what cell phones are you using for tethered internet? 2008

[Tony Cook]

I am testing out my Alltel Phone with internet. I have connected it via bluetooth. The problem is, It won't stay connected longer than a few seconds. Can anybody help out with this?

This sounds like the same issue I have with my Alltel connection. I tether (cabled) to my laptop with a Samsung U520. If my connection is idle, even for just a few seconds, the phone disconnects. As soon as there is WEB activity again (i.e. I click a link; GR3 downloads new data), it reconnects automatically, though, with no action required by me. It takes a couple of seconds for the reconnect, which is annoying, but not a deal killer.

A neat workaround I found is to use the DOS 'ping' command (if you're on winders). From the windows 'Run' dialog, type this in the 'Open:' text field:
ping www.google.com -t

This sends very small packets once a second to Google, which has the desired side-effect of keeping the connection alive with my phone.

TonyC

 

[cedwards]

I was on the $1.99 one day feature when testing it. I called tech support. Apparently that $1.99 is only for browsing on the phone. I subscribed to the $25/month "Tether feature" and it does as you say. I may try the ping running in the background. Right now, I don't notice any real lag when it reconnects.

Now I can disconnect my Verizon service. I did a speed test on my Verizon connection and it was only 94kb/s download and 60kb/s upload ping was almost 1000 ms.

It will be nice to have a faster connection at less than half of the price.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I have the U520 as well, with a Razr as a backup if I ever screw the 520 up. I have never had any issue with the "idle" time in between viewing pages. I have thought about connecting it through bluetooth before, but then it wont be recharging the phone as you use it as with the cable. I just took an old beltclip cell phone holder and braced it to my laptop mount so the phone has a place to sit that is not in the way. Doing this keeps it out of the sun and alot cooler and I havent noticed in reception problems doing that.

You can turn the tethering plan on and off as you need it and will only be charge for the time the feature is turned on. You can call them and turn it on, and then turn it off on your account page online (or call them again) when you dont need it anymore and you are only charged for the time you had it turned on. If turn it on and off like this and you only chase a few days in a month, your total charge will only be a few dollars for unlimited data. If you have the tethering service turned on when your new billing cycle begins though (and then disconnect a day into the new cycle) you will be charged the $25 for that month, but you are refunded what days you dont use in your following months bill.

$25 a month, 30/31 days in a month, do the math, less than a dollar for 24 hours of internet. Most times I have had it on though, I ended up with about a charge around $1.50 for a day because I think there is a delay in their system after it is turned off. I may just call them to turn it off and see it saves me a little more next time. When you call them be sure they turn on tethering (phone as modem) that is $25 a month. The people in the call center are kinda slow in figuring it out sometimes. Also when you are calling them up (Alltel customer service, *611) to save time, hit 3-3-3 and it will save you minutes of going through all the menus just to talk to a representative.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

Ryan, do you have a lead on getting the driver needed to use the RAZR? I checked out the thread from last year, but it seems that forum has removed the ability to get the driver. I'm not keen on paying the $70 for the data kit.

Hi! You need to go to

https://developer.motorola.com/

and sign in.

After that, go to https://developer.motorola.com/docstools/USB_Drivers/

There you will find drivers that will hook any Motorola USB capable phone up to your computer (including Vista!).

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

I have been using Verizon via an aircard, but I have had problems with the software not recognizing my card. I got around their connection software and used windows dialup networking. It worked ok, but I didn't get the speed I should have.

I am testing out my Alltel Phone with internet. I have connected it via bluetooth. The problem is, It won't stay connected longer than a few seconds. Can anybody help out with this?

I did manage to stay connected just long enough to get a speed test completed.
It actually shows a better download speed than my home DSL.

I can't help you with your bluetooth problem, other than to suggest that you just tether the phone with a cable instead of trying to go wireless. Bluetooth doesn't have enough bandwidth to give you the full speed of EVDO. Here is my RAZR hooked up via USB:

 

[cedwards]

I have solved the connection problem. Unfortunately, my phone has no option to connect it to the computer other than bluetooth.

 

[Glenn Dixon]

I'm using my AT&T Tilt (HTC 8925) tethered to my MacBook via bluetooth.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I have solved the connection problem. Unfortunately, my phone has no option to connect it to the computer other than bluetooth.

What is the connection problem Charles? Seems like a pain to have to run Ping all the time to keep the connection alive. That will be an issue if I consider Alltel.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Razr here too.

 

[cedwards]

What is the connection problem Charles? Seems like a pain to have to run Ping all the time to keep the connection alive. That will be an issue if I consider Alltel.

Originally I tried connecting when I was on the $1.99 day pass. According to tech support the day pass does not include tethering. I was able to connect with it but only for a few seconds. Now that I sprung for the $25/month "tethering" plan, It stays connected.If I am idle, my phone says "call ended" but if I click on anything, it reconnects automatically. Running continuous ping just prevents the phone from displaying that message. I don't see a real advantage to doing it.

Here is the latest speed test:

 

[Scott Roberts]

I saw mention somewhere (don't remember if here or elsewhere) that a wired tether will have better throughput than a bluetooth connection, presuming you're at EVDO speed. I don't have the capability to do a side-by side test...does anyone happen to have a bluetooth-capable phone that you also have the data cable for, and could do some testing?

 

[Mike Hardiman]

Just curious, what are you paying per month for the phone and voice plan itself... how "low end" can you go with a voice plan and still be eligible for the $25/mo tethered internet?

I have Verizon for my cellular (voice) service, and do not want to change it, as just about everyone I call on a regular basis is "in-network." So, basically, if I did something like this, I'd have an "extra phone" just sitting around most of the time. Is there much of a cost difference if you were to go with an aircard sort of deal and no phone?

I've looked at the Alltell website, and they must have all this buried, because I can't find anything talking about $25/mo internet access. Confusing things more, they don't really say whether this "axcess" (sic) plan they offer is "web-through-phone browser" only.

As for roaming- I've heard through other threads that Alltell has roaming agreements with Sprint and Verizon -- so why do some still go with Sprint if Alltell will work on all Sprint towers?

Anyone have experience with roaming in Canada? Any Canadians out there vouch for one of the Canadian wireless providers?

-Mike

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

Just curious, what are you paying per month for the phone and voice plan itself... how "low end" can you go with a voice plan and still be eligible for the $25/mo tethered internet?

I have Verizon for my cellular (voice) service, and do not want to change it, as just about everyone I call on a regular basis is "in-network." So, basically, if I did something like this, I'd have an "extra phone" just sitting around most of the time. Is there much of a cost difference if you were to go with an aircard sort of deal and no phone?

I've looked at the Alltell website, and they must have all this buried, because I can't find anything talking about $25/mo internet access. Confusing things more, they don't really say whether this "axcess" (sic) plan they offer is "web-through-phone browser" only.

As for roaming- I've heard through other threads that Alltell has roaming agreements with Sprint and Verizon -- so why do some still go with Sprint if Alltell will work on all Sprint towers?

Anyone have experience with roaming in Canada? Any Canadians out there vouch for one of the Canadian wireless providers?

-Mike

The cheapest voice plan you can get is the 39.99 plan, which is more than enough minutes for me. Which means its normally $46 or so with taxes and all.

The only place you can find anything about the $25/mo internet access is after you have a plan and go to your online Alltel account. I only knew about it from reading about it on here on Stormtrack last year in the Alltel thread. I figured out the daily option of turning on-and-off just by trying it to see what would happen.

If it is during "night & weekend" time you dont even have to turn the $25/mo plan on, you can tether and it will just use minutes (which are unlimited), so you would be getting data for free. I haven't been brave enough to try that yet considering if it didnt work I would easily get a bill over a couple hundred. I have read in numerous places about people tethering without a the plan on night & weekend mins without any problems though.

The coverage is quite good and they have added even more this off season (all of NW Oklahoma). I am not very familiar with aircard and service cost, but if you were to use this phone just for data and only turned on the service on chase days you might be able to keep it near $50 for total bill each month if on the cheapest voice plan.

Here is an Alltel coverage map: http://content.alltel.com/business/enhanced/mobilelink_coverage.jsp?state=nat

 

[Tony Cook]

What is the connection problem Charles? Seems like a pain to have to run Ping all the time to keep the connection alive. That will be an issue if I consider Alltel.

Yeah, it's a very minor problem, and I'm not sure if it's with Alltel or the phone. When I first hook the phone up and dial in, it may take 10-15 seconds to connect. After that, the phone ends the call if there is a few seconds of idle time. The next time you request any data (click in a browser, GR3 download, whatever), it automatically starts the call again. This only takes 2-4 seconds. It is a minor annoyance more than anything.

You can kick off the ping command one time and let it run in the background, and the call will stay active, meaning you do not get the 2-4 second delay that happens as described above. It saves a little time under certain circumstances, but certainly not something you have to do to keep your connection working.

Give me a shout if you want to meet up sometime, and I can show you exactly how it behaves. For the most part, have been very pleased with the Alltel plan. BTW, you will probably have to drive to a store to get the plan. They do not provide service for residents of Austin:
http://www.shopalltel.com/product/browse.htm?pgId=101

I had to go up to Killeen to get my plan last spring.

Tony

 

[Scott Roberts]

Just curious, what are you paying per month for the phone and voice plan itself... how "low end" can you go with a voice plan and still be eligible for the $25/mo tethered internet?

I don't know. The station pays for the phone service. But I believe the 39.99 plan someone else mentioned is the lowest-cost voice plan you can add it to.