era of 3G phones ending.

My old Samsung Eternity could have lasted an eternity I think with occasional new battery. But 3G heading quickly to dust bin history, least in USA. Time marches on.

Saw an "ATT" Sonim XP5 cheap on ebay. Said it had wear and tear.... for $24 shipped. Sonim is high quality phone. Ordered it and received a bloody new one. Popped in my Red Pocket SIM (ATT network) and could make calls but the APN was blanked and wouldnt let me create new one..... You need proper APN for your provider in order to use data.

Finally found a thread of somebody with this problem in Canada. He said he finally found sticking in a foreign unregistered SIM would force APN settings to show up, the default ATT APN setting now visible. Then put in your registered reseller SIM and you will get ability to change APN when you press menu button. I had an old unregistered Red Pocket SIM. That worked, apparently just has to be unregistered, not foreign GSM. Then put in registered Red Pocket SIM and could create a custom Red Pocket APN. Bingo. I could then send texts and use the truly horrible browser built into the phone.

So tried tethering. "Call ATT" popped up, cant use the built in tethering or hotspot function. ATT had this blocked. and from what I read, just network unlocking phone wont unlock the tether block. You have to root the phone or use an Android app like EasyTether to do a work around.

Lot searching and one, yea ONE mention that you can root a Sonim XP5. Possibly can side load a not too demanding Android app. The Sonim isnt a smart phone though it uses version Android 4.4. No access to Google store. Havent progressed beyond that with the Sonim.

Though saw that same seller that I got the HP Streams from had a factory unlocked Asus Zenfone3 for $10. Same disclaimer that its for parts and not repair. I think disclaimer more for preventing people from starting refund confusion through Ebay for trivial defects. Says it powers on, just like he did for the laptops. Get it tomorrow and see if I got lucky for third purchase from this seller. Its full Android smart phone for GSM with access to Google store. But being aftermarket factory unlocked, it should not have tethering blocked so shouldnt need EasyTether. Unlocked doesnt mean rooted, just means you can use it freely on any GSM network you have SIM for. From reading this phone does come with bloatware apps. You want to remove, not just hide, them, you need to root the phone. Actually from what I have read, if you root phone, you can remove ALL apps to create just basic use phone. But only if you root it. Increases battery life greatly.

Ok, progress.  Rainy day yesterday so forced myself to deal with phone stuff.  The Sonim XP5 first.  Ok, I am complete newbie to rooting phone or sideloading apps.  This is only mention of doing either to Sonim XP5:  https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/sonim-xp5700-root-help-t3928575

Install apps
1. Enter Developer Option by entering *#*#2387#*#*
2. Turn on USB debugging
3. Install adb drivers for windows https://forum.xda-developers.com/sho....php?t=2588979
4. Connect XP5 to PC
5. Open cmd on Windows machine and do a "adb devices" (no quotes). This will prompt adb on phone, so allow it from phone.
6. You can install apks now. Adb in the directory where you downloaded apk file. Do a "adb install filename.apk" (no quotes). App installed.

If want root

1. Download and install Kingroot from https://kingroot.net/
2. Run it to root the xp5.

Edit build.prop to get hotspot working on unlocked AT&T model.

1. Install a build.prop editor from apkmirror.com "adb install filename.apk" (no quotes)
2. Open build.prop editor
3. Scroll down to #system prop for Service Entitlement. Change att.service.entitlement=true to false. At the very end add net.tethering.noprovisioning=true.
4. Save and reboot

Due to the screen being non-touch, you may run into apps not being fully compatible. I used jrummy build.prop editor ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ld.prop.editor with success. I also use Zello ptt (free push to talk which is not carrier dependant. Will also run on any android or iphone. https://zello.com/ )

Please note, this is post on link above with ONLY Sonim XP5 info out there.  I am quoting it in full simply to mirror it in case it disappears.  Its by some poster named bubbanexus.  He deserves credit.

Anyway I found English version KingRoot, though installer was in Chinese....  Installed in win10, it found phone and did its thing, claiming success.  Got KingRoot screen and some KingRoot files on phone.  

Then followed part to sideload apps and sideloaded some build.prop editor, not one recommended as didnt find it.  And for heck of it installed EasyTetherLITE, crippled version of EasyTetherPRO that will only let one surf to http sites, not https sites.

Ok the build.prop editor claimed Sonim indeed not rooted and refused to open.  No idea if just whatever test that editor uses or if indeed I am not rooted.

So open EasyTetherLITE on phone and follow the wizard.  Have to download windows computer software, it requires both APK on phone and corrosponding part of software on device being tethered.  There is software for windows, mac, linux, android, and probably some others.  But I was on windows to do rest of it so continued.  

Wizard said success.  With windows software, EasyTether icon in tray, right click it and click connect.  Said connected.  

Old style http sites kinda rare anymore after Google demanded every site be https, but Puppy Linux Forum site still http.  I could surf there.  It works.  Oh was thinking but had already put SIM back in the old Eternity, so downloaded linux version of EasyTether and installed it on Puppy.  No tray icon in linux.  Had to type "easytether-usb" in terminal.    Puppy runs root by default.  Guessing probably have to sudo in Lubuntu.  I know I have to run wvdial.

Hope this helps other owners of ATT network Sonim XP5 phone.  I doubt these phones are used much for tethering, especially those originally locked to ATT.  And they seem most common version found on used market.  Still wondering if KingRoot actually rooted the phone or if that build.prop editor used some faulty test.  Dont know if I really care that much.  $10 and EasyTether PRO fully functional.  Not really worth spending whole bunch time to save $10.

Oh there is a linux free alternative for tethering without rooting, called AziLink.  Sure it probably uses similar method to EasyTether, just not as developed and slicked up, and doesnt do windows....  https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Android_tethering

I did charge the Asus Zenfone 3 MAX phone. Up came weirdest looking phone desktop. IN SPANISH! Ok play with it and get it to English. Its some third party software to install custom ROM to the phone. Like three or four available for this phone. Apparently somebody rooted phone and installed this software then didnt finish with custom ROM for whatever reason. Oh apparently didnt get it shut down properly, phone booted up in Russian next time. I own the thing so get to feeling ambitious will download a custom ROM and see if I can get phone acting like phone again. Its aftermarket unlocked GSM phone so shouldnt have native Android tethering app blocked.

All I want stupid phone to do is voice, text, and tethering. Dont give fig about rest of stuff modern phones do. But nothing is ever as easy as it should be. The old engineers' motto of Keep It Simple Stupid is dead, now its chant of more complexity for more profit.

Guess I love a challenge, wasted bunch time getting that free open source AziLink working. Talk about frustration. Followed instructions I found two or three place. ALL from like TEN years ago. At best it would tether for minute or two then go into an infinite loop of disconnecting, reconnecting, etc.

Doing same thing over and over again usually considered mark of insanity. But this time somehow it worked. Been on nearly an hour. Good connection. And yea 4G is faster. Not big surprise, at one point I had a Net10 hotspot gadget that was 4G LTE on Verizon network, it was fast when I could get good cell tower signal. Last I used it couple summers ago when to get Verizon signal had to walk way out into woods to north end of property, something happened as used to get strong Verizon signal at the house. After that ATT network only gizmos, but until now only had 3G phone/hotspot for ATT network.

Phone is staying cooler than with the crippled version Easytether. I had seen that in comments for that Clockwork app, said it let phone stay cooler than Easytether.

I would say AziLink is a wonderful thing, but you think what $10 is worth anymore and wasted more than $10 of time making it work. Course maybe I learned something. Not sure exactly what I learned except that it does still work in 2020. Not sure exactly what triviality changed to let it stay connected and stable this time. And free is always nice feeling, even if you have to work for it.

Rainy cold day. Messed a bit getting script working to connect to via AziLink to two of computers. Basically turn on phone, go to AziLink app and turn on service. Then hit the icon on computer desktop. Works better in Puppy since Puppy runs root by default. In Lubuntu, still have to enter root password to run it. But I am just not used to scripts with all the permission hierarchy. Probably can make it run without password.

Made me wonder, since I bet EasyTether works similar way, it must be running in background on phone full time.

Oh found some blog of guy that used SLIRP to tether. Very old linux program in dialup days. You install SLIRP to phone, then he provided script you run on computer to connect. If I just wanted a head scratching time waster of a puzzle....

Hmm, it still occasionally goes into that connect-disconnect loop. Sometimes running "killall openvpn" works. Sometimes I have to reboot the computer. Dont have to reboot phone usually.

Oh figured out how to, when I click the desktop icon to run script to connect, to have it open in terminal.

[Desktop Entry]
Name=AziLink
Exec= lxterminal -e bash -c '/usr/bin/azilink_vpn; bash'
Type=Application
Icon=

dpupbuster64 using lxterminal and the script being "azilink_vpn" Cant find desktop version of azilink icon of the flying insect so settled for a green square with white capital T (for tether) with white circle around it.

I like it opening in terminal so I can see immediately if it goes into the loop. And quitting the tether connection, just ctrl-c.

The loop can be annoying, but still observing what exactly happens when it does this. Also it can get to where the azilink app running on phone can stop running. Though seems to be related to whatever causes the loop. Has to be an openvpn thing.

I would be PO'd if I had paid money, but it was free and think I am learning more and more how it works. Free and open source is always nice. But if I just needed absolute reliability with no fiddling around, would probably buy EasyTether.

I think I have figured way to do AziLink that doesnt get the loop.  Boot phone unplugged from computer.  Boot computer.  Turn service on in AziLink app on the phone. Now plug usb into computer.  It will see phone as "camera" or "usb storage" and pop up a screen to access it like that,  dismiss that.  Now run the openvpn script.  Havent gotten the loop yet doing it like this.  Devil in the detail.  I will know better after say another week using this phone for tethering.

Oh was curious, found a "factory unlocked" Sonim XP5 for $50. Meaning its pure Sonim, no ATT or Verizon or Sprint software on it, no blocks or locks or snitches. Its a clean slate.  Those seem exceedingly rare on used market and expensive new.  Bargain for factory unlocked even though missing proprietary charger/cord.  Most are ATT locked/unlocked or some Verizon locked/unlocked.  Meaning for instance the ATT unlocked, you can use on any GSM network, but it still has the ATT ROM with all the ATT nonsense included, so tethering probably still blocked with "call ATT" popup and will have the snitch built into it that phones home if you do end run around the tethering block with an app or by rooting and editing configuration file.  Of course this doesnt matter if you are using a GSM service like I am that is ok with tethering cause its not an ATT account, end run perfectly fine.

Did run across cracked PRO version EasyTether somebody posted, but thats cheating and not as interesting, rather stick with AziLink. AziLink has its quirks, but I will always stick with open source software if at all possible.

Oh I never posted the other files.

The azilink.ovpn script for openvpn to use:

dev tun
remote 127.0.0.1 41927 tcp-client
ifconfig 192.168.56.2 192.168.56.1
route 0.0.0.0 128.0.0.0
route 128.0.0.0 128.0.0.0
socket-flags TCP_NODELAY
keepalive 10 30
dhcp-option DNS 192.168.56.1

This is same whether you use this on linux, windows, or MAC. Its what openvpn uses.

And here is command script to connect:

#! /bin/sh
adb devices
adb forward tcp:41927 tcp:41927
#/etc/init.d/NetworkManager stop
cp /etc/resolv_azilink.conf /etc/resolv.conf
openvpn /etc/azilink.ovpn
#/etc/init.d/NetworkManager start

This script I found for running in an old version Ubuntu. I commented out the Network Manager stuff and changed some other stuff to file names I used.

Oh and need to create an resolve_azilink.conf file so you can auto copy that to your resolv.conf file. This cause sometimes computer will overwrite the resolv.conf if you ever use different way to connect. Running the cp command copies whats in resolve_azilink.conf to resolv.conf.

you put "nameserver 192.168.56.1" in the resolve_azilink.conf file, minus the quotation marks.

Hmm, somehow just went into connect-disconnect loop while I was posting.  Not good.  And ctrl-c didnt stop it running.  I had to open another terminal and run "killall openvpn".  I wonder if there is another linux vpn software I could use.  Openvpn has a bug or its just that this is newer version openvpn than Azilink was designed to work with????  Thats downside of using an old abandoned open source app.  It breaks, I have to fix it.  But like say it gets too wonky, I can always pay the man the $10 and use EasyTether.  I know from sometime back using it on that BoostMobile LG android phone (the one that battery get super hot while tethering), that EasyTether is super stable and reliable.

Going the other way. Only time I get loop now is if I forget to check the "service active" box on the AziLink phone app. Other wise just works. Unlike some other pay apps, AziLink unchecks the box when you shut off the phone. So after phone has been off and you want to tether, you always have to go into AziLink app and check that box. Most of pay apps box stays checked. Meaning its also running all time in background.

The "free" version of EasyTetherPro I found does work in windows. Not sure if its cracked version of EasyTetherLite or if its some ancient free beta version EasyTether from original developer. I rarely use windows so nice to have it for that, saves me installing openvpn on windows. Though probably eventually do so as I would rather use open source app than some crackware. Whether its some really old version when it was windows only, or they did something odd when they cracked it, it only works in windows. The linux software part of it errors out. The linux software works fine with the official free demo EasyTetherLite that wont connect to any https site.

AziLink and the Sonim XP5 still working fine. I saw somebody selling unlocked XP5 missing battery, back cover, and charger. $15 so should be on its way soon. No mention if factory unlocked or unlocked ATT version. I was curious, will use missing bits from my XP5 to try it.

I also saw Liberty 360day plan for $60 on ebay. Its on Tmobile. Unlimited voice and SMS text. No data. Dont see that very often, usually they include tiny bit data with such minimalist plans. They also usually limit minutes of voice and number SMS texts per month. So if you can do Tmobile then you have bargain as voice phone setup. Unlimited voice for $60 a year, not sure how you would beat that. But would need either an unlocked GSM phone or a Tmobile phone.

I really dont need more voice since I already have unlimited and dont make hardly any voice calls. If I didnt need to tether to cell for my home internet, I would gladly get this deal. The only positive of having two would be ability to just leave the Tmobile one in the car. Not have to remember to take Red Pocket GSMA phone with me. I should be able to access Tmobile but may not be as good signal as ATT.