Data useage (but not by me) and phone signal problem

[Guest The Sorcerer]

This is a "twofer" or two questions for the price of one :D

First of all, I'm on Asda PAYG and a £10 topup usually lasts me anywhere between 6 and 8 months, so as you can tell, I'm not a heavy user. However, something is "leaking" money (I'm assuming it's data) as my balance has gone down by 25p today and I haven't even made a call; it's just been switched on and in my pocket. So, how do I find out what's eating my money and how do I stop it?

Secondly, when I have the 3G icon showing in the status bar at the top, the "4-bar" signal strength icon only has one or two bars showing. If I turn off data, all four bars show. What's all that about?

Thanks.

EDIT: Sorry, should have said it's a stock ROM - nothing done to the phone except unlocked and Orange stuff deleted where possible.

Edited February 16, 2011 by The Sorcerer

[Guest Frankish]

If you have a G or a 3G or a H showing...then data is enabled and in use. Disable data in settings, wireless and you will not be "leaking" money. The phone backs up your data to your Google account so it constantly uses data.

EDIT: I imagine when you switch off data it switches over to the 2G network. Stronger signal just slower data speeds.

Edited February 16, 2011 by Frankish

[Guest The Sorcerer]

If you have a G or a 3G or a H showing...then data is enabled and in use. Disable data in settings, wireless and you will not be "leaking" money. The phone backs up your data to your Google account so it constantly uses data.

EDIT: I imagine when you switch off data it switches over to the 2G network. Stronger signal just slower data speeds.

Ah, thanks, I didn't know that. However, I know I had to create a Google account in order to be able to download apps from the market but there's nothing in that Google account; I don't have any contacts or anything in there and, just in case of anything wanting to access the account, I have account sync turned off, purely for the reason that I didn't want it backing anything up or syncing and using my money.

So, any idea what else it could be? And, just to make it more interesting, one of the things I love about my new phone, is the app "SoundHound", where it will identify a song or piece of music that's playing somewhere. I'd like to have data enabled for that because, if you wander into a shop for instance, and something is playing that you want to identify, you may only have seconds to fire up the app before the song finishes - by the time you've gone into the menu to activate data, come out of it, and then fire up SoundHound, it may be too late. So I want the data connection to be on and ready for when I want it, but no data flowing until I say so - is that possible?

Cheers my friend :D

[Guest mavis]

So, any idea what else it could be? And, just to make it more interesting, one of the things I love about my new phone, is the app "SoundHound", where it will identify a song or piece of music that's playing somewhere. I'd like to have data enabled for that because, if you wander into a shop for instance, and something is playing that you want to identify, you may only have seconds to fire up the app before the song finishes - by the time you've gone into the menu to activate data, come out of it, and then fire up SoundHound, it may be too late. So I want the data connection to be on and ready for when I want it, but no data flowing until I say so - is that possible?

Cheers my friend :huh:

I also love SoundHound and would also be interested if this would be possible.

[Guest Lew247]

Ah, thanks, I didn't know that. However, I know I had to create a Google account in order to be able to download apps from the market but there's nothing in that Google account; I don't have any contacts or anything in there and, just in case of anything wanting to access the account, I have account sync turned off, purely for the reason that I didn't want it backing anything up or syncing and using my money.

So, any idea what else it could be? And, just to make it more interesting, one of the things I love about my new phone, is the app "SoundHound", where it will identify a song or piece of music that's playing somewhere. I'd like to have data enabled for that because, if you wander into a shop for instance, and something is playing that you want to identify, you may only have seconds to fire up the app before the song finishes - by the time you've gone into the menu to activate data, come out of it, and then fire up SoundHound, it may be too late. So I want the data connection to be on and ready for when I want it, but no data flowing until I say so - is that possible?

Cheers my friend :huh:

The simplest answer is get a giffgaff payg sim - totally unlimited data no contract no ties.

and if you already have a contract then use it as a backup you#d sabve money on calls as well using giffgaff as it beats most contracts.

Unlimited texts from a £5 goodybag, unlimited texts and unlimited data plus 250 mins to anyone for £10, the same with 300 minutes £15, 600 mins £20 and 1500 mins £25 and if you don't want to top up one month you don't have to

and keep your contract sim as a backup on an old phone

I was on O2 contract now I just use giffgaff and got rid of the contract - saves me £20 a month minimum

it doesn't cure your problem as in telling you what it is causing it or how to fix it, but it does cure it in the fact you just don't have to worry about it at all

[Guest Vansphone]

The simplest answer is get a giffgaff payg sim - totally unlimited data no contract no ties.

and if you already have a contract then use it as a backup you#d sabve money on calls as well using giffgaff as it beats most contracts.

Unlimited texts from a £5 goodybag, unlimited texts and unlimited data plus 250 mins to anyone for £10, the same with 300 minutes £15, 600 mins £20 and 1500 mins £25 and if you don't want to top up one month you don't have to

and keep your contract sim as a backup on an old phone

I was on O2 contract now I just use giffgaff and got rid of the contract - saves me £20 a month minimum

it doesn't cure your problem as in telling you what it is causing it or how to fix it, but it does cure it in the fact you just don't have to worry about it at all

I need a PAYG plan that offers lots of cheap internet (but less than 1GB per month) plus the occasional phone call. So your tip about giffgaff is really interesting, thanks.

I had a quick look on the giffgaff site and it says free internet on all goodybags is limited to the 31st March which is a shame. According to my short Google I think the carrier is O2 which would be very good for me.

So I have ordered a SIM.

Thanks

Edited February 22, 2011 by Vansphone

[Guest Lew247]

No it says free internet ends 31st of march - that's for people who do NOT have a goodybag

goodybags from £10 upwards will always have unlimited internet