Internet sharing on LG C900B!

Internet Sharing is not included in any new OS updates since it has been in the OS since Mango came out (7.10.7720.68). On first generation phones, such as the LG, a firmware update (from LG) is needed to add modem drivers for Internet Sharing. Note that all carriers will not allow Internet Sharing anyway (or even ok the firmware update), so it might not appear anyway.

 

What carrier are you on and is the phone unbranded (any carrier logo on startup) ?

Not every character has added their logo to the startup. You can still have a branded phone with no carrier branding anywhere on the device.

Thank you for the response. I dont see any carrier's name on start up.

 

THanks,

Paraclete

i have the LG  c900b with sasktel and all i want to do is enable my laptop to run off my phone's network for the internet and send watch my videos over my dvd system which has wi-fi ability.. (not sure i worded that right)  Mainly all i want though like i just wrote, which is to enable my laptop or my friends laptop to run off my cell phone network to run internet. I dont even know the correct term though i have been searching endlessly. Do i have to jailbreak or unlock or crack or tether or reroot or is it rooting? i am confused. i am in canada as well if that helps at all. is there an app or something i need to get or what is the process i must take to enable the internet sharing feature. 

The answers above are NOT entirely correct. 

 

1.  USB tethering IS possible - it just requires a bit of a tweak (be sure to enable wireless sync in your Zune settings BEFORE you do this so you don't have to be constantly going in to the MFB and changing the settings back and forth).

 

http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/get-usb-tethering-on-lg-windows-phone-7-devices/

(For the correct dail-up info, visit SaskTel's page:

• Windows 7 (on your PC): http://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12164
• Windows Vista: http://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12163
• Windows XP: http://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12162

Go here for the correct APN, assuming you are on the SaskTel network (referred to in the first link, you will need to know this):

• http://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12121

 

 

2.  Just to clarify, this phone is fully capable of WiFi Tethering (a.k.a, mobile hotspot, or, Internet Sharing as the O/S calls it).  Only one of the C900 models has received the firmware update which enables it to use this feature, though.  (Namely, that would be the LG-C900K, the Telstra Australia version - someone mentioned this above.)  There is no official word as to whether the firmware will be officially released for the C900B and other similar models, so I chose not to wait.  After all, LG Canada claimed that it wasn't possible at all, so I'm thinking that they are probably not planning on doing anything about it.  So, the fix is, install the C900K firmware on your phone, instead!  (WARNING, THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA, HISTORY, SETTINGS, APPS, ETC - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A RECENT BACKUP JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS DURING THE INSTALL, SYNC WITH ZUNE BEFOREHAND SO YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR STUFF, AND BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE BASICALLY STARTING OUT WITH A NEW PHONE.  BUT AT LEAST THAT PHONE HAS INTERNET SHARING!)

 

For instructions, see this link:

• http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1337044

***BUT*** If you are on the SaskTel network, stop after step 5.  Instead of steps 6 and on, do this:

• From your applications list, go to settings.  Scroll down to Cellular.  At the bottom, click on "add apn."  If you are on the SaskTel network, use the settings from this link:  http://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12121 (same as the link referred to for APN info when USB tethering). 

(Anyone on another carrier will have to look up the APN info for their carrier and use that here, instead.)

• You may need to restart your phone.  You should then have access to data, and Internet Sharing should work as well.

***ALSO***  The forum post linked to above also links you to another forum post with further instructions and links to file downloads.  First off, remember that you are selecting the firmware download for the Telstra Australia (C900K) LG Optimus Quantum, NOT your actual model.  In addition, go to the last page of the thread and get your firmware links from there; they are closer to the current version and will not require so many updates through Zune - this will save you much time.  (Be aware that I used the original firmware linked to in the initial post, so I cannot personally vouch for the later-linked ones, but no one else seemed to have any complaints about their validity.)  Further, the instructions on the first page are not very clear (they appear to be, but trust me - they are absolutely not quite right, you will waste much time if you try to follow them directly).  Instead, once you download the files you need from that thread, go back to the first forum post (the one I link to directly in this comment) and scroll down until you see where a user reposted the instructions with some modifications in red.  Don't worry, this will all make sense once you follow the links and start to read them through. 

 

If you choose to use this method to get your Internet Sharing, enjoy!!  If you decide to wait and see if LG bothers to enable this for any other models, Please let me know if/when they do.  I recommend that, at such a time, everyone go back to their proper firmware *if* Internet Sharing is later added to it. 

Generally Rachelle, we don't support hacks because they can cause problems later down the line with updates.

I absolutely understand that.  Which is why all of the instructions linked to above say that they are done at the user's own risk.  However, it's better than having a phone that does not support the functions you need when there is another option.  I agree that there are risks, my intent is only to let people know that there are options available.  Personally, I am happy with how this works for me.  Being able to USB tether allowed us to get rid of our home internet connection - saving us over $40/ month.  But there were still things we couldn't do with only a USB tether to my laptop and an ad-hoc running from my laptop to the other devices.  Just not very practical.  This hack allowing Internet Sharing has made a huge difference.  It is worth enough to me, personally, to possibly have to deal with some further inconvenience down the line. 

 

Really, I think that if Microsoft doesn't want their customers to apply hacks to the phones, they should ensure that there is no NEED for them.  Obviously enough users want to be able to USB tether, so why isn't this built into the O/S without a need for hacking?  And if you don't like the idea of us having to install a different firmware to enable a much-needed feature, shouldn't there be more communication with LG to ensure that this is, again, made available WITHOUT the use of a hack?  More than that, LG doesn't even know what's going on with this phone.  In my first communicae to them, via phone, the representative told me that 'they have no control over the updates that are released, that's why they only have two Windows phones.'  What a load of hooey!  And how nice for a customer to hear that the manufacturer doesn't take the device seriously...  And in my second communicae with them, via email, I was told an outright lie.  Apparently, the engineers informed them that this phone is NOT capable of using this feature. 

 

But at least LG had one things going for them - I was able to actually talk to a human being!!  I tried to contact Microsoft to get a straight answer, but there is no number to call, no email to reach, not even an online contact form.  Just this, where a moderator may or may not reply, and the answer may or may not answer my question.  And what was my question?  Simple:  I was only asking if the hardware in my device is physically capable of using Internet Sharing.  I couldn't even get a straight answer on that. 

 

In short, people use hacks.  They always have and probably always will.  The good news is that they use them much less with Windows Phone 7 than with Android, that is definitely something in Windows' favor.  But if you don't 'recommend' hacks, don't allow them to be necessary.  Even something as simple as better (and ACCURATE) communication would make a big difference.  After all, if someone had been able to tell me that an update IS in the works for my device to enable this feature, perhaps I could have waited.  As it is, I have no idea if updates will even continue for any significant time as the device is not sold in this area any more.  It would be nice to just have some idea of what is going on!!

I'm well aware people use hacks and I do not look down on those who do so unless they hack and then continue to expect official support.

Internet Tethering was left up to the manufacturer and carrier to enable. There seems to be a big miscommunication between SaskTel and LG in this case.

And yes, there is a contact form you can use to contact Zune support for Zune and Windows Phone.

Wanted to update everyone on some feedback I got from LG that looks like it actually *may* be more accurate. Unfortunately, it means that we will probably not see an update with Internet Sharing anywhere in North America, and for those of us using the Australia Telstra firmware it may be less healthy/safe. They said:

"Thank you for your comments. Delay was a result of looking into this internally, but we have an answer for you! The reason it wasn't made available as a feature in the software update for the LGC900B phone was due to test resu...lts regarding the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The SAR is a North American requirement specified from the Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada, which would explain why flashing your phone with Australian software (C900K) made it possible for internet sharing. Please note we do not support flashing software meant for other phones. Please let us know if you have any further questions regarding this. Thank you."

(Original Facebook conversation)