August 25th, 2011 . . . .
Categorized under: Android, applications, htc evo, linux, mac, networking, OS, Quick Tips, Ubuntu, windows

Tether Android to Ubuntu for free Internet

A couple of weeks ago I was without Internet (thanks to AT&T), and was forced to go to Starbucks to check email and commit work I had done. While I like going to Starbucks, it was not the best working situation for someone who works from home.

Since I have an Android (HTC Evo) I thought about USB tethering the device to my laptop and Internet sharing, but Sprint hits you with a $29.95/month fee to use that option.  Since I am completely able to work locally without a connection to the Internet, I decided to tough it out and wait until AT&T figured out their mess and got me turned back on.

Fast forward a couple of weeks later… (yes, I am back on the net)

I found some neat applications for my phone that enable someone to bypass the tethering options that Sprint charges for.  One popular application is PdaNet, but it is limited to Windows and Mac. (For those who are still limited by those two platforms, give PdaNet a try.)  Another application I stumbled across called EasyTether has Linux support, so I gave it a try. (I am actually writting this blog post while using it)

The application for the Droid was available on the Droid Market Place, and their website has the Ubuntu file available for the PC connection. http://mobile-stream.com/easytether/drivers.html

I installed the “Lite” version from the Droid Market Place (FREE!!! but limits you to non-SSL pages, unless you pay the $9.99 for the full version) The application walks you through the couple of simple steps needed to use it, and even gives you the address above to get your Windows/Mac/Ubuntu/Fedora up and running.

Once I installed the DEB file on my laptop, after downloading it, all I had to do was connect my phone to USB and open the connection via command line.

The command to link up is:

easytether connect

Now the next time I am without Internet I am ready. :)

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Comments

  1. Hey Adam, great article but did the application you use hide your data usage? If not does it require an extra add-on or something. The tethering of cellphones is growing acoss America and it won’t too long until wireless companies will give in and give away tehering data only to find another reason to hike fees. Anyways, this is your article, not mine. Thanks.


    Mike Bandy
    August 2nd, 2012

  2. Re-read the article and saw that it does bypass data usage. By the way, it works great!


    Mike Bandy
    August 2nd, 2012

  3. thanks…. u hav saved my life :) ))


    tholaal
    November 7th, 2012

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About Me

Adam Culp (GeekyBoy)
Adam Culp (GeekyBoy) is a Zend PHP 5.3 certified engineer working with Zend Technologies as a Senior Professional Services Consultant. He enjoys technology and posts things he finds interesting to this blog, mostly so he remembers, and to help others who may also need the info. As organizer of the South Florida PHP Users Group (SoFloPHP) as well as the SunshinePHP Developer Conference in Miami he is passionate about the PHP community. He also created ReqHarbor.com to help others gather and manage application requirements, and set up OutsourceHarbor.com to help companies find great developers. Read More >>
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