Options for tethering laptop to cellular data network?

[Jim Bancroft]

I go to school where the wifi is sketchy in the library, and I need to get on the internet from time to time with my laptop to check an article or whatnot.

I don't need blazing speed and figured I could piggyback on my cell phone network? I'm on T-mobile and am not sure what my options are. For what it's worth I have a Windows 8 phone.

 

[sweenish]

If you're paying for some tethered data, just hit the settings and turn it on. You can choose to change the SSID and password if you want.

If you're not paying for tethered data, you're going to have a bad time.

 

[cmdrdredd]

You usually have to pay an extra monthly fee to tether data off your phone. I'm not sure about t-mobile and whether any plans include it. I believe Verizon started giving people the option to tether any of their devices through a phone on their network if you are on the family plan. I believe this was because they dropped the unlimited data option (I am still on unlimited though) and they want people to use up all their allotment.

 

[WelshBloke]

OP are you on T-Mobile in the US?
If so disregard this post.

If on the off chance you are on T-Mobile in the UK you can just use your built in tethering app on your phone. They don't charge extra for it.

 

[bearxor]

TMobile US doesn't charge extra for it in their current plans. If you're on the 500MB plan or 2.5GB plan, you can use it all for tethering if you want. If you're on the unlimited plan, they limit your tethering usage to 2.5GB.

Have you tried just turning it on in the settings? If you need to subscribe to a feature it should tell you when you do it.

 

[Jim Bancroft]

TMobile US doesn't charge extra for it in their current plans. If you're on the 500MB plan or 2.5GB plan, you can use it all for tethering if you want. If you're on the unlimited plan, they limit your tethering usage to 2.5GB.

Have you tried just turning it on in the settings? If you need to subscribe to a feature it should tell you when you do it.

Thanks, but for some reason I don't have that in my settings? The instructions here:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/how-to/wp8/start/share-my-connection

..don't apply to my phone for some reason? There is no 'internet sharing' in my list of apps. I have a Lumia 521 if that matters.

 

[ImDonly1]

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-6829

Straight from t-mobile...
It is not an app, it is in the settings. Swipe from the left on the start screen to get to the settings or go to the settings shortcut in the list of apps.

 

[Jim Bancroft]

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-6829

Straight from t-mobile...
It is not an app, it is in the settings. Swipe from the left on the start screen to get to the settings or go to the settings shortcut in the list of apps.

Ah, now I see it. Thanks.

Of course, trying to turn it on leads to an "Internet sharing isn't currently available" message, so not sure if that's a phone limitation or a t-mobile account issue. Not much on the screen as far as debug info other than that message..

 

[vshah]

what plan do you have on tmobile?
all current plans have tethering included at no extra charge (sometimes for a subset of your monthly data allowance though)

older grandfathered plans sometimes do not include it.

 

[nickbits]

some (all?) tmo prepaid plans do not include tethering. it is a $15?/month option on the $30 100m/unlimited data plan

 

[Jim Bancroft]

what plan do you have on tmobile?
all current plans have tethering included at no extra charge (sometimes for a subset of your monthly data allowance though)

older grandfathered plans sometimes do not include it.

Good question. This is a pretty old plan I'm on so it wouldn't shock me if I'm out of luck.

 

[bearxor]

Good question. This is a pretty old plan I'm on so it wouldn't shock me if I'm out of luck.

Yeah, if you're on an older plan, then you should probably at least look at the new plans to see if you can save some money.

But you can also call up TMobile and probably add tethering for $20-30/mo. Is that worth it for you?

 

[mikegg]

My new T-Mobile plan includes tethering support. It's built into my iPhone 5S.

I think all T-Mobile plans have tethering for free. It just uses your monthly data.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i just walked out of a tmobile store - $50/mo for worldwide unlimited talk/text + 500MB including tethering, $60 for 2.5 GB, $70 for unlimited data. if you exceed a data cap, they choke it with no overage charges and i'm not charged for roaming.