Oops, just accidentaly tethered 3+GB of data on ATT (grandfathered unlimited)

[Nvidiaguy07]

Ive always been pretty lucky up until now. I tethered once in a while when needed, and probably never did more than 500mb in a month.

Last night i didnt realize that while i was connected, I bought and game and it downloaded completely while i was sleeping (forgot to turn the hotspot off).

I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan, but their definition of "unlimited" has changed a lot recently. Last time i checked i thought it was 5gb, and then your throttled

If they try to add tethering to my plan, i have no problem leaving them. I now have a gnex, and ill switch to the 45gb unlimited everything if att breaks balls.

When i checked my data usage today, it said i was only at 2.90gb for the month - even though my phone says 4GB for the last week or so.

Any predictions on what is going to happen? Im guessing nothing. ATT has never caught on to anything in the past (using a 10/mo data plan for a while, tethering in the past, having a smart phone with no data plan, etc.) well see i guess.

 

[ImDonly1]

You seem worried. Att doesn't detect tethering. Everyone was saying they do because of the iPhone users getting notices for tethering before. The only reason those people got notices is because they didn't change the APN for tethering from the default one of "broadband" to the regular data one of "phone." That's the only reason ATT knew they were throttling was because of the gateway the data went through.

As for when you will be throttled, not sure of their caps.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

You seem worried. Att doesn't detect tethering. Everyone was saying they do because of the iPhone users getting notices for tethering before. The only reason those people got notices is because they didn't change the APN for tethering from the default one of "broadband" to the regular data one of "phone." That's the only reason ATT knew they were throttling was because of the gateway the data went through.

As for when you will be throttled, not sure of their caps.

sorta half-worried. Paying a little more on ATT lets me buy a subsidized phone every 12 months. But if i left it would even out.

I had a feeling they couldnt tell. Havent been throttled yet, but they have on file that im using much less data than my phone says.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You seem worried. Att doesn't detect tethering. Everyone was saying they do because of the iPhone users getting notices for tethering before. The only reason those people got notices is because they didn't change the APN for tethering from the default one of "broadband" to the regular data one of "phone." That's the only reason ATT knew they were throttling was because of the gateway the data went through.

As for when you will be throttled, not sure of their caps.

you may be right but for any network engineer out there its not very difficult at all to detect the requests that's going through their pipes. a mobile phone requests data totally differently than a desktop browser. they could catch you in seconds if they wanted to.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

you may be right but for any network engineer out there its not very difficult at all to detect the requests that's going through their pipes. a mobile phone requests data totally differently than a desktop browser. they could catch you in seconds if they wanted to.

Well i wasnt saying they can't, i just doubt they will. I was almost tempted to call and play stupid, and say my phone got hacked into, or stolen, just to cover my butt in case they want to drop me or bill me. But like i said, i have no problem leaving them.

And for anyone who is wondering what att's cap and policy are, i just got this message today:

ATT Free Msg: Your data usage has reached 3GB this month. Using more than 3GB in future billing cycles will result in reduced speeds. You can use Wi-Fi to help avoid reduced speeds. Visit www.att.com/datainfo or call 866-344-7584 for more info.

So it looks like you get a warning the first time, and throttled after that.

On a side note, to have ACTUAL unlimited 4g internet, i would have no problem paying 60 bucks a month, maybe more. That is assuming that tethering is included, and i wouldn't be throttled, have good service etc. Anyone have that?

 

[Thegonagle]

I have that perfect combo with Verizon. ($29.99/mo "unlimited data for smartphones" + $30 "Unlimited 4G-LTE smartphone hotspot.")

I've hit 12 GB before and they've never said a thing. Most months I'm closer to 5-6 GB though.

Unfortunately, that configuration is no longer offered by Verizon.

 

[ImDonly1]

On a side note, to have ACTUAL unlimited 4g internet, i would have no problem paying 60 bucks a month, maybe more. That is assuming that tethering is included, and i wouldn't be throttled, have good service etc. Anyone have that?

Yea, its called Sprint. Their 3G is meh, but supposed to improve. You may be one of the few who will get LTE from them this year. There are no other unlimited options.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I tether like crazy with my rooted gnex

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I tether like crazy with my rooted gnex

 

[jtvang125]

They did try to crack down on unauthorized tethering awhile back but seems they've stopped or isn't aggressively pursuing it now. I got a letter and several emails back then but they never forced a tethering plan on me. I've been throttled too when I went over the 3gb cap. My speed went down to 25kbps from the normal 3-4mbps.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Unlimited internet. Sometimes go over 3+, tethered and get 5+ on my phone alone flashaholic here so

 

[Red Storm]

One of the few things I like about Verizon is that it seems like no matter how much data I use they never bother me.