How Tos

How to turn your G1 into a wi-fi router

Share your G1's 3G connection while out and about

How to turn your G1 into a wi-fi router
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The Android isn’t shaping up to be the awesome gaming system we’d hoped it might be, but its applications are plenty and bountiful. It’ll happily allow you to install unsigned apps, and doesn’t mind that they’re not all coming from the Market.

While paddling around in the shallow end of the internet we happened upon some deeper waters that promised amazing things for the G1 - such as turning it into a wi-fi router using your contract’s data tariff for a connection.

To perform many of these spectacular feats that the homebrew crew have talked their G1 phones into doing, you’re going to need something called 'root access'. But this isn’t a How To on firmware fiddling - for that, you’re on your own.

Be warned that dabbling with firmware is a pretty good way to brick your phone and void your warranty, but for the stout of heart it’s the key to unlocking the door to your phone’s real power. Personally, I’ve installed cooked firmware on most everything I own, from DVD recorders to wi-fi routers and Windows Mobile phones - all without incident.

Here’s the guide we used for getting root access on your G1. Follow it to the letter, and you should be fine. Also be warned that some mobile operators don’t like you using your contract’s data allowance for tethering purposes (T-Mobile just stripped most tethering applications out of the Market - though many can still be found online), so check your terms and conditions in that respect, too.

Once all that nonsense is out of the way, prepare to really meet your G1. Using one of the few remaining tether applications on the Market, we’ve been using our G1 as a secure wi-fi router - granting internet access to a laptop, an iPod touch and a Nokia N81 all at the same time, while out and about.

Get root access on your G1. If you get stuck or need help, use the XDA Developers Forum to its fullest. This is the finest G1 (and smartphone) resource on the net.
Go to the Market and search for “wifi tether”. You’ll probably find these three apps. Download and install the free Wifi Tether For Root Users.
Start the application, and press the Menu button. Here you can choose a couple of different options for how your new wireless router will operate.
It’s a good idea to enable at least one of the two security functions - WEP encryption or Access Control. WEP requires your connecting device to enter a code to connect, while Access Control asks you to confirm each connecting device on the G1 itself. To be honest, either is fine, and even going unsecured while out and about isn’t going to be a huge problem, since most folk will find themselves out of range pretty quickly. But for the sake of security, choose one (or both) of these options.
When you’re set up and ready, go back to the app’s main screen and hit the “Press to start tethering” button. As you can see on our iPod touch, a new wireless network called G1Tether has been detected. Whatever type of device you're connecting to the G1, do a search for new wireless networks, and G1Tether should be on the list. If you enabled WEP, remember to put the code in when you connect.
When we connect a device to the G1, you can see in the top left corner that it’s got a client waiting. If you’ve enabled Access Control, you’ll need to slide the top menu down to see what’s trying to connect to your G1 and either verify or block the new device.
This is still a useful screen even if you’re not using Access Control, just to see that the G1 and the device are talking to each other. Here you can see our iPod touch and the G1 are happily married.
When you’re all done surfing, just hit the “Press to stop tethering button”. And there you have it - the iPod touch (or your laptop, or even both at the same time) can now share the G1’s G3 data connection anywhere you’ve got a signal. Now all you need is an emergency charger for your G1’s rubbish battery and you’re all set.


Spanner Spencer
Spanner Spencer
Yes. Spanner's his real name, and he's already heard that joke you just thought of. Although Spanner's not very good, he's quite fast, and that seems to be enough to keep him in a regular supply of free games and away from the depressing world of real work.