Android's Secret Function Proved Useful During Home Internet Outage

Android's Secret Function Proved Useful During Home Internet Outage - Understanding Its Operation

In the world of first-world woes, there's nothing more aggravating than being cut off from the internet. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about missing out on social media or sending memes to friends, although that's a considerable part of the issue. The internet has seeped its way into every nook and cranny of our lives, and a lack of connection means a bunch of modern conveniences we usually take for granted become pointless - even if you're connected to the same local network.

A few days ago, I found myself in this very predicament. My internet has been down for over a week, and work was starting to suffer from my inability to connect to the internet at home. While I managed to tether a few devices to my phone, the lack of stable home Wi-Fi meant a majority of my devices were essentially bricks. That is, until I stumbled upon a hidden gem in Android phones - Ethernet tethering.

Now, how many of you knew about Ethernet tethering, let alone used it?

My predicament

I'll spare you the long story, but in essence, my home internet is experiencing problems with the cable providing internet to my house. The only solution is a total replacement, which, as you can imagine, isn't a quick or easy fix, especially when it involves digging up concrete, dirt, and asphalt.

My ISP estimated that the job won't be completed until June 19 - over two weeks after the problem was first reported. Not exactly ideal.

While I could tether a few devices to my phone and slowly eat into my 300GB monthly allowance, it wasn't going to last two weeks. I would need to be incredibly conservative with my data consumption. On top of that, it would leave almost all my connected devices without a wireless connection. Even if I could connect all of them to my hotspot at once, it would mean reconfiguring all the wireless settings to connect them to a brand new network - a task that would take up a good part of a day.

Enter Ethernet tethering.

Ethernet tethering to the rescue

Well, Ethernet tethering is more like an old friend who came to my rescue when I needed it the most. Introduced in Android 11 in 2020, this feature has been a lifesaver on several occasions. Essentially, it allows you to plug your Android phone into any Ethernet port and share the phone's internet connection. The name is as straightforward as its function; it's perfect for times when wireless and USB tethering are either inconvenient or impossible.

I'll admit, I wasn't familiar with Ethernet tethering until now, mainly because I hadn't needed it before. But now that I've set it up, I can't believe I waited so long.

My ISP's router leaves much to be desired, so I switched to an old Wi-Fi 5 Orbi system to improve the situation. It hooks up to the modem via Ethernet, and it's been working well until now - but without internet coming from the modem, its usefulness is severely limited.

Armed with an unlimited data eSIM, a Google Pixel 8a, and an old USB-C hub, I managed to get the whole house back online in no time at all. A couple of hurdles along the way, but nothing insurmountable. Now, things are back to their normal routines.

Anker 6-in-1 USB-C hub: $40 at Amazon

If you're in the market for a versatile USB-C hub, look no further than Anker. While there are plenty of USB-C to Ethernet adapters available, few of them offer additional functionality such as power input.

The 6-in-1 USB-C hub comes with ethernet and USB-C Power Delivery ports, HDMI, 2x USB 3 ports, and an extra USB-C data port. Whether you're needed a multi-purpose USB-C hub or a simple Ethernet adapter, this Anker model should do the trick.

Putting Ethernet Tethering to the Test

Getting back online wasn't as simple as just plugging an Ethernet cable into my phone. You do have to turn on Ethernet tethering first, and it took me a minute to figure out I was going about it all wrong.

My initial instinct was to head to the USB preferences menu and enable Ethernet tethering from there. This doesn't work, primarily because Android cannot control the adapter itself. If it could, the available connection options would be limited to USB tethering, which clearly wouldn't suffice.

If you ever find yourself in a similar predicament, you need to head to the Hotspot and tethering menu in the network settings. Ethernet tethering is right at the bottom, and it will only be available once you have your USB-C Ethernet adapter plugged in.

The other big issue is that Ethernet tethering consumes a lot of power. So much so that the fully charged Google Pixel 8a couldn't hold out until morning. To prevent a battery drain catastrophe, it's essential to use an adapter with a USB-C charging port.

Using a wireless charger may be an option, but keep in mind this may cause the phone to run warmer than usual. Worried about the heat, I looked for a charger compatible with 7.5W Qi charging, but it was barely sufficient.

Still, when it comes down to it, the minor problems are far less troublesome than being without internet for two weeks.

The Bottom Line

Without Ethernet tethering, I wouldn't have been able to keep connected to the world for the past few days. I was considering purchasing one of the best mobile hotspots, but the fact I had spare phones and an abundance of cables meant I didn't need to wait for new hardware and a SIM card.

I'm just relieved that my home network setup didn't require me to update the wireless settings on all my smart devices. I could have lived without the internet for a few days, but two weeks was pushing it.

As of now, I've used 325GB of data since I started using Ethernet tethering - a figure that would have destroyed my ordinary data cap.