I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.

However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
(and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).

Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
problem.

Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
will show what has used data?

--
Chris Green
·

On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:34:16 +0000
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
>
> However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
> anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
> charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
> (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
>
> Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
> so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
> immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
> problem.
>
> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
> selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
> will show what has used data?
>

Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming

--
Regards,

Martin Nicholas.

E-mail: reply-202403@mgn.org.uk (Address will be valid throughout
March).

All facts mentioned here were correct at the time I made them up.

On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:52:51 +0000
Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:

> Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
> Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming

If not that, maybe your PAY&GO website has a similar option.

--
Regards,

Martin Nicholas.

E-mail: reply-202403@mgn.org.uk (Address will be valid throughout
March).

The Usenet: Social media since 1980.

Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> Wrote in message:

> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
>
> However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
> anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
> charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
> (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
>
> Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
> so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
> immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
> problem.
>
> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
> selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
> will show what has used data?

Why not just turn mobile data off, and turn it on 'occasionally'
when you need it? Simple. I do that on an old payg phone.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:52:51 +0000
> Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
>
> > Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
> > Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming
>
> If not that, maybe your PAY&GO website has a similar option.
>
I don't see how that helps though. I still have to remember to do it
when I get back on the ferry coming home. Turning the phone off is
easier (and I mostly remember!).

--
Chris Green
·

Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:34:16 +0000
> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
>
> > I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
> > used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
> > data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
> >
> > However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
> > anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
> > charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
> > (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
> >
> > Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
> > so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
> > immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
> > problem.
> >
> > Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
> > selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
> > will show what has used data?
> >
>
> Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
> Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming
>
I still have to remember to do it when I get to the ferry (coming home
anyway). At present (when I remmeber) I simply turn the phone off
when I'm on the ferry. Using "Deny Roaming" is hardly any easier to
remember! :-)

--
Chris Green
·

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> Wrote in message:
>
> > I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
> > used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
> > data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
> >
> > However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
> > anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
> > charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
> > (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
> >
> > Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
> > so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
> > immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
> > problem.
> >
> > Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
> > selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
> > will show what has used data?
>
> Why not just turn mobile data off, and turn it on 'occasionally'
> when you need it? Simple. I do that on an old payg phone.
>
Yes, I guess that's probably the simplest thing to do. As far as I
know the only app I actually use that needs data is termux and that's
not very often.

--
Chris Green
·

Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> Wrote in message:

>> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
>> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
>> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.

>> However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
>> anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
>> charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
>> (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).

>> Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
>> so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
>> immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
>> problem.

>> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
>> selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
>> will show what has used data?

> Why not just turn mobile data off, and turn it on 'occasionally'
> when you need it? Simple. I do that on an old payg phone.

…is the right answer. It’s what I do here to avoid data charges on a mobile
that’s only used for calls. Any app updates, etc, get done for free when
connected automatically via WiFi.

--
Spike

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
> Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> wrote:
>> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> Wrote in message:
>
>>> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
>>> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
>>> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
>
>>> However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
>>> anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
>>> charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
>>> (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
>
>>> Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
>>> so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
>>> immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
>>> problem.
>
>>> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
>>> selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
>>> will show what has used data?
>
>> Why not just turn mobile data off, and turn it on 'occasionally'
>> when you need it? Simple. I do that on an old payg phone.
>
> …is the right answer. It’s what I do here to avoid data charges on a mobile
> that’s only used for calls. Any app updates, etc, get done for free when
> connected automatically via WiFi.

OTOH, perhaps turning the phone off altogether might be the best bet, this
is what 1p Mobile say on the issue:

=====

Can I turn off data?

Both Apple and Android phones have the option to turn off mobile data
usage. However, this only turns data off for App use. The phone and
operating systems (iOS or Android) still have some data requirements that
cannot be disabled in the user settings. These are features like
'Find-my-phone' and 'App/Play store' verification.

Some simple/feature phones also have some data services, (and some only in
their operating system and firmware), that are used to check for updates
and network registration.

If you wish to disable mobile data completely then you can do so in your
1pMobile account area in the Network Settings. However, this may prevent
the operating system's features from working correctly.

=====

--
Spike

On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:24 +0000
Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

> Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> > On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:52:51 +0000
> > Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> >
> > > Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it
> > > with:
> > > Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming
> >
> > If not that, maybe your PAY&GO website has a similar option.
> >
> I don't see how that helps though. I still have to remember to do it
> when I get back on the ferry coming home. Turning the phone off is
> easier (and I mostly remember!).
>

You don't need roaming in the UK or do you? So I would hope that data
would stop after you cross the channel and then return again once you
return to the UK.

In truth, I don't know if there actually two types of "roaming": the
type that is free (and happens all the time within the UK) and the type
you pay for.

I remember that UK signal is available in Calais, unless it's no longer
allowed in after Brexit.

--
Regards,

Martin Nicholas.

E-mail: reply-202403@mgn.org.uk (Address will be valid throughout
March).

I have no qualifications in clairvoyance, that should be immediately
obvious.

Spike wrote:

> perhaps turning the phone off altogether might be the best bet, this
> is what 1p Mobile say on the issue:
>
> =====
>
> The phone and
> operating systems (iOS or Android) still have some data requirements that
> cannot be disabled in the user settings.

Could also include the phone getting almanack data via A-GPS from the
network.

On 15/03/2024 10:05, Andy Burns wrote:
> Spike wrote:
>
>> perhaps turning the phone off altogether might be the best bet, this
>> is what 1p Mobile say on the issue:
>>
>> =====
>>
>> The phone and
>> operating systems (iOS or Android) still have some data requirements that
>> cannot be disabled in the user settings.
>
> Could also include the phone getting almanack data via A-GPS from the
> network.
>
I have been crossing the channel at least once a year for the last 25
years and I have never been charged once on either PO ferries or more
recently DFDS.

Obviously I was only trying to use data after roaming became free due to
EU rules and part of my contract afterwards.

My phones have always been contract not PAYG and I have had contracts
with Vodafone 3-mobile and Tesco(O2) .The phones have been android 9 ad 11.

You do get the text telling you that you can use the eyewateringly
expensive satellite connection. You have to actively choose to log into
it to use it ,if you ignore it no charge with roaming enabled.

grinch <grinch@somewhere.net> wrote:
> On 15/03/2024 10:05, Andy Burns wrote:
> > Spike wrote:
> >
> >> perhaps turning the phone off altogether might be the best bet, this
> >> is what 1p Mobile say on the issue:
> >>
> >> =====
> >>
> >> The phone and
> >> operating systems (iOS or Android) still have some data requirements that
> >> cannot be disabled in the user settings.
> >
> > Could also include the phone getting almanack data via A-GPS from the
> > network.
> >
> I have been crossing the channel at least once a year for the last 25
> years and I have never been charged once on either PO ferries or more
> recently DFDS.
>
> Obviously I was only trying to use data after roaming became free due to
> EU rules and part of my contract afterwards.
>
> My phones have always been contract not PAYG and I have had contracts
> with Vodafone 3-mobile and Tesco(O2) .The phones have been android 9 ad 11.
>
> You do get the text telling you that you can use the eyewateringly
> expensive satellite connection. You have to actively choose to log into
> it to use it ,if you ignore it no charge with roaming enabled.

How strange and quite different from my experience. I am on idMobile
pay as you go and always, unless I turn the phone off, it eats my
credit when I cross the channel. (DFDS in my case).

For example yesterday my phone was in my bag, unused, and it used 1Mb
of data in the middle of the channel which ate up my remaining credit.
It's as regular as clockwork *unless* I remember to turn the phone off.

--
Chris Green
·

Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:24 +0000
> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
>
> > Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> > > On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:52:51 +0000
> > > Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it
> > > > with:
> > > > Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming
> > >
> > > If not that, maybe your PAY&GO website has a similar option.
> > >
> > I don't see how that helps though. I still have to remember to do it
> > when I get back on the ferry coming home. Turning the phone off is
> > easier (and I mostly remember!).
> >
>
> You don't need roaming in the UK or do you? So I would hope that data
> would stop after you cross the channel and then return again once you
> return to the UK.
>
Oh, OK, I guess if I can just turn off *data* roaming then I would be
OK unless I happen to want to use data when I'm in France (or
wherever) but that is fairly unlikely.

I'll dig around as see if such a thing is do-able, thank you.

--
Chris Green
·

On 15/03/2024 07:34, Chris Green wrote:
> Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
> will show what has used data?

On mine, you can long press the app, then tap i for information, and it
will tell you the mobile data used.

> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
> selectively?

If you tap the mobile data usage, you will get a breakdown into
foreground and background, by month, and options to enable background
data and to enable it when data saver is on, the latter defaulting to off.

Data saver is under Settings | Connections | Data Usage, and provides
access to the override options for all apps, as well as the master
setting. It also has an Allowed Networks for apps option, which lists
all apps and allows you to set them to one of mobile only, wifi-only, or
both. Some Samsung apps cannot be controlled (Messages, Modes and
Routines, and the user interface).

To completely stop an app using mobile data, you would probably set it
to wifi-only. Setting data saver on will suppress most unexpected data
use, but, for example, the Samsung weather app will not automatically
update and will complain every time you put it into foreground, although
you an dismiss the complaint.

Chris Green wrote on Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:34:16 +0000 :

> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.

You asked the same question over here on the Android newsgroup.
https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=50739&group=comp.mobile.android#50739

The answer is the same, at least on my Android 13 Samsung, and
on Frank Slootweg's Samsung and on Andy Burns' Pixel.
<https://i.postimg.cc/4y4JCRXY/datausage.jpg>
<https://i.postimg.cc/C5wKFfsL/appdatausage.jpg>
<https://i.postimg.cc/qMM7Sy71/billingcycle.jpg>

Since you're on Android 11, and since you say you don't have it,
then you need someone on Android 11 to confirm that is the case.

If it's confirmed that it's the case (as it could easily be under a
different menu tree on Android 11 as settings change over time), then the
suggestion from Frank Slootweg would seem to be the solution you need.

'My Data Manager - Data Usage'
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobidia.android.mdm>

David Woolley wrote on Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:43:37 +0000 :

> To completely stop an app using mobile data, you would probably set it
> to wifi-only.

On that note alone, my Samsung Galaxy Android 13 can natively set the data
to be Wi-Fi or cellular or both for any app (as explained prior) but in
addition, the free non-root NetGuard does essentially the same thing if the
OP can't find the same data-saving settings on his older Android 11 device.

https://netguard.me/

Martin Nicholas wrote on Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:52:51 +0000 :

> Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
> Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming

On that note alone, you can easily make a one-tap shortcut to the Android
roaming activity so that it's only a single tap on your desktop to set it.

The call to any unique activity for that one-tap shortcut may change
depending on the phone, but I just checked my Samsung Android 13, which is

One tap shortcut to the Mobile networks DATA ROAMING Android activity.
com.samsung.android.app.telephonyui/com.samsung.android.app.telephonyui.netsettings.ui.NetSettingsActivity

Normally the rule I go by is anything I use more than once a week gets its
own shortcut inside the desktop shortcut folder in the dock, plus anything
that takes more than 2 taps that I use also gets a desktop 1-tap shortcut.

For example, one-tap shortcuts to notification history and logs.

One tap shortcut to the NOTIFICATION HISTORY Android activity.
com.android.settings/com.android.settings.notification.history.NotificationHistoryActivity

One tap shortcut to the NOTIFICATION LOG Android activity.
com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationStationActivity

Chris Green wrote on Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:08:32 +0000 :

> I'll dig around as see if such a thing is do-able, thank you.

Long ago on my Android 13 Galaxy, in my desktop shortcuts folder, I placed
a one-tap shortcut to the Mobile networks DATA ROAMING Android activity.

com.samsung.android.app.telephonyui/com.samsung.android.app.telephonyui.netsettings.ui.NetSettingsActivity

I've been using that shortcut for so long, I've forgotten offhand how to
access it from the normal GUI as I never click twice when setting options.

Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
> Martin Nicholas <reply-2024@mgn.org.uk> wrote:
>> On Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:34:16 +0000
>> Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I very rarely use any data on my (Android 11) mobile, it's really only
>>> used for making and receiving voice calls and SMS messages. The only
>>> data using app that I actually use is, occasionally, termux.
>>>
>>> However I very often forget to turn the phone off (or turn data off
>>> anyway) when I take the cross channel ferry and I then get ridiculous
>>> charges for tiny amounts of data when I'm in the middle of the channel
>>> (and the phone isn't being used by me, it's just sat in my bag).
>>>
>>> Fortunately I'm on PAYGO and there is rarely much credit on the phone
>>> so it only costs me a few pounds but it's frustrating having to top up
>>> immediately I arrive on the other side so I'd like to try and fix the
>>> problem.
>>>
>>> Can one turn off data for everything and then turn it back on
>>> selectively? Or can one simply look at some record somewhere that
>>> will show what has used data?
>>>
>>
>> Can you just set "Deny roaming". In Android you can toggle it with:
>> Settings>>Mobile network>>Roaming
>>
> I still have to remember to do it when I get to the ferry (coming home
> anyway). At present (when I remmeber) I simply turn the phone off
> when I'm on the ferry. Using "Deny Roaming" is hardly any easier to
> remember! :-)

I think the point is to default to blocking roaming and enable it only if
you need it.