Frequently Asked Questions
- General Questions
- Do I need to "root" my phone?
- What's the difference between the free (demo) and the paid version of Klink?
- Does Klink turn my device into a Wifi hotspot?
- Does Klink require a tethering plan?
- Can anyone tell that I am using Klink?
- What applications can I run on my computer?
- Does Klink support secure sites (HTTPS)?
- Usage Questions
- What if I am redirected to a page about tethering?
- What should I do if my phone keeps losing connection?
- Why does my computer not detect my phone?
- I have a 4g connection, and Klink cannot connect to the internet.
- Klink appears to be working, but I cannot reach the Internet from my computer.
- Klink has problems under extreme connection load (p2p/bittorrent with thousands of connections).
- Can a game console (like an Xbox or PS3) be used?
- Error Messages
- The PC program says "TapCreate(): no TAP adapter found" error when starting
- Windows says something about "No Internet Access"
- What should I do if my computer browser reports a DNS error?
- Klink's companion program says "ADB file not executable."
- Klink's companion program says "Device Negotiation Failure."
- I keep getting a "License failure" message when I press the "Start" button within Klink's Android app.
- Windows warns me about a missing "CDC" driver.
- Technical Questions
- How does Klink differ from using NAT on a rooted device?
- I have an older (Pentium 4 class) computer running Windows. Why can I not achieve more than about 4mbps?
- Can Klink be used to load-balance with my existing Internet connection to increase speed?
- Other Questions
- What should I do if I cannot find Klink in the market when using my phone?
- If I purchase Klink and get a new phone, will I be able to transfer the paid version of Klink?
- I purchased Klink but am still redirected to the demo page.
- Can I uninstall the demo after buying the paid version?
- What if I have other questions? Whom do I contact?
Task killer apps on device. Users of task killers, memory killers, and battery optimizer apps must ensure that an exception is made for Klink.
Explanation: Task killers examine running programs periodically. Since Klink runs in the background during an active connection, a task killer will actively stop Klink.
Solution: Run the task killer program and look for settings to exclude Klink from being automatically killed. Note that battery optimizer apps like Juice Defender must also be told about Klink so that they will not turn off the cell radio prematurely.
Computer wifi adapter not disabled. Please make sure that your computer's wifi adapter is turned off.
Explanation: Windows and Mac often give priority to the most recent connection. Since they are usually configured by default to search for open hotspots periodically, they may attempt to connect to a hotspot (eg., a neighbor's) after Klink's connection, which can create problems.
Solution: Use the wifi indicator in Windows and Mac to turn off your computer's wifi adapter. You can also use the switch or hotkey that is on most laptops.
Computer already has an active Internet connection. Similarly to the previous point, please make sure that Klink is the only active Internet connection.
Explanation: Because Klink is a non-root app that relays data as a regular Android application, it only mimics some router behavior. As such, load-balancing is not possible and will lead to stalling. (This is a limitation of all non-root apps of Klink's nature.)
Solution: Unplug any ethernet connections to the Internet. You can also disable network adapters through Windows and Mac system control panels.
"Disable USB debugging mode" is not disabled.
Explanation: Some devices (notably Samsung devices running Android 2.3+), contain a special setting called "Disable USB debugging mode" that is turned on by default. When enabled, this setting will shut off the "USB debugging" connection that Klink relies on whenever your screen turns off.
Solution: Turn off the "Disable USB debugging mode" Android setting as follows:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Location and Security.
- If you see a Disable USB debugging mode setting, make sure that it is not checked.
Another program on your computer is interrupting Klink.
Explanation: Most utilities for Windows and Mac that communicate with your Android device over USB use the same mechanism ("ADB" mode). Companion programs for apps that are similar to Klink and Android sync programs like HTC Sync, Kies, and Motorola Media Link can be particularly aggressive. These may start automatically when your computer powers up. Many will check for a connected device periodically and wrest control if one is detected, which will interrupt Klink's operation.
Solution: Make sure that any Android sync or companion programs are not running in the background on your computer during Klink operation. You can usually check the system tray on Windows and Mac for the icon of the utility when it is running and control it from there.
NOTE: Klink should coexist peacefully with HTC Sync, but this is a good thing to check if you're having problems.
Check your USB cable. An unreliable USB connection is one of the most common causes for disconnects.
Explanation: Even a cable that is good for charging may not be reliable when it comes to data transfers, as data transfers require that two distinct wires function exactly. One can often test this by physically wiggling the cable when Klink is connected. If the connection drops immediately, then one should be wary of the cable.
Solution: Please try another USB cable if you have one handy. These can also be acquired cheaply from dollar stores if necessary. It might also help to try different USB ports on your computer and ensure that the port on the phone is free of dust.
You have an older Android device with known USB bugs, like the Samsung Intercept or Moment.
Explanation: Certain Android devices like the Samsung Intercept and Moment are known to have problems detecting the USB connection. Under normal circumstances, Android detects a USB connection and displays a USB symbol in the notification bar (or makes a sound). With devices like the Intercept or Moment, however, the USB symbol will occasionally fail to appear; the device will only charge, and it will not even let itself be mounted as a storage device. Fortunately, this is only a temporary condition.
Solution: Powering down the device and restarting it should take care of USB detection problems. After doing so, it should see the USB connection, letting you mount it to access files or use USB debugging mode for Klink.
Windows users might also benefit by enabling the ADB keepalive option within Klink's PC program: click on Settings, and enable ADB keepalive.
Try enabling "Stay awake" while charging mode under the same settings menu in which "USB debugging" is located. This will keep the phone from going to sleep and shutting down the data connection. The downside is that the screen will remain on when plugged into the computer, which will drain more power, so try this only if necessary! From our experience, this setting is most helpful when using the phone's Wifi connection for Internet access, when a specific Wifi option does not exist; note that most users will not use the phone's Wifi connection for Internet access.
Some users may wish to tweak Klink's Radio Keep Alive Interval settings, which establishes a connection to the internet every few minutes to keep the radio from sleeping. This can be found under the Settings menu within Klink's Android app.
It may also be necessary to enable any sort of background data or always-on mobile data option under the phone's Wireless & networks options page accessible via the home screen's Settings menu.
If you are losing connection when a phone call arrives, note that some carriers do not support simultaneous voice and data! In such cases, your data connection will return after your voice call.
Ensure that "USB debugging" is enabled on your phone. Klink requires Android's "USB debugging" mode in order to communicate with your computer over USB.
Solution: This setting will be checked automatically when you press "Start" from within Klink's Android app. If "USB debugging" is not enabled, Klink will tell you how to enable "USB debugging", so please follow those instructions if you see them.
If you are unsure, you may enable "USB debugging" manually as follows:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Applications.
- Choose Development.
- Enable USB debugging.
Users of Android 4.0+ Ice Cream Sandwich (eg., Galaxy Nexus) should enable USB debugging as follows:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Developer options.
- Enable USB debugging.
Check your phone's USB connection type. Most phones will require that Android's USB connection type be set to a "Charge only" mode. A handful (mostly some Motorola devices) require that the type be set to USB storage mode.
Solution:
- Connect your phone to your computer and make sure that "USB debugging" is enabled as described in the previous point.
- Pull down the notification pane by swiping from top to bottom on your phone's screen.
- Tap on the notification item called USB connection type.
- Finally, experiment with the type. Most phones will require a "Charge only" mode. A few will require that a USB storage mode be activated instead, so try toggling until you see what is right for your phone.
This is a list of known USB connection types for specific brands of phones:
- HTC. Use "Charge only" mode. If you are not prompted about the connection type, you may configure it directly as follows:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Connect to PC.
- Choose Default connection type.
- Choose Charge only.
- Checkmark the Ask me checkbox.
- LG. Use a charging only mode. (Turn off USB storage.) LG Esteem users can try the "Internet Connection" USB connection type.
- Motorola. Some models will require that USB storage is activated, while some require a charging only mode, so experiment with the connection type.
- Samsung. Use a charging only mode. (Turn off USB storage.)
Ensure that built-in USB tether and hotspot modes are not enabled. Many Android phones come with a built-in USB tether or hotspot setting. These modes will conflict with Klink's operation if enabled, so be sure to disable them.
Solution:
- HTC devices. Do not choose the "Tether" option when you connect your device to your PC; instead, choose the "Charge only" mode. To check:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Connect to PC.
- Choose Default connection type.
- Choose Charge only.
- Checkmark the Ask me checkbox.
- Others. Built-in USB tether settings are normally found under the device network settings:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Wireless & networks.
- Look for any settings related to tethering, and make sure that they are disabled.
- HTC devices. Do not choose the "Tether" option when you connect your device to your PC; instead, choose the "Charge only" mode. To check:
Other software on your computer might be conflicting with Klink. Klink and many other programs use the same mechanism to communicate with your phone over USB ("ADB"). As such, potential for conflict exists, though Klink takes many steps to ensure compatibility.
Solution: Make sure that any Android sync or companion programs are not running in the background on your computer. Please check the system tray on Windows and Mac for the icons of such utilities, and fully exit them if possible. (Alternatively, uninstall them if they are unneeded.)
Motorola Triumph (and perhaps other Motorola devices). These phone models try to install a special driver (Phone F USB Driver) to a Windows PC immediately on connection. This special driver is missing functionality provided by the driver bundled with Klink. As such, some special steps must be taken to circumvent this automatic installation.
Solution: First, remove the Phone F USB Driver installed by the phone. (This need only be done once.)
- Connect your phone to your computer and wait for the Phone F USB Driver installation window to appear.
- Choose to remove the driver.
- When the installer is complete, unplug your phone, and restart Windows to make sure that everything is clean.
Next, we want to install a utility from the market that will let you turn on the diagnostics mode within the phone. (Again, this only needs to be done once.)
- Install the free app Any Cut as follows:
- First, enable Unknown sources on your phone by going to your phone's Settings > Applications menu. (Users with Android 4.0+ phones should choose the Settings > Security menu.) Then, turn on Unknown sources.
- Next, tap on the following link: Download Any Cut.
Let Package installer handle the download if asked, and then Any Cut will be installed to your phone.
- Open the Any Cut app that was just installed.
- Choose New shortcut.
- Choose Activity.
- Choose Select COM Port Mode from the (long) list.
- Tap OK.
At this point, you should have a shortcut on your phone titled Select COM Port Mode. To configure your phone for use with Klink or any other USB-related app:
- Tap on the Select COM Port Mode shortcut.
- Make sure that diag is checked and NOT Mass Storage. Please note that you might have to check Mass Storage temporarily in order to access diag. If so, don't forget to uncheck Mass Storage.
- Then, plug your phone into your computer with USB debugging enabled. This time, it shouldn't say anything about the Phone F USB Driver. If you do see such a window just cancel/close it.
Now, Klink's PC software should see the phone. If it doesn't, try reinstalling Klink's PC software one last time to make sure that its drivers were not removed when you removed Phone F USB Driver in the first steps.
Pantech phones. These phone models need a driver that comes bundled with the phone. To install the drivers:
- First, turn off USB debugging temporarily:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings > Applications > Development.
- Turn off USB debugging.
- Then, make sure that your phone is plugged into your computer.
- Pull down the notification pane on your phone by swiping from top to bottom.
- Tap on the USB connected item.
- Set the USB connection mode to something other than USB Mass Storage. (Note: please experiment with all modes to see what works best.)
- Windows should then pop up an "Autoplay" window letting you start the bootstrap installer containing the Pantech drivers that are on a special removable drive provided by the phone.
- After this is done, turn on USB debugging so that Klink will work. At this point, you'll probably see Windows acknowledge and install "ADB" drivers for the Pantech device. The rest should follow according to the instructions.
- First, turn off USB debugging temporarily:
Windows XP (possibly Vista/7) users. If this is your first time installing Klink on your computer, it might be necessary to kickstart Windows into seeing your device when it is connected.
To do this:
- First, enable USB debugging on your phone:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings > Applications > Development.
- Turn on USB debugging.
- Plug your phone into your computer.
- Go to the Windows Device Manager by clicking on the Windows Start button. Choose Run (Search on Vista/7), and type in devmgmt.msc.
You should see a list of devices connected to your computer.
If Windows has drivers for your phone, the phone will be listed near the top as an "Android" or "ADB" device. You can stop if this applies to you, as Windows has installed the proper drivers for your phone.
If Windows is missing drivers for your phone, the phone will be listed under "Other devices". If this applies to you, please continue.
- Right-click on the "Other device" that corresponds to your phone.
- Choose "Update Driver..."
- You should see a Windows Hardware Update Wizard appear. Let Windows search for and install drivers/software automatically, but decline any options about connecting online to Windows Update.
- Windows should then take a few seconds to install the driver.
- On Windows XP, this Hardware Update Wizard process may repeat automatically a few times, so repeat as necessary, waiting about 30-60 seconds for everything to settle down.
After doing this, Windows should identify your device as some sort of "Android" or "ADB" device near the top of the Device Manager list. Klink should now see your device.
- First, enable USB debugging on your phone:
- If your phone is still not detected, it might help to power down and restart the device, especially if it was working previously. Unfortunately, some phones have buggy USB implementations and others overheat when used for too long, so be mindful of this possibility. (For example, you might want to keep the phone cool to see if that improves stability.)
- Try connecting in 3g mode first, then switch over to 4g.
- It may also be necessary to enable the Stay awake feature on your phone via Settings -> Applications -> Development -> Stay awake to keep the 4g radio from going to sleep.
- See the suggestions in this FAQ
- Tap on Settings within Klink's Android app.
- Choose Use alternative DNS.
- Choose Google DNS.
Turn off DNS resolution within your p2p program if possible, as each DNS lookup ties up one of the 1000 available connections for a few seconds. In a p2p situation, this limit can be quickly exceeded during connection bursts.
For example, with uTorrent click on the Peers tab. Right-click on a peer, and uncheck Resolve IPs.
Limit the number of peers to a reasonable number. A limit of 60 is more than adequate for a wifi connection to broadband cable, for example.
- Windows 7 Users: Connectify is a free utility that turns your PC into a wifi hotspot in just a few steps; just be sure to choose Klink's Virtual Network Adapter as the source. If preferred, Windows ICS (described below) can also be used.
NOTE: If you get an "Error Starting Hotspot" message when running Connectify, please try the solution described here.
- Windows XP/Vista Users: Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) can be used to reshare the connection from Klink's Virtual Network Adapter. Official Xbox instructions from Microsoft are located here. Other instructions on enabling ICS are located here.
- OS X Users: Please see this article for more information. Note that the network source should be Klink, which you will be able to see after Klink's connection is started.
- Windows Vista/7 users should right-click on Klink's installer, and choose "Run as administrator". Then, walk through the installation. Please be careful to allow installation of drivers when asked.
Windows XP users should just re-run installation. Please be sure that you are running with administrator privileges. If you're still having problems, try booting Windows into Safe Mode before installing Klink.
To boot Windows into Safe Mode, restart your computer and immediately start tapping the F8 key. You should see a boot menu that will let you select Safe Mode with the arrow keys. Once Windows is in safe mode, you should be able to install Klink. After installation, restart Windows to exit safe mode.
- Click on the "Preferences" button from within the Klink program on your computer. A preferences window should then pop up.
- Click on the "Defaults" button in the corner of the preferences window.
- Click on the Okay button to save the changes.
- adb.exe
- kclientgui.exe
- Press the Menu key within Klink's Android app, and choose "Clear cache". This clears Klink's license cache and forces a refresh from Google's servers the next time you press Start.
Clear the data within the "Play Store" (or "Market") app on your device, and then re-run the "Play Store" ("Market") app to refresh your credentials.
To do this:
- From your phone's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings > Applications > Manage applications.
- Look for either the "Google Play Store" (or "Market") app, and tap on it. This might be under the "All" tab.
- Tap on "Clear data".
- Once the data is cleared, run the "Play Store" (or "Market") app to refresh your identity.
After your credentials are refreshed, you should be able to run Klink without issue.
NOTE: Google's transition from the Android Market to the Play Store caused many instances of license errors that were ultimately resolved by clearing the Play Store app's data.
The simplest approach is to turn on Airplane mode and access the Android Market/Play Store via the phone's WiFi connection. This works for virtually all AT&T and T-Mobile phones and reportedly works for some Verizon devices.
When doing this, be sure to disable WiFi before enabling Airplane mode. Then, turn on WiFi while in Airplane mode.
Afterward, Klink should show up in the Play Store (as will many other censored apps, including virtually all apps of Klink's nature). Klink can then be downloaded and updated as any other app. Once downloaded and installed, Klink will function as normal, since it's merely hidden from the phone's market.
- An alternative to airplane mode is to temporarily remove the SIM card from the phone and access the market app via the phone's WiFi connection.
- In the future, a simple mechanism will be provided to install Klink to any Android device from Klink's PC software. Until then, please contact Faveset if the Airplane/SIM technique does not work for you.
- Run the demo on your device.
- Tap on the Stop button.
- From your device's home screen, press the Menu key.
- Choose Settings.
- Choose Applications.
- Choose Manage applications.
- Choose the demo.
- Tap on Uninstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Do I need to "root" my phone?
No. Klink operates without rooting your phone. It is a regular Android app that can be uninstalled without leaving a trace.
What's the difference between the free (demo) and the paid version of Klink?
The demo is designed to let you test compatibility and speed before buying the paid version. As such, it only has a small whitelist of accessible websites: a speed test site, Android Market, wikipedia, and some others. Trying to access any non-whitelisted site will direct you to an information page listing available sites. The demo is also restricted to just web access.
The paid version has no limits on websites or usage. Secure sites and other compatible internet enabled programs like Skype, desktop email programs, etc. will work. See this FAQ on application compatibility. (Most applications will work with Klink.)
Note that being able to browse anything in the demo, even in the restricted form, is confirmation that Klink has been configured properly.
A PC configured for use with the demo is immediately compatible with the paid version of Klink without any further configuration. Just run it against the paid version, and full access will be available to you.
Does Klink turn my device into a Wifi hotspot?
Unfortunately, a general method for enabling the Android wifi hotspot mode does not exist for all unrooted phones. A few phone models may have workarounds, and such information can be found on the Internet. Otherwise, one can subscribe to an official hotspot plan or attempt to root the device.
Does Klink require a tethering plan?
See this FAQ for related comments. Because Klink is a normal Android application and makes all internet traffic originate from the phone, it only requires your phone's existing data plan.
Keep in mind that most carriers impose limits on data usage, and those will still apply to Klink. For common activities like browsing, emailing, and chatting, traffic generated by your computer will be very similar to that of your phone. Gaming and media streaming can be more demanding, so usage should be checked to gauge the rate of consumption. This can normally be done through the web interface, provided by your carrier, that details plan use for the billing period.
Can anyone tell that I am using Klink?
With Klink, all network activity on your computer appears to originate from your phone. The only way that someone can tell that you are using a computer is by examining the content of what you send and receive. For example, your computer's browser might advertise itself as something other than that of Android's, but this can easily be overridden through browser settings or via Klink's Override User Agent option in the Settings page of the app.
Be advised that the behavior of a PC application can differ from its mobile counterpart. Google Chrome, for example, can open 100 simultaneous connections during a casual browsing session, whereas the Android browser is more frugal. If one wanted to mimic this conservative nature in order to better use the limited bandwidth of a data connection, Firefox with appropriate connection settings could be used instead. Similar reasoning applies to PC applications that lack a mobile counterpart.
Finally, always be aware of data limits on plans. Some services are "unlimited;" others have restrictions on usage. Per the user license agreement for Klink, Faveset LLC is not responsible for the use of Klink.
What applications can I run on my computer?
The paid version of Klink supports most Internet software, like web browsers, file transfer software, email programs, streaming audio/video, Skype, many games, and much more. Note that PPTP VPN is not directly supported, since it uses a network protocol that is not supported by Klink; this is a limitation of all non-root apps of this nature on Android.
Those who require VPN over PPTP can typically use it by relying on Android's built-in VPN client. First, connect your computer via Klink. Then, activate the Android VPN connection to the desired network. It may be necessary to assign custom DNS settings on your PC if the remote network does not allow access to the DNS servers assigned by Klink.
For the techie people, Klink is a smart proxy that only supports applications that rely on TCP or UDP network protocols. PPTP VPN relies on GRE, which is not TCP/UDP, and so its data packets will not be understood by Klink. Unfortunately, Android only exposes TCP and UDP to applications running on an unrooted phone.
Does Klink support secure sites (HTTPS)?
The paid version supports HTTPS. The free demo also gives unfettered HTTP/HTTPS access to the handful of whitelisted sites; however, the selection is very small, as it's meant purely for testing purposes.
This FAQ is related.
Usage Questions
What if I am redirected to a page about tethering?
Try changing your browser's user agent. You can do this with a browser extension on your computer (best performance) or have Klink take care of this for you automatically.
To have Klink override the user agent, choose Settings and then Override User Agent. You may then choose from a list of mobile browser agents that will replace whatever your computer uses. This can also be used to prefer mobile sites when browsing in the interest of speed and bandwidth preservation. Those who desire a full-browser experience should choose the Opera (Desktop), Nokia N900 (Desktop), or tablet modes, which will typically default to the non-mobile version of a site or one better suited for large screens.
You might also wish to enable Klink's Mimic Mobile Device mode, which will mask some common background traffic from Windows and Mac.
What should I do if my phone keeps losing connection?
A number of possibilities exist for regular disconnects:
General tips that might help the situation:
Other notes:
Why does my computer not detect my phone?
First of all, be sure to follow the configuration steps located here before using Klink with your computer. This covers installation of Klink's companion program on your computer, which will install everything necessary for most phones.
Otherwise, these are common things to check (please check in the order listed):
I have a 4g connection, and Klink cannot connect to the internet.
This is caused by the 4g radio going to sleep after a period of time. You can tell by looking at the 4g indicator at the top of the screen and seeing if it is not lit and has a "zzz" (sleeping) symbol.
Starting with Android Klink version 1.02, a Radio Keep Alive Interval setting may be adjusted in the Settings menu. This triggers a connection to the Internet every few minutes to ensure that the radio stays awake. Some phone models may require a shorter repeat interval, which can be configured by the user.
Old tips that might still be useful:
Klink appears to be working, but I cannot reach the Internet from my computer.
Please try enabling the Mimic Mobile Device mode within Klink's Android app. When asked about the user agent, say Yes, and try one of the user agent choices. Opera (Desktop) and the Nokia N900 (Desktop) agents are usually reliable.
Also, try using an alternative DNS server:
Finally, please make sure that you're using the latest version of Klink's companion program for your computer. The version that you have installed can be found by clicking on the About button within the companion program on Windows or by checking the About menu item on Mac OS X. The newest version can be found through the setup guide within Klink's Android app or directly from here.
Klink has problems under extreme connection load (p2p/bittorrent with thousands of connections).
Klink is capable of handling hundreds of simultaneous connections. However, each Android device enforces a limit on the maximum number of connections that an app can manage (about 1000), which can create problems.
Though bittorrent is not recommended on wireless connections, Klink has no problems with it. (It can max out a wifi connection to broadband cable with 100+ simultaneous peers.) That said, some settings should be considered to optimize p2p programs:
Can a game console (like an Xbox or PS3) be used?
Performance will vary, but it is possible by using Internet Sharing features on Windows, Mac, and Linux to rebroadcast Klink's connection through your computer's wifi or ethernet adapter.
Note that Klink's Mimic Mobile Device mode must be turned off if Microsoft clients are connecting through your computer.
Error Messages
The PC program says "TapCreate(): no TAP adapter found" error when starting
Explanation: This occurs when Klink's Virtual Network Adapter driver was not installed properly. During Klink installation, Windows will usually ask the user to allow or deny installation of the network adapter driver. By default, Windows highlights the deny button, which makes it easy to inadvertently skip this step.
Solution: Please uninstall Klink's PC program by running its uninstaller in the "Faveset Klink" program group (or via the Windows Control Panel). Then, install it as follows:
Windows says something about "No Internet Access"
This is merely a warning from Windows and will not affect the use of non-Microsoft programs like Firefox or Google Chrome. That said, Klink provides optional mechanisms for taking care of this message.
Try turning on the Mimic Mobile Device mode within Klink's Android app. When asked about overriding the User Agent, feel free to experiment (or leave it off), though "Opera (Desktop)" is normally a good option.
Alternatively, you may choose Settings > Windows Compatibility within Klink's Android app and enable the Emulate Internet Check option.
What should I do if my computer browser reports a DNS error?
Some phones do not report carrier DNS settings properly. To remedy this, tap on Settings from the main screen of the Klink Android app. Tap on Use alternative DNS, and select an alternative like Google DNS.
Klink's companion program says "ADB file not executable."
This occurs when the "adb" (Android Debug Bridge) utility has been moved. OS X users will see this warning after moving Klink to a new location when running an older version of Klink's Mac software.
To get rid of the warning:
It's also recommended that you update to a newer version of Klink's Mac software which can be found here.
Klink's companion program says "Device Negotiation Failure."
The firewall on your computer is preventing Klink from working properly.
If you use Windows, please check the firewall settings on your computer and make an exception for the following files, which are located under the directory "Program Files\Faveset Klink" ("Program Files (x86)\Faveset Klink" if you have 64-bit Windows):
Note: These components don't talk to the internet or to any remote location; however, they do communicate locally on your PC. As such, it's imperative that the firewall let "adb.exe" create a local listen socket that "kclientgui.exe" will connect to.
I keep getting a "License failure" message when I press the "Start" button within Klink's Android app.
This is caused by glitchy data from Google's licensing servers, which seems to happen a small (less than one) percent of the time.
Normally, this should clear up on its own within a couple of minutes to an hour. Doing the following can help:
Windows warns me about a missing "CDC" driver.
This is harmless. To save space, Klink's PC software only comes bundled with "ADB" drivers that are necessary for Klink's operation. Please ignore anything related to a "CDC" driver.
Technical Questions
How does Klink differ from using NAT on a rooted device?
Klink was designed so that your PC's network activity is transparently mapped to your phone, and it will look as if your phone is running the applications of interest. Unlike traditional NAT-based solutions on rooted devices, raw IP packets from the PC are not blindly forwarded. Instead, Klink initiates connections and data transfers so that all activity effectively originates from the phone. This is a more complicated task than what is done in a NAT, but Klink does this with low overhead and can handle wired broadband speeds.
Certain header inspection methods (see this article) that work on NAT for rooted devices do not apply to Klink. Instead, the traffic data itself must be examined, which is a harder task.
I have an older (Pentium 4 class) computer running Windows. Why can I not achieve more than about 4mbps?
The Windows companion program is dependent on computer speed due to inefficiencies in the official Android "adb" utility that it relies on. This has been demonstrated while running Windows XP and may apply to other versions as well. Note that Windows 7 works without issue on tested hardware.
In practice, a low-end (Pentium 4) Windows XP computer from the early 2000s can sustain 3-4 Mbps with a slower first-generation Android device. Fortunately for most, this limit exceeds 3g speeds and is more typical of 4g speeds.
Newer (faster) Windows PCs are less sensitive to this and can reach device limits. Note that Mac/Linux operating systems do not exhibit this behavior. Windows 7 also seems to be immune on tested configurations.
This Windows limitation affects all programs that use "adb", including most, if not all, programs of this genre. One can verify this by examining the process manager during a transfer. Klink is optimized for very low CPU usage, but requirements for Android's "adb" grow as speed increases. We are investigating solutions and hope to bring performance up to parity with Mac/Linux on low-end computers.
Can Klink be used to load-balance with my existing Internet connection to increase speed?
This will not work.
Klink is designed to make traffic appear as if it originates from the phone. Thus, all TCP/UDP packets from the PC are translated to network activity on the phone itself. Using multiple active network devices in conjunction with Klink can lead to a situation in which portions of data are split between Klink and the other devices. Expecting a complete stream of data, Klink will treat this situation as an error instead, and the data will not be forwarded.
In short, only use Klink on its own as a single network connection to your phone. This is generally the case on the go, but those who are testing at home may inadvertently leave a computer's WiFi or ethernet connection active while running Klink. Just turn off the WiFi radio (unplug the ethernet cable) when testing, and Klink should work as expected.
Other Questions
What should I do if I cannot find Klink in the market when using my phone?
Klink still exists on the market (see the Market/Play Store web page), though it may be subject to carrier censorship when using the Market/Play Store app from the phone.
The following approaches may be used to circumvent this censorship:
If I purchase Klink and get a new phone, will I be able to transfer the paid version of Klink?
Yes. Your license to use the paid version of Klink is managed by the Android Market/Play Store and your Google account, so the behavior is like that of almost all other paid apps in the market. The new phone will be able to use the paid version as long as it is associated with the same Google account that was used to purchase Klink. Once your new phone is synchronized with your Google account, Klink will show up with your other paid downloads in the "My apps" section of the Market/Play Store.
I purchased Klink but am still redirected to the demo page.
The demo is still running in the background. Please stop the demo, or uninstall the demo from your device.
To stop the demo:
To uninstall the demo:
Finally, start the paid version of Klink, and everything should work properly.
Can I uninstall the demo after buying the paid version?
Yes, you can uninstall the demo. The paid version doesn't rely on the demo. In fact, uninstalling the demo from your phone is recommended to avoid confusion and to save space.
NOTE: Klink's PC/Mac/Linux software is compatible with both the demo and paid versions. You don't need to reconfigure your computer when upgrading to the paid version of Klink!
What if I have other questions? Whom do I contact?
No problem! Please visit Klink's online support page for up-to-date means of getting some help.