Check Data Usage - Mac?

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dghough91

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Hi all

I'm currently visiting in South Africa and was borrowed a Huawei E220 USB modem. I installed the Mac Dashboard software but it does not have the data usage statistics there. Is there any way I can find this out? It's on a contract, 500 MB.

Thanks
 
register on vodacom4me.co.za ... and I dunno if Mac run it by default (its a unix based system so it might)... but try the command ifconfig in terminal.
 
ic said:
Yep, www.vodacom4me.co.za, but be advised that contract data usage can be delayed by as much as 3 hours, so a native Mac data usage monitor would be better.

PS: Welcome to South Africa :).
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EISH.

I rang up Vodacom and they said I've used 298 MB. Now this was right after I had a great 40 minute video conference with my father in Australia (Gotta love HSDPA, I'm very impressed Vodacom), and I didn't know that the data is delayed, so I went ahead and surfed the internet as I do day to do (although not since I've been here) and here I get a text from Vodacom "you've used 84% of your download limit". And that was 3 hours ago!!!

Looks like I've chewed up 500 MB in less than 2 days, I really need to adapt to SA!

:(
 
If the Mac dashboard supports smsing you can also sms balance to 100 and you should get a reply giving you your available data.
 
Syndyre said:
If the Mac dashboard supports smsing you can also sms balance to 100 and you should get a reply giving you your available data.
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Unfortunately, the reply could also be inaccurate by ~3hrs of data usage for contract data bundles.

This is one of 2 primary reasons why I have not yet purchased an Ad-Hoc CDB and am still sticking to using PPDBs, the other reason is that there is no hard-capping for CDBs, whereas PPDBs are hard-capped by the amount of airtime credit one loads onto the SIM Card via Internet Banking, which in my case is no more than R1.00 [the minimum for using up remaining PPDB data towards the end of the bundle].

@dghough91, I suggest that you consider using a pre-paid SIM Card & PPDBs with that borrowed E220, also data usage monitoring for PPDBs is realtime...
 
ic said:
Unfortunately, the reply could also be inaccurate by ~3hrs of data usage for contract data bundles.

This is one of 2 primary reasons why I have not yet purchased an Ad-Hoc CDB and am still sticking to using PPDBs, the other reason is that there is no hard-capping for CDBs, whereas PPDBs are hard-capped by the amount of airtime credit one loads onto the SIM Card via Internet Banking, which in my case is no more than R1.00 [the minimum for using up remaining PPDB data towards the end of the bundle].

@dghough91, I suggest that you consider using a pre-paid SIM Card & PPDBs with that borrowed E220, also data usage monitoring for PPDBs is realtime...
Click to expand...

I also prefer PPDB's, just much simpler. The other benefit is also that they expire after 30 days rather than at the end of the month.
 
vodacom3g said:
Ad-hoc expiry now the same as pre-paid (30 days), but all other points about contract usage delayed, etc. still valid.
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Really, didn't realise that. That's what happens when I'm away from here for a while. :)
 
vodacom3g said:
Syndyre said:
I also prefer PPDB's, just much simpler. The other benefit is also that they expire after 30 days rather than at the end of the month.
Click to expand...

Ad-hoc expiry now the same as pre-paid (30 days), but all other points about contract usage delayed, etc. still valid.
Click to expand...
Yep, @Syndyre, it seems you missed v3g's announcement:
[thread=95379]AD-Hoc bundle expiry date change...[/thread]
 
ic said:
Yep, @Syndyre, it seems you missed v3g's announcement:
[thread=95379]AD-Hoc bundle expiry date change...[/thread]
Click to expand...

Seems like it, good move too, didn't make much sense to have more flexibility with PPDB's as opposed to contract.
 
I officially have 10 MB left on this bundle haha.

I think I'll do as what was suggested above, buy a prepaid Vodacom sim with 1GB for R289.

Will I need to change any settings in the properties, or is it just a matter of sticking in the sim and going?
 
dghough91 said:
I officially have 10 MB left on this bundle haha.

I think I'll do as what was suggested above, buy a prepaid Vodacom sim with 1GB for R289.

Will I need to change any settings in the properties, or is it just a matter of sticking in the sim and going?
Click to expand...
Once you've bought a pre-paid SIM Card, put that SIM Card into a phone and dial 100 to activate the SIM Card, then load airtime [to use later for purchasing a PPDB], then call 155 [tollfree from any Vodacom SIM Card] and ask to be Provisioned for Data on the internet|internetvpn APNs, then put the SIM Card into the E220, then follow the instructions in the sticky FAQ thread for buying a PPDB, once you have SMS confirmation that the PPDB purchase was successful and has been activated, you should be able to connect. I recommend an airtime amount of the PPDB purchase price plus ZAR1.00, so for a 1GB PPDB load ZAR290.00 [there is a boring technical reason for this].

Let us know if you need any help :).
 
Last edited:
OK, I managed to get it going with the 500MB bundle for R189.

Does anyone know of a program that will set a HARD CAP as I choose? For example, 40 MB a day and NO more.
 
dghough91 said:
OK, I managed to get it going with the 500MB bundle for R189.

Does anyone know of a program that will set a HARD CAP as I choose? For example, 40 MB a day and NO more.
Click to expand...
I think [searchforum]NetLimiter[/searchforum] can do that.
 
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