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Help Data usage

  • Thread starter Thread starter codiezmi
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codiezmi

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I have a Samsung Galaxy J3, and I have a query about Data usage. I normally have Data usage switched off, and Wi-fy switched on. I turned Wi-fy off, and turned Data usage on, to see how the phone worked if I did not have a Wi-fi connection. I tapped on the Internet icon, and I was online. I thought that with doing this you would be connected to the internet via your network, and it would be chargeable. I was only on a few minutes. My Data usage on the phone shows how much usage has been used, and which sites I visited. I am on Pay as you go, and in credit, but nothing has been taken regarding being online without Wi-fi. I was wondering how this works. Also, a friend of mine has a Galaxy J5. He can cast the phone to his tv with Chromecast, and he was asking could he use a micro USB to HDMI cable to do the same thing. I think it has something to do with MHL. We are both pensioners and not very well up to scratch with mobiles.
 
Firstly, wait and see re mobile data charges: it may take a day or two for them to come through. Unless your PAYG deal includes a data allowance it will indeed be charged, but it is possible that you do have some data allowance as part of your top-up. Without knowing precisely what PAYG deal you are on it's impossible to say, but I hope you do, as many networks charge excessively for PAYG data.

In fact I got caught by this the other year: my daughter was on a PAYG, topped-up, then turned data on for a couple of minutes. However, the data allowance that came with the top up didn't "take effect" until some time (up to a day) after the top-up, with the result that those couple of minutes data use ate the whole of her credit! We moved her to a SIM-only contract shortly after that.

As for phone to TV, yes, a micr0USB to HDMI adapter is a MHL adapter. So as long as his phone supports MHL he can use that. Do note 2 things about this: 1) the phone will need a charger attached for this to work (the MHL adapter will have a socket to connect the charger to, since it is using the microUSB socket), and 2) there are two types of MHL adapter: 5 pin and 11 pin. Most phones use 5 pin except Samsung, who for the last 3 years or so have been using 11 pin. So best to check compatibility with his phone before buying one, though my guess would be that it's the 11 pin you need (which will probably be described as being for Samsung devices).
 
Hadron said:
Firstly, wait and see re mobile data charges: it may take a day or two for them to come through. Unless your PAYG deal includes a data allowance it will indeed be charged, but it is possible that you do have some data allowance as part of your top-up. Without knowing precisely what PAYG deal you are on it's impossible to say, but I hope you do, as many networks charge excessively for PAYG data.

In fact I got caught by this the other year: my daughter was on a PAYG, topped-up, then turned data on for a couple of minutes. However, the data allowance that came with the top up didn't "take effect" until some time (up to a day) after the top-up, with the result that those couple of minutes data use ate the whole of her credit! We moved her to a SIM-only contract shortly after that.

As for phone to TV, yes, a micr0USB to HDMI adapter is a MHL adapter. So as long as his phone supports MHL he can use that. Do note 2 things about this: 1) the phone will need a charger attached for this to work (the MHL adapter will have a socket to connect the charger to, since it is using the microUSB socket), and 2) there are two types of MHL adapter: 5 pin and 11 pin. Most phones use 5 pin except Samsung, who for the last 3 years or so have been using 11 pin. So best to check compatibility with his phone before buying one, though my guess would be that it's the 11 pin you need (which will probably be described as being for Samsung devices).
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I am not on a monthly contact or anything, I top up as necessary. Regarding the other query, Samsung Support UK have informed me that J5 does not support MHL.
 
Damn. Well, nothing you can do about that.

Some PAYG includes a quantity of data, so if your had that and it was still valid (hadn't suffered the "one month since you last topped up so we'll cancel all of the inclusive stuff to make sure you use up your balance" con) it could explain an absence of charges for the data use. Or some PAYG deals let some specific types of internet usage be inclusive. Unless you receive a charge in the near future that's my best guess, that some allowance has saved you from the "out of bundle" data charges.
 
I think I am getting a little confused. When I say that I am on PAYG, and do not have a contract, I mean that I do not have a monthly top up, I just top up when my credit is getting low. I hope that this makes sense. Just a thought, I believe that this forum site is based in the US. I live in the UK, and whether different countries have different payment plans, I don't know.
 
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I get that. But some PAYG deals include a data bundle when you top up. I know that in many cases this expires 1 month after the top-up. I don't know what PAYG deal you are on, nor when you last topped up, hence I don't know whether this could be relevant or not. I'm just suggesting that if your PAYG deal does include some data allowance it could explain why no change has appeared.
 
Hadron said:
I get that. But some PAYG deals include a data bundle when you top up. I know that in many cases this expires 1 month after the top-up. I don't know what PAYG deal you are on, nor when you last topped up, hence I don't know whether this could be relevant or not. I'm just suggesting that if your PAYG deal does include some data allowance it could explain why no change has appeared.
Click to expand...
Hadron said:
I get that. But some PAYG deals include a data bundle when you top up. I know that in many cases this expires 1 month after the top-up. I don't know what PAYG deal you are on, nor when you last topped up, hence I don't know whether this could be relevant or not. I'm just suggesting that if your PAYG deal does include some data allowance it could explain why no change has appeared.
Click to expand...
Hadron said:
I get that. But some PAYG deals include a data bundle when you top up. I know that in many cases this expires 1 month after the top-up. I don't know what PAYG deal you are on, nor when you last topped up, hence I don't know whether this could be relevant or not. I'm just suggesting that if your PAYG deal does include some data allowance it could explain why no change has appeared.
Click to expand...

I have checked my account online, and it says that it does not include any allowance, so I just pay for calls and texts.
 
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