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HE15MAN

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
955
14
Florida's Treasure Coast
If I have an old unlimited data plan, will I be able to use my phone as a hotspot for a wifi only iPad? Or would it be better to buy an iPad with cellular?
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,694
5,949
If I have an old unlimited data plan, will I be able to use my phone as a hotspot for a wifi only iPad? Or would it be better to buy an iPad with cellular?

Which carrier? IIRC AT&T will not let you tether on unlimited plans. They switched that when they added the share plans. I think you can still do it with a JB though.
 

palmerc2

macrumors 68000
Feb 29, 2008
1,624
684
Los Angeles
I am on ATT sorry!

If you truly want to tether with your current setup, jailbreak. However I'd keep the use to a minimum because it is a breach of their contract. Also they throttle speeds at 5GB.

That's why I switched to T-Mobile (among other things), truly unlimited data and includes 5GB hotspot.
 

HE15MAN

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
955
14
Florida's Treasure Coast
If you truly want to tether with your current setup, jailbreak. However I'd keep the use to a minimum because it is a breach of their contract. Also they throttle speeds at 5GB.

That's why I switched to T-Mobile (among other things), truly unlimited data and includes 5GB hotspot.

Thanks, that answers it for me. T-mobile data speeds ok?
 

Shikaka

macrumors regular
Sep 12, 2014
233
89
I heard from AT&T that setting up a hotspot is considered a change to my service, therefore I would lose my grandfathered unlimited data. That was a few years ago, but I'm assuming it's still the case today.
 

Ken Kaniff

macrumors regular
Nov 8, 2014
154
1
Connecticut
If you truly want to tether with your current setup, jailbreak. However I'd keep the use to a minimum because it is a breach of their contract. Also they throttle speeds at 5GB.

That's why I switched to T-Mobile (among other things), truly unlimited data and includes 5GB hotspot.

I thought T-Mobile throttled as well? And if OP is on an old grandfathered AT&T plan, isn't it unthrottled? If so, his best bet may just be to jailbreak. Or if he wants to switch, he could sell that plan and make some money!
 

mikeydeezy

macrumors 6502a
Jun 15, 2010
617
71
MN, USA
I thought T-Mobile throttled as well? And if OP is on an old grandfathered AT&T plan, isn't it unthrottled? If so, his best bet may just be to jailbreak. Or if he wants to switch, he could sell that plan and make some money!

All of T-Mobile's data plans are only throttled for high-speed besides their actual Unlimited Plan.

You can be on their 5GB plan and the first 5GB are High-Speed and you have unlimted 2G speeds. AT&T actually does throttle your speed on their defunct Unlimted plan.
 

Paco II

macrumors 68020
Sep 13, 2009
2,288
706
It should be mentioned that depending on how much data they use, they could switch to one of AT&T's current plans, which does include tethering. Me and the SO gave up our individual plans that had grandfathered unlimited, of which we only used about 10GB a month, and now pay less per month and don't come close to our data limit.
 

palmerc2

macrumors 68000
Feb 29, 2008
1,624
684
Los Angeles
I thought T-Mobile throttled as well? And if OP is on an old grandfathered AT&T plan, isn't it unthrottled? If so, his best bet may just be to jailbreak. Or if he wants to switch, he could sell that plan and make some money!

They throttle on their non-unlimited plans. So let's say you opt for the 1GB high speed, after 1GB it's throttled.

I personally have the Unlimited and haven't been throttled once. I just switched in October from AT&T, I was grandfathered unlimited and after 5GB they throttle. I got sick of it so I ditched them.
 
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