I recently had a weekend in the UK on holiday and to make sure I did not get charged a fortune for roaming connection charges, I made certain that every time I used the phone online I had a good connection to the hotel's wifi hotspot.
I've just received a bill for nearly £100 for 18mb roaming, and nearly had a heart attack since I should not have been using any roaming services!!
Anyone know how this could have happened? As I said, I made absolutely certain that every time I was using the internet I was successfully connected to the wifi hotspot, so I don't understand how this can have happened but I'm furious about it.
Not to mention that the thieves have charged me £6/mb for a crappy GPRS connection!!
Thanks guys.
What also really annoys me about this is that I even tried to setup SPB's data monitor app beforehand as a precaution but it would not register any data traffic even though I set up the tariffs with all the necessary info.
Hotel WiFi isn't free - usually £5 an hour or something extortionate like that...
EddyOS said:
Hotel WiFi isn't free - usually £5 an hour or something extortionate like that...
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But that wouldn't end up on his phone bill, it'd be on his hotel bill.
True, just stating
Might be down to others apps using it perhaps...
Your right that wouldn't end up as part of the phone bill, However the following items will
Weather updates
Email syncronisation (possibly automated)
MyPhone (or any other "Cloud") backups
RSS Feeds
We're any of these enabled? Unfortunatly I am unaware of any way to turn off DataConnection without the above having the ability to automatically turn it back on. For that reason I will never take my phone (and leave it on) overseas.
Will that 'NoData' app not work for disabling anything over gprs/3g on the HD2?
And I'd like to echo the above - chances are it was an app on your phone downloading data in the background.
Unlucky mate - hope you can dispute it.
Thanks for that, but yes it was definitely free at this one (actually a B&B rather than a hotel as such). The bill I'm talking about is the monthly carrier bill for my HD2, NOT my hotel bill.
The problem is that the HD2 has basically been using my normal data connection but was showing as using wifi at the time.
I switched off all auto updates to prevent this too. The periods where I've been charged are for like an hour or so when I've been browsing the web in the evening.
Cret said:
Thanks for that, but yes it was definitely free at this one (actually a B&B rather than a hotel as such). The bill I'm talking about is the monthly carrier bill for my HD2, NOT my hotel bill.
The problem is that the HD2 has basically been using my normal data connection but was showing as using wifi at the time.
I switched off all auto updates to prevent this too. The periods where I've been charged are for like an hour or so when I've been browsing the web in the evening.
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Not that i want to make this sound obvious but, are you sure you was connected to the WiFi network. Just turning on your WiFi does not mean you are connected to the network, as most have Network Keys to grant access (or public guest passwords), you don't normally allow any old Joe Blogg onto the network.
jrrigney said:
Not that i want to make this sound obvious but, are you sure you was connected to the WiFi network. Just turning on your WiFi does not mean you are connected to the network, as most have Network Keys to grant access (or public guest passwords), you don't normally allow any old Joe Blogg onto the network.
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a little extra note to this is that many public wifi spots actually let you connect, and only then ask you for user info, so the phone looks like it is connected, when in fact there is no gateway out past the first landing page.
i had this problem with my old htc kaiser ( i had turned off all data connection apart from wifi) and it would still try and connect to a 3g network. when i returned from the states to the UK my bill was over £300!! i complained to t-mobile and they thankfully cancelled the bill!!
good luck.
Applications may well (and do) connect to the internet over 3G even when you have Wi-Fi connected and operational. That is simply how WM works.
There are various solutions out there to fix this problem, both manually turning cellular data connections off as well as those that automatically turn them off when you are roaming. I know one of the latter ones is on Marketplace.
valid point guys but yeah it had a full wifi connection and a valid wep key.
if I could get gprs monitor (our whatever its called) to work then I could try to reproduce the fault st home but it never registers any data use when I try it. are there any other apps that can monitor my phones data traffic?
Chainfire said:
Applications may well (and do) connect to the internet over 3G even when you have Wi-Fi connected and operational. That is simply how WM works.
There are various solutions out there to fix this problem, both manually turning cellular data connections off as well as those that automatically turn them off when you are roaming. I know one of the latter ones is on Marketplace.
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Thanks - I did see that one of the auto updates had gone ahead anyway using the data connection as it showed a connection to a server but it was for a very brief instant.
The big amounts of time/data however are purely down to browsing though. And that's my issue here. How can it be using the normal GPRS data connection for browsing even though it has a stable, fully open, free wifi connection? Have I got a setting wrong somewhere perhaps?
My guess would be that the hotel internet link was down. You would still connect to the wifi network but it would fail to route traffic. tcp/ip was designed to work for US military to handle parts of network getting nuked so it seamlessly (and transparently) uses the next best link. I did think the HD2 asked before connecting when roaming tho. To be safe go to comm manager and switch off data connection before browsing next time and watch it doesnt come back on again.
I suppose that's an idea that they may have had a problem with their network BUT I've just tried a test at home.
I'm connected perfectly to my home wifi network with a strong signal, but my phone refuses to do any data stuff like go online, basically because my normal data connection has failed (it does this maybe once a day). This means that even though it is showing as being fully connected to wifi, it isn't actually doing anything with the wifi network and is still trying to do all data traffic including browsing through my GPRS connection instead!
How can this be happening?!
Incidentally I got a reply from HTC about this. It was VERY apologetic - which to me suggests that they know there is a fault. You don't apologise unless you're at fault for something after all!
They sent me some HTC app that they said I need on the phone to prevent this happening in future, which seems like an admission of blame to me, but I know I'll never get the £100 in roaming charges back from them even though it appears to be their fault after I've taken reasonable steps as a consumer to ensure I wouldn't get charged.
Very unhappy about this.
Data connection woes
I have a similar problem - skyfire or opera will not connect using wifi when data connection is disabled - both in settings and individually using "nodata" app.
Does anyone have an idea of how to force use of wifi and restrict to wifi use?
Thanks,
Ehud
I am very interested in hearing more about this. If you ever find out what caused this problem, please let us know in this thread or drop me a pm. In a couple of weeks I'm off to the States for a holiday and I have read enough stories here on the forum to actually think twice about taking my phone with me.
personally i would have manually turned off the the phone connection under Wireless Controls and just turned on the Wi-fi on the phone.. that way it cant possibly use GPRS as essentially it is in a semi "Flight" mode..
those BT 'clouds' (think thats what they call them) charge to your phone bill, when I phoned up to change my price plan I was told if I didn't have mobile internet addon using wifi through these will incur charges
Don't worry - use "no data"
VoicesUK said:
I am very interested in hearing more about this. If you ever find out what caused this problem, please let us know in this thread or drop me a pm. In a couple of weeks I'm off to the States for a holiday and I have read enough stories here on the forum to actually think twice about taking my phone with me.
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I've used my XDA's around the world for years without a problem
In the UK I've got bundled unlimited data - so data is always enabled.
The first thing I do when putting my HD2 into flight mode on the aircraft is to run no-data. most cooked roms include it - but if not just download the cab.
"no data" allows you to toggle your cell operator based data connections - to off. Which has worked flawlessly for me in the US, Europe and far-east. On your return to home just toggle the settings back on.
The alternative is to go into comm manager and turn the phone off - but whats the point of that? You won't even be able to receive texts. I like to be able to receive calls and texts, but with the security of not running up extortionate data bills.
As an aside - if only all operators would allow you to set a strict (low) limit on data charges for roaming.
Related
i am using the live messenger and connected to the internet through WiFi but it refused to use this connection and connect through the gprs.....please help
did M$ do a favour for the operators? I've experienced this, too...
If phone is switched off in the conn manager, then it's able to use the WiFi connection.
It favours the GPRS connection because the Windows Live services are designed to stay connected while you are signed in. Something that would not happen with WiFi as you can turn your device off, or lose the WiFi signal if you moved out of range and so on.
I am under the impression that it will use WiFi if available, but it will always use GPRS to maintain the connection. Not sure how true this is though as I haven't looked at it with a data analyser.
astraman said:
i am using the live messenger and connected to the internet through WiFi but it refused to use this connection and connect through the gprs.....please help
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not working with me too through ActiveSync connection
Not a cure for the problem. But this allows you to disable your GPRS while you are on WiFi
http://www.modaco.com/New-FREE-Utility-t246171.html
On mine I just press cancel when the gprs connection pops up and it uses wifi after that.
They talked about it on one of the WM blogs. I can't find the link at the moment, but they said it was because the WiFi chipsets used too much power for always on connection so they forced it to use the phone. Apparently the phone chipset can be in low power mode but only power up when it receives data but the wifi chipset couldn't.
I found that even clicking cancel connection, it would keep trying to connect until it got through, then it would always send data over the phone.
On the other hand.... the reasons they gave for not allowing activesync over wifi were that it would be "insecure".
so there you have it... it's not allowed either because they are trying to save your precious battery... or they are keeping you safe and protected from the nasty people out there.
or it's a big conspiracy.
ivorh said:
They talked about it on one of the WM blogs. I can't find the link at the moment, but they said it was because the WiFi chipsets used too much power for always on connection so they forced it to use the phone. Apparently the phone chipset can be in low power mode but only power up when it receives data but the wifi chipset couldn't.
I found that even clicking cancel connection, it would keep trying to connect until it got through, then it would always send data over the phone.
On the other hand.... the reasons they gave for not allowing activesync over wifi were that it would be "insecure".
so there you have it... it's not allowed either because they are trying to save your precious battery... or they are keeping you safe and protected from the nasty people out there.
or it's a big conspiracy.
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Click to collapse
but it is better to let me choose to allow connection via activeSync or WiFi ro not
I currently have the Cingular 8525 and recently went down to Baja for a week. I had the phone function on to let me know when a call came in and then would go to the local internet cafe, switch the phone function off using "flight mode", confirmed phone function was off in "Comm Manager" and looking at "Settings/WLAN Settings" for the WiFi establishment.
I would then use Skype on the WiFi network to make calls back to my cell phone carrier to retrive messages.
Upon returning to the U.S. and reviewing my usage on the Cingular Web page I find that I have "Roaming Data Charges" to the tune of about $120. I have talked to Cingular and they were perplexed as to how the data charges were incurred if the phone funciton is turned off. HTC technical services were equally perplexed. HTC came up with the solution of pulling the sim card out to totally disable the phone function while still allowing WiFi access. In the states I have unlimited data access so this is not an issue, but since I travel abroad frequently, this could get costly without a simple solution (pulling the sim card out each time is not a simple solution).
Is there anychance that one of the following apps are allowing my phone to indicate that the phone is in flight mode (phone disabled) while still broadcasting in GSM/UMTS.
All thoughts on the subject are appreciated
Phone: Cingular 8525
Apps: PTTfix.cab
BandSwitch.Arm4.cab
Not sure if this helps, but after a couple of rediculously high months of data usage on my Orange UK contract, for two months I did not use any data features on the phone unless it was docked with my laptop, using it's broadband connection to browse on the phone. The opposing arrows signal was showing, signifying that my tytn was using the laptop's connection. My bills still show high usage, I had NoData running, blocking all Gprs usage.
Is it possible for the sim card to be still recording the data transfer and wrongly charging me for the usage? I have tried speaking to Orange about this but each time they have not understood what I'm talking about.
I'd sugggest you to try Spb GPRS Monitor.You need to play with it to tune it right way. It allows to monitor up to 5 different connections, and have a Today plug-in and an indicator in the top bar to show the activity. It helped me a lot by signalling that my phone uses GPRS instead of WiFi (no, I never even heard of GPRS/UMPT in flight mode!).
I have it set up to monitor GPRS for two SIM cards I have, connection via USB and BlueTooth. For any other type of connection (incl. WiFi) it does not indicate anything. Quite enough for troubleshooting, and also to understand your bills.
Probably there are similar apps, I never tried them.
Thanks for the suggestion on SPB GPRS Monitor.
I put the SPB GPRS Monitor on the phone and low and behold apparently any time the system kicks into the GPRS data mode, and it seems to do this on its own every once in awhile you get charged for the link whether you use it or not. SPB GPRS Monitor does a good job of letting you know if your not paying attention to the Martini Glass icon up top.
I was on the phone with cingular today because I want to upgrade to the cingular 8125. From everything I have read on these forums and some others, it is possible to use the wifi without using gprs in any way. The lady on the phone told me that even if I am using wifi through a free access point, I will still be charged for data usage, or would need a data plan. One of the key reasons I want this phone is for the wifi (my college campus is entirely wireless).
I just wanted to make sure that I will be able to connect to wifi without any charges or a data plan, just as say a laptop with wifi would be able to do.
Thanks in advance
WiFi has nothing to do with your cellular plan. They are either talking rubbish, or you misunderstood?!
(Take your sim out. You will still be able to use wifi - how are they gonna charge you?)
That is what I thought. She either was confused, or just really wanted to sell me a data plan as well.
Thanks
I do not have GPRS and I do not get charged for data using WiFi. You do need to watch out for auto log on by the phone when you have WiFi off. I would suggest you have cingular block all wireless internet access for your phone. I had them do this for all of the phones on my plan, including my 8125. I told them I had kids and did not want a huge bill. They did it with no problem. I know that this has prevented data charges since all of us have indavertently had our phones look for for the internet when we did not want it to. I use my 8125 via WiFi on vaious networks all the time.
Hope this helps.
David
i hate people who sell cell phones, they lie so much
Thanks for your help guys. I just ordered it from cingular. I can't wait until it comes.
Billabond1 said:
I just wanted to make sure that I will be able to connect to wifi without any charges or a data plan, just as say a laptop with wifi would be able to do.
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Correct, you do not have to have a data plan and you will not be charged for WiFi usage... BUT... you have to be careful as the 8125 will switch to GPRS if it loses the WiFi signal by default. Here's a cab that allows you to turn off all data access of various flavors so you can leave WiFi on, but the others off, then you don't have to worry about it switching on you.
. . . or you can just remove the APN from your connection settings. Without an APN your unit cannot establish PDP on the GPRS network, and hence no connection . . .
Start > Settings > Connections > Connections
Edit your connection
Tap Next to the Access Point Screen.
Remove your APN (and note it for future reference) and replace it with XXX (or whatever).
Tap Next and then Finish.
Repeat for any further connections.
Not a viable solution if you need to use GPRS, but if you are never going to use it then it's not a problem.
To recap:
An incorrect Access Point Name will result in no connection, and hence, no charges.
Thanks again. I talked to my dad today, and it turns out that he has medianet disabled through cingular, so it is all good. But thanks a lot for the help.
Argh!
I've never really posted a rant, but here's one.
Symbian is streets ahead of WinMo when it comes to network management.
With Symbian if you open an app that wants to access the Internet you get a prompt asking what available connection you want to use. If for some reason while using that app you lose the connection, you get prompted again.
WinMo doesn't ask. It uses whatever network is available going from Wifi down.
This is a problem for some (Okay, not all. I'm sure people with unlimited data plans, and those who don't want to be prompted like this way). Symbian let you configure programs to automatically connect to a network. It gave you a choice. Again, WinMo doesn't.
My own example -
I'm with Telstra, in Australia. We don't get unlimited data. I have a 150MB Plan.
With my previous N95 I could start up Internet Radio, chose WiFi for my connection, and listen to it while I was in bed knowing that if I fall asleep, and the WiFi drops out, the program will stop. It won't switch over to HSDPA and cost me a fortune.
Now my Touch HD. It sleeps automatically after 30 minutes. I've just found out that when it does that, I lose WiFi.
Last night when I went to bed I started up Kinoma, and was listening to a shoutcast stream over WiFi. The phone went to sleep and with the wifi connection lost, the phone went to HSDPA.
12 Hours of streaming has put me 560MB over my 150MB limit. That's $270 extra I'm going to need to pay.
Oh well. Lesson learned.
I don't understand though how Windows Mobile can be so far ahead of Symbian in almost every area, yet lacking by a huge amount when it comes to Network Management.
FWIW - I've now set all programs that want to use the Internet to now use my "Work Connection" so they will only use WiFi but
a) What a useless workaround. If for some reason I do want to use HSDPA data I then have to go through the hassle of changing it back
and
b) How hard is it to have the option there to "Always Ask"
Seriously!?
Phew. I'm done.
you have my sympathy, my last smart phone was symbian UIQ. that had internet profiles and priorities etc. WinMo is sadly deficient in that area.
There are a few issues raised here.
First off wifi turning off when the phone (and you!) goes to sleep. I think there is a setting to prevent that, have a look at this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=488623
also i have seen mentioned an app called no_data which prevents GPRS connections, might be usefull, though I have no experience of it.
I have to agree on this, but on a slightly different subject: the EVIL windows mobile connection manager.
It is completely useless, being in the middle way between iPhone style (connect with any network and don't bother the user), and Symbian style (bother the user and let him choose the network every time). That is, it requires the users to dig into tricky and labyrinthic settings and always fails to do the right thing.
Thx to connection manager, I cannot use the BT PAN connection I spent long nights trying to get it work on my Motorola Q9, when the phone is not in airplane mode, because the CM will unilaterally think the PAN is useless and use H$DPA (or GPR$) instead.
Good old fashion Telstra reeming plays a part as well.
OUCH on the $270!!!
[email protected]#$%^&*()_+|
I share you frastration until I found this No Data application which I install first in every flash, it just disables any Data connection!
If you need it let me know
Thanks for the sympathy.
My biggest problem with NoData is that I actually want to be able to use HSDPA when I am not near a WiFi network, I don't want data off permanently!
Why can't there be an app that lets you chose which connection everytime. That's what is annoying me most!
When you need it just switch it back on. Less than few clicks
Hi,
i have just posted regarding this issue on another thread.
I remember reading a review for the Touch HD and one reviewer mentioned a 'simple thord party app that allows one button switching from wifi to 3g(HSDPA)'. rather disappointingly the reviewer does not mention what this app is called!!!!!
actually the issue i have is slighlty different, if i set the network setting to use wifi , when i turn wifi off i have the phone simply will not connect to anything until is go back through.
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS> either MY Work Network or Orang Internet.
phew what a pain in the preverbials.
Microsoft - i really hope you sort this in winMo 6.5
Anybody else - how about a simple app, if i switch wifi on and a network is found, set the above to my work network.
if not found then either set it to Orange Internet (or whoeever) (for those of us with unlimited data) or as the thread leader suggests just bloody ask whether it is ok to go back to 3G/HSDPA.
but can we please stop the:
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS>MY Work Network
or
START>SETTINGS>CONNECTIONS>CONNECTIONS>ADVANCED>SELECT NETWORKS>"carrier internet connection"
7 clicks of frustration that i struggle to do without a stylus
I've since installed and been using NoData. While not a perfect solution, it does make it easier to turn my data connections on and off without going through the settings menus.
It will do until Microsoft decides to catch up with the rest of the field with regards to network management.
Was having a debate elsewhere and a few of us have realised, that we are not actually sure what this does and if really required?
I turned mine off a while back for example and my widgets would still update as I wanted and I still received emails etc.
Therefore can anyone actually explain what "Always on Internet" is actual for?
I read a somewhere on Google that the G1 users in the past who used the "Always on" option, found that when they went abroad, they were getting charged a fortune in roaming charges. Is this a sneaky reason for it being included maybe?
There's another setting which enables / disables data whilst roaming.
Personally I have found that it is better to have the Internet Always on as it is quicker for any app to use the data connection. With it off, sometimes apps failed but since enabling it again, no probs
Vince
I think what the option does is leave the 3G or whatever connected so that when apps need it your phone doesn't need to reconnect each time.
Without it checked i imagine apps will connect the 3G, download the data they need, then disconnect the 3G connection.
Makes sense anyway, ive never had it off.
If you turn on the always on internet, your device will stay connected to the intenet so you dont have to keep connecting, if you turn it on, you can still connect to the internet when needed but it will turn it back off after x amount of minutes idle i think lol
@xxThugxx
Thanks for just rewording my post....
Cheers guys, have put mine back on, just hope battery drain doesn't get too bad.