R.I.P. Unlimited tethering • Non-Gaming • Mobile Phones • Eurogamer.net

Moot_Point 29 Apr 2015 16:00:31 5,530 posts
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3 Have just informed me that they're discontinuing unlimited tethering contracts. Not sure what to do now.

You-can-call-me-kal 29 Apr 2015 16:03:09 23,013 posts
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I've never noticed a limit on tethering with EE, although perhaps I just don't do it enough for it to be a problem.

Stan546 29 Apr 2015 16:03:57 1,343 posts
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This the unlimited data contracts? They've slowly been removing them. I refuse to change from the full monty on tmobile just because it's unlimited everything for 36 quid

Stan546 29 Apr 2015 16:04:05 1,343 posts
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Stan546 29 Apr 2015 16:04:08 1,343 posts
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Stan546 29 Apr 2015 16:04:09 1,343 posts
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Technoishmatt 29 Apr 2015 16:05:16 5,365 posts
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I still get unlimited data for 16 quid on three, but indeed not on tethering

Technoishmatt 29 Apr 2015 16:06:13 5,365 posts
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And I can use the unlimited data while travelling to countries like the US and France.

Moot_Point 29 Apr 2015 16:07:53 5,530 posts
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Say it again Stan

Yes, I've been using unlimited tethering on 3 for over a year and now the dream is over. Dunno what other offers to take up. 3 offered me a 4Gb tethering contract, but it seems very small and I'm sure I'd use more than that.

CosmicFuzz 29 Apr 2015 16:26:22 32,632 posts
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I'm on the 3 unlimited too, which is fupping amazing. Plus the no charges abroad stuff is great. I'm going to cane the internet on my upcoming trip to the States.

But yeah, I only ever had 4Gb tethering. Tbh I barely ever use it.

What do you use it for so much out of interest?

Moot_Point 29 Apr 2015 16:30:50 5,530 posts
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Well, I use it as my main Internet connection. (Downloading movies, PC games, watching twitch etc and surfing the web). I think I would burn through 4Gb in no time.

You-can-call-me-kal 29 Apr 2015 16:32:56 23,013 posts
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You're the reason unlimited tethering has been taken away from everyone.

L0cky 29 Apr 2015 16:44:42 2,080 posts
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How do they know when you're tethering?

CosmicFuzz 29 Apr 2015 17:14:25 32,632 posts
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Moot_Point wrote:
Well, I use it as my main Internet connection. (Downloading movies, PC games, watching twitch etc and surfing the web). I think I would burn through 4Gb in no time.

Yeah, that's exactly why it's being stopped

gallow 29 Apr 2015 17:37:39 504 posts
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I think as part of the agreement for 3 going into partnership with EE last year there must have been a clause to make their contracts as shit as everybody else's.

CosmicFuzz 29 Apr 2015 17:42:46 32,632 posts
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3's contracts are still far and away the best if it's internet you're after.

Deleted user 29 April 2015 18:20:27

When did this happen? I don't think they've informed me, was it a letter? I'll be looking elsewhere if true.

CosmicFuzz 29 Apr 2015 18:30:42 32,632 posts
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Does anyone do unlimited tethering? 3 have been phasing it out for months now. I'd be surprised if it was offered elsewhere.

Innuendobot_5000 29 Apr 2015 18:35:31 238 posts
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CosmicFuzz wrote:
Does anyone do unlimited tethering?

TWENTY. FOUR. SEVEN.

OfNoConsequence 29 Apr 2015 19:01:03 9 posts
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L0cky wrote:
How do they know when you're tethering?

Would be good to know - I'm on the Three tariff with 4GB of tethering, but latest bill said I hadn't used any of the 4GB allowance. My phone reckons I did about 3.5GB, which was a mix of tablet and laptop tethering. Obviously, if Three can't see my tethering I'm not going to make a fuss about it, but just seemed a bit odd.

Moot_Point 12 May 2015 16:10:06 5,530 posts
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I popped into car phone warehouse and was informed that they have access to unlimited tethering sims on the 3 network. Interesting!

CosmicFuzz 12 May 2015 16:20:16 32,632 posts
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Just get proper broadband you tosser!

Dirtbox 12 May 2015 16:20:40 92,595 posts
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Rodpad 12 May 2015 16:32:59 2,997 posts
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L0cky wrote:
How do they know when you're tethering?

Probably monitoring ports. Because of NAT (which is used during tethering) the port numbers will be all over the place.

They could also sniff and discover packets that are meant for a MAC address that doesn't match your phone.

Edited by Rodpad at 17:08:35 12-05-2015

mrpon 12 May 2015 16:34:16 37,366 posts
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They backtrace it.

mal 12 May 2015 16:35:00 29,326 posts
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If you use it a lot, you'll burn through 4GB in no time, especially downloading stuff. I've been on a 3G contract in the past, and by the middle of the month I had to stop watching youtube vids (and I only subscribe to a couple of weekly channels and TT's thread here).

Edit: When I downloaded three's settings for my phone, it installed a tethering access point alongside the normal MMS and GPRS ones. I've never set an access point when using a 3G modem IIRC, but perhaps it uses that one automatically, dunno.

Edited by mal at 16:36:35 12-05-2015

Moot_Point 12 May 2015 16:37:25 5,530 posts
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@CosmicFuzz I can't. Mainly because I rent and could have to move at any point. With mobile tethering I get full usage for what I pay for and can move without the need to wait to be reconnected (which in some cases where there's no line in could take a month, meaning paying a month line rental for no service).

CosmicFuzz 12 May 2015 16:41:08 32,632 posts
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mrpon wrote:
They backtrace it.

I imagine the 3 Tethering Tracing ops room is like a scene from Bourne.

"Sir we've got a hit on a tether, nearing 4 gigs."
"I want a real time monitor on that. Punch it up on the board."
"It just passed 3.5."
"Get me the director on a secure line."
"But it's 3am local time."
"That thing inches any closer I'll wake half the eastern seaboard."
"He just hit 3.9."
"Jesus, he's on Netflix. Can you backtrace that?"
"4.1. It's Moot_Point, sir."
"This shit just metastasised. I want boots on the ground in 10. Make the call."

CosmicFuzz 12 May 2015 16:41:48 32,632 posts
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@Moot_Point Are you actually Jason Bourne? Do you need the internet to hack the NSA?

Moot_Point 12 May 2015 16:45:46 5,530 posts
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If only my life was that exciting!