Tethering (AKA Phone-as-Modem): Get the Facts!
By now, most people are familiar with the concept of EVDO mobile broadband, but did you know that many phones and PDAs can be used as EVDO modems? A dedicated USB, ExpressCard, or PCMCIA card EVDO modem is the perfect solution for many people, including frequent travelers or folks without access to fixed-line broadband like DSL or cable, but there are many people who could benefit from occassional EVDO access but don't want to be contracted to pay $59.99/month. For backup, temporary, or occassional mobile broadband needs, tethering is the perfect solution!
Tethering, which is also referred to as "Phone-as-Modem", refers to using your cell phone as a 3G modem by connecting it to your computer via USB or Bluetooth (some phones can even be tethered to routers, allowing you to share the connection with multiple computers). With a tether-capable phone and the appropriate Sprint or Verizon plan, you can avoid having another device with its own costly monthly bill and enjoy the freedom of mobile broadband wherever you take your phone.
There are many things to consider when deciding if tethering will work for you. Let's examine the costs, equipment, performance, pro's and con's:
Which phones are tether-capable?
Both Verizon and Sprint offer many phones that can be used as a modem. Tether compatibility is listed in the "notes" section of each phone description, and you can view a list of the currently available phones here: Verizon Phones/PDAs or Sprint Phones/PDAs. Remember that even if a phone is data-capable (meaning you can access the web or email on the phone), it may not be tether-capable, so it's important to check the features on the phone you're interested in if you plan to use your phone for tethering.
Below are the currently available tether-capable phones from Verizon and Sprint:
Verizon
Sprint
* This phone is EVDO Rev-A capable
How much does tethering cost?
Tethering incurs an extra fee and is NOT included in the cost of data packages that you can add in order to access web and email on your phone (for example, if you have a Blackberry and are paying for web and email access, that fee does not include tethering). However, unlike a dedicated EVDO device, you are NOT contracted to pay for the tethering feature each month - you can turn the feature on and off as needed and the monthly fee is pro-rated if you only use it for a partial month. Below are the costs for tethering with Verizon and Sprint:
Sprint:
- Tethering fee: $15/month
- Requirements: Compatible phone AND Sprint Power Vision data pack ($30/month) or Blackberry data pack ($30/month)
- Restrictions: CANNOT be added to the "Simply Everything" or "Everything" plans.
Verizon:
- Tethering fee:
- With standard (non-PDA) phone: $49.99/mo
- With PDA/Blackberry and $29.99/mo data pack: $30/mo
- With PDA/Blackberry and $44.99/mo data pack: $15/mo
- Requirements: Compatible phone
- Restrictions: None
Can a tethered phone provide the same speeds as a dedicated EVDO device?
The performance a tethered phone is able to provide depends largely on whether the phone is EVDO Rev-A capable. Rev-A is the updated EVDO network that is capable of delivering faster download and upload speeds than the original EVDO network. While all of the currently available EVDO modems are Rev-A, most phones/PDAs are only capable of connecting at EVDO Rev-0 speeds - even if you're in a Rev-A-covered location.
If you know that you will be using your phone for tethering regularly, we highly recommend selecting one of the available Rev-A models. With a Rev-A phone, you can experience the same speeds you'd see with a dedicated EVDO modem - 600Kbps-1,400Kbps download (with bursts to 2.0Mbps) and 500Kbps-800Kbps upload (with bursts to 1.8Mbps). Below is a sample of the speeds we saw when tethering Verizon's LG Dare to a MacBook Pro:
The difference between EVDO Rev-A and Rev-0 is substantial. With an EVDO Rev-0 phone, the speeds will be in the range of 400kbps-700kbps download (bursts up to 2.0Mbps), 50kbps-100kbps Upload (bursts to 144Kbps). This is fine for checking your email or casual web browsing, but heavier users will prefer Rev-A.
Does tethering provide UNLIMITED EVDO access?
No. Both Sprint and Verizon impose the same 5GB allowance and 5 cents/MB overage charges to tethering customers as they do for dedicated device subscribers. For more information about what you can do with 5GB, check out this article: What Does 5GB Get Me?
Can I talk on my EVDO phone while I'm tethering?
No. If a call comes in while you are in tether-mode, you have two options: ignore the call and allow it to go to voicemail, maintaining your tethered connection, or answer the call and disconnect. Another option is to set up call fowarding while you're tethering so that your incoming calls go directly to an alternate phone number (i.e. your home phone or spouse's cell phone).
Can I share the tethered connection by using a router?
In some cases, yes. Not all phones/PDAs are compatible with routers, however. You can see a full list of compatible devices here: 3G Router Compatibility Chart. If the phone you want to tether with is NOT officially supported by a router, it may still work - you can check the list of unofficially supported phones that we have tested here: Using an Unsupported Phone with a Cradlepoint Router. We also recommend searching the EVDO Forums or contacting 3Gstore to see if others have had success using the device in question with a router.
What are the Pro's and Con's of tethering?
PROS:
- Convenient - no need to have an additional device
- Save money - only pay when you need the service
- No contract - tethering is considered a "feature" on your phone and does not require its own contract
CONS:
- Not all phones are Rev-A compatible; all currently available dedicated devices are
- Not all phones have antenna ports; most dedicated devices do
- Can't talk on the phone while tethering
- Limited router compatibility
- Not compatible with certain Sprint plans
The bottom line:
Tethering is an excellent option for occassional or backup EVDO access and can save you a lot of money over a dedicated device. However, if you're a heavy internet user or can't live without being able talk on the phone at the same time as surfing the web, you'll be better off with a dedicated device.
One last note about tethering:
While Verizon and Sprint offer many tether-capable phones and the service is perfectly legal, many Sprint and Verizon reps have never heard of it and may not know how to help you if you call!!! We have heard customers say "I asked Verizon to activate tethering, but the rep told me that was not possible."
Do not get discouraged if the rep you speak with is unfamiliar with tethering. If you purchased your phone from 3Gstore, you can avoid this by calling 3Gstore (866-3GSTORE) to add and remove the tethering feature; if you need to call Sprint/Verizon directly make sure you ask to activate the "tethering feature" or "phone-as-modem" - if you refer to it as a "data" feature they will assume you are referring to one of the data packages that provides email and web access ON your phone.
Related links:
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Mac EVDO
