What's eating my data?!?

[TheMacs]

I?m looking for some guidance from those smarter than I, which is most everyone.

Some background: Currently have a Note 3 (since launch), on Vz (rooted, stock, some Xposed modules). I was with Sprint with truly unlimited data, but couldn?t take the s-l-o-w speeds and moved to Vz, where the speeds are 8-10 times faster but? my usage has mysteriously more than doubled.

I used around 2.2GM/month on Sprint over several years. I had three smartphones, but the other 2 used negligible data. MY usage was (and still is) 98% streaming Sirius at work, M-F normal work hours, minus holidays, vacations, etc. The data being streamed from Sirius to my Note is the same regardless of carrier, so it should tally pretty close to the same number.

Moved to Vz, as stated, now have to go silent the last couple days of the billing cycle as I?m hitting the 4GB cap. MY usage has not changed at all, and overall usage should have gone down some as the other 2 phones remained on Sprint. So what gives?

No new apps added from my side. Nothing but Sirius using large amounts of data in System Settings, Data Usage. Google Play is next, but usage is minor. I do those updates at home over wifi. No open apps running that I see.

I have one of two theories: Vz or Note 3 app running my data up without my knowledge, or Vz counting data funny. I?m leaning toward the later, but I?m open to any other possibilities, so long as it can be determined wth is going on.

So I called Vz to see if we could investigate. Maybe something on their side sucking my precious bits. Looking at my usage by date/time, I can see some days are extremely high, with some earlier start times than I would be using the phone. The rep was extremely nice, but basically said they could tell nothing more than your data is being used, and at these times. But not by what/who.

So this is where I?m at ? anyone have any suggestions on how to figure this out? And then how to fix it?

Sorry for the length.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dpham00]

Menu - Settings data usage should give an indication of what app is using data

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[TheMacs]

Been there already. Does not explain why my data usage has doubled, when my actual usage has not changed at all, and actually went down (two phones stayed on Sprint).

 

[dpham00]

Been there already. Does not explain why my data usage has doubled, when my actual usage has not changed at all, and actually went down (two phones stayed on Sprint).

So Sirius doubled in data usage? If so is there a setting for low quality?


dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[draconianchaos]

I?m looking for some guidance from those smarter than I, which is most everyone.

Some background: Currently have a Note 3 (since launch), on Vz (rooted, stock, some Xposed modules). I was with Sprint with truly unlimited data, but couldn?t take the s-l-o-w speeds and moved to Vz, where the speeds are 8-10 times faster but? my usage has mysteriously more than doubled.

I used around 2.2GM/month on Sprint over several years. I had three smartphones, but the other 2 used negligible data. MY usage was (and still is) 98% streaming Sirius at work, M-F normal work hours, minus holidays, vacations, etc. The data being streamed from Sirius to my Note is the same regardless of carrier, so it should tally pretty close to the same number.

Moved to Vz, as stated, now have to go silent the last couple days of the billing cycle as I?m hitting the 4GB cap. MY usage has not changed at all, and overall usage should have gone down some as the other 2 phones remained on Sprint. So what gives?

No new apps added from my side. Nothing but Sirius using large amounts of data in System Settings, Data Usage. Google Play is next, but usage is minor. I do those updates at home over wifi. No open apps running that I see.

I have one of two theories: Vz or Note 3 app running my data up without my knowledge, or Vz counting data funny. I?m leaning toward the later, but I?m open to any other possibilities, so long as it can be determined wth is going on.

So I called Vz to see if we could investigate. Maybe something on their side sucking my precious bits. Looking at my usage by date/time, I can see some days are extremely high, with some earlier start times than I would be using the phone. The rep was extremely nice, but basically said they could tell nothing more than your data is being used, and at these times. But not by what/who.

So this is where I?m at ? anyone have any suggestions on how to figure this out? And then how to fix it?

Sorry for the length.

Thanks in advance.

Can you screenshot your data usage screen? You've been very descriptive so far but you'll get better assistance if everyone here is on the same page.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[TheMacs]

So Sirius doubled in data usage? If so is there a setting for low quality?

I don't have historical per-app-usage. My overall data usage has doubled though. Used to use ~2.2gigs, now I have to stop before hitting 4gigs.

Good thought on maybe a hi/low setting in the Sirius app... I found nothing though.

 

[TheMacs]

Can you screenshot your data usage screen? You've been very descriptive so far but you'll get better assistance if everyone here is on the same page.

I can once I'm connected via wifi (going to run out of data yet again). But Sirius is far and away the largest visible user. Play is second with a third of what Sirius has used. Amazon App store is next with 40MB (I actually did get a couple of their freebies, but thought that was done at home, over wifi). Dolphin is next with 27MB, everything else is crumbs.

 

[draconianchaos]

Are you able to manually set the network type? Drop down to HSPA instead of LTE. You should be moving less data then...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[TheMacs]

I understand what you are suggesting, I just don't think it will make any difference.

MOST of my observed usage is streaming Sirius, so... I'm listening to music roughly 6 hrs of music a day, roughly 18-20 days a month. Slowing it down to 1G, I'd still be listening to the same amount.

The amount of data should not have doubled from one carrier to the next.

Are there any data monitoring apps that will monitor on a per app basis?

 

[dpham00]

In the settings of many phones there is a data usage section which breaks down usage by app

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[Ealevenish]

[...] or Vz counting data funny. [...]

Yep, it's a rip, that's what I suspect too. After all they can probably get away with it with 99,9% of users. Because those users – you and me – can't legally prove otherwise.

 

[TheMacs]

Thanks dpham00, but you and I have already had this back-and-forth. The Settings, Data Usage can not explain why my data volume has doubled.

I've installed a couple apps that may help: AFWall+ to restrict app access; Data On-Off - to manually turn off/on data; and My Data Manager - to monitor all this.

I believe Vz has a defective meter, in their favor of course. If they can't account for the difference, I'll switch. Their speeds are tops by far in my area, but so is their price.