Canadian Focus Buyers beware!!! - Focus General

I have a really good plan (grandfathered unlimited data, enough said?), thus i'm sticking with bell. I originally got the LG quantum when it came out, however since October i had my eyes set on the Focus.
Other then being heavy and small screen, i had no issue with the quantum. I ordered the Samsung Focus from rogers site.Once i got it, i stuck in my bell SIM and got a screen asking for a code. Took the phone to a local independent cell phone store in Downtown london, ont. the guy took my IMEI and gave me back the phone, a few hours later he e-mailed me the a code. Once entered, the phone went to start screen, everything seemed good.
Could text, and make calls. NO data, NO MMS!!
I found that adding the bells APN (pda.bell.ca), sort of gets data working.
However, It feels as if i would I have to make multiple attempts to force the phone to connect via HSPA+ network (i.e. get 3G+ icon to appear). If on 3G not data works!
and even there it doesn't stay connected. (disconnect between surfing sites, making transactions is a pain) On top of this phone sometimes, looses it's ability to make call or send texts, even with full bars, until soft reset (i.e. power down and up).( only happened once, after i swapped SIM card, hasn't re-occured since hard reset)
Ultimately , the issue is the network profile has been manual programed in the phone to use ROGERS addresses for DATA and MMS. Thus far i can't find a way and the community hasn't helped figuring out how to change the profile, by either manually changing it or changing to a Bell preset.
I can't believe that the phone does not get data in 3G mode. I have a theory, either because the bell network is new it doesn't support 3g data mode, which i doubt as my Quantum seemed fine, or bell doesn't have my IMEI which is how they provided data access on old network. I'm going to a bell store today and giving them my phones IMEI i'm hoping this might provide a break through. (will update afterword)
Samsung offers a network profile app via marketplace, however, once launched it provide the following msg "The application can't be launched with your mobile operator".
I will be contacting Samsung tech support this afternoon, hopefully they'll help with a solution. Although i suspect they say some BS about exclusive to roger, we can't help.
Ultimately, i've played with all WP7 device available in canada. The Samsung focus is the one i enjoy they most. My only let downs are the 16 bit screen which doesn't show gradients, and the OS lacking of essential features (hidden Wi-Fi access, multiple calendars, etc.). When data works i am absolutely in love. hopefully this issue can be fix soon.
UPDATE:
Having provided bell with the IMEI (rep at stored scanned it in from behind battery), nothing has changed still having issues.
I still think it's Network Profile, however in post #3 someone mentions an alternative APN, going to investigate and see what the LG quantum uses then might try.

I wonder if this is due to the Bell network, or if it's due to the Focus coming from Rogers?
I have an AT&T ordered, and it should be here within the week. Let's hope I don't have the same problems as you :S

reaver_shadow said:
I found that adding the bells APN (pda.bell.ca), sort of gets data working.
I can't believe that the phone does not get data in 3G mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There have been some cases reported with new phones on HSPA not being able to connect on pda.bell.ca and that APN setting having to be changed to inet.bell.ca.
Note, however, that under the inet.bell.ca setting, you will incur charges, unless you have a true data plan (150MB/500MB/1-6GB) and not the Unlimited Mobile Browser, which many have historically (and wrongly) referred to as "unlimited data". It's just that pda.bell.ca has never charged people correctly, even now. Expect that free puppy to go the way of the dinosaur, though.

zing said:
There have been some cases reported with new phones on HSPA not being able to connect on pda.bell.ca and that APN setting having to be changed to inet.bell.ca.
Note, however, that under the inet.bell.ca setting, you will incur charges, unless you have a true data plan (150MB/500MB/1-6GB) and not the Unlimited Mobile Browser, which many have historically (and wrongly) referred to as "unlimited data". It's just that pda.bell.ca has never charged people correctly, even now. Expect that free puppy to go the way of the dinosaur, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my plsn it lists "unl Email-Internet Windows 30". Is this consider a "true data plan", and not the historically wrong one?

reaver_shadow said:
On my plsn it lists "unl Email-Internet Windows 30". Is this consider a "true data plan", and not the historically wrong one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither the UMB, nor the email-internet 30 (often referred to as UNPDA 30, or simply UNPDA), nor the email-IM 15 are true data plans. People everywhere have been calling their UNPDA and UMB plans as unlimited data, only because Bell has not been properly metering and charging through pda.bell.ca portal. The metering of the sessions through pda.bell is actually capped at some ridiculously small amount, whereby you can essentially use "data" well beyond that point and presumably with no limit and the meter still shows stuck at that silly low figure (that figure being in kilobytes and not even reaching megabytes).
It's all good and well to take advantage of this wonky metering. I had the UMB for three years and loved it. "Unlimited data" for 7 bucks! Who would say NO to that? The problem arises when metering actually does function properly. If and when they do correct it, they *can* charge you retroactively for at least that one month of usage not in accordance to your initially agreed to contract. When you first signed up, you agreed to use the UNPDA for emails and internet browsing (and sometimes IM); not for downloading movies, listening to radio and podcasts or tethering to your laptop.
Rather than play hookie with the likes of Bell and go to bed every night praying that today was not the day they fixed the metering, because you just watched "How to Train a Dragon" on your phone, I would suggest to renegotiate a true data plan. This way, you can browse, stream, listen and tether all you want - within reasonable limits.
I switched from the $7 UMB to the 6GB data with tethering plan and I don't lose any sleep. Even with tethering and watching a couple of movies a month, I don't come close to the limit. Oh, and I actually pay about $5 more than I did before for this peace of mind. Some people have even negotiated plans lower than mine.
For some related reading, google "Pda.bell.ca and Tcare Data Usage Meter". A thread from HowarForums should come up at the top. See especially post #14.

I unlocked my Rogers Focus and using it on Telus no problem.
Do you have a friend with a Telus sim?
Maybe the phone is faulty.

geological1 said:
I unlocked my Rogers Focus and using it on Telus no problem.
Do you have a friend with a Telus sim?
Maybe the phone is faulty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW
This sucks, I have questions:
1) How did you unlock you device
2) does network profile app give you error msg when try to launch it?
3) can you MMS?
4) when the phone is in 3G can you use data
5) can you access the root menu using #634# -> *#197328640# ?
Thanks for your reply

reaver_shadow said:
WOW
This sucks, I have questions:
1) How did you unlock you device
2) does network profile app give you error msg when try to launch it?
3) can you MMS?
4) when the phone is in 3G can you use data
5) can you access the root menu using #634# -> *#197328640# ?
Thanks for your reply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may want to change the title of the trhead as it is a bit alarmist.
1. I unlocked it from a code supplied from a seller on Ebay.
Great service but the listing is gone now for some reason.
MobileXpress Canada (just one "e")
2. I did install it and yes it gave me an error message so I just uninstalled it.
3. I haven't tried yet
4. Oh ya...big time 3G+ icon at times.
5. I don't want to muck with the root menus until other guinea pigs want to.
I am enjoying the phone too much to mess it up.
I'll let you know if the MMS works after I try it.
You did set up the APN correctly right?
Try another sim??

Related

My God, I dodged a bullet.

Alright, so I'm a new Cingular 8525 owner. I bought my phone on Friday, but spent that day (and the next...) just plain customizing it to my liking with apps/games/etc. I even managed to unlock it using POF's easy unlocker.
However, it was not until Sunday that I was able to take it out for a full day (eight hours) of testing. Everything was far better than I had expected (even the battery life was beyond what I had hoped for) and, by the end of the day, I was extremely satisfied.
This is where something strange happened. By this point, I had 20% of battery life yet and I had manually turned off WiFi. Well, I was playing around on the 8525 trying to pass the time when I accidentally clicked on a web link. Immediately, it opened up, and loaded. This shocked me because I had turned my WiFi off.
About thirty or so minutes later, I tested it again (in an area where WiFi access points wasn't around), and again, I managed to load a web page fine. Now I was nervous. I know the 8525 is awesome, but it's not THAT awesome. I suspected that I was being charged for something.
Those of you in the know can probably guessed what happened here. For me, however, I got the idea to check my Cingular account online and, sure enough, I saw the stats that I used their network for 0.7MB of data transfer. Apparently, when the WiFi is off, the 8525 switches to Cingular's network by default. I had not known this because: 1) I thought that I would need to set the 8525's TCP/IP to use Cingular's network and 2) I had assumed that I would need to sign up for that in order to use it.
Either way, my intuition (born of my past experience and knowledge concerning wealthy corporations, especially those with the name 'AT&T') warned me, and I researched this on Google. Doing this, I discovered a mess of people who had the same thing occurred to them, and ended up with phone bills in the hundreds of dollars.
Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones. So what's the moral of the story? Assumptions are dangerous and trust your senses.
If you didn't upgrade your imei with att you can get the unlimited mediamax for around $20. If you did upgrade your imei then you have to get the PDA version, not nearly as cheap. Then you don't have to worry about the usage
I didn't change my IMEI, but I don't plan to get a data service anyway. I just prefer to use WiFi.
cmortensen said:
If you didn't upgrade your imei with att you can get the unlimited mediamax for around $20. If you did upgrade your imei then you have to get the PDA version, not nearly as cheap. Then you don't have to worry about the usage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey just to set the record straight the PDA plan is 25 now and medianet unlimited is 15...
Gyngabread Man said:
hey just to set the record straight the PDA plan is 25 now and medianet unlimited is 15...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just verified it and it's still showing PDA Personal Add-on $30. Where did you get this info?
Thanks
Well I guess that Smart in your handle doesn't mean much.
Oh, Airjer, my apology for not realizing such an obvious fact .
Gyngabread Man said:
hey just to set the record straight the PDA plan is 25 now and medianet unlimited is 15...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to get the $15 medianet plan on my 8525? I don't plan to tether to the laptop.
I found the same thing when I got my contract last year on Orange in the UK, its crazy how it adds up. The easy way around this is to go into your communications settings, and create 'fake' profiles for your connections to GPRS with blank values. That way you can just keep the 'fake' profile active making it impossible for the 3G/GPRS to connect automatically.
When you need to use 3G/GPRS, go back into communications, and use the dropdown box to select your cingular setting. Let me know if you need a more detailed explanation, saved me LOADS.
JPX,
Thank you for the advice. Since my last post, I've been doing much more research and I also found a software called Modaco NoData that basically disables GPRS.
I tested this out and it worked at first, so I basically ignored it from then on. That was my second mistake. At the end of the month, I got a large bill from AT&T and, of course, it was due to the GPRS. Amazingly enough, despite me disabling the GPRS (and it even show as disabled on AT&T's website), the data still collected up anyway.
Fortunately, I was able to get my bill forgiven, and at that point, the representative offered to disable it for me. I honestly should have done that from the start.

Vibrant and NO data plan but 3G/E signal?

My wife fone does not subscribe to data plan. But sometimes, she got 3G/E signal display on the phone. Will Tmobile automatically add data plan to her phone? is she getting charged to browse the internet? Is there a way to disable this? Thanks.
nguyenmd said:
My wife fone does not subscribe to data plan. But sometimes, she got 3G/E signal display on the phone. Will Tmobile automatically add data plan to her phone? is she getting charged to browse the internet? Is there a way to disable this? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did she get a plan without data? Its a requirement for the android devices.
I'm sure tmobile will automatically add it.
Yes they will charge. Either 30 bucks a month for per meg. I had someone that tried to do this with Verizon and he got a bill for 300 bucks.
You can turn sync off which will prevent it from going online to get info. (sometimes)
Those 3G/E are normal even if you dont have data plan
Disable with "APNdroid" from the market. After you disable 3G/Edge/Gprs data connection make sure you reboot so it actually disables it...you will no longer see 3G/E BTW Expect even better battery life after doing so.
laristech said:
You can turn sync off which will prevent it from going online to get info. (sometimes)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't touch sync its still very useful even if just using Wifi
Not sure what you will get charged but a data plan is NOT required on this phone. On other android devices it has been but for some reason this one can be used as a "dumb" phone. Store employees may tell you otherwise so they can get the commission.
joshthewaster said:
Not sure what you will get charged but a data plan is NOT required on this phone. On other android devices it has been but for some reason this one can be used as a "dumb" phone. Store employees may tell you otherwise so they can get the commission.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen people INSIST up and down that you can't run smartphones without a data plan or the carrier will add them. They told me the same thing about AT&T and guess what? My wife runs her iphone 2g without one (edge disabled) and nary a problem.
mk262 said:
I've seen people INSIST up and down that you can't run smartphones without a data plan or the carrier will add them. They told me the same thing about AT&T and guess what? My wife runs her iphone 2g without one (edge disabled) and nary a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used my nexus and then my vibrant as prepaid with no problems...I went into the store and paid full price for vibrant and told them i had a tmobile prepaid sim card i was going to use...they dont care.
But now i have a $60 month plan so i can use my smart phone for what its intended for
yep, no problem with my even more + plan sans data. been using it that way since i got my g1, and they have not said anything.
laristech said:
How did she get a plan without data? Its a requirement for the android devices.
I'm sure tmobile will automatically add it.
Yes they will charge. Either 30 bucks a month for per meg. I had someone that tried to do this with Verizon and he got a bill for 300 bucks.
You can turn sync off which will prevent it from going online to get info. (sometimes)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats not true. its not required to have a data plan with an android phone. I talked to a tmobile rep and he said if you buy the android from them by either upgrading or starting a service then you do. but if you bring a tmobile android to them to start up service you dont have to have a data plan. although its really pointless to have an android phone without a data plan.
thanks for the replies guys. I download APN Droid and that took care of the concern. Thanks.
nguyenmd said:
thanks for the replies guys. I download APN Droid and that took care of the concern. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you dont need to download any apps. just go to mobile network, select APN setting and change the epc.tmobile.com to some arbitrary characters like "24532lk34j23l45ju204213" and hit the "menu" button and save. then turn off background sync at all time (unless you turn on wifi for android market donwload apps and gmail or apps that requires internet) and then reboot the phone.
the phone will will still shows 3G/E but u wont be able to get on internet as the APN setting has changed. T-mobile wont charge you data plan for this even though they got the IMEI detected. Ciao!
njfpolyr6 said:
you dont need to download any apps. just go to mobile network, select APN setting and change the epc.tmobile.com to some arbitrary characters like "24532lk34j23l45ju204213" and hit the "menu" button and save. then turn off background sync at all time (unless you turn on wifi for android market donwload apps and gmail or apps that requires internet) and then reboot the phone.
the phone will will still shows 3G/E but u wont be able to get on internet as the APN setting has changed. T-mobile wont charge you data plan for this even though they got the IMEI detected. Ciao!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea remove epc.tmobile.com and for some reason you want it back but you forgot what it was so you go searching online because your forgot to write it down...you get the point
You really think that's easier than just getting APNdroid click to disable, click to enable. And why would he want to and disable background sync im sure he will use wifi.
BTW when you use your "method" and still see 3G/E your phone might not be able to connect to tmobile but it is still searching for those signals ultimately wasting battery
I don't have a data plan and I haven't disabled the APN settings. Whenever I go onto the browser without WiFi it shows me a T-Mobile page that just says that I need a data plan use the internet. It has never charged me. But I do have an unlimited text message plan and I can send picture messages just fine. Just an FYI.
I have used several android phones with out a data plan. We have a family plan, and so all I needed to do was use the sim card for a line that did not have a plan. It actually works well, and were I not waiting for the ota for froyo, I would be tempted to drop my data plan and I use my phone extensively.
If I recall correctly, the only applications that I could not use when out and about were the browser based apps. Initially, the thought of not being able to user google maps would have been enough of a reason not to drop the data plan, but with my trip to canada, that was cured with a $20 download of Co pilot. I am generally using my phone where I have wifi access. Nonetheless, I still was able to get email updates with out a data plan.
In essence, with out a data plan you can still access email, messaging, and use many if not most of your downloaded applications. If you need constant access to FB, you tube, twitter and the likes, you will not easily be able to drop you data line.
Note that I was able to get my wife's phone upgraded to a my touch slide on t-mobile and was not required to add a data plan. I did, but it was weeks after I already had it up and running which was possible because it provided an option to configure wifi before having to have the google account configured (unlike the G1).
Just fyi those those interested.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
T-Mobile will NEVER add a data plan to your line, especially without your knowledge.
I've been using a smartphone with my plan without data for years now.

[Q] Rogers data plan not working?

So a couple of weeks ago I bought a new HTC desire outright on Telus. I got it unlocked to use with my rogers prepaid sim card. So far so good.
But when popped it in, set up the apn and tested out the internet, I got a message saying: "Before using the mobile internet, you must have a valid mobile internet option. To continue, select from the following:" and it went on to list the data day and week passes for smartphones.
But, i DO have data. I have the socialite 20 prepaid data plan which includes
unlimited internet. Before the desire, I was using the plan with my blackberry bold just fine. Anyone have any ideas as to why my generic data plan worked on my bb but not my htc?
Any help is much appreciated, thanks.
Maybe cause your on a blackberry specific plan ?
im not really sure never had this problem
then again i never used an unlock phone on rogers just got a phone with a 3 year contract :\
That's what i thought at first. but I'm just on a regular data plan.
something similar happened like that and I called rogers who assured me out was a glitch in their system. just needs a data reset.
Earbuddy said:
something similar happened like that and I called riggers who assured me out was a glitch in their system. just needs a data reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so all i have to do is ask rogers to reset my data?
I remember that the unlimited data only applies to the selected payg rogers phones using the wpa network?
5. Includes unlimited on-device mobile browsing, excluding tethering (use of device as wireless modem) on select Rogers certified devices (excludes smartphones). Usage subject to Rogers Terms of services and Acceptable usage policy; rogers.com/terms. Data transmission charges of 5¢/page viewed when roaming in the US and 25¢/page viewed when roaming internationally apply. Visit Rogers.com/mobileinternet for details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, if it turns out to work for you then I might get that plan too
DangerPanda said:
I remember that the unlimited data only applies to the selected payg rogers phones using the wpa network?
QUOTE]
sorry, but what exactly do you mean by wpa network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technodude88 said:
DangerPanda said:
I remember that the unlimited data only applies to the selected payg rogers phones using the wpa network?
QUOTE]
sorry, but what exactly do you mean by wpa network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think he meant "wap"
also, I'm not sure if you've called rogers yet but i know that plans are dependent on phones anymore - for example you can use your blackberry on an iphone data plan and vice versa - when I HUPed to the iphone 4 i was on a regular data on one line and a blackberry on another - i thought I would have to switch both lines to iphone plans but they said that it's been set so that I can switch "data" between both phones so no plan change was necessary.
I think you should just call Rogers and see what they say, likely what will happen is they will "reset" your data and you'll remove the battery and the sim for 10 seconds then put everything back and it should work fine.
I don't think pay as you go is any different but I'm speaking from contract experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Earbuddy said:
Technodude88 said:
i think he meant "wap"
also, I'm not sure if you've called rogers yet but i know that plans are dependent on phones anymore - for example you can use your blackberry on an iphone data plan and vice versa - when I HUPed to the iphone 4 i was on a regular data on one line and a blackberry on another - i thought I would have to switch both lines to iphone plans but they said that it's been set so that I can switch "data" between both phones so no plan change was necessary.
I think you should just call Rogers and see what they say, likely what will happen is they will "reset" your data and you'll remove the battery and the sim for 10 seconds then put everything back and it should work fine.
I don't think pay as you go is any different but I'm speaking from contract experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, ok. Thanks for your help! I'll give them a call tomorrow and see how everything goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I gave that a try, but no dice. , when i turned on my phone after they reset my data, i still got the same message, any ideas? The person i was talking to said that it would only work with feature phones and not smartphones. But obviously not as i could use my blackberry...
Any help, ideas, or opinions, ate greatly appreciated.
And I could just get an android data plan but I can't afford paying around 60 bucks per month for the amount of data I use, around 3 gigs.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Naive question : have you tried to put your SIM (the present one you have in your Desire) in your old Blackberry ?
If it's not working either then definitely a problem with your carrier (probably misconfiged your plan when you changed your phone). Just call'em again and again...Sorry no more ideas then...
If it's working in your BB and not your HTC then probably a conf problem on the phone itself OR (like said earlier) your data plan (not the fees you pay or the customer contract but I mean the real configuration of your profile in the network) that is not the same for a BB and a regular smartphone.
That's nearly always the case, BB using different data services that other constructor....If that's the case then......calling carrier support again and again and again to make them correct that...
As for the network conf of the HTC itself, I guess you have verified everything, especially the APN part ?
ChiccoFR said:
Naive question : have you tried to put your SIM (the present one you have in your Desire) in your old Blackberry ?
If it's not working either then definitely a problem with your carrier (probably misconfiged your plan when you changed your phone). Just call'em again and again...Sorry no more ideas then...
If it's working in your BB and not your HTC then probably a conf problem on the phone itself OR (like said earlier) your data plan (not the fees you pay or the customer contract but I mean the real configuration of your profile in the network) that is not the same for a BB and a regular smartphone.
That's nearly always the case, BB using different data services that other constructor....If that's the case then......calling carrier support again and again and again to make them correct that...
As for the network conf of the HTC itself, I guess you have verified everything, especially the APN part ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i gave that a shot and it works fine in the bb, and yea i double checked my apn settings, guess im just going to have to bug rogers untill they point me in the right direction
I think your problem is that you are not using a valid smartphone data plan, the unlimited internet option is only available to Roger's dumbphones/bb. If everyone were able to get unlimited internet on their smart phones with $10 a month, there wouldn't be a need for a data plan right?
so i found something interesting today,
if i toggle the data on and immediatly load a page, news feed, video, whatever, i can get maybe 3-5 seconds of working data, which is progress
its as though it starts and then identifies the phone i have, and sees that its a smartphone, so it shuts it off... or is this a phone problem?
also, if it is and i.d. thing, is there any way to make your phone appear as though its a dumbphone? sort of like changing the user agent or something?
thanks in advance
i hope you've had your data plan restored, but in case you haven't, i asked Rogers for a "special reset".
i rooted and flashed cyanogenmod 6.1
my data was working
then when in windsor, it lost my Rogers (Canada) data network but logged on to an American AT&T data network
Even when Rogers was available again, and AT&T was not, it just never came back.
the technician told me it might have stuck to the AT&T network and a data reset would fix it.
it did!

T-Mobile just stopped my phone from tethering

got a text at 12:08am saying it may be shut off and then at 12:19am they did.
thanks T-Mobile for nothing i got this phone just for that reason (hd2 leo)
If your contract states tethering is allowed then point that out to them and demand they reinstate it.
Similarly if it doesn't mention it at all, or doesn't say they can withdraw unlisted services.
If it states it is not allowed then go sit on the naughty step you bad boy. Then call them and sign up for their tethering tarrif which other members in your position have mentioned.
I know I have unlimited with them and have tethered a good bit. I even had a rep say something to the effect " wow looks like you use your data plan !" and no other word was said. Usually when you get those texts it's because you haven't paid the bill.
Not saying you haven't payed it but you might want to make sure they see it as up to date. You may have exceeded your plans limit? You might want to check into that.
I have not checked my T&C, but am pretty sure that with T-Mobile in the UK, using your data connection for tethering is an extra cost and is thus not allowed on the normal data connction. I have a friend (what do you mean imaginary?) who uses their phone as their main connection to the internet for their computer for the last 4+ years and T-Mobile haven't written to her.
Curious, how can they stop tethering? This is a legit question from the technical side of things. I was under the impression that tethering is a local phone function which ports data to and from the attached computer. Other than your service provider noting data usage, how can they determine what you have attached to your phone?
Experienced XDA Guru's, please enlighten me!
are you sure that you are not past due?
GulDucat said:
Curious, how can they stop tethering? This is a legit question from the technical side of things. I was under the impression that tethering is a local phone function which ports data to and from the attached computer. Other than your service provider noting data usage, how can they determine what you have attached to your phone?
Experienced XDA Guru's, please enlighten me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhmm because when you are browsing the web you are sending information about what type of system you are using. If you are browsing with your phone the information being sent and requested is for a phone's OS or mobile web site. When you are tethering you are sending and requesting information for a PC. It's that simple.
OP here
My bill is up to date and paid, have yet to call and chew them out, but I got this phone just for that reason so it should be in my agreement (no contract just bought the phone outright)
but fyi when I try to tether with either the usb or wifi it comes up with a page on my browser(on my comp) of a t-mobile website saying that its no supported and to call for a the +$14.99
heres a pic of it
QazQaz3 said:
OP here
My bill is up to date and paid, have yet to call and chew them out, but I got this phone just for that reason so it should be in my agreement (no contract just bought the phone outright)
but fyi when I try to tether with either the usb or wifi it comes up with a page on my browser(on my comp) of a t-mobile website saying that its no supported and to call for a the +$14.99
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so are you using a stock rom? I am very curious as to weather they are only picking up the usage data from stock roms or custom roms as well.
Thanks,
Jeff
innovator8 said:
so are you using a stock rom? I am very curious as to weather they are only picking up the usage data from stock roms or custom roms as well.
Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does not matter what rom you use as they can analyze the data packets sent along from the phone via packet sniffing. As noted above your browers sends all sorts of information such as OS and browser in use
see more here
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/security/pki/psm/help_21/privacy_help.html#privacy_visit
innovator8 said:
so are you using a stock rom? I am very curious as to weather they are only picking up the usage data from stock roms or custom roms as well.
Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, stock but a few cabs on top (cookies and similar)
called T-Mobile and all they said was that they have "never" supported tethering but yet when asked then why was it on my phone when i bought it they quickly changed the subject.
2. Protective Measures
To provide a good experience for the majority of our customers and minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we may take measures including temporarily reducing data throughput for a subset of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth; if your total usage exceeds 5GB (amount is subject to change; please periodically check T-Mobile.com for updates) during a billing cycle, we may reduce your data speed for the remainder of that billing cycle. We may also suspend, terminate, or restrict your data session, Plan, or service if you use your Data Plan in a manner that interferes with other customers’ service, our ability to allocate network capacity among customers, or that otherwise may degrade service quality for other customers.
http://www.t-mobile.com/Templates/Popup.aspx?PAsset=Pln_Lst_DataPlan
Try changing the apn to internet2.voicestream.com
Some users from the vibrant section seem to get it working again
The internet2 apn does work, but is not as good as the epc apn in terms of quality. Speed is fine. I keep getting time outs and all my IM programs go haywire sometimes. wap apn is affected. Have not tried the internet3 apn (vpn)
I'm on Energy ROM and decided to try turning off my LAN and turn on USB Tethering from my HD2 just to see what would happen (TMOUS), working fine as usual, no problems and no errors. Streaming Jim Rome, checking my email, and posting this reply all tethered.
Maybe try flashing NRG and see what happens?
Maybe t-mobile did this manually maybe you kept tethering and passing 3gb led them to believe your tethering. I use alot of data on my phone and I only gotten close to 2.5gb max so maybe their checking people who are using more than certain amount of data to get them to pay for the tethering plan but who knows I'm just wondering.

[GUIDE] Getting your unlocked Note fully functional on Straight Talk (including MMS)

Disclaimer at the bottom of the post... *
Updated for ICS / Ice Cream Sandwich - tentative settings, please confirm if these work for you. (Look for additional red text.)
Thank you to everyone who took the time to figure all this stuff out! All I did was take some pretty screenshots to make it easier for beginners.
OK, I want to make this short, simple, and thorough. I don't think those things are mutually exclusive.
First, you need an activated Straight Talk SIM card that can be transferred to other phones. **
Put the SIM into your Note, turn it on, and open the system settings. Then tap the following...
Wireless and network > Mobile networks > Access Point Names
The next screen should look something like the attached image #1: "APNs". Tap the Menu button and tap the New APN button. ***
You need to create two APNs. The name you enter in the Name field apparently doesn't matter. I just used "Internet" and "MMS" to avoid confusion. Copy the settings in the two attached image numbers 2: "APN_1" and image number 3: "APN_2". I drew a yellow check mark next to all the entries that I needed to change, I suppose some firmware versions/ROMs/phones may be different. When you're done entering in all the required addresses and stuff, tap the Menu button and tap the Save button.
APN 1...
Name: Internet
APN: att.mvno
The method for setting the "APN type" varies. Choose "internet" if you are given a list of choices, type "default" if you must type it in.
APN type: internet
APN type: default
Typing "default" seems to work on imilka's AOSP ICS v03 ROM for the internet at least, I haven't tried MMS yet. I suspect it will work with other ICS builds as well.
APN 2...
Name: MMS
APN: att.mvno
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS proxy: proxy.mvno.tracfone.com
MMS port: 80
APN type: mms
When you save the second APN and you return to the APNs screen: select the radio button on the first APN (see attached image number 4: "Select_APN").
Tap the Back button to return to the Manage network settings screen. Put a check mark into the Use packet data option (see attached image number 5: "Check_use_packet_data"). Shortly after checking that box my phone connected to the network.
Yay you're done! This worked on my phone, I hope it works for y'all too.
* This is for informational purposes only. I am not an expert. Frankly, I don't even know what these settings really do. I simply copied them from other places on the internet (like this thread). There is an app, APN Backup & Restore, that can be used to (gasp!) backup and restore your APN settings, if you're nervous about doing this I suggest you backup your current APN settings before proceeding. It looks like there are other APN settings apps, it's possible one of them is better... I dunno. Personally, I did not use any APN-centric app, though I did have a backup of my whole phone made by Clockwork Mod ROM Manager
** I am no expert, but people on the internet say the only way to get a transferable SIM is to buy a Nokia E71 or a Nokia 6790 from Straight Talk. Check out straighttalk.com, they might be selling a refurbished E71 or 6790 (currently the refurbished 6790 is ~$50 with free overnight shipping). Personally, I left the SIM in my Nokia until the service was activated. I saw someone on the net say that you should switch the SIM back to the Straight Talk phone before calling tech support. I don't know if this is really something you have to do or not. Personally, I'm going to keep the phone around and use it whenever I have to call them.
*** If your screen shows some APNs already I'm afraid I don't know what you should do. I suggest you stop using my guide and see if you can get some expert advice elsewhere. I'm sorry about that!
Nice write-up! I am on ST as well.
A tip for getting a refurbished e71 to show up in the phone options is by starting the process with a zipcode nearish to where you live that is more densely populated, and then just changing the address when you are placing the order. Save some bucks that way.
Also, I believe that the E71 provided by ST is locked to the SIM included with it and will not work with other SIM cards. It is probably best to just hang onto the handset.
I have tried with Fast Dormancy (*#*#9900#*#*) both enabled and disabled and get the same speeds either way (2-3Mbps), so I just leave it disabled since it seems that it could drain the battery more if left enabled.
Thanks!
I forgot I'd seen Fast Dormancy mentioned on the other threads... I'm going to try it with it disabled for a while as well.
... later
Hmmm... disabling it seems to have started causing problems immediately. I connected to the Market and searched for a speed test app. It worked for a little bit, but by the time I had typed "speedtest" into the search bar my internet connection apparently got lost. I tried turning it back on and the internet connection seemed to return.
I am just curious, what sort of speed you getting with the Straight Talk.
I have the go-phone plan and getting these speed :
btw, i have the Fast Dormancy disabled and it work great!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
What data plan you have to get those speeds with go phone?
Thanks for the info OP.. I didn't know you needed a special phone for removeable sim card.
MrDSL said:
What data plan you have to get those speeds with go phone?
Thanks for the info OP.. I didn't know you needed a special phone for removeable sim card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the 500MB data package for $25 with monthly roll over. I guess any data plan can get my speed with go-phone.
Argh, I wrote out a response but then, being absent-minded, I decided to click a link and lost it. Here's a pic with five speed tests I did. The results are inconsistent, but it doesn't look like they're being throttled or anything to me.
Note the second one on the list. Extremes in both directions. It says 33 kbps upload speed, but I though it hung so I attempted to cancel the test early. I'm not sure if it actually finished, timed out, or if I successfully canceled it.
I'm also using my note with this setup. The only difference I did is that instead of making two separate APN types I just combined everything into one and set the APN type to Internet + MMS. Works fine for me.
Thank you thank you thank you for this.
Going to use my note on Straighttalk also.
Have been using my note on straight talk since day 1, have had a couple days of going 100+mbs of data in a day without any issues
Just like to let you guys know, don't think the grass is greener if you have a tiered data plan on ATT
I have a 2g data plan and out of 142 speed tests mostly at two different locations a mile apart I have had exactly 25 times where my speed was over 1mbps download and the majority of those were at 2am or later when there's nobody on the network. I even called them to ask if they had throttled me because my speeds were so low (I'm in the Melbourne area of Florida btw) and they said no....we just suck...ok they didn't say we just suck but after looking into it I was told yea well in the daytime there's a lot of people on the network which slows things down...Yea really? to below 1 mbps???
So if you're thinking you're missing out on something you're not...that is not until your area gets LTE theeeeeeen you'll be missing out on what is nothing short of phenomenal speed. In the meantime...save ur dough til it's in your area. I'll be going to ST or Go Phone until then myself. It's the principal of the thing too. Why should I pay top dollar for that kind of crappy speed when someone in the city is getting 49mbps dl speed on the same plan I got? While being restricted to 2Gb no less.
duowing said:
I'm also using my note with this setup. The only difference I did is that instead of making two separate APN types I just combined everything into one and set the APN type to Internet + MMS. Works fine for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tested both the combined APN and seperate APN and get better speed with seperate APN.
Hirudin said:
Argh, I wrote out a response but then, being absent-minded, I decided to click a link and lost it. Here's a pic with five speed tests I did. The results are inconsistent, but it doesn't look like they're being throttled or anything to me.
Note the second one on the list. Extremes in both directions. It says 33 kbps upload speed, but I though it hung so I attempted to cancel the test early. I'm not sure if it actually finished, timed out, or if I successfully canceled it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow this is on straight talk? I live in downtown seattle and was testing their network and it was like 1.5 down....
If their 3g (hspa+) speeds are the same as straight talk, there isn't any reason to get into an expensive contract.
Can anyone else post their straight talk speeds?
Straight Talk lets you buy just the sim card now so you can save $50 and skip the phone purchase.
great! is there any issues with using strait talk on the note aside from not having 4g speeds? and when do they start throttling your bandwidth? i really would rather transfer my number from tmobile and get a st sim than have to deal with edge speeds on tmobile.
So this is faster than t-mobile right? If so I'm getting it cause I'm on t-mobile now and might as well if its faster and same price
From the Beast : Galaxy Note
sounds like it is faster than normal AT&T HSPA+. From what i've seen, normal AT&T hspa+ speeds are around 1 to 1.5megs..
So if there is no LTE in your city, why have AT&T at all? Buy a phone off contract and pay only $45 a month in cell phone bills..
H+ in my area is around 2-3 during the weekday, and 5-6 meg in the evening.
Is yours not setup correctly to get only 1-2?
I got 4 Down and 2 Up using the settings they sent me with my SIM Only Straight Talk Account.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
how is straight talk data service?
i have a question about straight talk's data service. on the internet, it seems like straight talk imposes limitations as to how you can use the data?
are you able to use the internet normally like watching youtube videos etc?
can you tether?
are there things that you cannot do compared to what you can do with other 3g/4g providers?
i ask these questions because i just saw this thread a moment ago, and gave me some hopes to buying an internation version of galaxy note and not have to pay too much money getting a plan with att. (i don't want the att version because of the hardware difference)

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