I have had the 8125 for quite some time now and have found no use whasoever for a data plan with this device. So considering the additional cost per month, is the data plan worth it under the 3G connection? I am in the MD/DC area, and expect I'll get fairly decent coverage but I'd be interested in location specific feedback as well.
If you don't need data, you don't need a plan. I use mine for streaming video using SlingBox to program or watch my home DVR or peek out one of my surveilance cams. I also use it occasionally as a network connection for my Laptop using internet sharing. I'm finding pretty good 3G coverage in So. Calif., just went up at my house now as well. I usually keep 3G turned off however when not needed, to increase battery life.
Note that even without a data plan, you can use data services -- cost is $0.01 per KB, whether it's over GPRS, EDGE, or HSDPA. If you don't use data very often, I'd skip it & pay as you go. If you end up using data more, you can always add a data plan later.
3waygeek said:
Note that even without a data plan, you can use data services -- cost is $0.01 per KB, whether it's over GPRS, EDGE, or HSDPA. If you don't use data very often, I'd skip it & pay as you go. If you end up using data more, you can always add a data plan later.
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Click to collapse
Don't you have to enable something on the backend to allow data? Or in other words, if I get this new phone, will I automatically get a data connection and have to start paying ala carte pricing??
The Kaiser has an autoconnect program that configures the data connection; IIRC, it runs during the extROM installation right after a hard reset. Basically, you tell it what country & carrier you use, and it configures the data connection. If you don't want to use data at all, you can tweak the data connection settings (e.g. change the password and/or username) so it won't connect.
Related
When I first got my kaiser, I could use the Google Maps "My Location" (location via tower position) while connected to WIFI with the 3G logo in the top bar.
Now, I have upgraded to the HTC ROM (so much better), and if I turn off HSDPA (so 3G is showing on top bar), I cannot use the "My Location" feature. As soon as I enable HSDPA and soft reboot, the "My Location" feature works.
Now... the question. Since I am on WIFI, my in house network, am I using the HSDPA to transfer data? I know that the map data comes via my 802.11 network, but why the heck does HSDPA have to be enable? If so, am I being charged for it? I just switched to ATT and have not received a bill, so I am hoping every time I use the HSDPA and google maps on my WIFI, I am not getting charged?
I do not have a data plan, but it still lets me open a data session (which I assume costs a ton). When HSDPA is on an H icon is at the top bar. When its off it goes back to 3G. When I click on the H is says "No Data Sessions Active", so I'm safe right, even though it has to be on for Google Maps?
Also, I cant seem enable GPS with Google Maps. It searches for a satellite forever and never gets anywhere. Does using GPS cost money with ATT? Is there a good program for GPS usage?
My main concern is NOT getting charged cause I do not have a data plan. I only use the WIFI. Thanks for you help.
You need to go to your ATT rep and tell them to turn off the pay per use data package. If not, they usually leave this on, you will be charged. Google Maps uses a data plan. It will not work without one as the maps are loaded as you and your phone are moving. To use GPS without a data plan, you will need to purchase software, ie: Tom Tom 6. around $100 to $150. Hope this helps.
wchildress said:
You need to go to your ATT rep and tell them to turn off the pay per use data package. If not, they usually leave this on, you will be charged. Google Maps uses a data plan. It will not work without one as the maps are loaded as you and your phone are moving. To use GPS without a data plan, you will need to purchase software, ie: Tom Tom 6. around $100 to $150. Hope this helps.
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Click to collapse
Cool. To clarify... as long as I am using WIFI (say, to get directions from a cafe with free WIFI with Google Maps) I will NOT be charged? Even though the HSDPA is enable but it NOT my source for data because WIFI is?
Also, there is no way to disable ATT data connection locally on the phone?
Ok, I think I figured it out. I used KaiserTweak to disable data, but I can still use wifi and the "My Location" in Google maps work.
Now when I am off WIFI and a program calls for data, the phone it tells me that I can't do it because of my settings, which is exatly what I wanted. The H icon remians, but it seems that it can't connect so the H is just telling me it's available, from what I understand. I hope so, cause I dont want it to connect and run up my bill!
Thanks KaiserTweak!
xconradx said:
Ok, I think I figured it out. I used KaiserTweak to disable data, but I can still use wifi and the "My Location" in Google maps work.
Now when I am off WIFI and a program calls for data, the phone it tells me that I can't do it because of my settings, which is exatly what I wanted. The H icon remians, but it seems that it can't connect so the H is just telling me it's available, from what I understand. I hope so, cause I dont want it to connect and run up my bill!
Thanks KaiserTweak!
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Click to collapse
if you're worried about data bills running up the bill, call AT&T to block data service.
While you're on the phone with them, figure out how much data you used this month and get a MediaNet package to cover data use already used this month (they can backdate it) -- if you used over 4-5 MB you want at least the $5 medianet package, will save you money -- Please don't let your data usage for the first month go unchecked.... otherwise it could be a really big first bill shocker :-/
BBM-Lee said:
if you're worried about data bills running up the bill, call AT&T to block data service.
While you're on the phone with them, figure out how much data you used this month and get a MediaNet package to cover data use already used this month (they can backdate it) -- if you used over 4-5 MB you want at least the $5 medianet package, will save you money -- Please don't let your data usage for the first month go unchecked.... otherwise it could be a really big first bill shocker :-/
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Click to collapse
Ok, I am going to call them. Although I've only used WIFI so far and was accidentally connected to their service only once and didn't use any data-required programs.
We will see when I call them.
WTF... seriously, ATT call centers are closed?
I'm used to tmobiles 24/7 service centers.
Oh well, tomorrow I'll find out. I'm already expecting a big bill. It's my fist one, so prorated plus activation fees.
My rebates have come in and I'm ready to drop the data plan on my bill.
I'm trying to prep to keep the majority of the functionality that I have been use to through the Tilt's wireless connection. I hope that I can learn from others that have dropped their data plan.
My first concern revolves around dropping the data plan and making sure that I don't pile up per-kb charges. I know that I can call AT&T and request a stop data, but that also stops my text messages. I've read that KaiserTweak works as well and will probably be the route that I use, unless there are other suggestions.
Furthermore, I need to find a way to make the device look to the wireless connection as the primary connection. For instance, how can I change it so that Outlook and even HTC Home Weather uses wireless connection. Is there a menu or registry setting I can use for that?
For those of you that have gone through this process, I would appreciate in suggestions.
Thanks!
Would also like to know, never got a data plan...
tyeo098 said:
Would also like to know, never got a data plan...
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It's so freaking easy. I don't know why nobody uses this method.
Create an empty Network setting and that's it. No APN, no "modem" settings, nothing. Just create a new one, name it something like NoData, set it as the default network for "The Internet" and "Work", and that's it.
It will never get online except what you feed it through WiFi.
It was great traveling through Japan for few weeks and no data billed, no worries if I needed Modaco NoData or KaiserTweak to setup something shady that might heal itself and nail me with charges.
Lol, its called stop being cheap.
People get stuff and don't want to pay to maintain it. IE, get a car, drive it 4 years, and never want to put new tires on it, but as soon as it doesn't pass inspection, you're ready to snap.
What was the purpose of getting a PDA phone without the data plan...?? Shoulda got a regular phone if that was the case, or perhaps a palm pilot.
Why pay your provider $40+ if you are not using it? I myself have an unlimited data plan, but I rarely use it. I have WiFi at work and at home and I am on WiFi network most of the time. It is critical for me to access my email at all times and I need to pay for the data plan. But for most people, it is not that important and they can still get access 80% of the time. Don't judge people because they don't live by your rules.
I'm currently using my Kaiser on T-Mobile, and I don't have a data plan as I don't intend to access the internet other than via WiFi. However, sometimes if I try to sync my email or access a webpage without first connecting to WiFi, I get a notification that my phone is connecting to EDGE. This obviously shouldn't be happening, since my plan doesn't cover it. Usually I can cancel it within a few seconds so I don't think it's ever actually connected.
However, I'm afraid that rather than denying me access to the network, it's just going to let me connect and then automatically charge me for a data plan, which is something I would definitely like to avoid. Does anyone know why this is happening, whether I'll actually get connected to EDGE/be charged for it, and how I can get around it? Or should I talk to T-Mobile and find out from them? Also, when my phone connects to the data network to receive MMS, does that count as part of a data plan or is that covered in the regular MMS charge? I have virtually no knowledge of how phone and data networks function, so sorry if this info is painfully simple.
Thanks in advance.
Not having a data plan doesn't prevent you from connecting to the data network, but only changes the way it gets billed. Without a plan you usually get billed for the amount of data you transfer, at a fairly high price per MB. With a plan you'll pay some monthly fee but will then be free to transfer up to a certain amount of data per month, altogether for much cheaper.
If you don't want the EDGE to connect, either simply delete the connection parameters from the connection settings or use a program like this one to deactivate the connection:
http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-software/246171/new-free-utility/
MMS is a separate connection that can only be used for MMS and doesn't charge.
you can also change the different cell data connections to disabled with KaiserTweak, on this forum, that's worked well for me.
Jeremie
Okay, thanks guys, I'll check it out. I skimmed through some of the connection options and didn't see anything, but I'll look more thoroughly and figure it out. Also need to remember to install KaiserTweak again, keep forgetting to while trying out various ROMs.
Also thanks for the info about the billing, I didn't realize it worked like that - I thought it was like internet access, if you don't have a plan you can't get on.
You can get unlimited access to media net for $15 a month
Hey guys the G1 data plan is getting too expensive for me and I'm planning to cancel soon. After I call in and cancel, how can I get my G1 to stop trying to access the internet unless its Wifi? Or once I cancel I won't have to worry about this?
I also heard a rumor about changing the APN settings so you can still have and use the internet? Is this true?
no real way to stop the phone from accessing the web since even in the background it sends packets of information. that's just how the phone works that's why you need the data plan for this phone.
i want to cancel the plan cause my sis is paying for mine and i dont want her paying 300$+ a year on me. but i dont want to be charged after i cancel the plan cause my g1 is still accessing the internet. Anyways to prevent it from accessing the internet?
tinyaznboi said:
i want to cancel the plan cause my sis is paying for mine and i dont want her paying 300$+ a year on me. but i dont want to be charged after i cancel the plan cause my g1 is still accessing the internet. Anyways to prevent it from accessing the internet?
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Click to collapse
i just said no there is no way to to shut off the internet due to the fact that the phone requires you to have a google account to run it even if you flash a adp build and skip the logon proceedure the phone still access the web in the background without you knowledge you will still get billed for data charges at t mobs data rate which i think is 25 to 50 cents per meg used.
disable auto sync
if you disable auto sync you wont be accessing the internet much (assuming you don't have a ton of news widgets or something) then sync when you're connected to wifi (toggle settings works well for this)
bittermormon said:
if you disable auto sync you wont be accessing the internet much (assuming you don't have a ton of news widgets or something) then sync when you're connected to wifi (toggle settings works well for this)
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Click to collapse
the problem is even with auto sync off the phone still polls the internet in the background for updates and other things you could remove every internet reliant app off your phone and it still polls the internet it just the way android is designed he want to stop all internet traffic which is impossible without hacking the rom beyond what we do or pulling out the sim. even google maps requires to poll the internet in the background without him even turning it on. it's just impossible to stop it completely.
Install APNdroid.
Easiest, simplest, most reliable way: Go into settings>wireless controls>Mobile Networks>Access Point names, then click on each one and hit menu then delete. You will also need to finangle with tmobile through their customer service number in order to get them to cancel 3g for your G1 (they have some kind of a policy that's supposed to mean that you have to have an unlimited data plan with the G1, but if you're patient with them they'll let you cancel and just have voice.)
Even easier way. Download Toggle Data from market. That's what I've been using since I cancelled my plan. No more data in the background, so my battery life is longer. Sometimes my phone goes like 2-3 days without charge. (Of course without using wifi)
apns not only control how the phone connects to the internet it also handles how it connects to make calls which is also how it connect to edge/3g. so see the conundrum we have here removing all apns also kills making calls.
Before I bricked my G1, (I don't have a data plan) I just went to the T-Mobile store and told the guy what I could do to stop the internet. He just changed some kind of port number and stopped the internet so I don't get charged.
rigamrts said:
apns not only control how the phone connects to the internet it also handles how it connects to make calls which is also how it connect to edge/3g. so see the conundrum we have here removing all apns also kills making calls.
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Click to collapse
I use apndroid all the time(to save battery) and I can still send/receive calls with it.
ultra spikey said:
I use apndroid all the time(to save battery) and I can still send/receive calls with it.
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Click to collapse
i wasn't talking about apndroid
i was talking about the guy who told him to delete all his apns
if i use apndroid will i still be able to use wifi? also im using a JACHero's rom and i noticed this in the settings...
Data Sync > Google > Background Date Usage [X]
APN Droid only kills the data.
rigamrts said:
apns not only control how the phone connects to the internet it also handles how it connects to make calls which is also how it connect to edge/3g. so see the conundrum we have here removing all apns also kills making calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the APN controls cellular data (internet and MMS) only. Voice and SMS are "built in" so to speak - as long as the SIM matches yoru carrier's records, they will work.
Deleting the APNs (or using APNdroid) will block cellular data, leaving voice, SMS and WiFi internet unaffected.
Hello,
My question is to know whether Wi-fi is free using MY wireless connection from MY router?
I have AT&T with no data plan on my Xperia X1a. But a no data plan does not necessarily mean that I won't get charged for it. I use 'NoData' program to disable 'AT&T ISP GPRS' and 'MEdia Net'.
I went to the 'Comm Manager' on the top taskbar and made sure 'Data Connection' was OFF..
The reason why I ask this is because I came across a post on Yahoo Answers that kept me skeptical
"Basically, all wi-fi enabled phones require a data plan."??
There is no reason or even sense that wifi phones would require data plans. But in pratice phones have the tendency to try to connect via data plans if they want to access the net and you'll have to figure settings that prevent that. As long as your data connection stays offline there should be no issue.
I spoke with a AT&T phone operator and was told it was $2 per MB even if I was using Wi-Fi.
I checked my data usage on 'SPB Wireless Monitor' and it states I owe $0.00 using 'AT&T ISP GPRS', 'MEdia Net' and 'Wi-fi', but that AT&T phone operator
glostix said:
I spoke with a AT&T phone operator and was told it was $2 per MB even if I was using Wi-Fi.
I checked my data usage on 'SPB Wireless Monitor' and it states I owe $0.00 using 'AT&T ISP GPRS', 'MEdia Net' and 'Wi-fi', but that AT&T phone operator
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Click to collapse
Rule number one with all types of phone operator: call again if you don't like the answer. He either had no clue or didn't understand what you're talking about. Your mobile phone provider has nothing to do with any traffic you do via wlan, unless your wlan router itself uses UMTS (which means it would have a sim card on it's own) - but I'm certain you use dsl or cable.
Btw. using any smartphone with only wlan is only half the fun. You should really looking into getting a plan so you can use the net even outside your home.
wifi means free data.
let me explain it a bit better.
you have a laptop...
your traveling.
you check into a hotel that offers wifi.
does that mean you then call the cable company to run a line?
but like the other poster said, your phone may say it wants 3g preferred over wifi.
that would be a rom issue i believe.
hell i have a touch pro that the keyboard (slide out) broke.
so now its my Garmin GPS unit. and wifi sniffer.
cant do anything else with it.
wifi, gps, bluetooth are all free.
in fact, thats why they have made a vonage app for blackberry and iphone. so that you can have internet phone without cellular
hope that helps.
Yes, thank you for the clarification nhvolt.
The telephone operator was very vague cause I needed authorization of the biller (my parents last 4 digits of their SSN, of which I did not have access to) to log-in and have a convo with them.
Anyways, I will continue to use Wi-Fi been said it is free. I trust you guys. Thanks!
Actually, since September 06, 2009, a $30 data plan was automatically added to users with smartphones by AT&T from tracking IMEI.
So technically, you do have to pay, since AT&T automatically bills you $30 for being a smartphone user, whether you use it or not.
Considering if wi-fi is free using my own home network, will the bill rise even more if I were to use it?
glostix said:
Actually, since September 06, 2009, a $30 data plan was automatically added to users with smartphones by AT&T from tracking IMEI.
So technically, you do have to pay, since AT&T automatically bills you $30 for being a smartphone user, whether you use it or not.
Considering if wi-fi is free using my own home network, will the bill rise even more if I were to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO! Wi-Fi has NOTHING to do with your provider (AT&T)
As long as you have your connections disabled in NODATA, all your internet via WiFi is free.
@Hannigan: AT&T has been charging users a "smartphone fee" if they detect you're using a smartphone (via IMEI, I guess). Even if you're not on a data plan.
@glostix: there's a thread here on how to get your phone exempted from the stupid fee, I just can't remember where (I found it via the XDA front page so there's a big chance it's not on the X1 boards)
glostix said:
Actually, since September 06, 2009, a $30 data plan was automatically added to users with smartphones by AT&T from tracking IMEI.
So technically, you do have to pay, since AT&T automatically bills you $30 for being a smartphone user, whether you use it or not.
Considering if wi-fi is free using my own home network, will the bill rise even more if I were to use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bud, its like asking if your laptop will incure cellular rates if it uses your wifi.
wifi is completely free.
Ipods have wifi
laptops
desktops
skype phones
all wifi is free.
the only time you would ever need to pay for it is to access a wireless router. such as a hotel or starbucks.
but home network all free. Promise.
LoL, nothing is free, but I can assure you using WiFi on your phone will cause NO extra billing thru your wireless phone provider. it WILL however tie up bandwidth from your internet connection slowing anyone else down who tries to use it
Wi-Fi has nothing to do with the cellular data conenction, bro. Some apps MAY try to connect via the data connection and the wi-fi one and that will cost you.
1 - Download "No Data" and disable your data connection with the operator.
2 - Use wi-fi only.
3 - ...