Category: cell

##starhub data alert: thresholds #roaming

Posted on by tiger40490

Handset also records data usage, but less reliable than https://secure.starhub.com/myaccountmgr/#/services/summary/mobile

https://geekflare.com/iphone-data-usage-monitoring/

— For each SIM card

  • optionally, you get an SMS when 200MB left
  • not configurable: you get an immediate SMS when crossing ..
  • ..80% of monthly quota
  • ..95% of monthly quota
  • ..99% of monthly quota

Confirmed — Starhub is unable to auto-disable mobile data after you exhaust your monthly quota. To disable mobile data

  • disable mobile data on handset UI as soon as as you see the warning SMS (2024 official advice), but /misstep/ is likely
  • best to remove the SIM card, until data usage resets. You can see the reset date on Starhub app + webpage.

— “free” roaming ..
Users can choose either IntRoaming or PAYR or neither.

  1. PayAsYouRoam .. is for Light data usage. Highly dangerous because over usage can cost thousands each day. (Many PAYR users are advised to buy data packs.)
  2. International roaming is safer with $30/day cap in many countries.
  3. ^^ between the pair, PAYR is clearly inferior.

I am (constantly) on IntRoaming since Feb 2024. I could receive incoming SMS free, as promised by hotline.
Incoming calls .. doesn’t work for some unkown reason.

Data is seperate control. If you turn off mobile data at Device level, then you won’t incur data cost.

HowTo enable/disable IntRoaming .. APP > more > managePlanAddOn > manageAddOn > roaming > explore … If screen shows “International Roaming Modify”, then it means you are on IntRoaming.

mlphone 3 passwords #browser

Posted on by tiger40490

k_passwd

— Browser

  • Access browser requires Blackberry password (see below)

— optimization: alq-4xxx0. (Latest is in contact.txt)

  • start with a letter or 2 or 3. More letters may resemble part of an English word.
  • .. I like a/l, due to large “hit area” on the tiny touch keyboard
  • .. I also like q/p/z/m
  • then switch to all digits
  • .. last digit should be 0, to be incremented to 1,2,,9, then back to 0

— passcode policy

  • Requirements: min one alphabet among 8 chars; can’t reuse the last six passwords
  • No caps required
  • 5 minute MaxInactivity before autolock
  • 90 day MaxPinAge before user must change passcode
  • 10 maxFailedAttempts before wipeout. https://www.imyfone.com/unlock-iphone/how-many-attempts-to-unlock-iphone/

— big picture: 3 passwords needed on mlphone 1) LDAP password 2) device passCODE described in this bpost

3) Blackberry password — no expiry. Default is uiop something

MLPhone IDD/data quota #700min

Posted on by tiger40490

When given a privilege, I don’t want to abuse it.

iPhone data usage screen has a ‘currentPeriod’, which is based on the last reset time.

my number? Settings->search for number -> USER_LABEL

SMS — blocked. No whatsapp/wechat

— starhub .. watch-out: IDD is about the only costly limit

  • billing cycle closing on 4th
  • For IDD minutes, the limit is 700 minutes monthly, limited to 19 countries listed below: Australia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and USA
  • .. To make an international call to the supported 19 countries, dial: 018(country code)(Area code)(telephone number). 008 worked too. Better use both frequently.
  • .. Other countries not listed OR talk time over the 700 minutes limit .. will be subjected to the prevailing pay per use rates
  • Local Data is of 30 GB, but we would still recommend to connect to wifi whenever possible, and not stream on Data.
  • Roaming data is 2GB. “For Monthly Data Travel APAC, once the current 2GB has been utilized , it will automatic activate another 2GB block @$15 per block.”
  • .. Usage can explode only when used as personal hotspot
  • For local talk time, both outgoing and incoming calls are unlimited.

 

swipe preference: L=archive R=markUnfresh

Posted on by tiger40490

— gmail
L=delete by default. I prefer soft-delete i.e. Archive
R=snooze by default. I prefer toggleUnfreshFresh

This toggle has explicit banner announcement.

— BlackBerryEmail .. not configurable
L=Delete etc
R=toggleUnfreshFresh , among others

— SMS
L=markFresh i.e. unread
R=markUnfresh .. the 90% frequent action

flight mode, roam`cost

Posted on by tiger40490

Mobile communication can use 3 channels:
* WW: wifi
* DD: mobile data
* VV: voice network including GSM, CDMA and LTE. SMS uses the same network, and can’t use wifi or mobile data.

Flight mode on phones (or laptops) disables all of them but you can re-enable WW, as tested on my Vivo1820

— to Reduce roaming cost … avoid DD + calls.

Flight_mode is overkill. Incoming_SMS_on_roaming is often free.

WW doesn’t depend on SIM card or roaming.

— SIM card (including roaming) … provides DD/VV not WW. In other words, DD/VV require SIM cards. Computers and tablets without SIM cards can use WW not DD/VV. So WW is one common technology available on all phones and computers.

— Whatsapp/Wechat calls … use WW/DD not VV. In contrast, many smartphone apps can launch voice calls.. either VV call or VOIP call. The VV call would require a SIM and take up your precious airtime.

* Internet-enabled mobile APPs require either WW or DD and may occassionally use SMS (requires VV network)
* Internet-enabled laptop applications require WW (or LAN) and never require DD/VV.

price^value when choos`smartphones

Posted on by tiger40490

price of smartphone depends on

  1. branding
  2. component cost such as processor speed, RAM size, screen size, battery capacity
  3. ? reliability? Is it a factor? Not directly. Perhaps the brand and components have an indirect effect

According to my requirements, the “value” of a model depends on

1. reliability
2. screen size
3. battery

IDD outgoing call barring

Posted on by tiger40490

https://howto.org/block-outgoing-calls/ lists many methods.

— inside the telco.. One site says “Most phone services block outgoing international calls for both landline and mobile services upon request.”

Starhub said on 6 Sep 2021 that they could block outgoing IDD internally. This is the most reliable solution in my experience.

— Android feature callBarring.
I was able to turn on callBarring for “InternationalOutgoingCalls”.

The same screen also lets me update the callBarring passcode, currently 1890

Tested: barring All incoming including local
Tested: barring All outgoing including local .. phone says “Your service does not allow outgoing…”

— Q: In Singapore, do you EVER want to enable outgoing IDD ?
For 20 years I have never needed it. IDD is too expensive. I have multiple alternatives:

  • free IDD in office and home
  • calling cards
  • whatsapp, wechat
  • There is only one Starhub add-on i.e. the 018 dialing method. I never enabled it.

 

iPhone to restrict app install #2 PINs

Posted on by tiger40490

To allow app install

settings -> screenTime -> content&privacyRestrictions -> iTunes .. -> 4-digit pin (1234) -> change 1st (perhaps +3rd) to “allow”

Note screenTime password is unrelated to iPhone passcode (1235). This passcode can be alphanumeric or a PIN above 3-digits.