How do I manually select Public Mobile's network in order to access my data?

[eatnb1]

I don't use data very often, but have 2048 MB in an add on plan.  I am not sure if I ever used any of it, but I think I did a year or two ago. I have tried a few times to use it in the past year and the phone just advises that it can't connect to the internet. I asked this useless Chat Robot, but that was a waste of time. I have searched on this site, but can't seem to find an answer.  An answer as to how to be able to use this data would be appreciated.

[darlicious]

@eatnb1 

Thanks for the update. Your data is working so thats all that is important and you are clear on how MMS works so you are good to go....come back anytime we're always here...sadly...lol!

Always happy to help!

[dabr]

@eatnb1     As long as you now can connect to your data, then I wouldn't worry too much about anything else.

BTW, you may want to use the downward arrow top right of your post and then edit/delete your name from your post as this is an open forum.

[eatnb1]

Re # 2 above:  To the best of my knowledge, my data was already enabled. The reason I could not get the data was that Safari would not connect to the internet. Access to the internet immediately happened as soon as I got Google Chrome downloaded (using my wifi at home connection to the internet).  

Re # 4 Safari not working.  I don't care if I ever get that working, Google Chrome works, that is fine with me.

Thank you for the follow up.

Eric Tucker

Re # 5 MMS.  The reason I could not send this in the past was that where I was living at the time I could not get cell service as there was no tower reception there, and I didn't have any data on my phone plan at that time. I believed that I could send MMS through my wifi. I don't think the SMS would work either at that time, because my cell phone had no access to a tower

[darlicious]

@eatnb1 

Happy to hear you are happy. To summarize the troubleshooting of your issue:

1. The issue was resolved by enabling your mobile data. A simple oversight and first suggested in this thread by @dabr .
2. The solution was discovered when @softech suggested using chrome as your browser.
3. Changing the APN profile from isp.mb.com to sp.mb.com made no difference.
4. Safari the apple browser still does not work on your phone? We can help with that.
5. You mentioned you have tried to send MMS in the past but cannot? This could be just because you need your mobile data enabled in order to send and recieve MMS so you would have to toggle it on and off when needed. Sending iMessage (unlike MMS) can be done over wifi but uses your plan data when not on wifi. MMS goes thru a separate server and does not use your plan data and will work without any mobile (plan) data at all it just requires mobile data to be enabled on your phone. Check under your message settings that you have SMS/MMS enabled to send messages that don't use your mobile data and can be recieved by both iPhone and Android users.

[eatnb1]

I changed the APN as you advised, just to make sure everything was correct. 

Thanks again

[eatnb1]

Further to my last post a few minutes ago:    CHROME did work and I now have data with my wifi turned off at home.

When I tried Chrome I had forgot to go back and turn on the Cellular Data, so turned that back on and instant data.

Thank you so much for all your help....Must be something wrong with the Safari and the other search engines that are on the phone.

[softech]

@eatnb1 apn is wrong.  should be just sp.mb.com

check this 

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/set-up-data-on-an-iphone

[eatnb1]

Chrome didn't work either. Apple store is doubtful, they will just advise it is a 5 year old phone and try and sell me a new version.  One last thing, someone said to check my APN, and mine says: "isp.mb.com", so not sure if that is ok or not as I never got an answer when I posted that info. 

[softech · Accepted solution]

@eatnb1   try to download Chrome and see if you can use Chrome for browsing on  Mobile Data

Again, do you have an Apple store close by?  Drop by there and the Apple experts there can check as well

[eatnb1]

Safari was not turned off, but it says but it still says it is not connected to the internet. The only thing turned off is "personal hotspot", although I don't think that matters. Should Safari use any particular search engine? It shows  One thing I noticed on my cellular data options "voice & data",  there is a choice of LTE or 3G and I don't know if it matters which should be checked. I tried both and it didn't seem to make any difference. 

[softech]

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@eatnb1 wrote:

 When I do turn on the Cellular Data, all I get is my email, but if I try and connect to a website, it says that I am not connected to the internet. I just turned my wifi off and tried just the phone with cellular data on, and I got my email, I got the weather app,  but when I tried to get to a website it says "Safari cannot open the page because your iphone is not connected to the internet",  Could this be something to do with Safari?  Might be some setting on that which is not right??

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@eatnb1   If you got the email and weather app, that means your mobile data is working. 

Your Safari is not working because the Mobile date was turned off for that specific app ( you can selectively allow/disallow any app to use Mobile data)

On the same mobile data page, scroll down and look for Safari and make sure it is turned on to allow the use of data

[eatnb1]

I turn the Cellular Data when I want to use data, but I keep it off most of the time as I don't need it. When I do turn on the Cellular Data, all I get is my email, but if I try and connect to a website, it says that I am not connected to the internet. I just turned my wifi off and tried just the phone with cellular data on, and I got my email, I got the weather app,  but when I tried to get to a website it says "Safari cannot open the page because your iphone is not connected to the internet",  Could this be something to do with Safari?  Might be some setting on that which is not right??

[dabr]

@eatnb1   Did you confirm that you actually still have data left in your account?  Log in and halfway down the overview page under My Data/Add-ons, check to see if you see a line for data.  If it's not there, then it's possible that you've used it all up and would need to buy more data at $15/1GB. 

BTW, what plan are you on?   Even the $15 plan comes 250MB although that can be easily depleted depending on your settings for apps etc.

[eatnb1]

I use the phone as a phone, for texting, and for occasional data, which is not working right now..sorry if I misunderstood "voice call"....I didn't think that would be something as simple as talking on the phone. I see a lot of people place a call by saying the person's name instead of using contacts, or keypad, etc., so that is why I thought it was a "voice activated call",  I apologize if my knowledge of new age techie stuff is not very current.

[softech]

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@eatnb1 wrote:

Don't see anything, it gives a lot of info on PM, but nothing about update needed so I guess that is all ok

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@eatnb1   You checked if Cellular data is turned on?

               Settings > Cellular Data. , make sure it is swipe to the On side (Green)

That is critical, confirm that first

From one of your older post, I think you said you have it turned off yourself:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/Data-setting/m-p/431821#M273176

Also, if you find it confusing, maybe you can bring your iPhone  to an Apple Store for help  Good thing for owning an iPhone is that they have great support. 

[eatnb1]

Don't see anything, it gives a lot of info on PM, but nothing about update needed so I guess that is all ok

[eatnb1]

my APN says:  isp.mb.com

[softech]

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@eatnb1 wrote:

"Voice Call" ??? I am guessing that is some form of talking to the phone to place a call, if so,  I don't do that, don't know how to do it, so don't know if it works or not.

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@eatnb1   You don't do that?  

Your data is not working, you don't place a call.  What are you doing with the phone then?  Just Wifi?

[softech]

@eatnb1  Check the Cellular data on or off first.  You probably don't need to do update the Carrier Profile.  But if you do, this is what to do:

You can manually check for and install a carrier settings update with these steps:

1. Make sure your device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
2. Tap Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you'll see an option to update your carrier settings.

[eatnb1]

"Voice Call" ??? I am guessing that is some form of talking to the phone to place a call, if so,  I don't do that, don't know how to do it, so don't know if it works or not.

[dabr]

@eatnb1    Here's a link for Iphone APN settings:   https://www.publicmobile.ca/get-help/articles/set-up-data-on-an-iphone

[softech]

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@eatnb1 wrote:

It is iphone SE, 5 years old approx.  Restart?? I have updated it recently, but I can't get the latest update as I don't have enough memory in the phone to do that (according to the error messages I get).

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@eatnb1  cool, at least with iPhone, you don't have to worry about APN, it is all behind the scene  🙂

It is  Settings > Cellular Data. , make sure it is swipe to the On side (Green)

Check this:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201299

[eatnb1]

"Carrier Profile" ??? 

[eatnb1]

It is iphone SE, 5 years old approx.  Restart?? I have updated it recently, but I can't get the latest update as I don't have enough memory in the phone to do that (according to the error messages I get).

[eatnb1]

I did use data from this add on plan, which may have been a freebie, or a sale add on. The "technical talk" is out of my skill set....what is "APN", and where would I check the settings?

[dabr]

@eatnb1   You can check by selecting Settings (gear icon), then Connections and then Data usage (or similar) and then check if Data is enabled there. 

You'd also want to ensure that all updates are set to be done on WIFI only and restrict background data to not drain your data unnecessarily.

This would be for an android, so the settings maybe different for an Iphone.

[eatnb1]

I don't have "default" data....just the add on plan 2048MB, which worked fine a few times. I don't use data enough to justify having it on my  plan all the time. This add on plan had no expiry date and was supposed to be good until used up.

[eatnb1]

As stated in my initial question, I have 2048MB on an add on plan with PM.

[softech]

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@eatnb1 wrote:

I am not sure how that is done. I used to receive data when I first got the add on data from PM, I don't recall having to do anything to turn data on, and I am not sure if it somehow got turned off. Sorry, technically challenged

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@eatnb1   give us the brand and model of the phone and we will try to help  🙂

[eatnb1]

I have iphone SE, about 5 years old I think.