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Root PDANet - Use your phone's 3G for computer internet!

FulciLives

FulciLives

Well-Known Member
I have the Huawei Ascend M860 (cricKet version) and I'm running the standard (for now) Android 2.1 - update 1 but it is 'rooted' and it needs to be that way for what I'm about to talk about ... PDANet

PdaNet
by June Fabrics Technology Inc.
>250,000 downloads, 35683 ratings (4.5 avg)
Free
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This program runs on the Android but there is also a download you need to run on your computer (I'm using MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit). Basically what it does is that it allows you to plug your Android into your computer's USB and then using your computer you can access the internet through the phone's 3G network.

The best thing is that it is very easy-to-use and set-up and I think it is a very kewl feature.

But wait ... there is more!

I have a Sony PS3 and doing a bit of reading I found out that you can connect your the PS3 to your computer (via an ethernet cord) and the PS3 can use PDANet (and thus your phone's 3G network) to connect to the internet!

I tried it and it worked! I even went on Playstation Home (Tm) and honestly I expected it to be a resource hog but it worked and it seemed fine.

I've even read reports of people finding the connection fast enough to play on-line multi-player games this way (please note that none of the very few examples of this said they were using the Huawei via cricKet so I don't know if cricKet's 3G is fast enough). I haven't tried that and not sure I will but I think this is good to know.

I would never suggest doing this as your primary internet access but if you are in a 'bind' and need it ... well ... there you go.

Probably the "best" use of PDANet is with a laptop when you are on the go and aren't near a Wi-Fi spot or "hot zone" etc.

I'm using it because *cough* my income has taken a BIG hit (down) lately and my cable TV / internet got cut off yersterday due to my not being able to pay the bill. I will but money is so tight now I'm not sure when I'll be able to pay. It will probably be at least a couple of weeks.

I read about this before hand and tried it (with my computer) and was happy to see it worked and when my internet went 'dark' yesterday I hooked it up and have been on and off the 'net since (using my desktop computer). Then this morning I read about how you can hook your PS3 to your computer and BINGO it works.

Man technology is crazy kewl LOL

P.S.
I'm not networking genius so I'm afraid I'm not a whole lot of help but basically you have to go into the control panel and set up your network for sharing so that the PS3 can 'connect' and I used the following video as a guide of sorts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUiPht63F_s

Please note the video uses PDANet but on an iPhone but it's still the same program so ... also he is using (I think) Windows XP ... but I'm no genius as I said when it comes to networking and I figured it out so ... it really isn't that hard.

Couple of things to mention. As I already said your phone needs to be 'rooted' for this to work. Also you need to register PDANet for this to work and it isn't 'cheap' (the price is $23.95 but for a limited time it is $15.95 which is 'much' less but still not 'cheap' if you ask me).

Another thing of note ... I've 'heard' that cricKet has a monthly 'cap' of 1GB and that once you go over this they purposefully will throttle your speed (slow it down). That can't be a good thing.

But for those of you that didn't know this was possible ... well ... it is and it works fairly well. Not as fast as my standard cable internet connection but fast enough to be very useful!

By the way here is what the PDAnet screen looks like when connected:

snap20110129132702.png


The numbers after bytes: Upload / Download

So you can see exactly how much data you are using. Very kewl!

*** EDIT ***

If you search YOU TUBE for "PDANet PS3" you will find better videos than the one I linked to in this thread. Silly of me not to have done that first (the video above is one I found on a web site via a google search). I'm just saying there are better videos out there heh
 
By the way I've noticed that when using PDANet it is best to turn off Juice Defender (I go into the program and click on the DISABLE icon thing). When Juice Defender is on (or enabled) It seems to cause issues with the connection and slows it down big time.

So far I'm loving PDAnet due to how easy it was to set up and that it allows me to connect both my desktop computer and PS3 to the internet.
 
I wonder how fast you'd use up your "unlimited" 1gb with Cricket? If you have been using it this way have you noticed your speeds slowing down like the Fair Use act on the Cricket website says it will? I am very concerned I am going to go over my 1gb when I get my new Ascend, it's my first Android so I know I'll be getting a ton of apps and stuff.
 
benya said:
I wonder how fast you'd use up your "unlimited" 1gb with Cricket? If you have been using it this way have you noticed your speeds slowing down like the Fair Use act on the Cricket website says it will? I am very concerned I am going to go over my 1gb when I get my new Ascend, it's my first Android so I know I'll be getting a ton of apps and stuff.
Click to expand...
I've only been doing this for about 3 days now ... so far I haven't noticed any speed issues ... but it hasn't been that long either so ...
 
I got a text msg while using PDANet and this really kewl text box thing poped up ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN and I was able to see the text msg and respond to it FROM MY COMPUTER ... this program rules.
 
joser116 said:
Barnacle is even easier and better. It is also thru wifi, but none of the tethering thru wifi apps support the PS3.
Click to expand...

outstanding. Im using Barnacle right now lol. I tried Pdanet and even easytether and even wifi for rooted phones and none are as better as barnacle.
 
but what the op said is that: its good for when you don't have internet, so if you dont have internet im sure you wouldnt have wifi. seems like barnacle wouldnt help in that situation.
 
I use Wireless Tether and it works great for Cricket, i'd imagine it should work with metro. I've had this on three devices now and its phenomenal when you need internet in the clutch.
 
Is this an advertisement???

Barnacle Wifi Tether is a lot better and easier. I tried PDAnet before I rooted my phone and it worked fine until the trial ended and wanted me to pay $30. Thats when I rooted my phone and got Barnacle Wifi Tether.:D
 
benya said:
I wonder how fast you'd use up your "unlimited" 1gb with Cricket? If you have been using it this way have you noticed your speeds slowing down like the Fair Use act on the Cricket website says it will? I am very concerned I am going to go over my 1gb when I get my new Ascend, it's my first Android so I know I'll be getting a ton of apps and stuff.
Click to expand...

The best thing you can do (if you have it) is to use a WiFi connection for any "heavy traffic" activities on your phone, whenever possible. Save the browsing, app downloading, etc for when you're home or in a WiFi hotspot, and you won't have to worry about hitting your cap.
 
benya said:
I wonder how fast you'd use up your "unlimited" 1gb with Cricket? If you have been using it this way have you noticed your speeds slowing down like the Fair Use act on the Cricket website says it will? I am very concerned I am going to go over my 1gb when I get my new Ascend, it's my first Android so I know I'll be getting a ton of apps and stuff.
Click to expand...
You should be fine as far as downloading apps or web browsing, just take it kinda easy on the youtube and pandora. Go crazy the last week before you pay your bill, though. You're paying for it, use as much as you can!
 
I use PDANet, but after like a week or 2 the "trial" was up, and ALL HTTPS sites are blocked... I am in a spot where this is my only internet, so it's a hassle, but works great.

May root and try the barnacle idea, but as a full time student, that leaves me no room for spending money on app's
 
I just downloaded and installed Barnacle.....so easy to use!!! had an SSID and had it up and ruuning in seconds!!!!
 
I like PdaNet, that i even paid for the upgrade, so it dont dwindle out. But i am learning of new things about it that the manufactoring companies dont tell you. right now i am having problems with it cause when i am using the SMS Agent on the program, my contacts arent showing up, then with their "Customer Service" or "Support" they all tell me the same thing, that you cant add contacts with the Agent, you can only see your pre-existing contacts....well they are pre-exhisting, but not they arent showing up. Well turns out that your contacts have to be synced up with a google account for they to appear. But I cant find anywhere that says that Android supports Google Sync or Google Contacts App. But they say it will be fixed by next update, when ever that is. But im rambling, so hopefully this info will be a lil helpful for someone else. but i do like it for when im traveling and dont have WIFI access, sure its a bit slow, but it free..:D
 
yeah it works great. only problem is that my carrier (cricket) detects what im trying to do and redirects me to the clearmode page saying i have to buy the service for my device whenever i attempt to navigate to a url. anyone have a way around that?


my device is rooted btw, if that helps.
 
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