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[REQ] Can I stop data when roaming?

Hi all,
I know this is probably a strange request and so I'll have to give a bit of background. Recently I changed my mobile provider to 3. 3 have their own telephone coverage in certain areas and if you are outside those areas you go on roaming with Telstra. The issue is 3 charges huge $$ when roaming on Telstras network for data (voice and SMS is fine).
My question is that my TP obviously knows when I'm roaming as it displays the service provider as 'Roaming'. Is there a program that will stop my data (and only data) use when I change over to the 'Roaming' service and activate again when I am in the 3 network?
Thanks for you help!
Trent

Hi, another aussie 3 user here...
I agree with the TS as this is one of the major problem we as 3mobile user face, is there any kind soul out there that could help us with this as my knowledge on PDA is limited.. Thanks for any1 who is willing to help in advance.

With the Sprint TP, I can go to
Settings>Phone>Services>Roaming
and set an option called "Data roam guard" that allows me to choose whether or not data connections will be allowed while roaming. I'm not sure if this option is available for you, but give it a try.

I myself would like to have an automated function for this. Until then I will have to manually switch to my dummy data connection.

Normally it doesn't connect on roaming.
and if it will, it asks first.
isn't this the case with you?

I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections

raveenash said:
I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about the NoData. However, you still have to enable/disable data connection manually. I'd like to have it automatically disabled when I am roaming.
For example my IM client (QIP) does not ask me whether it should connect or not. So it is very easy to have an "accident" with data connection :-(

I'm another Three user in Australia, looking for something like this as well. I often use my phone while on a tram and it might switch from 3G to Roaming while I'm browsing the web. I'd like for it to warn me so I don't download heaps while roaming (I think it's $1.65 per MB or something crazy like that).

Hi, another 3 Australia user here...and yes, I've been waiting on this sort of function for years now.
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen. You'll find this is the case if you ever take your phone overseas and use International Roaming. Telstra's network does not give you this signal, and hence even the few roaming aware apps we have (e.g. pocket outlook) don't detect when you're on Telstra's network and turn off their automatic schedules.
The best way I could think of to do this automatically is with an app that detects either Telstra's network ID values (the phone detects these and translates them to the text "Roaming" at the top right of today, much as it translates the real value "3Telstra" to plain old "3" - 3 and Telstra share the 2100MHz network in a joint venture, much as Vodafone and Optus share theirs...you will see the real value if ever you use a non-3 rom) or the network connection type and then runs that NoData app (I haven't seen that before...credit to the guy who posted it).
I've often though some sort of even responder app would be useful. Something like Gyrator, except that read network status instead of physical hardware status. Anyone know of anything like this?
Then you could set up something like:
* On detect EDGE/GSM switch off data connections
* On detect HSDPA/3G switch on data connections
OR
* On detect network ID of Telstra's GSM network switch off data
* On detect network ID of 3's/Telstra's 2100MHz 3G network switch on data

Look at phoneAlarm.

caeci11ius said:
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?

Vanstra said:
Look at phoneAlarm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?

grandinferno said:
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).

thanks caeci11ius, I'm glad you could explain this is better detail then my original statement. I am presuming that this form of roaming and charge to customers is quite rare.

caeci11ius said:
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wanted a program which can automatically switch band when roaming.
This is the only program I know which can do that.

Program to disable Data when E or G is shown on taskbar
caeci11ius said:
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is Exactly What I need Also. I have looked everywhere? I Dont believe anyone else has come across this issue before and has written something to fix it.
Need a program to detect when the Phone is in 3 or H area (displayed at top) and disable DATA ONLY when G or E is displayed. My work around at the moment is to select HSDPA only connection but this makes the Voice Calls dropout whenever I cannot recieve Three's Network. Can anyone help. There is many people who would be in this same boat.
Wombat

Introducing WombatPhoneRoam
I just wrote a script to keep you connected to 3G or HSDPA networks only. Tryout
WombatPhoneRoam
I hope it is what your looking for
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3076932&postcount=1
Wombat

Any way of knowing if data is coming through 3G or WiFi?

Pretty self explanatory this one - is there any way of knowing whether your mobile internet connection (3G) or WiFi is being used in, for example, a browser session? Just don't want to make the mistake of looking at YouTube on the phone, meaning to use the home WiFi, and end up using my 3G by accident, and paying through the nose for extra feed.

ryanbryan said:
Pretty self explanatory this one - is there any way of knowing whether your mobile internet connection (3G) or WiFi is being used in, for example, a browser session? Just don't want to make the mistake of looking at YouTube on the phone, meaning to use the home WiFi, and end up using my 3G by accident, and paying through the nose for extra feed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The icons on your task bar should indicate if you have a active data connection.

Or, you can use Spb Wireless Monitor (which you need to purchase). It produces reports telling you which software uses which connections and the amount of data transferred.

In a discussion I had with HTC Tech Support, they told me that wifi, when enabled, over-rides the cellular data. I'm not sure if this just applies to the settings or always. Hopefully, someone can provide a definitive answer.

Yes that is correct, if WIFI is enabled you WILL NOT have a cellular data connection.

Umm. There is a wifi icon in the taskbar o.o and a signal icon also.....whichever is there means it's active and if wifi is there, your data will not be active, only wifi.

What all you are saying is true but some applications still use the data network even if wifi is turned on and connected it seems. I have the same issue(i don't have a data plan with my fuze since my college has wifi everywhere). But things like weather and other native apps on the phone will just turn on the 3g network and stat using data instead of wifi.

if a device is transfering data over gprs/3g whatever
it show arrows moving in the signal str icon
otherwise it use wifi

Applications can choose to use a certain connection if they are programmed to do so, windows only gives each one a type of 'ranking', the fastest connection having the highest ranking and being the one an application is to use by default, but the application can override this and choose whatever connection it likes. This ranking is called the "Interface Metric" if you'd like to learn more about it.
There's an HTC program called 'bytecounter' that monitors the SMDx: ports in the system, which are the ports the system uses for data.. in bytecounter you will see the values increase if an application is using data over cellular network. let me know if you'd like me to upload it.

Umm. There is a wifi icon in the taskbar o.o and a signal icon also.....whichever is there means it's active and if wifi is there, your data will not be active, only wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that wasn't particularly helpful. I too have made the same assumption, but the question asked if there was any way to make sure.
windows only gives each one a type of 'ranking', the fastest connection having the highest ranking and being the one an application is to use by default, but the application can override this and choose whatever connection it likes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that was the kind of answer I was looking for, and is particularly pertinent in my case, as my connection through my mobile provider is about as fast (or maybe even faster) than my fixed line connection at home. A rather bizarre situation, but such is the advancement of Australian broadband infrastructure.
The last couple of times I have used it, I have taken to turning off the phone connection so that only WiFi is running, and then using the internet. It would be good if you can upload the byetcounter program, seems like a free (?) version of the software programatix mentioned.

Here ya go!

Maybe this is just me, but when I try to unzip that file, nothing comes up....?

lol, i always forget to remove the hidden attribute.. let me go ahead and fix that..
Edit: fixed

Newer Windows Live (including the one that come with Touch Pro) will always dial-up the 3G/GPRS connection when checking for email in Messaging. But if you are checking in Windows Live, most of the time it doesn't dial-up but sometimes, it does.
So far that is the only program that I know of behaves like this. I contacted Microsoft regarding this and they keep asking me to contact my celular provider for help. In other word, they are not helping (or do not understand the problem).
Anyway I solved the problem by changing the Connections setting to "My Work Network" for Internet. The catch is, if I really want to use 3G/GPRS, I'll have to change the setting to my celular 3G/GPRS connection.

Or you could use the nodata application from modaco and disable whenever you like the cellular 3g connection just to be sure you are using wifi.When you are away from wifi networks you can in a matter of 2 clicks reenable the cellular 3g connection...

Can I turn off data plan access on AT&T Smart Phone?

So I've had this HTC S743 for about 5 days and I thought I had it setup correctly to use wifi for data comm.
wifi enabled and selected to use my home network. I can see the radio tower status icon and my locally named network is also displayed.
Under the comm manager the data connection is off.
I have a very simple $45/mo plan with no monthly data plan.
Over the last 5 days I have been surfing the web a bit did some email tests with my ISP and used the on board GPS app which is horrible. Not heavy usage but experimentation to see if I like how the phone works.
After 2 days I get an email from AT&T that I have extremely high data usage exceeding my account limit (for having no monthly plan) and that I should sign up for a data plan at once.
$29 over 2 days for this little bit of fluff? A total of 2,900kb in data.
So I call up AT&T and they tell me this and that and want me to sign up for a plan which I may do. But I want to be able to know that the datacomm is happening via WIFI when I can see a selected WIFI is in service.
They also told me that all GPS data is forced through 3G and bypasses WIFI???
Can anyone here give me an idea about what I may be doing wrong and whether AT&T is correct about the GPS service?
Is there a better GPS app that doesn't do this? This one pretty much stinks anyway. A resolution of 1000 meters doesn't cut it.
AT&T also informed me that I can't have a smart phone without a data contract. Really? I've had one for 6 years like that but it wasn't WIFI capabale and too small to bother with web access.
Thanks for any light you shed on the subject.
One thing I have subsequently found out is that if data connection is off and WIFI is off then when I go into IE and start surfing it does bring up pages. Then when I go back to the Comm Manager the Data Connection to check the status of my connections it is still off for an instant and then it automatically turns itself on as though it had been turned on by use of IE and the status was just being updated.
Last night I installed a newer version of Google maps and was only able to install it via the web browser as opposed to via the Activesynch application on my PC. I was concerned that this might trigger turning on the 3G connection. So I had it set up for a WIFI connection ONLY and installed the app. Afterwards I went into the connection manager and once again the data conn. was turned back on so it's possible that it utilized AT&T's 3G network instead.
Is there any way to control or stop this?

GPS data doesn't have anything to do with 3G/Wifi data......

I know it's supposed to be positioning via the satellites through the GPS antenna but the the description data is coming over the network right? So it appears that even though I'm setup for WIFI access and it's showing as connected with an IP address etc. when I try the Googlemaps GPS app it turns the data conn. for 3G back on.
Thanks for chiming in ...
I have been copying over and installing some new apps to try out this morning via usb. WIFI is on and I'm loged in. None are datacomm oriented that I know of (unless they'r trying to make an internet access to notify about being installed) none the less I just checked again and my data conn. is once again turned back on. Is this typical behavior for a windows mobile phone (6.1) or is this just an AT&T "feature".

Sorry, I don't have a WM6 phone!

[Q] Classic Dial up with no PC

Hi,
I sometimes need to travel to places with just GSM. I want to establish a connection to the internet using classic dial up as in 56k modem type connection. I would Ideally like to do this with an android phone but i'm open to suggestions.
Any Ideas?

AW: [Q] Classic Dial up with no PC
With 2G (GSM) you should already have a data plan incorporated. Just start the browser.
If your mobile has a modem of course...
<i9001 0x07 board running ivendor CM10beta3 on CastagnaITkernel 10.6 with i9001XXKPO baseband>

Takalani said:
Hi,
I sometimes need to travel to places with just GSM. I want to establish a connection to the internet using classic dial up as in 56k modem type connection. I would Ideally like to do this with an android phone but i'm open to suggestions.
Any Ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want that connection for your mobile of for your laptop? What phone do you have?

inherit said:
You want that connection for your mobile of for your laptop? What phone do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No PC. just straight out dialup connection to connect my phone to a classic dialup network. I currently have an SG3. I travel to places where i have just GSM. I don't want to take a PC with. I just want to be able to dial into a server the old fashion way through my phone, for my phone.

Takalani said:
No PC. just straight out dialup connection to connect my phone to a classic dialup network. I currently have an SG3. I travel to places where i have just GSM. I don't want to take a PC with. I just want to be able to dial into a server the old fashion way through my phone, for my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, as far as I know, you have to obtain connection settings from your phone carrier. Bhere is no difference between GPRS, EDGE, 3G and HSDPA, except speed! Connection setting are the same and the phone will switch automaticaly to the best connection. Google the internet for the settings for your location and your carrier.

inherit said:
Well, as far as I know, you have to obtain connection settings from your phone carrier. Bhere is no difference between GPRS, EDGE, 3G and HSDPA, except speed! Connection setting are the same and the phone will switch automaticaly to the best connection. Google the internet for the settings for your location and your carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to dial the old DialUp way. Dial through GSM to an internet service provider through a telephone number like a classic fax 56k modem.
GPRS won't work because i there is no coverage.
I want a way to do good old classic v92 56k modem type dialing

Takalani said:
I want to dial the old DialUp way. Dial through GSM to an internet service provider through a telephone number like a classic fax 56k modem.
GPRS won't work because i there is no coverage.
I want a way to do good old classic v92 56k modem type dialing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if there is no coverage.... this means that you cannot use your phone at all. The lowest transfer rate is GPRS, and it can by dialed IF you have any signal prom you phone carrier. So, if you can use you phone to make calls, you can cake a GPRS connection. I don't think if there is any phone company that allow dialup connection other that in they own network, and if they allow... well, it will cost big money.
So, I repeat: if you can make phone calls, this means that you have signal from your telephone company and you can make a dialup connection if you know the correct settings! Connection speed depends on signal and phone performance!

Takalani said:
I want to dial the old DialUp way. Dial through GSM to an internet service provider through a telephone number like a classic fax 56k modem.
GPRS won't work because i there is no coverage.
I want a way to do good old classic v92 56k modem type dialing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

inherit said:
Well, if there is no coverage.... this means that you cannot use your phone at all. The lowest transfer rate is GPRS, and it can by dialed IF you have any signal prom you phone carrier. So, if you can use you phone to make calls, you can cake a GPRS connection. I don't think if there is any phone company that allow dialup connection other that in they own network, and if they allow... well, it will cost big money.
So, I repeat: if you can make phone calls, this means that you have signal from your telephone company and you can make a dialup connection if you know the correct settings! Connection speed depends on signal and phone performance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3rd world country, anything is possible, including GSM with no GPRS . I don't mind paying voice call rates for a data connection.

change the way the question is asked
Background info. I just switched to AT&T a week ago. I can only afford a 1GB data plan (retired). Before I changed to AT&T (stay with me) I had a Verizon "unlimited data plan", (would take too long to explain why I switched). Anyway, I forgot to change the settings, in the phone, to turn off the "Mobile Network" so I burned through 90% of my data plan in 1 week.
I have a crazy idea. I have unlimited "talk" on my plan. So I want to use the "talk" minutes on my plan for my Galaxy S3 to access the internet through free Dial-up", so I won't go over on my "data Plan" limit. Don't want to link to a PC.
Note to ALL Cellular providers: You guys brought the "Smartphone" to market and hyped them to get us to buy them and use them. Then you hyped "unlimited" data. Then we started using our smartphones and a lot of data. Now your networks can't support the data usage, so you started charging more and more for the data and took away the unlimited plans to limit the data usage. Shame on you!!

sdiCharge said:
Background info. I just switched to AT&T a week ago. I can only afford a 1GB data plan (retired). Before I changed to AT&T (stay with me) I had a Verizon "unlimited data plan", (would take too long to explain why I switched). Anyway, I forgot to change the settings, in the phone, to turn off the "Mobile Network" so I burned through 90% of my data plan in 1 week.
I have a crazy idea. I have unlimited "talk" on my plan. So I want to use the "talk" minutes on my plan for my Galaxy S3 to access the internet through free Dial-up", so I won't go over on my "data Plan" limit. Don't want to link to a PC.
Note to ALL Cellular providers: You guys brought the "Smartphone" to market and hyped them to get us to buy them and use them. Then you hyped "unlimited" data. Then we started using our smartphones and a lot of data. Now your networks can't support the data usage, so you started charging more and more for the data and took away the unlimited plans to limit the data usage. Shame on you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you'll find a way to trick AT&T... "talk" minutes use voice connection so I do not think you'll be able to make a dial-up connection using your "talk" minutes. If you're going to manage this, many phone companies will have to change their rate plans!
1GB should be enough for a commonly used: email, chat, news...

[Q] Restrict Data Roaming International?

Hey all! I've tried googling/searching XDA, but I must have my terms wrong or no one is talking about it.
Question: Is there a way to restrict which mobile networks my phone will connect to?
Device: Google Nexus 5 32gb, Stock Rom/Kernel with Root access
I'm switching to a T-Mobile Simple Choice plan with free 2g data in 100 countries, and going on a cruise shortly after. A couple of the ports of call are on the list, while others are not on the list. It sure would be nice to just leave my phone on and have it only connect to the free networks. I contracted T-Mobile and was pointed to a document letting me know that I will be notified if charges are incurred, but I'd rather not get charged at all. This I could solve manually by carrying the list of countries with me and only turning off airplane when I am there, but that does seem like a pain to me.
The other problem, cruise ships have cell networks onboard now. These networks are charged as international and not included in the Simple Choice deal. Even if I am in port, I am concerned I may still connect to this netowork. I imagine there is an app I could use to at least see which network I am on (I can't find it indicated in Settings anywhere - probably blind), but I would need to prevent my phone from roaming onto that network when both are in range.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts/suggestions. The only thing I can think of is some kind of custom block that would like me restrict network connections. All way over my head.
Thanks again
Matt

You're going to have to manually select them. I'd turn data roaming off until you get some where you know you can turn it on. Also, most port of calls have Wi-Fi and I'd use that where you can. You can often even get it on the ship at a port, although you might have to find the right location on the ship where you can do that.

jd1639 said:
You're going to have to manually select them. I'd turn data roaming off until you get some where you know you can turn it on. Also, most port of calls have Wi-Fi and I'd use that where you can. You can often even get it on the ship at a port, although you might have to find the right location on the ship where you can do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip about Wi-Fi networks. Absolutely. Unfortunately, I'm not even sure how to manually select the network to which my phone connects. Any advice on where/how to select that?
Matt

Settings, Wireless and network, more, mobile networks, network operators