in the actual webtop ubuntu software that would inform AT&T that webtop is being used somehow (also HIGHLY unlikely, as it would be a HUGE invasion of privacy) the answer is YES!

PLEASE if you have access to either of these $$$$$ expensive docks if you wouldn't mind test this for me and report back to confirm that indeed it does allow use without wifi.

Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
 
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airbillion

Senior Member
Jan 2, 2008
526
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It should, though I personally own neither, and therefore have not tested that particular functionality. There is no way that I am aware of that AT&T SHOULD be able to tell any difference between traffic from tethered devices and traffic from the device itself, so unless they are packet sniffing (illegal for ISPs, somewhat hazy regulation on wireless service providers, but would be a BIG shock to me if they were) or there is something in the actual webtop ubuntu software that would inform AT&T that webtop is being used somehow (also HIGHLY unlikely, as it would be a HUGE invasion of privacy) the answer is YES!

PLEASE if you have access to either of these $$$$$ expensive docks if you wouldn't mind test this for me and report back to confirm that indeed it does allow use without wifi.

Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Cool thanks for the info. I have the hd dock and will give it a shot and post the results . I hope it works!
 

ranova

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2010
1,430
249
0
ah crap, i accidentally deleted the ATT Tether profile, can you give me the settings please?

Thanks!

or even better, attach the original sq file?
 
Last edited:

richhed

Senior Member
May 15, 2008
52
34
0
Cartersville
I hate that you are probably on final steps, but... You cannot re-create the AT&T Tethering profile manually, as this will break the functionality of the script that Mobile hotspot uses to "Verify" that you have a tethering plan...

Please go to your APN list, and press MENU>Restore Default Settings

Then (sorry) start over from step 1
 

ranova

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2010
1,430
249
0
I hate that you are probably on final steps, but... You cannot re-create the AT&T Tethering profile manually, as this will break the functionality of the script that Mobile hotspot uses to "Verify" that you have a tethering plan...

Please go to your APN list, and press MENU>Restore Default Settings

Then (sorry) start over from step 1
ahh didnt see that, thanks!
 

ranova

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2010
1,430
249
0
I can confirm that this works great - you no longer get stuck at "setting up data link" (so no more changing APNs to fix that).

Although, I tried the newly found webtop hack which allows you to just connect the HDMI cable to a TV and run webtop - it does not work without wifi. If you try turning off wifi and use 3g, it says "communicating with ATT to see if webtop something something" and nothing loads.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=980193
 

airbillion

Senior Member
Jan 2, 2008
526
12
0
I can confirm that this works great - you no longer get stuck at "setting up data link" (so no more changing APNs to fix that).

Although, I tried the newly found webtop hack which allows you to just connect the HDMI cable to a TV and run webtop - it does not work without wifi. If you try turning off wifi and use 3g, it says "communicating with ATT to see if webtop something something" and nothing loads.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=980193
Good work richhed!

Wifi hotspot works, but it does not seem to work with the hd dock over 3g only with wifi. There must be another check somewhere along the way. Too bad, hopefully we canfigure it out soon though.
 

t0dbld

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2010
457
1,485
0
Michigan
OK, this took a lot of trial and error, some bravery on my part, and SEVERAL calls to AT&T, but I finally got it working!* I am not a Dev anywhere CLOSE to the likes of DG, but I do have extensive knowledge of hacking mobile devices in general, GSM networks, CS/PS infrastructure, and industry experience from the NOC side of several MSOs (aka ISPs), so I tackled this problem from a "what would I implement if I were AT&T and wanted to force a tethering package on subscribers?" Point of view, and worked backwards from there.

Many have tried the solution already posted, and I give credit to the poster of that original "fix" while respectfully pointing out that using this "fix" accomplished AT&T deleting my data package twice, and provisioning a tethering plan automatically once, all automatically done by the system. This was not the solution I was looking for.

So, without further introductions/banter on my part, here is the step-by-step... I will try to keep explanations to a minimum for now, if they are asked for I will put them in post #2.
great find on unlocking there crap !! btw if you delete the apn type or the apn all together for the tethering etc you wont have to do the wifi on off thing, you have to do that because sometimes its still defaulting to the apn that is strictly tethering
 

t0dbld

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2010
457
1,485
0
Michigan
Good work richhed!

Wifi hotspot works, but it does not seem to work with the hd dock over 3g only with wifi. There must be another check somewhere along the way. Too bad, hopefully we canfigure it out soon though.
Yes it does , i would check your settings again , jsut because the blue tethering active comes up does not mean it is tethering an active connection, recheck your settings and try again, working fine here
 

airbillion

Senior Member
Jan 2, 2008
526
12
0
Yes it does , i would check your settings again , jsut because the blue tethering active comes up does not mean it is tethering an active connection, recheck your settings and try again, working fine here
Have you tried it on the laptop dock or the hd dock?

The wifi hotspot works for my ipad.

I'll check again, but for me when I start up firefox on the hd dock it hangs on: checking att for plan....

Edit:

Just tried it again on my hd dock after a reboot and it now works! Thanks
 
Last edited:

cellzealot

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2008
1,362
917
0
Philadelphia, PA
Nice job! This hack is based on the same principle as the TBH NVRAM tether hack that we released for Droid devices except yours is done by changing the APN in the system and ours is done by changing the Tethered NAI(Network Access Identifier) strings in the NVM because that is where the carrier data authentication components are actually stored in CDMA phones. With GSM all of that is stored in the SIM card itself and is not accessible in the NVM.

The change does functionally the same thing, that being making all data use appear to the network as internal data rather than flagged as an externally tethered device.

Congratulations!
 

NguyenHuu

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2007
1,729
121
0
California
uhm I tried this, when i launch with internal viewer, i cannot edit. but when i try to launch with the db editor, it wont open cuz it says no network connect (since we turned on airplane mode)

EDIT: nvm I needed to download the editor from the market since I didnt have one installed.

Can we delete all of the other APN settings without ill-effect?
 
Last edited:

richhed

Senior Member
May 15, 2008
52
34
0
Cartersville
I'm using the Atrix in Australia on the 3/Vodafone network, is there a way I can get it to work?
ikenley,

I am less familiar with your network, and I'll also need more information:

1) Are you using a US, AT&T branded Atrix?

2) What are the DEFAULT, working APN(s) for 3/Vodafone "smartphone" data plans?

3) Do these APN(s) require login credentials, and

4) Do they proxy their smartphone data plan

Unfortunately, if the answer to #4 is yes, then the answer is no, it (probably) won't work. Also, if they require a login, it depends on the type.





Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
 

richhed

Senior Member
May 15, 2008
52
34
0
Cartersville
I for one would be interested in a tutorial with the alternative method!
LOL, I was hoping that you wouldn't say that :p

Every time I personally tried I couldn't get it to stick on reboot, I think I may have been doing something wrong with the chown or something. Give me a few days I'll keep at it ;-)

BTW, if you have a basic knowledge of adb, and bash or busybox or any linux based command line terminal, basically you follow all steps the same except when you are editing the .db you'll need to copy that file to the sdcard, then to your pc, then edit it, then copy it back to sdcard, then back to /data/data/com.android.provider.telephony/databases/ and THEN you have to use adb shell to chown/chmod the file to the proper settings. I think it may be that the group ownership is changed to sdcard when you move the file... Anyway I'll work on it.

Sent from my MB860 using XDA App