Mobile Web Data/WiFi novice....help!

SevenOfNine

First mobile with internet access - complete novice with terminology & still learning about all the functions of the phone & Three network. Apologies if this is longwinded but I want to explain fully if possible.

I have a Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (sim free). Picked Three PAYG for the time being. I pay for calls/texts/web data so planned ONLY to use free WiFi. However, I got 150mb of free web access to use over 30 days when I topped up with £10.

In My3Account I could see that I had £10 and the 150mb of web data. In Settings I have removed the 'tick' (Smart network switch) so the phone does not "automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks to maintain stable internet connection".

Whenever I want internet access I have been choosing our home BThub though sometimes BTWifi-with-FON seems to want to connect, not quite sure what that is (or whether it's the cause), I have usually made it switch to the BThub.

I have only installed a couple of apps apart from a whole load that came with opening a Google a/c. Under Settings, Data Usage I went into 'view app settings' for any of them that had those words highlighted (Google Play Store was one but not very many of the others would let me view), & selected "Auto Apps Over WiFi Only".

I simply cannot understand why, when I check My3Account it is now showing only 35mb of web data left. I'm worried that something is eating the web data behind the scenes & if I cannot prevent it, it will carry right on doing so even when there is none of the 'freebie' left & I'll start getting charged 1p per mb relentlessly for something I don't even know is happening!

I've also managed to achieve 'background data restricted' - not sure if that's relevant, it's a message which has appeared permanently on the screensaver??? Also, whenever I've looked at My3Account on the internet I've used the phone - might it be overriding the WiFi only instruction somehow? An 'H' appears next to the little internet signal picture.

Apologies if this is all too long, too much info or too daft.

SevenOfNine

Had discovered I could set data usage limit with a warning before it was reached, now see that I can also remove mobile data from be used at all! Seems like a temporary fix, so I've done that for now.

Certainly learning about all this whether I like it or not - & I don't!! :(:(

SevenOfNine

OMG - I might be a technical twit but I just answered my own original question (I think).

I put an app to My3Account on, so I could keep an eye on my balance for calls/texts more conveniently/quickly (bit rubbish Three, I used to phone EE free & listen to a recording). When I removed the mobile data from being used at all, I went into the 3 app & guess what...........you techies will probably already know - I cannot get in unless I go through WiFi internet browser.

Problem solved I thing, the app is being ditched. Thanks for reading my drivel (those who get this far), I'll leave it here though in case there are other 'tips' I need.

JJ_Egan

If you are with BT then you are in the free BT WiFi/FON scheme . If you are out and about you can connect to any BT WiFi hotspot free of charge . See your BT members account pages .
Play Store has data monitoring apps .

20aday

My friend has a Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and although she has 1GB of data per month we turned off Mobile Data by swiping down from the top.

You should see options like Airplane Mode, Sound, Brightness etc?

The Mobile Data option (at the time) was green; we tapped that and a message appeared about turning it off.

Since then (unless my friend switches it on/off herself) it remains on Wi-Fi only.

ballyblack

If you are connected to wifi, your data will turn off automatically as long as you have a wifi connection

redux

It sounds like you're on the right track, getting the hang of it - turn off mobile data until needed, turn off all automatic application updates and messaging synchronisation, including even do emails just manually in wifi, and restrict background and main data on an app by app basis.

On a family trip abroad I'd bought a foreign SIM for a 3g router. Or same for a week away with friends in UK. Despite me specifically briefing to cut down data, they don't bother. 2 or 3 iPhones and iPads will get through a gigabyte a week without the owners even knowing. On one occasion I was logged in to the router pages and saw 150 MB disappear in 20 minutes, and removed the SIM with a few MB remaining so I could add another bundle using my phone.. Not us denials all round.

Also, use a browser which uses data compression, such as Opera Mini. Turn off images as well and it only uses about 2.5% of the original data size for pages like here.

BadBehaviour

To use the Three app, you need to be on the 3 network and not on wifi. You don't need to actually have mobile data switched on. Access is free as far as I know (seems to be confirmed by 3 as well if you look at the link below).

Simply switch off mobile data in the settings and you won't use any data. Problem solved.

http://ask3.three.co.uk/srvs/cgi-bin/webisapi.dll/,/?new,kb=mobile,ts=mobile,t=casedoc.tem,case=obj(2587),varset_username=Mobile:mobileUser

mac.d

You do need mobile data switched on to access any information in the Three app, it is free though.

diamonds

mac.d wrote: »

You do need mobile data switched on to access any information in the Three app, it is free though.

Priceplan dependant, on mobile broadband only my3 or the store access is free, help and support pages charge me.