What is ''tethering''

oysterman

Not very techie minded, so what is it & what is it use:question:

Easy to understand answers please:D

Silk

It's when you connect your mobile to your laptop etc to use the mobile signal to access the internet

rwalton159

Isn't it when you tie an animal to a post or fence to restrict its movement

Silk

rwalton159 wrote: »

Isn't it when you tie an animal to a post or fence to restrict its movement

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
very good

espresso

Tethering.....

Guys_Dad

rwalton159 wrote: »

Isn't it when you tie an animal to a post or fence to restrict its movement

That's a very silly answer to a serious question and you should be ashamed of yourself. :mad:

This is a mobile phones forum and in that context tethering is the process that mobile companies T & C use to tie you up in knots when you agree one of their contracts.

These are very difficult to break and you can become very frustrated. Hence, the dictionary definition of one of the meanings of "tether" is used as it encompasses both the being tied up and being frustrated.

Be at the end of your tether is to be so tired, worried, or annoyed by something that you feel unable to deal with it any more

See here. http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/tether

Or maybe Silk and expresso may be right. :o:o

usignuolo

Surely the correct answer is the one provided by SILK above.

Guys_Dad

usignuolo wrote: »

Surely the correct answer is the one provided by SILK above.

I see you are described as "a serious money saving fan".

Very apt. :rotfl::rotfl:

Silk

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I wonder who's joshing who here

Herongull

Silk wrote: »

It's when you connect your mobile to your laptop etc to use the mobile signal to access the internet

I believe it can also be done wirelessly ie your phone becomes like a mini-wifi hotspot. AFAIK this can only be done (the wireless part) with rooted phones, but someone can correct me if I've got this wrong.

usignuolo

"Tethering" is the use of your cell phone -- or other Internet-enabled mobile device -- as a modem for another device, usually a notebook or PDA. The connection is made either with a cable (USB or serial) or wirelessly through bluetooth or Wi-Fi (or, in the good old days, via infrared or IrDA).

Tethering enables users to go online from their laptops or PDAs in situations where there's no other means of Internet access: when there's no wi-fi hotspot like a Starbucks around, for example, or your cable modem goes on the fritz, or you're on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and need an online map quick ... you get the idea.

If you're already paying for data service on your cell phone and your cellular provider doesn't require any extra fees for using your cell phone as a modem for your laptop, tethering can also save you money, since you won't have to pay for separate mobile broadband service or buy additional hardware just to get your laptop connected.

You can also surf the web more securely using a tethered cell phone, because your information is being sent directly through the phone versus, for example, over a public open wireless hotspot.

From About.com Mobile Office Technology.

We used tethering when I was storm chasing in the mid west last year to get an internet connection to see weather maps GPs etc.