Galaxy S4 and high mobile data useage.

jamesjay · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 07, 2005 Posts: 11

Good Evening Folks,

I have had the S4 for nearly a month and noticed that the mobile data is switching itself on all the time even sometimes when I am walking to the local shop (no maps active), my contract gives me 1GB of usage and am close to that limit this month with 4 days to go.

I suspect most of that usage is with Googlemaps turning itself on without warning earlier in the month when I was outside, on the odd occasion I have used CamerAlert, but I have not used either applications very often, a few days ago I went in to mobile data settings and used the "restrict background data" function on most of the applications, but it is too early to say if this reduces mobile data usage next month or not.

My old Nokia N8 allowed me to use maps with just GPS so no mobile data usage, so my questions is can I use CamerAlert and/or maps on the S4 without mobile data usage or not?

Kind regards
James.

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:26 pm Post subject:

CA only uses data if you run it in map mode (except when you update the database)
Google maps will always use data unless it has cached the map tiles.
Have you got Smart network switch enabled? This might start mobile data, but I'm not sure. Just tried it and it doesn't for me though.
Go to Tools ~ Data and check Mobile data. That will tell you what's using most data.

MaFt · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:01 pm Post subject:

M8TJT · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:03 pm Post subject:

Forgot that bit Embarassed

jamesjay · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 07, 2005 Posts: 11

Thanks for your replies Guys,

According to EE customer care I am not using as much data as I thought I was and I may have been misreading my usage on the EE website, according to EE I have only used 5mbs of data and not as I believed 95mbs, but I am sure in mid January the middle of my billing date it showed I had used half my data allowance.

Last night when I was out and about mobile data was still coming on at various times, during the evening I drove about 60 miles or so with location and wifi off and "restrict background mobile data" enabled on all listed applications on the data usage page. I did have bluetooth on to allow my Parrot 9200MK handsfree to receive phone calls and the mobile data was still coming on after I received 3 phone calls while driving with CamerAlert running in the background without googlemaps. When mobile data came on so did google maps and when I turned them off a maps offline warning appeared on the phone.

It looks like mobile data activating itself is not increasing my usage but I have been constantly going to the tools page and turning it off since mid January when the EE website showed I had used half my data allowance, so I am beginning to think that EE misinformed me of my usage when I checked mid month. I am going to leave mobile data and all applications on until the middle of Feb and then check it to see what my usage is.

Kind regards,
James.

M8TJT · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 4:02 pm Post subject:

I've just done a check on my S5 and this is what I found after switching off mobile data and WiFi. opening Google Maps (GM) does not switch on mobile data. Closing GM generates no error message. Trying to get directions from GM (blue arrow, bottom right) produces the 'off line' error message. But it does seem like GM has most of south east England cached on my phone.

Have you tried what I suggested earlier? Go to Tools ~ Data and check Mobile data. That will tell you what's using most data.

When you are referring to Google maps, are you referring to the Google Maps app or are you referring to the maps in CA?
Having mobile data on will not increase your useage per se. It's only when other apps use data that it clocks up. But I expect you knew that anyway.

Seems a bit of a mystery why mobile data is switching itself on though.

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1940

Agree with all of the above.
However, for peace of mind, you may consider installing a 3g/WiFi meter on your phone such as *3G Watchdog - Data Usage* by Richard Gruet, free from the Play store. A bit baffling to initially set up but very customisable and highly accurate. (Although there does appear to be an issue with Android 5).
_________________
Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

jamesjay · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 07, 2005 Posts: 11

Thanks again M8's for your input, I tried various tests over the last few days and noticed that in CA "advanced settings" maps were enabled on the "On startup also run" tab. Now that I have changed this setting to "nothing" when I open CamerAlert, GM maps and mobile data no longer opens anymore or later for that matter so I am no longer continually closing mobile data when using CA on a trip.

The "3G Watchdog - Data Usage" is very good thanks AliOnHols and it showed I was using data when GM maps and mobile data were enabling themselves before I did the above. I will check now and then on my next long car trip but I think although I was closing GM maps they were coming on and triggering mobile data and any other related applications and using my data.

So obviously it was my fault not reading the CA manual fully or finding the advanced tab so again thanks for your help guys.

Kind regards
James.

M8TJT · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:25 pm Post subject:

secreto · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 14, 2015 Posts: 4

I realize this is an old thread but in order to lock programs that switch on data without people realizing there is an app called CLEAN MASTER I use it daily it is very good and actually advises you on a splash screen of the apps that are running without your knowledge.

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