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Excessive iPad Data Useage

I bought a 3G iPad and signed up for the $15 / 250 MB plan based on the assumption that since I never go over 250 MB / month on my iPhone I'd be in reasonable shape for the iPad. Yet 3 days into the data plan I got an email from AT&T warning that I had "used" 220 MB of my plan! This is crazy since y iPad had been home all 3 days on my wireless network. 3G was turned on, just as it is on my iPhone, but that shouldn't have been an issue since I was on the local network, right?

Wrong, apparently. When I returned the 3G pad to the store, most of the genius bar guys were stumped, but one suggested this as an explanation. He stated that when the iPad (or iPhone) is in sleep mode the wireless connection is lost. If PUSH is turned on, the device then looks to the 3G network to continue updating things. While not an issue for an iPhone with unlimited data, perhaps it is a major issue for 250 MB / month data plan users. AT&T told me my iPad was using about 100 MB a day, incredible since I never even look at intensive things like YouTube video or email large image files. Surf the web, yes, but nothing unusual. Certainly not 100 MB of bandwidth a day.

Until the iPad gets smarter about using bandwidth and/or AT&T finds an answer (why would they, it's money in their pockets for unchecked data useage like this) that is reasonable, I'm over the need for a 3G iPad. WiFi is available enough places when I'm traveling that I can do without this additional recurring monthly cost.

iPad 3G

Posted on May 17, 2010 2:02 PM

40 replies

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

May 22, 2010 10:23 AM in response to Mr.C UK

How to Conserve Data Usage on Your iPad

http://macosg.com/group/viewtopic.php?f=112&t=20895

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May 22, 2010 11:02 AM in response to Mr.C UK

I just wish that one of the UK carriers had a plan like in the US, i.e. 250Mb 'when it's gone it's gone' with no time limit.
All the UK carriers are 'time limited' which doesn't suit me. I wish you could just buy a certain amount of data.

Mr.C UK

Level 2

410 points

May 22, 2010 12:11 PM in response to igmackenzie

I was under the impression that AT&T's 250MB plan was limited in that it had to be used within the month and cannot be rolled over. The 250MB is basically the amount of data you can download per month. It's not a case of paying $15 for 250MB that you can take as long as you like to use up. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

May 22, 2010 1:12 PM in response to Mr.C UK

You're absolutely right. In that case some of the UK deals seem pretty good in comparison!

ivan54

Level 4

2,844 points

May 22, 2010 1:44 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Hi Mac Medic,

Thanks for the link. Great tips. When I have the need for the cellular data those tips will be handy.

I also wonder how accurate AT&T's Data Calculator is. It makes it look like it is near impossible to stay under 250MB while on the road. The cnet tips may help.

mtnmedic

Level 1

10 points

May 29, 2010 9:00 AM in response to Mark Alberhasky

Interesting discussion. I've learned a lot.

In wonder what the rationale is for having just 250MB as the limit for the cheaper plan, given this day and age when that amount is practically nothing, file-wise. Maybe it's just enough for folks to momentarily check their email and do some stuff briefly while on the road when there isn't any wi-fi available? Not a bad concept, really, but methinks 512MB or 1GB as a cap would be more appropriate.

May 29, 2010 10:08 AM in response to mtnmedic

mtnmedic wrote:
Maybe it's just enough for folks to momentarily check their email and do some stuff briefly while on the road when there isn't any wi-fi available?

Exactly that. I am 95% of my time in a wi-fi area, so just use 3G for the occasional check of web pages and emails.
On my iPhone, I have used about 400Mb of cellular data in 7 months. (Many Gbs via wi-fi though!)

BevL

Level 1

55 points

May 29, 2010 5:51 PM in response to Mark Alberhasky

The 250 mb data plan seems to be working well for me. I am at day 29 and have 20% left. I have 3G & wifi both running all the time. I have used my 3G at times when wifi is not available, including some areas of my house. It has also enabled me to access free wifi at Starbucks which is only available to 3G users.

So in reference to the original post there may have been some problem with his iPad or setup.

Jul 11, 2011 11:11 AM in response to Mark Alberhasky

Apple should seriously consider making available some sort of reporting tool indicating data usage on a per, per day basis. This would let one easily determine where ones data allocation was being consumed.

Lacking this, it is a something of a black art to diagnose these issues.

Does anything like this exist?

Jul 25, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Mark Alberhasky

WE live in a no DSL or any other plan from Att . I can understand your being upset. I have had to be on hold to many times with ATT trying to set up Internet. Hook up at other places( like my daughters) and know it's a long and sometimes waist of time. And I have IPad 3 and have to use data plan with them now on my IPad . Like a cell phone SIM card and the updates and downloading will eat up data plan on GB , much less MB. If you get any answers on your problem, short of turning it off completely, I will be watching. Consumer cellular offers 4GB and that is highest they go. It's about 40.00 a month for 3GB unless it has changed. I can say one thing about them, because we have used them, lot better on service. If they ever go up on IPad plans using SIM card data, I will go back. My IPad showed me real fast how much MB it uses after one day of use, after I bought it. Would be impossible for me , having only ATT data plan and no Wi Fi in our area( unless you get in the car and drive to a hot spot, to use it a lot. Good luck.

Excessive iPad Data Useage