Data usage

[Cdnfenix36]

Hi,

I have been a PM customer for a long time.  I have switched my plans ( I REFUSE to call it a subscription) when there are better data rates for the same price.  Currently I am on the 34 for 50GB plan.  When I had lower data caps of 10-15GB I would use 7-9GB consistently.  Now that I have 50 for this month (2 days left) I'm at 17.75GB.  Nothing has changed with my usage habits so I don't understand why its doubled over a couple months.

[hTideGnow]

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@Yummy wrote:

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@Phil_Adelphus wrote:

But if it's a concern, just download the map area that you want over wifi before leaving home and use it offline.

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Thank you. But I find that off line maps sometimes does not work well. Many times GMaps could not find proper route or streets did not appear and app was asking to connect to internet.

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HI @Yummy 

First of all, Welcome back.  Your family @Meow missed you a lot and had a post trying to help you to get back online

for offline GMap, it is more to release the heaving data load for the map itself.  It is true data is needed for navigation because the route is computed with the server in real time.  You can however try to get the nativation starts with Wifi first and fully exactly as GMap suggests, do not detour and "run away" from what was told , then GMap might still work without try to get re-route information from the server.

[Yummy]

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@Phil_Adelphus wrote:

But if it's a concern, just download the map area that you want over wifi before leaving home and use it offline.

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Thank you. But I find that off line maps sometimes does not work well. Many times GMaps could not find proper route or streets did not appear and app was asking to connect to internet.
Not to mention that off line maps do not route if you select pedestrian mode. They work sort of for cars only.

But, if GMap does not use a lot of data that will be good news. I have to try when my subscription resets (but will that be correct test as other data hangry apps will jump into opportunity. We will see...).

Thanks for feedback!

[Cdnfenix36]

Hi All,

I'm not complaining about the usage just thought it was weird.  I am still using the same iPhone XR.  Yes I did get a speed increase switching to the 5G plan, but I also have Youtube locked to lower video quality, why waste data to stream 4k or 1080p on a 6" display.  Podcasts and music are predownloaded over WIFI.  

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Yummy  Does Anybody uses Google map while driving? HOW much data is used while navigating???

I have occasionally when the car's navigation was out of date and I haven't found that Google Maps uses as much as I might have expected.  But if it's a concern, just download the map area that you want over wifi before leaving home and use it offline.

[Yummy]

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@will13am wrote:

 I continue to avoid watch videos on a postage sized screen.   

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GOOD for you. I would never understand people walking on the street watching something on that puny screen.

Does Anybody uses Google map while driving? HOW much data is used while navigating???

[saturna]

Can we assume that the plan change also came with a speed change? as in 4G on the previous plan, 5G now?

I have not looked into this recently, but apps like youtube etc used to have settings to stream content at a higher resolution when the app detected a faster connection. 

I also go back into settings to make sure that background data is still minimized after every system / app update on my phone.

[will13am]

I have been a customer since 2016 and for most of that time I was on the 2016 fall promo which provided 12GB data over a 90 day period.  I was able to get by no problem.  I too have the $34/50GB plan.  I also think that my usage pattern has not change.  I continue to avoid watch videos on a postage sized screen.  Subliminally, I am wary that I have a lot more data on hand and as such my usage is way over 4GB every 30 days.  

[BrookT]

@Cdnfenix36  That sounds very frustrating! It could be because you've gotten a new phone and the data settings are a bit different than you previously had? Also, I had my home wifi down and I was unaware for almost 2 days which caused a large spike in my data usage. check that hasn't happened you too

If you have an android, you can look at which apps have used the most data in your billing cycle to see where those mystery gigs are going. Search "data usage" in settings, then click "mobile data usage" assuming you have your data billing cycle set up on the correct date, this will show you a list of the apps using the most.

 this is what mine looks like currently:

 you can click on the apps individually and restrict background data if you like, but since you are still under your monthly limit that doesn't seem necessary. This should help you see why you have had a jump in useage!

[szu]

@Cdnfenix36 

Maybe check your data usage history.  The data tracker is accurate.  Check your various apps.  

Have you been streaming more?  

Personally, I would not work, since you aren't using up the 50 GB anyways.....

[softech]

@Cdnfenix36 

PM usage tracking is generally accurate. Are you using Android or iPhone? Can you use the phone's data tracking tool to go back and see which app used the data?