Worried about data useage, a few questions

[hazbazz]

Hey, I just got a Hero, its really cool, but I'm worried about how much data this thing is going to eat up. I've got a 500MB limit, but I dont really know how long that will last. So heres a few questions

How do I know if the phone is accessing the internet through WiFi or not? Obviously WiFi doesnt count towards the limit, so I want to know that I'm using it as often as possible.

Do widgets on the home page count towards your data limit? I've got a weather widget, facebook, bbc news, email, all getting their info from the internet. Is this going to be raking up the MBs while the phone is just sat in my pocket?

Is there a number I can ring to see how much data I've used? I'm with Orange. A number to call to check my texts and minutes would be helpful, too.

Thanks

 

[quantumrand]

I've had my Hero for about 2 weeks now, and I've been using it regularly, downloading apps, browsing the web, google maps, etc. I have not done any video or audio streaming though. So far I've used about 60MB total (combined Wifi and mobile data). Only about 20MB of that is on the mobile network.

The widgets do use data when updating, but it generally isnt much. Plus you can usually turn the auto-update settings off.

The best thing to do would be to install the Locale app and set it to turn on the Wifi whenever you're at home or work or wherever there's a wifi spot you frequent.

I dont actually have Orange, but I think you can check your account by going to wap.orange.com/account (while on the mobile network of course). It's worth trying at least.

 

[Verbal]

Get the 3g watchdog app from the market. That'll record your usage daily and cumulative through the month. You put in you contract start/end date and it'll reset back to nil after this date. It'll show in your notification bar whenever 3g is being used.

 

[andy d]

Or Netcounter which shows internet and wi fi data.

Very Handy.

 

[prepbgg]

How do I know if the phone is accessing the internet through WiFi or not? Obviously WiFi doesnt count towards the limit, so I want to know that I'm using it as often as possible.

If you have a Mobile Data connection then, to the left of the phone-signal-strength indicator on the Notification bar, there will be an indicator of the type of signal ("H" for HSDPA, "3G" for ordinary 3G, etc) and if you are uploading or downloading data there will be another indicator showing up-and-down arrows to represent the flow of data over the phone network. If your Mobile Data connection is switched off all you will see to the right of the WiFi signal strength indicator is the phone signal strength indicator on its own.

For extra reassurance I have the "Mobile network" widget (from the Settings section of the HTC Widgets) on my home page alongside the WiFi widget. I always have the "Mobile network" widget set to off except when I need a mobile data connection. This way I can be sure that I only use my mobile data allowance when I am out and about.

 

[hazbazz]

Thanks guys. I've downloaded 3G watchdog, and put the Mobile Network widget on my homepage

 

[vince.donald]

Not too woried but put on 3G watchdog - thanks for the heads up.

Vince

 

[Sambain016]

you can also go on www.orange.co.uk/youraccount and login with your mobile number it will tell you how much data you have left to use and how many mins aswell as all the numbers you havecalled and how much it has cost you, im on 600 mins and unlimited texts + 500 mb for

 

[one_tjc]

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