Re: [PLUG] Problem using a T-mobile Z915 Hotspot on a Linux machine

[wes]

>
> If I enter the numeric IP # referenced in resolv.conf into the browser's
> address bar I see the screen used to access the setup of the Z915


from this, I conclude that the Z915 is instructing its connected clients to
pass DNS requests through itself. it probably runs a cache to reduce load
on t-mobile's DNS servers. if you wanted, you could alter the Z915's config
to use different DNS servers itself, rather than overriding them at the
client level. your preference.


>
> 1. Would using a "foreign" DNS cause me problems with T-mobile?
>

no.

2. Without a numeric IP in resolv.conf, how would my OS know how/where
> to access the Z915?
>

define "access" - in this case, resolv.conf only controls where your system
looks for answers to DNS queries. with no entries in this file, your system
would be unable to find those answers, and your internet connection would
be usable only by IP address (as in, not very practical).


>
> >
> > Those are the Google nameservers.
>
> Anything with Google makes me wary.
>

I use 4.2.2.2 personally, but it's operated by Verizon so probably not much
better than Google. at some point you just have to pick your poison.

-wes
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Re: [PLUG] Problem using a T-mobile Z915 Hotspot on a Linux machine

[Richard Owlett]

On 06/15/2017 03:13 PM, John Jason Jordan wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Jun 2017 14:40:58 -0500
> Richard Owlett  dijo:
>
>> About a year ago my local ISP terminated dial-up service and was not
>> marketing wideband to home users. I decided against any type of
>> fixed
>> point of service (i.e. telco, cable, or satellite). I looked for a
>> "cell network modem" (proper term?). The closest thing I could find
>>from a provider with a physically local presence was the Z915. Having
>> only 1 machine I have no use for its WiFi capability. For connecting
>> to the internet the hardware aspects are fine. My OS is Debian
>> Stretch.
>
> I have a Note 3 phone, originally T-Mobile, now MetroPCS. MetroPCS has
> always had a deal with T-Mobile to use their network, and now MetroPCS
> is owned by T-Mobile.
>
> It used to be that you had to pay extra to use your phone (or modem)
> as a hotspot, but about a year ago someone told me that there is no
> longer an extra charge.

The Z915 is explicitly a Hotspot - It has *NO* voice capability.

> I pay $30 a month for 5GB of data, and using my phone
> as a hotspot is included.
>
> Recently I had a problem with my new Centurylink gigabit fiber
> connection - no connection at all. Of course this occurred on a Friday
> night, too late to get anyone by phone. Have you ever tried to
> communicate with Centurylink when you have no net connection?
>
> Eventually I figured out how to turn my phone into a hotspot.
> My laptop saw the hotspot, but could not connect to it. I was tearing
> my hair out
> when it dawned on me to try a physical connection. I charge my phone
> with a USB cable from my laptop, so I just plugged it in. Voilà! I was
> on the net. And it wasn't even terribly slow. I never did figure out
> why my laptop couldn't connect to the hotspot by wifi.
>
> Once I had a connection I was able to get Centurylink to schedule a
> service call, although the earliest they could do was Monday. Knowing
> that I had only 5GB of high speed data I turned off everything that
> might use a lot of data. Over the weekend I used the connection just
> for e-mail and browsing the web. Once my fiber connection was restored
> I turned off the hotspot and checked my data usage on the phone - I
> had used only 400MB over the weekend.

I typically use approximately 800-900 MB per *MONTH* ;/

>
> The point I want to make is that I did it with just my now several
> years old phone. So why do you need the Z915? Does it give you extra
> benefits?

Yes, I've a real computer with a real screen and keyboard. YMMV LOL
And no one has convinced me that a smart(sic) phone is an adequate 
substitute for a telephone.





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Re: [PLUG] Problem using a T-mobile Z915 Hotspot on a Linux machine

[Richard Owlett]

On 06/15/2017 03:07 PM, Bill Barry wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 12:40 PM, Richard Owlett 
> wrote:
>
>> About a year ago my local ISP terminated dial-up service and was not
>> marketing wideband to home users. I decided against any type of fixed
>> point of service (i.e. telco, cable, or satellite). I looked for a "cell
>> network modem" (proper term?). The closest thing I could find from a
>> provider with a physically local presence was the Z915. Having only 1
>> machine I have no use for its WiFi capability. For connecting to the
>> internet the hardware aspects are fine. My OS is Debian Stretch.
>>
>> My problem occurs when you mistype a URL. Instead of being given a
>> simple error message and leaving the URL visible for editing it
>> transfers you the most inane page of suggested places to go.
>>
>> Initially I was looking for a way to block the inane site. Someone on a
>> T-mobile oriented USENET list provided me with a list of numeric IPs for
>> that site, but being a Windows only user could not suggest "howto". I
>> couldn't find any Linux related info that did not assume presume a
>> server was being discussed, not a single machine home user.
>>
>> A alternate suggestion was using a public DNS. I don't think the Linux
>> suggestions I found would work in my case. Apparently my
>> /etc/resolv.conf contains only the IP of the Z915 itself.
>>
>> Am I even looking in the right place(s)?
>> TIA
>>

> Yes, the fact that your resolv.conf only contains the ip of the
> z915 is the problem. Remove that line and add a couple of lines
> for public nameservers.
>
> nameserver 8.8.8.8
> nameserver 8.8.4.4

That resolv.conf is the problem is not unexpected.
If I enter the numeric IP # referenced in resolv.conf into the browser's 
address bar I see the screen used to access the setup of the Z915 - as 
if I had entered http://www.mobile.hotspot/index.html .

Two things caused me word my subject line as I did (hoping for a 
response from a Z915 user):
1. Would using a "foreign" DNS cause me problems with T-mobile?
2. Without a numeric IP in resolv.conf, how would my OS know how/where 
to access the Z915?

>
> Those are the Google nameservers.

Anything with Google makes me wary.

> If you prefer other nameservers,
> There are some suggestions here:
> https://www.lifewire.com/free-and-public-dns-servers-2626062

I'll browse it to see if any have a "better" privacy statement than 
Google's.
Thanks.



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Re: [PLUG] Problem using a T-mobile Z915 Hotspot on a Linux machine

[John Jason Jordan]

On Thu, 15 Jun 2017 14:40:58 -0500
Richard Owlett  dijo:

>About a year ago my local ISP terminated dial-up service and was not 
>marketing wideband to home users. I decided against any type of fixed 
>point of service (i.e. telco, cable, or satellite). I looked for a
>"cell network modem" (proper term?). The closest thing I could find
>from a provider with a physically local presence was the Z915. Having
>only 1 machine I have no use for its WiFi capability. For connecting
>to the internet the hardware aspects are fine. My OS is Debian Stretch.

I have a Note 3 phone, originally T-Mobile, now MetroPCS. MetroPCS has
always had a deal with T-Mobile to use their network, and now MetroPCS
is owned by T-Mobile. 

It used to be that you had to pay extra to use your phone (or modem) as
a hotspot, but about a year ago someone told me that there is no longer
an extra charge. I pay $30 a month for 5GB of data, and using my phone
as a hotspot is included.

Recently I had a problem with my new Centurylink gigabit fiber
connection - no connection at all. Of course this occurred on a Friday
night, too late to get anyone by phone. Have you ever tried to
communicate with Centurylink when you have no net connection? 

Eventually I figured out how to turn my phone into a hotspot. My laptop
saw the hotspot, but could not connect to it. I was tearing my hair out
when it dawned on me to try a physical connection. I charge my phone
with a USB cable from my laptop, so I just plugged it in. Voilà! I was
on the net. And it wasn't even terribly slow. I never did figure out
why my laptop couldn't connect to the hotspot by wifi. 

Once I had a connection I was able to get Centurylink to schedule a
service call, although the earliest they could do was Monday. Knowing
that I had only 5GB of high speed data I turned off everything that
might use a lot of data. Over the weekend I used the connection just
for e-mail and browsing the web. Once my fiber connection was restored
I turned off the hotspot and checked my data usage on the phone - I had
used only 400MB over the weekend.

The point I want to make is that I did it with just my now several
years old phone. So why do you need the Z915? Does it give you extra benefits?
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Re: [PLUG] Problem using a T-mobile Z915 Hotspot on a Linux machine

[Bill Barry]

On Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 12:40 PM, Richard Owlett 
wrote:

> About a year ago my local ISP terminated dial-up service and was not
> marketing wideband to home users. I decided against any type of fixed
> point of service (i.e. telco, cable, or satellite). I looked for a "cell
> network modem" (proper term?). The closest thing I could find from a
> provider with a physically local presence was the Z915. Having only 1
> machine I have no use for its WiFi capability. For connecting to the
> internet the hardware aspects are fine. My OS is Debian Stretch.
>
> My problem occurs when you mistype a URL. Instead of being given a
> simple error message and leaving the URL visible for editing it
> transfers you the most inane page of suggested places to go.
>
> Initially I was looking for a way to block the inane site. Someone on a
> T-mobile oriented USENET list provided me with a list of numeric IPs for
> that site, but being a Windows only user could not suggest "howto". I
> couldn't find any Linux related info that did not assume presume a
> server was being discussed, not a single machine home user.
>
> A alternate suggestion was using a public DNS. I don't think the Linux
> suggestions I found would work in my case. Apparently my
> /etc/resolv.conf contains only the IP of the Z915 itself.
>
> Am I even looking in the right place(s)?
> TIA
>
>
>  Yes, the fact that your resolv.conf only contains the ip of the z915 is
the problem. Remove that line and add a couple of lines for public
nameservers.

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Those are the Google nameservers. If you prefer other nameservers, There
are some suggestions here:
https://www.lifewire.com/free-and-public-dns-servers-2626062



Bill Barry
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