[Q] Little data roaming despite disabled - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have now for the second time the problem that I have many little data roaming connections while abroad, despite data roaming is deactivated in Android. They are so small (always exactly 30 kB, which seems to be the smallest quantity my provider is billing) that it's virtually impossible to produce them with normal traffic. I always have much larger data connections, even without using my phone (at least 100kB up to 1MB and even more if I use it, of course). In this case I had 9 of those connections while little more than 24h. Last time when I had this problem half a year ago, I had those connections for an entire week with the same frequency (~10 per day).
In both incidents there was an OTA update available for the Nexus 4. This time I received the update notification at some point during my stay abroad. I had wifi connection most of the time, so I assume the update was downloaded using the wifi connection (the roaming traffic is too small for the update by far). I did not install the update until I returned back home. Last time my phone wasn't able to download the OTA update, since I had a custom rom installed at that time. It is possible that it tried downloading the OTA update for the entire stay back then (and even before and after - I noticed increased traffic over normal mobile internet at home). I switched back to the stock rom a while ago and thus was now able again to receive official OTA updates.
This time I was staying for 8 days in Chile, last time was around one week of Italy. My provider is Orange Switzerland.
What can be the cause of this? I am absolutely certain that data roaming was disabled in Android both times. Could it be that Android somehow bypasses the disabled roaming when checking for OTA updates? But it would have to do it when already knowing there is an update, so what's the point of doing this? Or could it be a provider initiated connection to notify the phone of the update? What can I do to prevent this from happening in future?
Thanks for any input!
Martin

Are you disabling mobile data and roaming or just roaming?
You could also try deleting or changing your default apn to prevent this from happening.
When I travel outside of Canada, I do not incurr any roaming charges when I turn off mobile data and roaming,

Thanks for the reply. I just disabled data roaming. I am abroad quite a lot, apart from these two incidents I never had any unexpected roaming charges. It must be somehow connected to the OTA update.
I will try disabling mobile data next time, maybe also disabling updates. But I also would like to understand how this can happen. Would it actually be possible that my provider initiates data connections to push the update notification? On the other hand my phone doesn't make those connections all the time, so it cannot just be the regular checking for updates. If it just received the notification via wifi, it would have downloaded the update via wifi immediately. So there must be some kind of mechanism I do not understand.
I also noticed that some of those roaming data connections occurred during the night, when I actually had wifi in the hotel for sure. This doesn't make any sense to me at all...

I don't want to take a chance so I disable all data connections, including roaming, as well as sync, software and app updates, and anything else I can think of that might try to access the data network.

Disabling sync etc. is not an option, since I want to use it via wifi. Besides, this must be either a bug in the Android update mechanism (which is persistent over some versions apparently) or my provider is doing something stupid. In the first case I would like to inform the devs, in the second case I won't pay for the data roaming, since I wouldn't be responsible for it.
Any ideas how to find out which one is true? Is here by chance anyone who either
a) has received a bill with many very small data roaming connections despite roaming was disabled while an OTA update was rolled out, or
b) was on the contrary abroad while the OTA update was rolled out and received the update notification via wifi, and has not seen any such roaming connections on the bill?
Thank you very much!

Wow, I can't even imagine worrying about overages and roaming charges... T-Mobile FTW!
Which custom ROM are you running? If it's not stock, there shouldn't be anything that has to do with an OTA, unless that functionality is not removed for some odd reason. Does the data usage utility show any useful information?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

korockinout13 said:
Which custom ROM are you running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on stock right now. During the first incident I ran some stock ROM, but I no longer remember which one. The data usage shows me Android OS would have transferred a 15.65 KB.
Edit: T-Mobile has no roaming charges if you are outside the US?

Have the same problem. Just one week ago I was on holiday. They also charged me twice for a 30 KB connection on different days (Orange Swizerland). I first thought it's maybe because I installed a custom rom but it also happened to my brother whose phone is 100% stock.
Did you found a solution?
Regards

Interesting. So it is an Orange problem after all...
7ORO said:
Did you found a solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. I now disabled the OTA update service (using the disable service app), so this cannot happen any more (I believe). Also I will switch to another provider at the end of this month, so if Orange is doing something strange, I will no longer be affected.

Same thing happened to me this month on my Nexus 6P on android 7.1
It used between 0.00mb and 0.04 mb (according to my data usage logs from the telephone company) (Telus)
Any other person figured out how this could happen and what's the solution?

had this last month. On Oreo 8.1 Stock + root Essential Phone (see here for details) https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/help/data-roaming-charges-despite-disabled-t3796715
Anybody has an idea?

Related

[WARNING] Don't use OTA in foreign countries - auto-enabling data roaming

Hi everyone,
a few days ago, i posted in the Q&A Section a question about apps which maybe auto-enabling data roaming, see here.
Today I tried it again (using my Laptops connectivity and connected the phone via adhoc wifi), updated a few apps and so...
Out of curiousity I startet OTA (via About -> system updates) and recognized a warning about data roaming (fortunately i was still connected via wifi).
Fact is: after I started OTA (and got the message, that no update was found) data roaming was enabled. Even after i deactivated "data roaming" (but left "use data" on) and tried OTA again, this setting was re-enabled.
From my point of view, this is a very severe bug!
Be my guest and try it yourself, leave feedback, if you like. My system specs are below.
Kind regards,
ww
It seems i didn't make myself clear enough thx for the advice.
So here is the whole deal:
I am using an austrian phone, but work most of the time in germany. Usually i don't disable data, even though i am in Germany right now, but disable data roaming to avoid costs.
Usually i use a wifi router of a friend to access the internet, as yesterday evening. There i tried the option "system updates" (of 2.2.1 - also known as OTA). After that i checked the data roaming setting and it was enabled, all of the sudden. Even after a reboot and data roaming still disabled, after checking "system updates", this option was re-enabled.
My general rom is DBT, as i bought the phone in germany, but i use an austrian SIM.
Today i tried the same with adhoc - same result - so I guess, this is a overall bug of android - so i openend an issue there.
Have you tried it in an foreign country or "at home"? My guess is, that is the key to reproduce this bug.
Cheers,
ww
I think you don't get my point:
Where are you using your phone: Slovakia SIM in Slovakia? Then you will not be able to reproduce it. Or am i getting something wrong here?
Exactly - it is ONLY happening while roaming - not at my home area that's while i wrote "don't use it in foreign countries"
Confirmed
OK, just for you and my aproach I tested it on my egyptian sim (wasnt dsiabled even though no credit ) and
I CAN CONFIRM IT!!!
Will add screenies so you trust me . but this is bad ... will add comment to it on google as well. Good catch though!
btw: from the tests it didnt happen all the time 3/4 but I guess the 4th was due the fact it didnt even connect to the server and just close itself.
Seriously when someone has data roaming active (carrier ) and this activates without his knowing...
EDIT: Added pics (so my post is more trustworthy after the fiasco up there (which I asked a very good mod to erase my posts) )
I can confirm the error
Using SIM WIND.IT in Germany: Data roaming was enabled after Update-Check.
Phone: DBT
Location: germany
SIM: Wind.it (Roaming)
If we sign out the samsung account will it still enable data roaming? cause without a samsung account it will not allow check.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
DummyPLUG said:
If we sign out the samsung account will it still enable data roaming? cause without a samsung account it will not allow check.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its like telling "dont check"
This wouldnt help us much?
Imagine you are a month abroad. You want to check for an update (XDA says "new omega super ultra fast original OTA update from Samsung/ or you check like "just in case") you go "check for updates" and you wont notice its active ... till you are on wifi its ok, imagine you go out of range and the phone does its own .
(once I had google maps on my symbian phone for 3 days active, didnt notice, the phone was just on my dresser, and it used up 700MB... from my 2GB plan, if this happened on roaming would pay it till now )
....connected the phone via adhoc wifi...wtf
I thought that android couldn't connect to adhoc wifi (stupid bug)
Are you sure it was adhoc?
cristipurdel said:
....connected the phone via adhoc wifi...wtf
I thought that android couldn't connect to adhoc wifi (stupid bug)
Are you sure it was adhoc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt matter if it was adhoc (mine was AP).
And yes you can connect to adhoc if you has root + etc (not sure if it goes without it too)
Oh yeah, I remember it's not working for non-root.
It is not important, which connection you use (I tested it with wifi AP and adhoc), i activates data roaming nevertheless.
I guess the best option is to leave a comment here at google as well to get this fixed really soon...
All the best,
ww
Can anyone please verify, if this bug is still present in 2.3.3?
would test this for you, but there is currently a "might be" bug with the OTA. (Something about high cpu usage and battery drain when OTA).
So I wouldn't advice to use it at all :/
webwude said:
Can anyone please verify, if this bug is still present in 2.3.3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tested still present :/

[Q] Huge internet usage

Hey everyone,
I have a dell venue pro and I live in the UK and am on the O2 network. I am on the £10 tarriff with a £3 bolt on which gives me 100 Mb of internet to use per month, I thought this would be enough for casual Facebook updates and using Bing maps, however when the bolt on was activated I turned my WiFi on because I was at home and watched a 40 minute video off the internet, when I checked my allowance it said I had used 70mb! First of all my WiFi was on so my cellular connection shouldn't have been used anyway so I phone o2 who said sorry we only charge for what you use. So I disabled my WiFi enabled 3g and went on google and Facebook and it cost me 9mb! When I turned off 3g the usage was sensible again, so is there something going on in the background that I should turn off? My email is synced at every half an hour but that's the only background thing going on that I am aware of, all my friends use 3g and there internet usage is nowhere as near as wild as mine is, can anyone please help me?
Cheers,
Syed
techrack said:
Hey everyone,
I have a dell venue pro and I live in the UK and am on the O2 network. I am on the £10 tarriff with a £3 bolt on which gives me 100 Mb of internet to use per month, I thought this would be enough for casual Facebook updates and using Bing maps, however when the bolt on was activated I turned my WiFi on because I was at home and watched a 40 minute video off the internet, when I checked my allowance it said I had used 70mb! First of all my WiFi was on so my cellular connection shouldn't have been used anyway so I phone o2 who said sorry we only charge for what you use. So I disabled my WiFi enabled 3g and went on google and Facebook and it cost me 9mb! When I turned off 3g the usage was sensible again, so is there something going on in the background that I should turn off? My email is synced at every half an hour but that's the only background thing going on that I am aware of, all my friends use 3g and there internet usage is nowhere as near as wild as mine is, can anyone please help me?
Cheers,
Syed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a similar experience a while back. Since my mobile provider offers automatic text messages when I'm about to reach my 3G limit along with full history log of usage, I had a look and noticed my DVP stayed connected for over an hour somehow even though I was not using the phone at that time. E-mail checks were setup like yours. The weird thing is that it didn't happen in the beginning when I used 3G and left it on without using it.
By any chance did you update to the 8107 version of Mango? Because it only happened to me after that, perhaps it's related? I forced the update on my phone...
Ascario said:
I had a similar experience a while back. Since my mobile provider offers automatic text messages when I'm about to reach my 3G limit along with full history log of usage, I had a look and noticed my DVP stayed connected for over an hour somehow even though I was not using the phone at that time. E-mail checks were setup like yours. The weird thing is that it didn't happen in the beginning when I used 3G and left it on without using it.
By any chance did you update to the 8107 version of Mango? Because it only happened to me after that, perhaps it's related? I forced the update on my phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. My phone came pre-loaded with Mango so I've never experienced pre-Mango. The OS version on my phone is 7.10.7720.68. After you forced the update 8107, is the internet usage back down to normal with 3g? Thanks.

Data in Roaming spuriously enabled while it should be OFF

Hi,
I received the Oneplus 2 last week and I have spent some days outside my home country. I have set the OS to not use data while in roaming mode. However, there are emails /whatsapp messages popping up spuriously.
I have checked multiple times and the configuration is correct. It seems that from time to time, the phone makes a data connection and then disables it - maybe it is during handover of the carrier?
Does anyone have experienced the same issue? I have OxygenOS 2.0.2 running with no root or whatsoever.
Yes , I'm experiencing the same issue and have no idea to stop this.
currently searching on web resources.
If you find something, tell me !
I'll do the same !

Unexpected data roaming charges when all data is off

Hi there!
I was just charged again for data roaming while absolutely all data in my G2 was disabled (both checkboxes roaming and data were off). This is very frustrating, as this time it was a long trip and I was charged more than 50 USD equiv of roaming charges . What I can detect is that it is billed twice separately each time it connects i.e. while roaming I can see two separate 50kB packets charged in one minute and in my home network I can see two 512kB packets billed separately in one minute. It happens randomly, around 5 to 10 times a day. I am suspecting it has to do do something with location or location history because previously it stopped when I disabled location in the top bar during roaming (or roamed to another country). I think it started happening when I've upgraded to Lollipop earlier this year. My model is LG-D802 and software is V30b-260-01. Wonder if it could be malicious software, bug in Lollipop, or something else? Did anyone experienced such problem before? I will eventually call the hotline (Lg or operator) but I need cold facts as otherwise they will start blaming everyone including their mothers just to get rid of me (yes, this is how it works in some European countries... ).
So, Dear XDA users, do you have time for small investigation?
Cheers,
Marcin
Are you the one turning off the data? Why not use Airplane mode? I'd call your service provider first then go from there.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Yep, roaming was always off but data is the thing I turn off. I cannot use airplane mode all the time because wifi does not work and you actually cannot receive any calls. I think better idea would be to intentionally provide false APN data. But that is not the answer to rhe question, I need to find what is the root cause of those connections? I can factory reset the phone and try again if it will happen again it would be definitely software/bb related...

No data after having WiFi enabled for a while

Hello,
I've had this issue across more than 1 device and more than 1 carrier.
Here's what happens:
I enable WiFi, and for a while everything works as expected. I can send and receive MMS messages. I can disable WiFi and go back to my 4G connection.
The problem is, after an unknown amount of time, the phone drops the 4G connection in the background. I only know when I can't receive/send MMS messages anymore. At that point, if I disable WiFI there's no 4G data connection, and I have to turn Airplane mode off and turn it back on.
This is really annoying. It happened to me using Sprint and a Galaxy S4 (both stock and custom ROMs) and it's happening to me with a Galaxy S5 from MetroPCS. (I've used the stock Metro ROMs, Stock T-mobile ROMs, and Custom T-mobile ROMs).
Right now I'm using a Stock T-mobile ROM with the latest firmware, carrier is MetroPCS.
What can I do so this doesn't happen? It's really frustrating.
Thank you for your time.
Disabled "Smart Network Switch" in WiFi Settings?
*Detection* said:
Disabled "Smart Network Switch" in WiFi Settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello.
That's already disabled.
Should I enable it?
I tried with "smart network switch" enabled and disabled and problem still happened.
My S5 G900F Android 5.00 (Smart Network Switch disabled, Power Save disabled) on EE UK has had this problem for 9 months after phone upgraded itself to Lollipop (EE win the accolade to being the SLOWEST ON THE PLANET to provide Android updates.....). Since Jan 3, my wife's G901, a couple of weeks after it upgraded from 5.0 to 5.02, has developed the same problem. Neither phone has ever been rooted or other.
I have fruitlessly searched everywhere for a solution without success. EE Customer Services Tier 2 & Samsung's own service centre have failed to fix it. EE & Samsung blame each other for 5.1 or 5.1.1 not being available for download. Neither is prepared to resolve the issue despite hours on the phone. Have tried Safe Mode, Factory Reset, clearing everything, reloading APNs & Samsung even reloaded Android. All a waste of time: Many many days of it!
After approx half an hour connected to Wi-Fi, only way to get the mobile data to connect, is either reboot, enter & exit Air-plane mode or flip the 4G > 3G > 4G connection under More Networks. Have tested the fault in different cell areas countries and continents; fault is same everywhere.
It seems there are quite a few sufferers of this problem.
Samsung S5 keeps losing data connection
I have the same problem. My new Samsung phone loses the data connection (even though data is turned on) and I can only re-connect by restarting the phone. The first EE shop I took it to couldn't help at all. The second gave me a new SIM - that didn't work. Then I tried online support and after 3.5 hours of my life, in which I was passed on from one person to another, they completed a factory re-set - which didn't work (and additionally lost all the personalisation of my screen and some of my contacts). So I now have a not-very-smart phone which I have to re-start every time I want to use data. This is a business contract and the phone is less than two months old, but I'm not getting any effective support from EE. Android version is 5.0.2
me too, since last update. and app 'phono' shows "mobile data off" not got a time on it, but when i leave wifi coverage, it wont reconnect to cell data 2g/3g/4g. flightmode toggle to restore.
Abandon hope if you have this intermittent mobile data problem!
...at least until there is a software update, though I have no idea if that will help.
I have now tried a new sim card, a factory reset, and a replacement phone - which was provided only because I'm a business customer and I found a sympathetic member of staff. *By the way, I was told that if you are personal customer they won't consider replacing your phone if it is more than a month old - even if you started complaining about the phone as soon as you got it, the chances are a month will have elapsed by the time they put you through the hoops of a new sim, reset etc - and then it is too late to insist on a replacement phone.
In any case the replacement phone didn't resolve the issue so I have reached* a dead end. My phone fails to connect to data after having been connected to wifi - you have to do it manually each time you move away from a wifi connnection. At first I was doing it by restarting the phone, but am now following the advice of someone else who has the same problem and am going into flight mode and out again. *
This is not satisfactory, and it seems from reading forums that EE are to blame for the problem rather than Samsung, but I'm not 100% sure about that.*
Possible solution that works, for me, at the moment!
Having suffered this issue of my S5 (SM-G901F) not connecting to mobile data after being on Wi-Fi for a while unless switching airplane mode on/off for a few weeks; although it has probably been happening since the update I received late December; I have tried all of the turn this switch off, factory resets (x2), etc, etc, etc. and Googled the issue without success.
I have found this thread interesting, and I even tried calling EE support only to be told "you have tried everything that we would tell you to do" and "it wouldn't be a sim card, or handset issue, sounds like software". The reply was basically that like-it or lump it until the 5.1 update is released "by Samsung not EE because EE do not release Android updates". [Perhaps EE don't release the updates, but the stock rom is tested by them and their bloatware added before they eventually release it!!!]
Following my last reset I tried selectively re-installing the apps I used incase that was causing the issue. No Luck!
One last thing I tried was to look at every system 'thing' that I could find which used/switched any part of the mobile/mobile data/wifi - in addition to the settings I had already tried (all of which were mentioned in this thread previously). One thing I could not find not mentioned here, or anywhere, was the VoWi-Fi call on/off which I had always set to on as I do not live in a great reception area. Calling over Wi-Fi is great when you don't have a strong mobile signal.
Having 'played' with this setting for the last 24 hours I have found that the VoWi-Fi on/off appears to be a possible cure - for me anyway.:fingers-crossed:
When VoWi-Fi was set to off and leaving the phone connected to Wi-Fi overnight, the S5 immediately switched to mobile data this morning when I turned the Wi-Fi off . It continued to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data all morning whilst out and about in and out of Wi-Fi connections - Woop Woop!!!
I then tried switching VoWi-Fi on (with Wi-Fi on and at home), leaving the phone for a number of hours, only to find that when I turned Wi-Fi off the phone refused to connect to mobile data even with a 'decent' mobile signal. The only way to get it to connect was to go back to switching Airplane mode on/off.
Switched VoWi-Fi off again, left Wi-Fi connected, left the phone for a couple of hours, etc. and hey-presto immediately switched to mobile data when I turned the Wi-Fi off. [Dances around the room because he's got the S5 automatically switching to mobile data again. Even though I'm at home with a great fibre internet and strong Wi-Fi connection!!!]
I do not know if this could be a solution for the others who are suffering from this issue, but it appears to be a solution for me at the moment. I thought I would share as your previous posts have helped me and you all seem to be pulling your hair out; like I have been; trying to find a solution.
Try it, it may work, but don't shoot me if it doesn't!
It's encouraging to know that I'm not crazy. I've had this issue across two devices and carries.
John,
Thank for your suggestion about WiFi calling. Unfortunately, I always have it off! I never used it, so maybe I should try turning it on? We'll see lol.
At this point, I think this is going to be my last Galaxy line phone.
Is it wi-fi calling that's causing the problem?
I have wondered if there is a link with wi-fi calling, but haven't tested it properly. I signed up with ee and bought the Galaxy phone specifically so that I could use wifi calling, as the town where I live (in the Scottish Borders) doesn't get a mobile signal strong to work reliably indoors from any of the networks. I'll try turning off wi-fi calling to see if that sorts the data thing (though I see that for one person above it did not). That would mean I wouldn't get calls or texts when I'm at home so it would not be a permanent solution for me. But in fact the wi-fi calling is not reliable anyway....
Brian_svc said:
It's encouraging to know that I'm not crazy. I've had this issue across two devices and carries.
John,
Thank for your suggestion about WiFi calling. Unfortunately, I always have it off! I never used it, so maybe I should try turning it on? We'll see lol.
At this point, I think this is going to be my last Galaxy line phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brian,
You never know the way things are going with this issue; given that nobody seems to be able to pinpoint the fault; turning it on may just sort it!!!
still no change and its a pita.....

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