[Tfug] Using Tmobile data on a tethered cellphone in Lucid...

[Jim March]

Right.  Unfortunately there's one limitation: it's not *streaming* to the
web in any way.  In other words, I have to finish the video recording, then
hit the "upload" button, then it takes a bit.  But not that long - the
TMobile system has much better upload speeds than the Verizon network
whether we're talking about tethered use (to a laptop) or stuff the phone is
doing.  It's still "faster inbound than outbound" but not near as
asynchronous as Verizon.

For some of the real smartphones, you can get an outright streaming
application and service so even if the phone is destroyed in mid-stream you
still have the evidence.

I'm going to be monitoring elections in Maricopa County this week.  My plan
is to have two cameras going: an obvious hand-held I own, and the phone in
my shirt pocket with the lens barely sticking out.  If they go for the
obvious camera - cool, let 'em - then use the phone to prove they just
committed assault, robbery, vandalism (if they break that phone), felony
perjury or obstruction if they lie later, etc.

For the price (both up-front and ongoing) I'm very pleased with TMobile so
far.

Oh yeah.  One other detail.  Because I own the phone outright, there's no
cancellation fee at all.  I can quit whenever.

Jim

On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 6:48 AM, keith smith <klsmith2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Very interesting statement:
>
>
> "TMobile has a free service whereby any pics or video I take can be
> instantly uploaded to a personal site that TMobile hosts...damn useful
> feature for a political activist since even if the phone is grabbed
> afterwards, evidence isn't lost."
>
> I assume there would also be log files showing the date and time of the
> upload and possibly some GPS information stored to also show where you were
> when you uploaded.
>
> All very good.  Could lead to anyone who erases your data and/or files a
> fraudulent report, to be charged with obstruction.  For lawyers this could
> mean disbarment and for police officers this could lead to loosing their
> certification and ability to ever work as a police officer again.
>
> In your case it could lead to federal voting law prosecutions.
>
> Add to this the civil sanctions which could help in the fight.
>
> I think this is a area of law that is really going to explode in the next
> few years and I foresee an need in this area for maybe 20 years, maybe
> longer.  If we look at the 60's and the liberal movement that started then,
> that would give some idea of how long the conservative movement might last
> or take.
>
> Based on what little I know, voter fraud has been going on for a long time,
> maybe forever.
>
> We definitely live in interesting times!
>
> ------------------------
> Keith Smith
>
> --- On *Sun, 8/22/10, Jim March <1.jim.march at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Jim March <1.jim.march at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Tfug] Using Tmobile data on a tethered cellphone in Lucid...
> To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug at tfug.org>
> Date: Sunday, August 22, 2010, 3:27 AM
>
>
> Just thought others might be interested:
>
> For years now I've been paying out the nose for separate voice and data
> devices under Verizon - EVDO Expresscard (KPC680 of late) and a decent
> "semi-smart" phone.  The total cost was over $160 a month (ow).
>
> I've now jumped to TMobile.  I did my research and scored a used
> Sony-Ericsson TM506 phone - I'd been shopping EBay but was surprised to find
> one for $60 at a pawn shop of all places).  This thing doesn't look like
> much but it's known as a "tethering monster", esp. if you "debrand it" and
> replace the TMobile OS/app code with Sony-Ericsson original stuff.
>
> I also scored a USB data cable online for $5, and spent $20 on a 4gig flash
> card of that weird "M2" format these take - at least the card came with a
> USB adapter.
>
> Here's the cool part: so far I have NOT succeeded in debranding (still
> working on that) but even so, with tethering via USB in 3G areas (basically
> all of Tucson, greater Phoenix and some other decent size towns) I'm seeing
> about .80mbs download in speedtest.net and about half that up.  I think
> I'll be able to boost that but it's still not bad - Verizon was about 1.2mbs
> best case and often less, and WAY slower on transmit.  And in 3G areas
> (which is shown right on the phone), I can be online with the phone yet
> still take an incoming call - way cool.
>
> Ubuntu Lucid and Network Manager recognized the phone over USB immediately,
> no hacking needed, just select the new device and pick TMobile as the
> provider.
>
> And my costs drop to half - $80 gets me unlimited voice, talk and data.
>
> When I connect the phone via USB, I've got it set to take any of three
> modes picked on each connection: I can set it up so it's only charging the
> battery off of USB, or it can go into hard disk storage mode giving me
> access to both memory areas, or it can be in "phone mode" for use as a modem
> (and in 3G areas, still act as a standard cellphone for voice).
>
> Yup.  This'll work...and supposedly there's even more speed on tap.
>
> What else...oh yeah: TMobile has a free service whereby any pics or video I
> take can be instantly uploaded to a personal site that TMobile hosts...damn
> useful feature for a political activist since even if the phone is grabbed
> afterwards, evidence isn't lost.  Overall the phone is reasonable - not good
> if you're into a lot of text messaging but I'm not huge on that.
>
> TMobile sells an updated version of this phone called the "Equinox".  It
> *has* to be hacked at to do tethering at all (regardless of speed).
>
> Jim
>
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