$45 Unlocked SIM Data Limit

**silentjudge** · 09-16-2011, 01:16 PM

I really want to get a better idea of what the Straight Talk data limit truly is. I've tried calling their Miami corporate office a few times and have never gotten a "straight" or correct answer. They keep telling me its unlimited except no tethering. I specifically asked if streaming Youtube or Pandora is ok, and they said yes. We know those 2 activities are not ok per ST's terms and conditions.

Theres been many reports from users asking ST, the limit is 2GB, maybe 5GB. A Hofo user, Antenna reported that he was shut off after using around 300MB in a single day but still being under 2GB for the month. (http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...8#post14541478) Other users have reported being shut off while also being under 2GB a month, but it could very well be they went over 100MB of data in a day or maybe was using the phone while "roaming" on another GSM provider ST has agreements with. Heres another user who emailed ST about the limit: http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...about-data-use. Also got a run around answer.

I've personally concluded that the safest way to keep your ST $45 unlocked SIM is to keep it within 2GB a month and 70MB (possibly 100MB) a day. But perhaps thats overly conservative and I want to get a better idea, so if you have ever been cut off by ST and know how much data you used or they told you, please post here.

PS. I am NOT starting a discussion about what unlimited means or how this isn't unlimited and its not fair. We already know ST's $45 plan is not unlimited. Thanks

**keyz16b** · 09-16-2011, 01:41 PM

To be safe I'd say your conclusions are correct.

I have yet to be cut off by ST (fingers crossed!). I joined ST in Jan 2011 with a e71 sim which i put into my iPhone. It was my first smartphone w data hookup. For that first month, I didn't put it on WiFi at first and did almost everything on it (short tethering sessions included!). I must have used accumulated close to 2gb that first month!!

Then I started to read reports of ST users getting cut off from ST because of high data abuse. It was unknown at the time what that limit was so I put my iphone on WiFi whenever possible. I also looked at ways to closely monitor my data usage. I dropped my data usage to 500-700mb a monthly after my first month (i even sometimes tether around 100mb of data a month).

Later I started reading about ST having a 24hr data monitoring system. At first it was estimated to be 130mb a day (i preached and posted about this on here. Some questioning my warnings, LoL) but now it looks like it's been lowered to 70mb a day! WOW!! In the past (less then 2 months ago) there were some days when i used up 150mb within 24hrs and luckily I was not shut off or even received a phone call warning me of my data usage. Maybe it's because of my past track record on how I've used my data. Maybe this "new" daily usage applies to newer ST customers? I don't know and i highly doubt you would get a straigth answer from the company.

Either way, I'll take the "new" customer based ST guidelines into mind. As a matter of fact, my iPhone is mostly around WiFi now and I've dropped my data usage to 300mb a month! LoL.

Sorry if this didn't answer your question. But I just wanted to give my 2 cents.

**silentjudge** · 09-16-2011, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by keyz16b

To be safe I'd say your conclusions are correct.

Later I started reading about ST having a 24hr data monitoring system. At first it was estimated to be 130mb a day (i preached and posted about this on here. Some questioning my warnings, LoL) but now it looks like it's been lowered to 70mb a day! WOW!! In the past (less then 2 months ago) there were some days when i used up 150mb within 24hrs and luckily I was not shut off or even received a phone call warning me of my data usage. Maybe it's because of my past track record on how I've used my data. Maybe this "new" daily usage applies to newer ST customers? I don't know and i highly doubt you would get a straigth answer from the company.

To be honest, I don't know if its 70MB a day, but I basically came about that number from the fact that 70MB * 30 days = 2.05GB. The 70MB a day is just a very safe bet in my book. I think its probably higher than that, maybe 100MB or 150MB as you have experienced. But we do know they do care about your daily data usage in addition to the total 30 day usage from users like "Antenna" and others.

Originally Posted by keyz16b

Sorry if this didn't answer your question. But I just wanted to give my 2 cents.

Not at all, any little bit helps! Especially input from people who have "pushed the limit" and not been given the hammer by ST. Thanks for your input/feedback.

**AnonymousP** · 09-16-2011, 02:36 PM

I accidentally used over 1 GB in a night the second day I had my E71. I had it tethered to my android device, which is set to automatically download new podcasts at midnight, so it wasnt till the next day that i realized what happened. I never got a call from ST.

**silentjudge** · 09-16-2011, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by AnonymousP

I accidentally used over 1 GB in a night the second day I had my E71. I had it tethered to my android device, which is set to automatically download new podcasts at midnight, so it wasnt till the next day that i realized what happened. I never got a call from ST.

Thank you.

Please keep them coming if you've used a lot of data on ST with or without getting the dreaded call/notification.

**benjamin.kelley** · 09-16-2011, 05:57 PM

My first month with St, with joikuspot, I got data disabled for using 16gb lol when my plan rolled over. I got a lecture on how to properly disconnect data sessions, and was turned back on in 10 minutes. I always keep anywhere 2-3gb a month. last month i had a voicemail about slow your data down at only 700mb and had less than a week left in my month. Now I'm at 2.3gb and nothing yet. My.plan rolls on the 23rd.

Sent from my LG-P506 using HowardForums

**silentjudge** · 09-16-2011, 09:05 PM

Yikes 16GB, nobody warned you about the ST hammer? LOL

Sent from my Inspire 4G

**andyhrn** · 09-16-2011, 11:02 PM

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (X11; Linux zbov; U; en) Presto/2.8.149 Version/11.10)

I'm still wondering why nobody asked the question about the data limit. on Facebook just to have it in writing?

**benjamin.kelley** · 09-16-2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by silentjudge

Yikes 16GB, nobody warned you about the ST hammer? LOL

Sent from my Inspire 4G

It was my first month with St and I hadn't yet joined this forum yet lol

Sent from my LG-P506 using HowardForums

**silentjudge** · 09-16-2011, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by andyhrn

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (X11; Linux zbov; U; en) Presto/2.8.149 Version/11.10)

I'm still wondering why nobody asked the question about the data limit. on Facebook just to have it in writing?

You can see here for an official answer:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...about-data-use

They just give you the run around.

**smartphonesrule** · 09-17-2011, 12:08 AM

Thats unfair.
So why bother having a Android with them or smartphone if you are limited to certain data?
And how much is 2Gb, 5GB, etc. Like how many pages can you view per byte and how many vids could you stream?

**andyhrn** · 09-17-2011, 12:43 AM

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (X11; Linux zbov; U; en) Presto/2.8.149 Version/11.10)

Originally Posted by smartphonesrule

Thats unfair.
So why bother having a Android with them or smartphone if you are limited to certain data?
And how much is 2Gb, 5GB, etc. Like how many pages can you view per byte and how many vids could you stream?

Just to open native ST refill page takes more than 600 KB of the data on Nokia e71.

**silentjudge** · 09-17-2011, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by smartphonesrule

Thats unfair.
So why bother having a Android with them or smartphone if you are limited to certain data?
And how much is 2Gb, 5GB, etc. Like how many pages can you view per byte and how many vids could you stream?

You can try using something like this:
http://www.att.com/standalone/data-calculator/

But the thing is its highly dependent on your usage. You can always install an app to track data usage on the Android, such as 3G Watchdog (free).

**Jonny_Duck** · 09-17-2011, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by smartphonesrule

Thats unfair.
So why bother having a Android with them or smartphone if you are limited to certain data?
And how much is 2Gb, 5GB, etc. Like how many pages can you view per byte and how many vids could you stream?

Its very possible they will have different terms on Android. Did you look at the map difference between what E71 users get and what the Android users get in terms of coverage? Huge difference.

Since it runs on Sprint towers and Sprint on all 3 of their networks provide unlimited data, ST likely has less restrictions then what Att imposes on them.

So while I think there will be some sort of limit on the Android device, it'll likely be higher and you will simply have to abuse it to get that call or shut off. But that is just a guess judging by what I know of Sprint.

**silentjudge** · 09-17-2011, 01:01 PM

The Android most very likely has a different limit, Sprint's VMUSA brand has 2.5GB cap and throttle.

But everything said above 2GB/5GB and daily use limits should only be considered to apply to the Unlocked SIMs running on the AT&T network.

Sent from my Inspire 4G