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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

Roaming Issue

Hi, I have a successfully unlocked Vodafone Touch Pro in the Uk. For months, I was using my tmobile sim card within the phone, and it was all fine. I got decent HSDPA signal, and when I didn't, GPRS or Edge was fine. However, I have now put my H3G (3 UK) simcard in, and whenever I don't have access to 3G/HSDPA my phone tells me I am roaming. Now, I thought this would be ok, however whilst roaming, my emails are not picked up automatically. I also get messages with facebook (official) about roaming. Is there any way to force the phone to say I am not roaming?
Thank you

Try changing your APN (access point name) from three.co.uk to 3internet. Couldn't pick up emails or access internet under gprs before I did this.
Start | Settings | Connections | Connections | Advanced tab | Select Networks | edit the 3 internet connection ...

Thanks for your reply. I can access them fine, however, because my phone thinks it is roaming (in another country, hence data charges) It will not automatically send/receive emails. I am asking whether anybody has come across a workaround for this. Thanks for reply though, Much appreciated

Have you enabled the option to "Use automatic send/receive schedule when roaming"?
Look under Start | Messaging | Menu | options
Click the appropriate email account
Hit Send/receive schedule
Hit Advanced settings
... ensure the "roaming" option is ticked

thank you so much, a real help that is
I may be pushing you guys' ability a bit far but is there a way to tell the phone I am not roaming?
Thanks for they help!

No problem.
As for the roaming indicator - not sure if you can disable it. It still shows up on mine when I'm on 2G, but it doesn't really bother me.
Shaun.

Thanks Shaun

Disabling roaming overall.

I just got a new FUZE and I'm already annoyed with an issue I'm having:
Halfway on the way home my phone kicks over to my neighbors to the north - Robbers Wireless. I live fairly close to the Canadian border and my FUZE seems to like Robbers more than it does the Deathstar, leading to roaming charges up the... you know.
Is there any way of disabling roaming of any kind, be it voice or data, preferably automatically? People suggest NoData.cab, but that is no good to me - I'll not notice myself hit the Rogers towers until the last second - hitting Home and seeing "Rogers Wireless" in my upper left corner. My phone never alerted me to data roaming yet it kept a data connection open the entire drive home and hopped to Rogers.
I kept trying to select networks from Start > Settings > Phone but it kept locking onto Rogers and didn't offer me a choice of AT&T at all.

Have you tried choosing your network manually instead of automatic?

Scalage said:
Have you tried choosing your network manually instead of automatic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't give me a choice if I'm looking where I should be.
Start > Settings > Phone > Network shows only 2 things:
"Current Network: AT&T"
and a [Find Network] button. No network selection or anything was offered to me.

Call AT&T and tell them to disable international roaming.

Force Roam Cab

Does anyone know if the Touch Pro's force roam cab for the original touch pro will work on the touch pro 2? I'm new to win mob, been on my old treo 700p for the last 5 years... yikes.

I've tested the few cab files and the registry edits that worked on the TP and they activate the the "automatic b" "automatic" and "sprint" options but changing to any the options do not move me to another network's tower. Eeven though I'm getting 0 to 1 bar from the sprint tower, it stays. My old treo 700p (vzw) gets 5bars so I know there is a verizon tower close by. I'm not one of those people who will really ever use this except in extreme circumstances when traveling. I switched with the expectation the option was there.
I assume the roaming hack doesn't work for the TP2. The option to "find network" for CDMA stays grayed out so it can't be selected.

No worries here, Verizon automatically roams in-market over to US Celluar in the bad areas, in fact, that's true for all areas here in NorCal (as well as many in OR and WA) where both US Cellular and Verizon have service.

you can force roaming but the older cab wont work because of global. If you find directions for touch pro you set ItemValue3 to 5 instead of a 3

Has anyone ever made a cab for the TP2 that's as clean as the TP1 cab was? All it did was add a 3rd option "Roam Only". I've seen some new cabs that add That as well as an A and B option. Have no idea what that's even about or why that would not be necessary.
Unfortunately I'm not comfortable enough with editing the registry myself.
Can anyone help?
Thanks!
(I am speaking of the Sprint TP2, to clarify)
edit: Found the working .cab here: http: //forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=1287005&postcount=1

[Q] Sprint TP2 6.5 Data Roaming in Europe?

I just went to France for three weeks with my Sprint TP2 running Windows Mobile 6.5 (official Sprint upgrade, with Sprint SIM installed). I signed up for Sprint's unlimited data roaming plan before I left. When I arrived, my phone worked OK only for phone service with Sprint's European partners Orange F and F SFR - data roaming refused to work despite my following Sprint's written directions. I contacted Sprint and we tried various configuration changes, but after none of them worked, Sprint shipped me a Sprint TP2 running 6.1 (Sprint SIM) which worked fine for both phone and data roaming with default settings. Now I'm back in the US but would like to resolve the issue.
Questions for any XDA experts out there:
Where are the settings for SIM data roaming kept on the phone? (I couldn't find relevant settings in the TP2 Registry.)
Are there particular settings I should change to allow data roaming?
Are there any 'hidden' settings that might resolve this problem?
Could 6.5 have caused a problem that didn't exist in 6.1?
Any other ideas? Let me know if you need more information.
Many thanks!

not sure what settings they gave you.. but i can direct you in one place:
comm manager -> settings (right bottom soft key) -> Phone -> this is where i would go ..... check out network tab and GSM/UMTS services tab... use Get Settings to look deeper
let me know if that helps

There are a few likely possibilities:
1) The original SIM account information was improperly setup as voice only (quite likely).
2) The default connection info wasn't configured in the connection tab with the GSM data, and was still trying to connect to #777 (CDMA data line). This would obviously fail.
WM6.5 should work fine with data on both GSM and CDMA.

In the connections settings under manage existing connections you need to have the following to have Sprint dataroaming on GSM
Access Point = cinet.spcs
Server assigned IP and DNS

Thanks for the replies. As you could tell, I'm not an expert on this issue, and I've noticed that different versions of the TP2 apparently have different menu structures. So I have some follow-up questions:
For gamescan:
"1) The original SIM account information was improperly setup as voice only (quite likely)." Is this something that only Sprint can change, or something I can modify on my phone? (I would assume it's phone-specific, as the otherwise identical TP2 Sprint shipped me worked properly for data roaming.)
"2) The default connection info wasn't configured in the connection tab with the GSM data, and was still trying to connect to #777 (CDMA data line). This would obviously fail." Where exactly is that setting on a Sprint phone? I haven't been able to find it yet.
Thank you for the reassurance that 6.5 should work properly.
For highc:
"In the connections settings under manage existing connections you need to have the following to have Sprint dataroaming on GSM
"Access Point = cinet.spcs
"Server assigned IP and DNS"
Where are these settings on a Sprint 6.5 phone? I would have assumed that they're somewhere on the Comm Manager page, but I can't find the above under Phone or under Data Connection.
For mboguc:
The Get Settings button for GSM doesn't seem to have any settings that relate to data or data roaming. The only settings relating to roaming seem to be on the Get Settings tab for CDMA, which weren't accessible in Europe w/ GSM.
Again, I appreciate the feedback and hope to be able to narrow down the problem with assistance.

Start -> Settings -> Connections -> Connections
The phone settings and Comm Manager are both wrong places to be looking.

"Start -> Settings -> Connections -> Connections
"The phone settings and Comm Manager are both wrong places to be looking."
Thanks.
However, as noted above, menus vary depending on phone carrier and OS version. HTC has hidden the Windows Phone menus pretty well in 6.5. For my Sprint TP2 running 6.5, I have the following options for Start -> Settings:
Personalize (wallpaper, etc)
Wireless Controls (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile networks, push mail)("..wrong place..")
Sound & Display
Data Services (options for ActiveSync, social networks, e-mail, etc)
Location (set location service options)
Security (encryption, phone lock and reset)
Application (remove programs, etc)
SD card & phone storage (view available storage)
Date & Time
Locale & text
Updates & feedback
Other (miscellaneous settings - none appear to be relevant)
About phone (battery status, device info)
Nothing resembling Start -> Settings -> Connections -> Connections here... The Tools menu has Comm Manager, but as you note, it's apparently not what I'm looking for. No other relevant options under Tools.
Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Oh, sorry. I usually run with Sense disabled.
Just disable it in the Today menu senttings and it'll be easy to find. Bring up the Today settings and then uncheck "HTC Sense" under the items menu.
Go back to the home screen and viola, you have the vanilla Win 6.5 interface. It's faster than sense and everything is where it belongs.
You can always re-enable Sense if you want it after making your changes.

"Oh, sorry. I usually run with Sense disabled."
Ahh, thanks, yes that lets me get to Start -> Settings -> Connections -> Connections
This turns out to be the same as Start -> Settings -> Wireless Controls -> Phone -> Data Connection in Sense. Under that menu, I have two choices, Sprint and My Work Network. I gather from the above comments that the necessary fixes should be under Sprint -> Manage Existing Connections (not under My Work Network).
I assume Existing Connections is where highc's recommendations would go:
"Access Point = cinet.spcs
"Server assigned IP and DNS"
Of course, now that I'm back in the US, the only things there are for Sprint/CDMA; there's nothing there related to GSM data connections on either the Sprint 6.1 phone or my 6.5 phone... I assume there was something while I was there?
Are the GSM-related "existing settings" documented anywhere? There are quite a few choices, and I certainly don't want to brick my phone . And are these settings stored somewhere in the Registry?

You can have multiple data connections setup in there. That's the standard Windows Mobile location for what is basically dial-up networking settings.
Each "connection" is nothing more than a specialized number for an ISP (typically your carrier). You set a default connection and then the phone uses that whenever you initiate a data call.
If you switch to GSM mode and are runing off a SIM, this is where you would put the data call information for that carrier.
You cannot brick your phone by editing these settings. At worst you'll end up disabling data, but a quick call to your carrier will get you the settings necessary to get it back.
Anything that is stored on your phone will be visible here.