Dumb question but is data usage different for SIM-only plans?

[firsttimebuyer]

I was previously on a 4G Mobile Plans from many, many years back, and I simply did not bother to renew my plan at all when it ran out.

It gave me a total of 6GB monthly and I could use it frequently. Even if I switch of my Wifi completely, and just used only the mobile data, after 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I at most only "eat up" a few hundred MB.

Recently, I switched to a SIM-only $25 plan, which offered 30 GB of data. After 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I checked my data usage and it was a total of 2GB, which is a huge jump in data usage despite no change in activities.

Is the way data usage calculated that different?

 

[firesong]

I was previously on a 4G Mobile Plans from many, many years back, and I simply did not bother to renew my plan at all when it ran out.

It gave me a total of 6GB monthly and I could use it frequently. Even if I switch of my Wifi completely, and just used only the mobile data, after 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I at most only "eat up" a few hundred MB.

Recently, I switched to a SIM-only $25 plan, which offered 30 GB of data. After 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I checked my data usage and it was a total of 2GB, which is a huge jump in data usage despite no change in activities.

Is the way data usage calculated that different?

Too many variables.

Same phone? Or did you change? Background apps? Same resolution of streaming content in the past and now? Newer phones tend to want to push for higher-resolution content, so streaming FHD/4K will definitely consume (much) more bandwidth than a lower resolution format - sounds like you were streaming in 480p/720p before which is generally fine for a smaller screen like the mobile phone.

I doubt telcos would calculate drastic differences like that - it's more likely something changed on your end to result in a different consumption pattern.

Have been using SIM-only plans for the past year and there hasn't been any change in my consumption pattern - I'm mindful of my streaming formats and how much data it consumes, so I tend to lower the streaming quality to something reasonable for my data plan.

 

[gapboy]

Different telco charges data block usage differently, you mentioned you have change to a telco with SIM-only $25 plan ,,, go read their T&C about data block usage and how they charge.

This will give you more details
https://en.ocworkbench.com/telco-charging-block-size-updated-1-aug-2019/

 

[tclong]

I was previously on a 4G Mobile Plans from many, many years back, and I simply did not bother to renew my plan at all when it ran out.

It gave me a total of 6GB monthly and I could use it frequently. Even if I switch of my Wifi completely, and just used only the mobile data, after 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I at most only "eat up" a few hundred MB.

Recently, I switched to a SIM-only $25 plan, which offered 30 GB of data. After 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I checked my data usage and it was a total of 2GB, which is a huge jump in data usage despite no change in activities.

Is the way data usage calculated that different?

Which telco was your 4G Mobile Plan? And your current SIM-only Plan?

 

[crystalnox]

Different telco charges data block usage differently, you mentioned you have change to a telco with SIM-only $25 plan ,,, go read their T&C about data block usage and how they charge.

This will give you more details
https://en.ocworkbench.com/telco-charging-block-size-updated-1-aug-2019/

That article takes the data blocks out of context, this only comes into play when charging for excess data. It's not what you're thinking, otherwise my Vivifi would be out of data after 1 week with every minor notification coming in being counted as 1MB.

 

[firesong]

That article takes the data blocks out of context, this only comes into play when charging for excess data. It's not what you're thinking, otherwise my Vivifi would be out of data after 1 week with every minor notification coming in being counted as 1MB.

I think telcos also consolidate data before finally charging for excess. Then they charge the excess data in blocks.

Because if it's on a strict "per-block" basis, then it's easy to blow through a data cap. 10 telegram "hahas" will be 1MB, and we'll burn gigabytes too quickly with all the chatting that happens in group chats these days - every tweet, notification, etc. As we all know, that's not happened, so it's not likely to be charged this way.

IMO, no need to worry about blocks sizes as long as you don't exceed your entitlement.

 

[stillgottheblues]

Even if I switch of my Wifi completely, and just used only the mobile data, after 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I at most only "eat up" a few hundred MB.

Possible meh? Video files are huge if you watch daily, 6GB not enough de.

 

[firesong]

Possible meh? Video files are huge if you watch daily, 6GB not enough de.

That's right. An estimate of Netflix bandwidth/data consumed, depending on resolution:

https://www.androidauthority.com/how-much-data-does-netflix-use-976146/

 

[magix]

I was previously on a 4G Mobile Plans from many, many years back, and I simply did not bother to renew my plan at all when it ran out.

It gave me a total of 6GB monthly and I could use it frequently. Even if I switch of my Wifi completely, and just used only the mobile data, after 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I at most only "eat up" a few hundred MB.

Recently, I switched to a SIM-only $25 plan, which offered 30 GB of data. After 2-4 hours of watching youtube/NETFLIX, I checked my data usage and it was a total of 2GB, which is a huge jump in data usage despite no change in activities.

Is the way data usage calculated that different?

By right data are calculated around the same. I mean the different should be that big gap.

If you watch 2-4 Hr HD youtube/netflix it should be around 2-3GB range.

 

[poland_ball]

I think last time you were watching in lower resolution

 

[firsttimebuyer]

Too many variables.

Same phone? Or did you change? Background apps? Same resolution of streaming content in the past and now? Newer phones tend to want to push for higher-resolution content, so streaming FHD/4K will definitely consume (much) more bandwidth than a lower resolution format - sounds like you were streaming in 480p/720p before which is generally fine for a smaller screen like the mobile phone.

I doubt telcos would calculate drastic differences like that - it's more likely something changed on your end to result in a different consumption pattern.

Have been using SIM-only plans for the past year and there hasn't been any change in my consumption pattern - I'm mindful of my streaming formats and how much data it consumes, so I tend to lower the streaming quality to something reasonable for my data plan.

Exact same phone, exact same SIM card, no change.

 

[firesong]

Exact same phone, exact same SIM card, no change.

Then it's most likely due to a change in the resolution of files you download.

 

[xiiaoqinwa]

just reset your phone counter and test it out again will do. compare what capture from your phone vs what in the app.

do note the apps are normally not real time updated. so u need give and take.