O2 Now Includes Tethering

Yesterday O2 revised their UK mobile phone tariffs and for the first time you now get tethering as standard if your deal includes a data bundle. This is great news for iPhone users as it means you can take advantage of the new Mobile Hotspot feature included in iOS 4.3. The new pay monthly tariffs can be seen below, but the deal is also offered on O2's SIM only tariffs (Simplicity). 

As you can see all "Data Allowance" is now handled as a bundle, allowing you to add either 100MB, 500MB or 1GB per month (unfortunately there is no unlimited option). All of the data bundles allow you to use your allowance any way you want (either on your mobile device or tethered).

These new tariffs actually work out better then O2's previous plans, for example I was paying £35pm for 300mins, unlimited texts and 500MB data, however to add tethering it cost an additional £7.50pm, resulting in a total of £42.50. Under the new tariffs I can now get the same deal with tethering included for £37pm.

The other great thing is that if you are over halfway through your current contract you can switch to one of these new tariffs, without needing to extend your existing contract (which is exactly what I did). The easiest way to do this is to give O2 a call. Once complete, your new tariff will normally take effect within 24 hours and if you are using an iPhone the Mobile Hotspot option automatically becomes available.

For more details on the new tariffs head over to O2's pricing page.

Configure a Linksys AM200 for O2 Internet

I recently switched to O2 as my Internet Service Provider (ISP) as they are one of the few companies in the UK that offer an ADSL2+ service in my area. The reason O2 are ahead of the game is due to their acquisition of Be Unlimited which had already invested a lot of money unbundling their hardware from the local loop and therefore could provide advance DSL services before BT had upgraded the exchange. By making the switch I went from a 2Mb/512Kb to 5Mb/1Mb. Also as I am an iPhone user the unlimited Internet service offered by O2 is subsidised making it a very affordable option.

To check what ISP’s can provide ADSL2+ services in your area be sure to check on Sam Knows Broadband by typing in your post code.

The one downside to my upgrade is that my existing Cisco 837 Router is not ADSL2+ compatible and to upgrade to the latest Cisco model would work out expensive. Therefore I need a device that can reliably terminate my ADSL2+ connection, allocate IP addresses via DHCP and provide port forwarding/DMZ features.

I eventually chose the Linksys AM200 which is a tiny device that only has two interfaces. One external RJ11 and one internal RJ45 rated at 100Mb.

O2 use ETHoA to deliver their ADSL2+ connection and therefore the Linksys AM200 requires a specific setup that differs from more traditional connection methods such as PPPoA or PPPoE.

To configure your Linksys AM200 please follow the diagrams below (Please note ETHoA does not require a username/password): 

Although this configuration is specific to the Linksys AM200 it should be transferable to any DSL modem/router.