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Could some tech whiz please enlighten the rest of us why this happens?? The Movistar SIM I had was doing this, too. Poof....15 gig, gone. For no obvious reason.
I did that too, but it didn't stop the data drain. I'm also happy not to be the only one. Anyone have answers?What I wound up doing was just leaving my data off all the time except when I was going to use it,
One possibility may lie in a Samsung phone glitch with its Smart Network Switch. The glitch is that if you have set this and are using wifi the phone may notice that the cell network has a stronger connection and will automatically switch.I did that too, but it didn't stop the data drain. I'm also happy not to be the only one. Anyone have answers?
I have an iphone. Everyone tells me I should switch to Samsung, but I am captive to the technology I know.One possibility may lie in a Samsung phone glitch with its Smart Network Switch. The glitch is that if you have set this and are using wifi the phone may notice that the cell network has a stronger connection and will automatically switch.
What to Do if Smart Network Switch Uses Too Much Data - Speedify
Are you using a Samsung smartphone with the smart network switch option activated? Ever had issues with data overages? The app that controls your Internet connections should be smart enough to also take into account your own data caps. Speedify is such a smart app that does more than just smart...speedify.com
That cuts both ways. Me too.Everyone tells me I should switch to Samsung, but I am captive to the technology I know.
And save the batteryAs a data of interest: the GPS apps for following tracks do not need data if you download the necessary maps ahead of coming to Spain, you can perfectly use it in airplane mode.
I just learned about two weeks ago that my phone has an eSIM in addition to a SIM. Essentially an eSIM is a SIM built into the phone. This means my phone is, in effect, a dual SIM. I have a couple ways to switch between which I want to use. When shopping check how it can be used. You may be able to have both active at the same time. This can be really useful at home where you can have a business number and a private number on one phone.My next phone will have a. dual SIM, which I hope will allow me to remain contactable on my main number, while giving me a cheap local contract for data.
About the hotspot, I think it may be possible but I would expect that the default setting would be off and a password required. However my settings get changed all the time after putting my phone in my pocket. I'm going to blame it on a pocket imp.We checked our data consumption at an Orange store in Abadín. They assured us we had plenty of data left, hadn’t had our SIM card more than 2 weeks. By the time we got to Negreira on our way to Muxia, 8 or 9 days later, we had to top up. We think maybe someone logged on to our hotspot and gobbled up the data.
Does anyone know if that’s possible? Once we topped up, we were fine.
BTW, we used TOPUP.ORANGE.COM to do it, faster and easier than the Orange app.
There was a problem.with iPhones a while back where WiFi assist would switch to mobile data if the WiFi was poor.I have an iphone. Everyone tells me I should switch to Samsung, but I am captive to the technology I know.
Thanks. At least at first glance this looks similar to the Samsung problem mentioned above.There was a problem.with iPhones a while back where WiFi assist would switch to mobile data if the WiFi was poor.
Good point! Switching off Wi-Fi Assist and switching off all the apps that use cellular data and are not needed, as explained by @jozero, should make a difference. For good measure I also put the battery in Low Power Mode as it temporarily reduces background activity (not sure whether this is sensible advice, it's just a thing I do when on the road). @linkster mentions the option of checking the data usage. I know it's there but I've never used it. But if I were concerned or curious, I'd check and try to compare usage at home and abroad.How to turn off iOS 9’s Wi-Fi assist to save your data plan
This new setting is meant to help your connectivity, but it could cost you money.www.macworld.com
This is the surefire way of not going through data without having the fear of turning on your phone or accidentally coming out of Airplane Mode. Photo apps are notorious but anything that connects to a cloud of some sort is suspect. Normal system items will chew through some but not to the same degree as photos, etc. A 10GB Orange SIM lasted me about 35 days earlier this year.I can only speak for iPhones but the best way to restrict data consumption (outside of just staying in Airplane Mode all the time) is to go into your 'Settings' and go to 'Cellular' and just turn off (Green = on, Grey = off - see attachment for examples where my Netflix app is currently using cellular data but my Prime Video app and Music app are not allowed to use cellular data) every app you don't want to have access to your data package. These apps will still work on wifi but won't eat cellular data any longer.
View attachment 61496
Leaving your phone operating as a hotspot is always a seriously bad idea. People will piggyback on it, and it also makes you vulnerable to some types of attack. Only switch it on if you actively need it.... We think maybe someone logged on to our hotspot ...
...And a strong passwordLeaving your phone operating as a hotspot is always a seriously bad idea. People will piggyback on it, and it also makes you vulnerable to some types of attack. Only switch it on if you actively need it.
Every update of the iOS software for iPhones installs new features. I hadn't been aware of WiFi Assist when it was introduced but I noticed by chance, when in Spain in an accommodation where I was staying, that my iPhone constantly switched between WiFi and 3G while I was browsing. Convenient of course but I immediately put a stop to it.I was not aware of wifi assist, and just checked, so turned it off.
I was told in the Orange store that I would not be able to use a foreign credit card to top up or renew online after several unsuccessful tries. I have always done it at a tienda. Thanks for the topporange.com link.I found out on a webpage today that orange.es may not accept foreign credit cards but topup.orange.com does.
I have never found a tienda that took credit cards. Of course, I have not been to all of them. The Vodafone stores take credit cards.I have always done it at a tienda.
You would normally be asked to set a password to access the hotspot. If that is weak or shared, others could log onto the hotspot, but whether that would be the problem is difficult to tell.We think maybe someone logged on to our hotspot and gobbled up the data.
Does anyone know if that’s possible? Once we topped up, we were fine.
For my current Android, the path to data usage statistics is:Perhaps I should conduct an experiment and see how much data I consume in two weeks if I turn off wifi completely. But then I would have to figure out how to know how much data I am consuming.
I used a Vodafone Spain SIM on my Android phone and easily used much less than 2GB a month. I don't turn anything off but I always have my phone setup so that I only download application updates over WiFi. I even managed a few video calls home using my cell phone data when WiFi wasn't available.At home, you may actually be on wifi. On the Camino away from town, streaming applications will gobble up data. Turn on Google Maps, for instance, only when you need a quick location check. Otherwise, keep it off.
Google Maps does not use LOADS of data. It sips data.Looking at this screenshot, I would strongly recommend using the "Offline maps" option in Google Maps; you basically download an area that you might be using in the near future (the larger the area, the larger the file). Google Maps will let you download a map for offline usage. I strongly recommend downloading that map in a WIFI connection, it may take quite a few data depending on the size of the are you pick. When you are in your destination, you can use the offline map and that will let you save LOADS of data if you connect to Google Maps).
3 has the "At home" plan, where data use is the same as in the UK. And WiFi assist is always off on my iPhone. But I think someone was able to log on to my hotspot in the gym a couple of months ago. Would rather use my data now than log on to WiFi at the gym.If this is a common problem, either turn on Airplane Mode as mentioned before or turn off Data Roaming when you don’t need it. I had no problem last month with a Three UK SIM in an iPhone. Good luck.
If I have "location" switched on this drains data and my battery.I did that too, but it didn't stop the data drain. I'm also happy not to be the only one. Anyone have answers?
I'm not going to remind any of my fellow pilgrims how this technology didn't exist not so very long ago, in most of our lifetimes in fact. I won't mention it because you already know that and have heard it before. I wouldn't dare to suggest that we don't need to worry about apps and stuff like that.
Buen Camino to you all.
Back packs of any form are essential, small or what ever size you need to carry, cloth sacks or modern rucksacs. Modern technology is intrusive and anoying to many of us. I know I'm not alone in this. Its intrusive - I've been awoken early during the night when someone's phone alert goes off (more than one and often) - text of call, or the light from a phone or pad is disturbing the peace and darkness while someone reads or writes. There's no comparison/analogy to be made here, apart from the disturbance of snoring, even then technology can be more annoying. Perhaps more respect for others is needed, rather than random phone alerts in the middle of the night or talking to callers. A good and respectful balance is needed for one another, as was the case in medieval times, I'm sure.I absolutely agree that we don't need to worry about apps and stuff like that. However, that doesn't mean we can't/shouldn't benefit from them. Medieval pilgrims didn't have modern backpacks. That doesn't mean I want to carry my belongings the way they did. Heck, when I did my first Camino there was no Brierley. And it is very possible to walk without worrying about any guide book at all. But some people seem to find that they benefit from them.
It's a good thing you didn't remind/mention/suggest any of those things.
True, but how modern is "modern"? For example, my husband is annoyed by most street lights and would rather live on a street without any. By the way, he doesn't use a smart phone either, but happily he does not suggest that I shouldn't. My phone is automatically set for blocking notifications at night.Modern technology is intrusive and anoying to many of us.
For sure!A good and respectful balance is needed for one another
Tongue in cheek, I assumeas was the case in medieval times, I'm sure.
Yes, I remember well back in 1160 when the 'young and hip' Pilgrims were all walking with their face buried in their Codex Calixtinus and not enjoying the wonderful views...A good and respectful balance is needed for one another, as was the case in medieval times, I'm sure.
The other issue, at least for Android phones, is that setting your device as a hotspot will disable wifi, and any downloads, etc will be using your mobile data, not the wifi from cafes, albergues, etc.
Perhaps I was unclear. I wasn't meaning to suggest that people can't be annoying with modern technology nor that everyone appreciates it. I was simply suggesting that while not strictly necessary, many people find it useful. Modern guidebooks are similar in that they are not strictly necessary but many find them useful. Of course, useful though they may be, people should use them considerately. Random phone alerts or phone conversations in the middle of the night are inconsiderate. People can be similarly inconsiderate without phones having late night conversations in the dorm, turning on the room lights when others wish to sleep (either upon late arrival or to facilitate an early departure, both of which are not unknown). People without phones can make noise unpacking and repacking their backpack before an early departure. If one is ready to be inconsiderate, there are plenty of opportunities with and without phones.Back packs of any form are essential, small or what ever size you need to carry, cloth sacks or modern rucksacs. Modern technology is intrusive and annoying to many of us. I know I'm not alone in this. Its intrusive - I've been awoken early during the night when someone's phone alert goes off (more than one and often) - text of call, or the light from a phone or pad is disturbing the peace and darkness while someone reads or writes. There's no comparison/analogy to be made here, apart from the disturbance of snoring, even then technology can be more annoying. Perhaps more respect for others is needed, rather than random phone alerts in the middle of the night or talking to callers. A good and respectful balance is needed for one another, as was the case in medieval times, I'm sure.
K
And that was my point. If you have a smart phone and use it on the camino, presumably you find it useful and of some benefit. It certainly may not be essential, but many find them beneficial and useful. I wasn't saying (as Redhead Keith seemed to be reading into my message) that it was okay to be inconsiderate with phones. Just that they were not completely without value as was being implied.We do all know what Keith is referring to when he says 'modern,' @C clearly.
And I so wish your good example would be followed by all the people in albergues talking, texting, and receiving notifications in the middle of the night.
I have a smartphone, and use it on the camino - primarily for maps and books - so I'm hardly a Luddite.
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