URGENT - my netcounter shows usage going up and up for what reason???

thenap80

Hi
I just bought my first smart phone. San Francisco android. Got it unlocked from orange and now using Tesco sim card.

Have installed netcounter and now changed Point Access Network thingy to tescowap (bit confused by all that by was told to me by someone else)

Since doing that though, the GPRS in use icon is showing. I am not doing anything with the phone and the netcounter which I installed when using wifi shows data usage creeping up.


PLEASE HELP...i want the data to be idle when I am not using it. WHy is this happening????

Thanks

robt_2

Could be updating something in the background? Checking for mail?

Smartphones are usually ALWAYS connected to the Internet, not just when you tell them to.

thenap80

robt wrote: »

Could be updating something in the background? Checking for mail?

Smartphones are usually ALWAYS connected to the Internet, not just when you tell them to.

So does that mean my 500mb allowance will be exceeded. I thought u only get charged for stuff u only download like apps and when u view web pages.

robt_2

thenap80 wrote: »

So does that mean my 500mb allowance will be exceeded. I thought u only get charged for stuff u only download like apps and when u view web pages.

No, data is data.

Can't you connect it to a wireless network so it doesn't use your data allowance?

thenap80

robt wrote: »

No, data is data.

Can't you connect it to a wireless network so it doesn't use your data allowance?

I can connect to wifi at home but when I am out and about I do not want to be charged for trying to get on internet and definitely do not want to be out and about and data to keep flowing when I am not using it....or is that totally normal????

robt_2

thenap80 wrote: »

I can connect to wifi at home but when I am out and about I do not want to be charged for trying to get on internet and definitely do not want to be out and about and data to keep flowing when I am not using it....or is that totally normal????

If everything is set up properly, the amount of data being used should be minuscule.

How much is being used?

thenap80

I have turned it off now but it was about 2kb every few seconds it seemed which over time will add up. Plus when I looked at maps for five seconds which seems to be a preloaded app, it added about 100kb of data used on the counter.


Still normal??

Thanks

Buzzy_Bee_2

Do you have email set up? If so check the settings on there as most default email setups on phones have the program constantly checking for new mail.

I have an iPhone and changed mine to every 30 mins to save on battery (data isn't an issue).

Have you installed any new apps since you got the phone? Apps also have a habit of doing what they want without letting you know.

sassy_one

500MB for a mobile phone a month is A LOT

DO not worry, see after the month is up what it's used and then come back if still there are issues

flyingscotno1

sassy-one wrote: »

500MB for a mobile phone a month is A LOT

DO not worry, see after the month is up what it's used and then come back if still there are issues

Well I think personally modern smartphones need 1GB, I'm on 700MB (ends tomorrow) and I am not a heavy user of phone internet.

Certain Apps like Gmail pushing e-mail and I think Sky News use data in background as can some things on homescreens.

nickmack

sassy-one wrote: »

500MB for a mobile phone a month is A LOT

This is what the networks would have you believe. Background sync of mail, social networks, other apps can easily reach this level if not managed properly.

My angle is that you shouldn't have to turn off sync and worry about your data usage each month. This is a smartphone that is designed to be online constantly. Most of the networks are keen to start additional charging at low data levels and often during the sales process, you hear lines such as 'You'll never use that much data a month sir'.

I use >500Mb each month without any video/audio streaming or excessive downloads. This purely through background syncs which I admit are regular, but even this is over WiFi during the evening when at home. I only have to listen to Last FM for a few hours or start watching the odd YouTube video and this can easily approach 1Gb for the month.

Advice to OP, install something like 3G Watchdog to monitor your data usage. If you only have 500Mb/month, Begrudgingly turn off any background sync for services you don't use. (Settings>Accounts and Sync)