Database Users

Tethering disabled on Nexus 7 LTE when you insert an AT&T SIM

Here is the culprit:
https://android.googlesource.com/de.../core/res/res/values-mcc310-mnc090/config.xml
That's for Cricket wireless, but there's a similar one for ATT.
What that modification does is tell the Android system that there are no valid tethering network interfaces when an ATT sim card is inserted. So it's removed from the settings menu automatically because tethering is no longer "supported" by any of the network interfaces on the device.
These config files are compiled down into /system/framework/framework-res.apk.

Here is my chain of events.
9/13 I received my Nexus 7 LTE and noticed the issue
9/14 Contacted AT&T Technical Support by Phone to work on issue. Confirmed that my 5GB Plan includes Tethering and Hotspot. Technical Support could not provide a solution.
9/15 Posted in XDA Developers http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45602294#post45602294 Confirmed this issue is happening to others
9/15 Posted in XDA Developers http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45602419#post45602419
9/17 Created post on Google Product Forum https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/nexus/nexus-7/LwcDQENWhRE
9/18 Sent the following email
From: David Segura
Date: Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 12:02 AM
Subject: Greg Belaus Blog Post - Google Nexus 7 Brings Best in Class Picture Quality to AT&T Customers
To: consumerblog at att.com
Cc: robert.n at talkandroid.com, phil at androidcentral.com, David Segura , customercare at tech360.att-mail.com, attcustomercare at att.com
This email is directed to Greg Belaus or the current Consumerist at AT&T.
I am one of the lucky few that have purchased a Google Nexus 7 LTE and am a current AT&T customer with 3 Smart Phone devices and 3 Tablets, all with expensive Data Plans through AT&T.
My concern (before I return the Google Nexus 7 LTE) is why the Hotspot and Tether options disappear when an AT&T SIM Card is plugged in. I have the 5GB DataConnect Tablet plan that includes these features. When I setup the device (without the SIM Card installed) the Hotspot and Tethering shows up in my settings. As soon as I plug in the AT&T SIM Card, they disappear, never to be seen again unless I do a factory restore. Only then do I have the options back, until I plug in my SIM Card again.
I have contacted Technical Support and they have verified that my device is provisioned properly and that I have Tethering and HotSpot included in my 5GB Data Plan, but are unable to restore this functionality.
I have posted this issue on XDA Developers, Android Central, and Talk Android, and will keep reaching out until I get a clear answer (I almost CC'd randall.stephenson at att.com as well).
Please investigate why this is disabled, and if it not something that I will be able to use (since I am paying for the feature), I will need to determine my best course of action to terminate my Tablet contract as it appears to me that AT&T is blocking features that I am paying for in my plan.
Regards,
David Segura​
9/18 Received an email from attcustomercare at att.com with the following Case ref:_00DE0czFk._500E0703wB:ref that it was being looked into.
9/19 Contacted Google Nexus Support by Phone. Was informed that this was being escalated by Google Support. Case 5-5927000001711
What needs to be determined is if this is an accident or intentional. As I am paying for Tethering and Hotspot, I have a serious issue with this so far and it seems that there would be nothing AT&T can do to my device to get it restored. Short of Google correcting the issue and issuing an OTA Update, but this would mean that AT&T will need to work with Google to fix this
Unless this issue gets exposure from some people calling in or from Android websites, I am sure this will be a low priority

Wow! Why does this not surprise me it happening on an AT&T sim card. This coming from a very long time AT&T customer who purchased my last carrier subsidized phone a year and a half ago. I have always received excellent customer support but I wouldn't bet any money on it getting resolved in the next 30 days. Hopefully I'm wrong! At some point, out of curiosity, I need to stick my sim back in the N4 and see if tethering is still there because I tether my N7 often using the One X. Good luck!

It's Google’s to fix
The Nexus 7 LTE comes from Google, it is obviously a Google issue. I would expect a month.
It would be illegal for AT&T to prevent you from tethering, if they do you can file a complaint with the FCC. AT&T won’t try to stop you anymore after Verizon lost in court and paid $1.25M.
Use some tethering app meanwhile.

OP,
Thanks for the find and it indeed works.
I have decomplied the framework-res.apk file, removed the att restrictions from there, replaced the file with the recompiled file i created and sure enough, Tethering is there and working.
I have attached the modified framework-res.apk file, maybe someone can make a flashable zip for people who would like to enable this on AT&T.
Please note that this file will only work on JLS36C.
If you would like to try this for yourself:
1) unzip the attached and save it so internal storage
2) from TWRP go to terminal commands and copy the file over to /system/framework and reboot.
I would recommend making a backup to the original framework-res.apk file for future OTA updates. You will need to roll back to that before applying any OTA.

PhoneGeek said:
The Nexus 7 LTE comes from Google, it is obviously a Google issue. I would expect a month.
It would be illegal for AT&T to prevent you from tethering, if they do you can file a complaint with the FCC. AT&T won’t try to stop you anymore after Verizon lost in court and paid $1.25M.
Use some tethering app meanwhile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went to the AT&T store today. Asked if my Nexus 7 was compatible with LTE. The clerk searched Google for AT&T and Nexus 7 LTE. She said yes. LOL
So I asked if my IMEI was going to activate properly. I have a prepaid AT&T SIM activated on 2012 Nexus 7 3G and when put into Nexus 7 2013 4G/LTE it will *not* access LTE.
So she took one of their SIMs and put it into my Nexus 7 4G/LTE and it showed LTE coverage. I said yeah, so what. What happens if I activate an AT&T SIM on my Nexus 7 4G/LTE device? E.g. not on one of your approved LTE devices.
She said she did not know and they could not tell. So, she got the manager. The manager said they have no way to check the IMEI because they have no database they can search for LTE compatibility.
However, they said if there was any problem they would insure LTE was working if I wanted to activate in store. The discussion touched on modifying IMEI or activating in another LTE device if the Nexus 7 4G/LTE did not automatically work on LTE. I mentioned the hotspot feature was also disabled by Google software, and they were not pleased.
They were trying to help and I thanked them for the information. But, I left with my T-Mobile SIM in my Nexus 7 4G/LTE. I will ponder what to do until the free 2G/30 days pass on T-Mobile expires. AT&T is selling data only on these tablets so they should not care how its used, hotspot or not. AT&T is really dropping the ball.
With all this SIM swapping, I also considered what happens if I put in a second new T-Mobile SIM in my Nexus 7 4G/LTE. Do I get another free 2G/30 day pass? LOL

No $100 bill credit either
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

SOLUTION
Guys good news.....here is the solution to get tether back!!!!!!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45781140#post45781140

It is February 2015. My nexus 7 build KTU84P will not tether with an att sim card in it.
This has been going on literally for YEARS. Google will never fix this.
Lawsuit? FCC action?

[Q] After getting NB1, wi-fi hotspot not working

На майка им в путката на AT&T.
I have the good luck of owning such a great device like the Samsung Galaxy S4.
I have the bad luck that it is AT&T's version of it.
I have a good stable 3G connection on another carrier, and I am in Eastern Europe.
And I apparently did the mistake of updating to KitKat.
Do those шибани лайнари that are AT&T lock some of their devices' functions like wi-fi hotspot, or am I being a moron?
Says "Mobile data not available or invalid SIM".
As we well know, I can't root it yet.

Check out this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2595190
I lost tethering a few weeks ago after I upgraded to MK2 (AT&T as well).
With the method in the thread I was able to restore that functionality. But you need to be rooted to rename those files.
Guess you will have to wait for root on NB1, and hope that AT&T did not plug that hole.
Let me know.

do you guys have a proper data plan which allows tethering?
I'm going to guess that in eastern Europe you don't have a 5gb+ data plan
the I337 on any stock ROM will look for verification from at&t before allowing tethering. if you were using a workaround, it was a tweak to a system app or setting which was overridden during the update process.
IF you have an at&t plan that allows tethering and the update broke that the disregard my post cuz apparently I'm talking out of my arse.

Well, we got 5+ GB plans, but they are for companies, common users can get up to 3. xD
I mean, we still don't have 4G, but 3G works for me.
I rooted and custom ROMed the s**t out of this phone on mk2, but I've wanted goddamn KitKat forever, and I don't have the money to get yet another new phone. xD

[Q]

Ok,... a NOOB question.. (ok.. three questions) (and yes, I have looked around, and I did not see answers to my question… or i was too dim to understand it….. :/ )
Question 1)
I switched from AT&T to T-Mobile. my Note 3 is is unlocked, and rooted.
This is probably a silly question, but When I look at “ROMS” and “MODS” for my phone, should I be looking for an “AT&T “ phone? or a T-MOBILE” ?? is there any actual HARDWARE difference?
I have a SM-N900A (branded AT&T) … does that mean I can not use ROMS that are for the T-Mobile note 3s? or do I have to only use ROMS that are for the AT&T note 3?
Should I just sell my AT&T note 3, and buy a T-Mobile Note 3 ??
I would like to get rid of the AT&T bloatware… especially since I am no longer on their network.
I am not trying to go over the top with my phone, and I would like to be able keep the s-pen features (but I have to admit, I still need to LEARN how to use it better!)
Question 2)
I just tried to use my hotspot on my Note3, and I am gettingan "invalad sim" error...
I am guessing that I do nto have enough of the AT&T stuff out of it?
Question 3)
Another “feature” that I would like, (maybe a second question/thread?) if about tethering.. I have unlimited data on my phone, but as I understand it, they will only allow 2gigs as a hotspot. I think I read somewhere that some ROMS combine the two…
Thank you for any advice…
Danny

Okay, I can help you with a few of your questions...
Q1. Since your phone (the service provider doesn't matter, the hardware does) is ATT, you will need to get your Roms and such from the ATT area.
ATT, in all their ridiculous glory, locked the bootloader on our phones, and thus we have to SafeStrap in order to use roms.
It's a little wonky, but it's almost as good. Our development is growing and more roms are getting ported over every day.
But if you want more control over your device and can afford it, I would personally recommend to switch to a TMo device.
As for removing bloatware, most of the roms are pre slimmed, and you can fix the rest by freezing apps with TiBu. And you can still do that without losing the TouchWiz and SPen functions.
Q2. The Invalid sim issue is likely because you have a TMo sim card in ATT software. There's a Tether Provisioning app that can be frozen to prevent that.
Q3. I'm not too sure how TMo handles it's Tethering monitoring. You'll have to ask that in the TMo note forum.
I hope I could help you at all. =D
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

Ryo Misaki said:
Okay, I can help you with a few of your questions...
Q1. Since your phone (the service provider doesn't matter, the hardware does) is ATT, you will need to get your Roms and such from the ATT area.
ATT, in all their ridiculous glory, locked the bootloader on our phones, and thus we have to SafeStrap in order to use roms.
It's a little wonky, but it's almost as good. Our development is growing and more roms are getting ported over every day.
But if you want more control over your device and can afford it, I would personally recommend to switch to a TMo device.
As for removing bloatware, most of the roms are pre slimmed, and you can fix the rest by freezing apps with TiBu. And you can still do that without losing the TouchWiz and SPen functions.
Q2. The Invalid sim issue is likely because you have a TMo sim card in ATT software. There's a Tether Provisioning app that can be frozen to prevent that.
Q3. I'm not too sure how TMo handles it's Tethering monitoring. You'll have to ask that in the TMo note forum.
I hope I could help you at all. =D
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the help!!
I have decided to buy myself a T-Mobile Note 3, and sell my AT&T version...
I had rooted my (using Kingo) about a month ago, to fix the GPS driver problem... But that was ALL I did, after rooting it... and I think this week, AT&T sent out an update (mandatory... cause I never saw it!)... which not only broke my "root" ... but broke my GPS again as well.
So now I say good bye to my brand new, with the EXTRA insuarance plan from Best Buy phone, and start looking for a used Note 3 that is not bootloader locked
AVOID AT&T
D

I would like to use the paid service, not the nodded from CyanogenMod.

I want to use the service that you would normally have to pay for, not the native hotspot. I need to find out how to stop CyanogenMod 12 from blocking the hotspot check and provisioning. How would I do this? I only get 2.5 gigs of high speed data and can buy 2 gigs of hotspot for my phone. I have virgin mobile BTW.
Samsung Galaxy s5 SM-G900P
CyanogenMod 12.1-20150428-UNOFFICIAL-kltespr

Hi,
Thanks for using XDA Assist kindly bookmark your device specific forum here Samsung Galaxy S5 and Troubleshooting
Good Luck!

Want to buy a Sprint G5 with older security version

Anyone got one they can sell me? I want a lightly used one with clean esn.... has to have older security version software that allows the use of hidden menu apk. Even better if it's already sim unlocked and have tethering enabled
Will pay good price with paypal. PM me.
I got a G5 from ebay and it has the latest security software ver ZVF preventing the use of hidden menu as well as a lot of other features. so thinking of returning it.
also, i noticed i couldn't lte data stream while talking on the phone (non-VOIP) at the same time on the particular G5 i got... Weird since i could do that on my old samsung s4

wildpig1234 said:
Anyone got one they can sell me? I want a lightly used one with clean esn.... has to have older security version software that allows the use of hidden menu apk. Even better if it's already sim unlocked and have tethering enabled
Will pay good price with paypal. PM me.
I got a G5 from ebay and it has the latest security software ver ZVF preventing the use of hidden menu as well as a lot of other features. so thinking of returning it.
also, i noticed i couldn't lte data stream while talking on the phone (non-VOIP) at the same time on the particular G5 i got... Weird since i could do that on my old samsung s4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why buy the sprint model? It’s not worth it unless your using sprint....
GSM and unlocked models can be gotten under $100
Also about having LTE while on the phone. Not possible if using it on a non sprint carrier. As it’s not gonna support volte
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hyelton said:
Why buy the sprint model? It’s not worth it unless your using sprint....
GSM and unlocked models can be gotten under $100
Also about having LTE while on the phone. Not possible if using it on a non sprint carrier. As it’s not gonna support volte
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I am on sprint. I actually bought a G5 on ebay last week. Unfortunately it has ZVF security software ver which prevents me from using the hidden menu..apk to access the menu to enable tethering. I need ver ZV8 or earlier.... It's already unlocked, but hotspot is actually very vital to me. I would rather just go back to my old S4 if i can't get hotspot enabled. And no way in f;ckin hell i am going to pay sprint $30/month for the hotspot subscription when i am paying already $60/month for my unlimited data plan...... So there's that...
My old sprint samsung s4 can certainly stream lte data when i talk on phone..... So it was complete surprise that the sprint G5 i got couldn't do that. didn't know it was just my G5 or maybe that's common to all sprint G5......

Done. Got my ZV9. thanks.