• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root [Virgin Mobile/Sprint] Tether Without Root?

Hello all, I recently bought the LG Optimus F3 (on Virgin Mobile) and I'm trying to decide whether or not to root it (not sure that I want to take the plunge). In the meantime, is this phone tetherable without root?

Thanks in advance!
 
Whether you can tether without root depends on the app you use to provide the tethered connection. Look in Play for a tether app that doesn't require root.

(The other consideration is whether the carrier allows tethering on your account. If they don't, no app will allow you to tether, unless you're tethering another Android device.)
 
The $35 plan I have from VM does not include tethering. I would be tethering it to a laptop running Windows 7. I don't mind a wired connection. I was intending to do it via USB. Only Android to Android? I wonder if there's a way to get the phone to see my computer as an Android device, even though it isn't.
 
The $35 plan I have from VM does not include tethering. I would be tethering it to a laptop running Windows 7. I don't mind a wired connection. I was intending to do it via USB. Only Android to Android? I wonder if there's a way to get the phone to see my computer as an Android device, even though it isn't.

There's a setting within Klink to do just that. I tethered using Klink to my old Windows xp laptop for nearly a year on my sprint account.

Wired tethering is a lot safer than wireless tethering, uses a lot more data than wired which doesn't get you questioned.
 
There's a setting within Klink to do just that. I tethered using Klink to my old Windows xp laptop for nearly a year on my sprint account.

Wired tethering is a lot safer than wireless tethering, uses a lot more data than wired which doesn't get you questioned.

Maybe I'll give it a go. I thought I had something with both Clockwork Mod and FoxFi, which both claim to work w/o root or a carrier tether plan. But when I went to install them the install button was grayed out and there was a message saying it was unavailable for my carrier. I'm afraid the same thing may happen with Klink, but I guess it's worth the five bucks to find out. Thanks.
 
Oops I linked you to the paid version, there's a free trial version if you haven't already jumped on the paid version yet.

Though it should work since I used Klink with sprint, and virgin/Sprint is the same company. That's what I think at least.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faveset.klink_blue_demo

Yes, VM is a subsidiary of Sprint and operates on the same network,
but I think there are differences in how they handle their respective plans and devices. There's only one way to find out for sure though! Thanks for the link. I'll post back and let the community know how it goes. Thanks again.
 
Just an update on where I'm at with Klink, for those who might be interested. I installed the free trial version and it worked right away. I did have an issue with trying to download the software to my phone and then transfer it to my computer. In order to work, there is a small Klink program that needs to run on your computer. I was unable to transfer it from my phone to my computer, so I had to download it directly to my computer using a regular wifi connection. This wasn't an issue fo me, but obviously it would be for someone who doesn't have any internet access at all. And again, there is a way to transfer it from your phone to your computer, but I just couldn't get it to work.

Once installed, the free trial version worked like a charm. The only problem is that the trial version only gives you access to a few sites - it's basically just to test connectivity and once you establish that it works then you go ahead and buy the regular version for $4.99. So, that's what I did, and that's now where I'm stuck. For whatever reason, the Klink software is unable to verify my license. I've been working with Kevin Ko at Klink - who, I should say, is really responsive and a pleasure to work with - but we've yet to figure out what's wrong. He seems determined to get to the bottom of it and if it's simply not fixable he's going to refund the $4.99. Again, a pleasure to work with and if anyone out there is considering trying Klink I would recommend it, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even have it running yet :)
 
That's really weird as the long time I used it I've never had a license problem.

But I'm very glad to hear the developer is dead set on getting it to work for you. I hope he can get it going for you since Klink is one the best if not the best wired tether apps you can get :thumbup:

Let us know if he can get it fixed for you bud.
 
I just tried the Klink demo on my Mac, and sure enough it worked... that's a pretty cool little app. I really don't mind having to use a cable for tethering, since it'll only work if both my phone and laptop are present anyway.

I'm not gonna buy the full version yet, but I'll keep the demo on my phone to remind me that it's available in case I ever need it.
 
Nice glad it worked for you too :)

The one thing I love about Klink, it doesn't eat up through data nearly as much as a wifi tether app does. Even if you stream it goes through half if that of what a wifi tether would. Even if you stream.

This surely helps if your with a carrier that throttles like virgin mobile obviously.
 
Back
Top Bottom