4G router data usage

ATC111

Having recently started using a 4G router with a prepay SIM as the sole provision of home internet, how much daily data should it use based upon the following:

Three devices connected -Apple Watch, MacBook Pro and iPhone

Usage mainly consisting of browsing the web, email, WhatsApp messaging and Facebook

No full video streaming rather occasional clips

No gaming 

The router is a used one but the username and password have been changed and the WIFI password is in use.

I bought a 30GB data sim and have used that in 14 days so will have to change the plan to unlimited.

Automatic software, app updates and iCloud backups are enabled but in practice it's only the iPhone using these.

Is this usage considered excessive?

TIA

[Deleted User]

ATC111 said:

...how much daily data should it use based upon the following:

Three devices connected -Apple Watch, MacBook Pro and iPhone

Usage mainly consisting of browsing the web, email, WhatsApp messaging and Facebook

No full video streaming rather occasional clips

No gaming 

How much should it use?

The only way to find out is use it for say 14 days and see how much is used during that period.

Oh wait, you've done that, 30GB in 14 days, so about 2.1GB per day or 64GB per month.

But that will vary of course, if for example you are at home all day, somebody sends you dozens of photos on whatsapp and then you have a long session on Facebook watching cat videos, receive a lot of emails with big attachments and update a few apps then it might be a lot more that day. 

On another day maybe you are out at work then on the town till late and then come home and go to straight to bed it will be less that day.

Unless it was the day Apple pushed a new iOS 15 update of 2.2 GB's for example.

Nobody in the world can answer that question other than you by checking how much data the router says it has used and you've got that answer already.

ATC111 said:

Is this usage considered excessive?

Yes and no.

Yes - if you can't afford to pay for that much data and you have the ability to cut back on usage, then yes it is excessive.

No - if every drop of that data was needed and you can afford it, then no it is not excessive.


Do you want to use less data?

Then adjust the settings on your phone and MacBook to limit data usage - a quick Google will explain how to do that or check these links out

https://macreports.com/how-to-reduce-bandwidth-usage-on-your-mac/

https://www.switchingtomac.com/macos/top-7-ways-to-reduce-data-usage-on-mac/

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT210596

underthesea

if you have any backup apps for your mac or iPhone that could be consuming data (eg, icloud backup)
I'm sure you have a reason for using a pre-pay but if you can get some sort of broadband it will work out cheaper I'm sure.

[Deleted User]

Check iphone settings, Mobile Data   ? Mine lists usage of various apps, what are allowed mobile and denied etc.


I use a desktop Mac and something that monitors my connections desktop iCloud is always on the go, be it photos, mail or whatever and I assume the devices do the same. But today one iCloud process has used 157kb, overall the system has used 1.2 mb today (other days it is a lot more busy I am unlimited fibre). Turned on around 9 this am. The phone and iPad will be doing photo analysis in the background and up dating but only when off and power applied. But if I take pictures, the data is spread amongst all the devices, though limited versions. Any changes I make on the iPhone in say numbers spread sheet, tat will be dropped on the other devices. Lots of interaction with iCloud.


Edit. MacBook will have Activity Monitor, it is basic but will list what the MacBook is doing with the network. It is in "Applications"-"Utilities"

getmore4less

Need to look at the wifi usage on each device to see which is using all those bytes.

Do any of the devices have their own data plans that could be used for some traffic to reduce what's going through your router.