Mobile Background Data usage - confused!

JohnB47

tinker411 said:

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

Can you not turn mobile data off full stop when not using it?

Here's an online guide as to how on a Moto (for G7 plus granted, but as I recall it was a similar process on my old G5 so shouldn't be too different):

https://deviceguides.vodafone.co.uk/motorola/moto-g7-plus-android-9-0/connectivity/turn-mobile-data-on-or-off/

Thanks, yes, that's what I'm doing at present. I was hoping to just leave it on permanently. Especially with all apps Background Data turned off. 

JohnB47

gavinbaxter said:

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

How about free? https://rwgmobile.wales/rates/

Thanks for this link. I've had just a quick look but this seems too good to be true. It seems to suggest that can get a free second sim, keep my current mobile number and EE as the provider and pay rwgmoble a much lower rate for a bigger bundle. Is it for Wales only though? Otherwise, what's the catch?

flaneurs_lobster

JohnB47 said:

gavinbaxter said:

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

How about free? https://rwgmobile.wales/rates/

Thanks for this link. I've had just a quick look but this seems too good to be true. It seems to suggest that can get a free second sim, keep my current mobile number and EE as the provider and pay rwgmoble a much lower rate for a bigger bundle. Is it for Wales only though? Otherwise, what's the catch?

It's definitely not just Wales. If there is a catch then me and the several others on here who are using their service have yet to find it. Search RWG on here for other comments. Not sure if anyone has actually ported their number to them yet, most seem to use them as outgoing backup. 

*j*

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6290011/pay-as-you-go-for-occasional-use

tinker411

JohnB47 said:

tinker411 said:

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

Can you not turn mobile data off full stop when not using it?

Here's an online guide as to how on a Moto (for G7 plus granted, but as I recall it was a similar process on my old G5 so shouldn't be too different):

https://deviceguides.vodafone.co.uk/motorola/moto-g7-plus-android-9-0/connectivity/turn-mobile-data-on-or-off/

Thanks, yes, that's what I'm doing at present. I was hoping to just leave it on permanently. Especially with all apps Background Data turned off. 

Oh I see. The thing is though, while you've turned off background data you haven't turned off foreground data (e.g. Update checks for firmware/Google Play etc) which is why you're still using some mobile data despite not actively using the apps in question when not connected to WiFi.

With that in mind, without changing handset you'd be best to go for a data only bundle from somewhere (Asda Mobile do 1GB for £2) or - as already mentioned - RWG, which runs on EE, works pretty well (I've got a SIM with them, and I'm nowhere near Wales) and has free voicemail too. I've ported a number in to them too and it was fine - you get a text about coverage on port day, restart the phone and boom, port complete.

JohnB47

Excellent, thanks. I'll definitely consider this. 'Porting' the number still seems a bit vague though and is not something actually done by anyone on the thread *j* posted.

Does Porting mean the new SIM and the old SIM would both be usable and would have the same number - just thinking about something going wrong with the rwgmobile option and the possibility of reverting to the original EE contract.

getmore4less

I just use a second sim with free data and no credit.

I also turn data off for everything(not just background) then turn it back on for the apps I want to use when away from wifi.

whatsapp is the main one

Chrome gets data toggled as needed as that can get hungry when browsing(stops it working if you lose wifi like happens at the pub)

when on the road I turn on data for maps as that gets the traffic update but make sure offline maps are upto date as that can cause high data use.

tinker411

JohnB47 said:

Excellent, thanks. I'll definitely consider this. 'Porting' the number still seems a bit vague though and is not something actually done by anyone on the thread *j* posted.

Does Porting mean the new SIM and the old SIM would both be usable and would have the same number - just thinking about something going wrong with the rwgmobile option and the possibility of reverting to the original EE contract.

No problem. If you're the tiniest bit worried about porting then don't do it - as happy as I am with RWG I have to admit they are an odd operation and wouldn't like to rely on them alone if I didn't have to.

Porting wise - no, if you ported then the old sim would go off and the new sim would have your current number.

flaneurs_lobster

JohnB47 said:

Excellent, thanks. I'll definitely consider this. 'Porting' the number still seems a bit vague though and is not something actually done by anyone on the thread *j* posted.

Does Porting mean the new SIM and the old SIM would both be usable and would have the same number - just thinking about something going wrong with the rwgmobile option and the possibility of reverting to the original EE contract.

No, 'porting' is shorthand for obtaining a PAC code from your current supplier and giving it to your new supplier. It always has the action of cancelling the current "contract" (which may be a PAYG service in which case any credit balance will be lost, or a PAYM which may leave an outstanding charge for early termination). You cannot revert a PAC transfer once it has actioned, you would need to obtain a new EE "contract" and PAC-code your number back to EE.

oldagetraveller1

Don't know re Motorola phones, but in the Playstore settings there is an option to update apps. only via wifi and to not automatically update. If automatic update and via data and wifi are enabled then that could use up data unknowingly.