Hello Everyone,

Where I live there's a verizon network support call center. I have friends that work there. Also I have been tethering to VZW for several years now without a data plan. There is some very bad information on this thread. Without quoting or pointing fingers I'd like to correct some of it.

1. EVDO vs. 1x- If you don't have a data plan $59.99 a month or $2 a day (yes they will prorate it. A good idea when traveling) DO NOT use EVDO! Verizon originally allowed tethering via 1x as part of their service plan. It was called 'National Access' and was (and still is) billed as simple minutes. Though the terms of service has changed their billing practices have not. This means that using 1x can put you over your plan at the cost of 15 cents per minute. But it also means that tethering via 1x on nights and weekends is effectively free!
Tethering via EVDO however, is monitored fairly closely. They will generally give you a warning and reverse the GIGANTIC charge on your bill once, but they don't have to. And they will shut off your phone and charge you for the entire contract (2 years) if you repeat. It is a bad idea.

2. Tethering may always use the login info you provide (depending on handset.) They use different info so that Veriazon can tell who is tethering and who is not. That is why some of you are getting disconnected after 10 seconds . Some handsets can be hacked to give the same login whether tethering or accessing via phone directly. Some cannot. http://howardforums.com is a good source of info on this. (I do not advocate hacking your handset. If you want to do this- caveat emptor.) Just having a vcast plan is not enough to mask your activities. The longer you tether illegally via EVDO the more likely you are to get bent over.

3. Even with the $59.99 data plan there is a bandwidth limit of 5gb per month. The overages charges are quite large. So watch your usage.

If you must have EVDO, paying for it is the safest way. They will prorate by the day. Simply call them up and ask to have 'Broadband Access Connect' added to your phone. $60 per month sounds like a lot until you get a $1000 phone bill

I really hope this helps someone,

a noony mouse