Suggestions for stopping unnecessary data usage over 3G

demonix · 27 Dec 2013 at 15:29

I finally got out of the dumb phone market before Christmas, but I don't want too much data to be leaking over the 3G connection when I turn it back on (the SIM card I'm using for the data element (this is a dual SIM phone) has no credit on it as I recently received it) with the exception of a few choice apps.

Is there any way I could do this through the phone, or as there an app for that? (I believe there was an app that restricted what app could connect to on click a while ago, but I'm not sure if that is still available)

And just to make things clear, I don't want any "use this tariff as it has unlimited data" nonsense since I don't want to waste money on things I'll never use as I'm a extremely light user and hardly make any calls or send that many texts.

And the phone in question is an Archos 40 titanium.

Rusty! · 27 Dec 2013 at 15:34

Settings => Data usage

Tap an app, tick restrict background data.

demonix · 28 Dec 2013 at 16:03

There's only android OS listed there, and that doesn't even allow the restriction of background data usage.

Orcvader · 28 Dec 2013 at 16:22

On the default Android it's Settings -> Accounts (I'm assuming Archos left Android unmodified), where you can control all the auto sync for each app listed there. Sometimes however if you want more control of when they sync you will need to go into the app itself, it all depends on the app developer.

Also, if you're a very light user, you might be interested in Ovivo. £0 a month for 200 mins, 300 text and 500mb data. All you pay for is the delivery cost of the SIM, but that gets added back as credit.

Myshra · 28 Dec 2013 at 16:23

If you had apps there that were using data they would show this when you click them (4.3 Android in pic). Note that it's a short date range as I did something moronic while testing a remote control app (don't mess with them

).

To remove background android you need to basically turn off all the sync parts of the OS - go into your account, disable every sync. Go into backup/reset and disable everything etc...

Turbo edit:
IIRC background data = can use data when not current active task
syncing = a data stream system with google's message API (separate from bg data?) when using accounts
Foreground data = app is in use, can use data.

You're probably going to find this hard to sort because it's sorta... the opposite of using a smartphone in principle. I understand your comments but in general modern smartphones, if you want to use their data features, need about 100 meg a month minimum and then usage depends.

demonix · 29 Dec 2013 at 16:05

I found out that apps don't show up in that list until the data connection for one of the SIM cards is turned on, so I won't be able to restrict background data on specific apps until they actually try to use the data connection (unless there's an app that can totally restrict what an app can use to connect to the internet).

Also, spending £20 for a SIM card and only getting £15 of that back as credit (that I might not even use) I would still class as a waste of money unless I use up the whole of the £10 credit I'll be putting on my three SIM card tomorrow within a month (which is likely to be unlikely as I'll be only using one or two apps if I'm out of range of a Wi-Fi connection).

Swifty55 · 29 Dec 2013 at 23:08

Just get a GiffGaff sim, £12 a month to not worry about wasting data over 3g...

Just a lot simpler than trying to restrict applications having access...

demonix · 30 Dec 2013 at 15:20

If I had a facepalm picture to post, I'd post it since you clearly didn't read my initial post since those kind of deals are a complete waste of money as I don't use my phone enough to make them viable (I had a cellnet contract handset ages ago, and I barely used what minutes and text I had with that deal).

I just topped up my three SIM card, and clean forgot that they give free data with your top-up and even then I'm only likely to use a few pence in data any time I'm away from the Wi-Fi connection (calls and texts have been set up to only use my giffgaff SIM card).

Orcvader · 30 Dec 2013 at 15:52

Wait... you're using a giffgaff SIM for calls and text, but the 3 SIM for data...? Wouldn't you save more money just sticking to one SIM?

demonix · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:34

Because I won't give up the approximately £240 of payback I'll be getting this year (and the three signal is a lot better in my local tesco, so I can browse with better speeds (I can get a H+ connection in there) then I can get off their free Wi-Fi service)

Also note to self: turn off the data connection when at home as it switches off the Wi-Fi and goes over to the data connection after a while.

Swifty55 · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:34

demonix said:
If I had a facepalm picture to post, I'd post it since you clearly didn't read my initial post since those kind of deals are a complete waste of money as I don't use my phone enough to make them viable (I had a cellnet contract handset ages ago, and I barely used what minutes and text I had with that deal).

I just topped up my three SIM card, and clean forgot that they give free data with your top-up and even then I'm only likely to use a few pence in data any time I'm away from the Wi-Fi connection (calls and texts have been set up to only use my giffgaff SIM card).

Facepalm picture needs to be for you tbh...

[TW]Fox · 1 Jan 2014 at 12:18

What a bizarre thread. You use a seperate SIM card for data so you get better data coverage in Tesco?

You also don't need to turn off Cellular Data at home, it will automatically swap to your home wifi in preference.

Jasseh · 1 Jan 2014 at 13:00

demonix said:
Also, spending £20 for a SIM card and only getting £15 of that back as credit (that I might not even use) I would still class as a waste of money unless I use up the whole of the £10 credit I'll be putting on my three SIM card tomorrow within a month (which is likely to be unlikely as I'll be only using one or two apps if I'm out of range of a Wi-Fi connection).

One time payment of £20 to Ovivo, £15 back as credit with 200 minutes, 300 texts and 500MB data available every month without having to pay any more than the initial £20.
Or if you just want data then you can go for the one time payment of £20 with £15 back as credit and 1000MB of data every month without having to pay more than the initial £20. I went for this one to use with my new Nexus 7

.

Not sure how you can consider that a waste of money lol.

demonix · 1 Jan 2014 at 16:01

[TW]Fox;25578672 said:
What a bizarre thread. You use a seperate SIM card for data so you get better data coverage in Tesco?

You also don't need to turn off Cellular Data at home, it will automatically swap to your home wifi in preference.

I only noticed the difference in signal after I started using data and had nothing to do with what I was originally asking.

Also, after a while (when I lock the handset) it turns off the Wi-Fi and goes back to the cellular data connection which means that it could start using whatever credit/data allowance I have without my knowledge.

Jasseh said:
One time payment of £20 to Ovivo, £15 back as credit with 200 minutes, 300 texts and 500MB data available every month without having to pay any more than the initial £20.
Or if you just want data then you can go for the one time payment of £20 with £15 back as credit and 1000MB of data every month without having to pay more than the initial £20. I went for this one to use with my new Nexus 7 .

Not sure how you can consider that a waste of money lol.

The initial expense could be considered a waste of money if the £10 top-up I've put on my three SIM doesn't get used up within the next month (I've only put £20 onto my giffgaff account since joining, and I've only used over £5 of that thus far), and considering my current data usage for one app I use would come in at a few MB a day if I'm out for a while (and the free allowance I got hasn't even gone down) it might take a while to get through all that credit (you could say that this is an experiment to see how much data I will use over the next month and consider if using Ovivo would be a more viable option with their basic data only plan).

[TW]Fox · 1 Jan 2014 at 16:04

demonix said:
Also, after a while (when I lock the handset) it turns off the Wi-Fi and goes back to the cellular data connection which means that it could start using whatever credit/data allowance I have without my knowledge.

Either your handset or your wireless router are broken. Focus on fixing these rather than getting omre SIM cards.

demonix · 3 Jan 2014 at 16:01

Checking the connected devices last night revealed that one device wasn't listed (sky wireless connector) and the phone was dropped from the list leaving my iPod touch and a 2012 google nexus 7 being the only wireless devices connected (as they're Wi-Fi only devices, they might be sending out frequent signals or such to remain connected to the wireless network which the sky wireless connector does more infrequently).

I did forget to mention that the Wi-Fi on the phone did pick up the open Wi-Fi network in my local tesco (this was before I topped up the three SIM card), so the Wi-Fi is working to an extent when locked but it doesn't come back on fully until I take it out of standby (and I'm getting app notifications which most likely would require a data connection).

Orcvader · 3 Jan 2014 at 16:12

Settings -> Wi-Fi -> 3 dot menu on top right, Advanced -> Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep, change that to always and see if that helps.

manic111 · 3 Jan 2014 at 16:21

How often are you in Tesco?

demonix · 4 Jan 2014 at 01:07

Orcvader said:
Settings -> Wi-Fi -> 3 dot menu on top right, Advanced -> Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep, change that to always and see if that helps.

There's an option called Wi-Fi Optimisation ticked in that section which is likely why the Wi-Fi keeps turning off

manic111 said:
How often are you in Tesco?

That was only an example since they offer free Wi-Fi to clubcard holders, but the speeds that the service provides is pathetic.

Although, there has been a slight problem that is likely going to end up with the phone going back to where I got it from as I pressed the power button to call up the lock screen only to hear the familiar clunk from the speaker that should only come after I press said button to lock the phone, and after that happened the phone wouldn't respond to any presses of that button (the volume control buttons still worked, but they only lighted up the 'buttons' beneath the screen) so I removed the battery, put it back in and turned the phone back on to find that the battery charge had gone down to 52% from at least 90% (from the android OS section in battery the phone might have been woken up without the screen coming on) and a few minutes later it happened again (prompting another removal and replacement of the battery).

It hasn't happened since, but the battery is dropping charge a lot quicker then it should be (at least 10% has been lost in around 6 hours with two instances where it dropped by 2% by just going through the setting menu for less than a minute) so I'll probably be calling up QVC (I would prefer some confirmation if this is enough to be classed as a fault even though I'm not taking risks since this is a £100 phone I haven't fully paid for) to get them to pick it up and give me back the money I've paid for it up to this moment.

So I'll most likely be looking for a decent phone tomorrow.

demonix · 5 Jan 2014 at 16:16

I've decided to return the Archos for a refund of what I've paid up to this moment, but I'll be making use of the information I gained here when I get a new phone (which is likely to be tomorrow).