Mav seems to use significant cell phone data; how to reduce?

[Chops]

The GPS *receiver* is a passive antenna like AM or FM. All it does is receive a satellite signal (which is "data" but not in the sense that it is using your cellular phone data).

Commonly used GPS *mapping software* (e.g., Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.) uses the GPS information to pinpoint your location and then uses a data connection to download the map plus whatever else it downloads for the map like points of interest, traffic information, crash/emergency vehicle/etc..

was more concerned with the Ford App using up phone battery even when turned off.

You can also buy mapping software that works offline, you download the maps you need at home or one time through data then it only needs the GPS to pinpoint the location.

Makes sense, thanks. Explains why I show no data usage on my smart phone plan when using Apple Navigation

I don’t use the Ford Pass App. I wonder if that uses what my carrier would consider data usage? I did not download the Ford App because I was concerned with phone battery drain even when off. Toyota did that to my phone before I disconnected them.

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[bighap]

Makes sense, thanks. Explains why I show no data usage on my smart phone plan when using Apple Navigation

I don’t use the Ford Pass App. I wonder if that uses what my carrier would consider data usage? I did not download the Ford App because I was concerned with phone battery drain even when off. Toyota did that to my phone before I disconnected them.

The Ford App uses almost no data. 3MB in a month is literally nothing.

 

[f1jim]

The only problem with downloading map data instead of live mapping is you won't get many of the features that come with using live data. Traffic notifications, updated opening closing times for restaurants, gas stations, etc. Still it probably beats excess data charges.
f1jim

 

[MakinDoForNow]

On our cell plan, we noticed MY phone uses the most data by far.
BUT:
I only use my phone for text and maybe 4-5 phone calls a week (I dislike phones). I sometimes take pics and send them to my email address or as a text, again less than a dozen times a week at most. I do not "surf the web" on my phone, that's what a desktop is for.

We were trying to figure out how my # had the most data usage out of the three phones on the plan, even though I use it less than a quarter as much as either of the other two people. Maybe 90% less.

The only thing I can think of is that when I'm in the Mav, it auto-connects to the Sync radio and that somehow starts a datastream. I thought GPS was independent of cell data.

Does anyone know how much data the Mav pulls just to exist? I may put my phone in airplane mode while driving.

Not sure but believe text are not cell data but email attachments are. Pictures can be quite large. Streaming data is not cell plan data but the search to find the streaming data is cell billed data you can watch a two hour utube streamed video with no cell data but the web search to find it is. Years back I signed up for a "streaming service" ($12/mo) which allowed me to connect to it (connection was few bytes of billed data) then the web searches and all downloads were sent through the server in the form of streaming packets (unbillable cell plan data). Used almost no cell plan data. Do not remember which streaming server I used.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I drive a 2023 Lariat that does not come with Bluetooth feature.

Is yours broken? I thought Bluetooth connectivity was standard on all trim levels. I have it on my XLT...

 

[Cherokee]

My Verizon plan was the best deal, bang for the buck with unlimited data, By far.

I thought most everyone was on unlimited data.
Especially with 5G up in so many places.
At work I can choose 5G
It is so very much faster.

 

[El Kabong]

The only problem with downloading map data instead of live mapping is you won't get many of the features that come with using live data. Traffic notifications, updated opening closing times for restaurants, gas stations, etc. Still it probably beats excess data charges.
f1jim

If you download Google Maps data with their offline caching feature (you can do at home over wifi) it will still update the POIs (points of interest) and of course when you search you get live data usage, the system just doesn't need to pull down the base maps.

Likewise if you use offline mapping software it should come with POIs built in and they can *usually* be updated. I say usually because old school built in maps (like in old versions of Ford Sync, my old Grand Caravan, etc..) can only get updated data through purchasing from the manufacturer and are often abandoned by the manufacturer long before the vehicle is no longer serviceable.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

My Verizon plan was the best deal, bang for the buck with unlimited data, By far.

I thought most everyone was on unlimited data.
Especially with 5G up in so many places.
At work I can choose 5G
It is so very much faster.

Unlimited 5G data on my phone? Nope only 5GB on a monthly pay as you go plan.
Other than that it's Wi-Fi.

 

[El Kabong]

I thought most everyone was on unlimited data.

Unlimited 5G data on my phone nope only 5GB other than that it's Wi-Fi.

Most "unlimited" plans have a data cap after which the data rate is throttled.

I'm an Android user and my wife uses an IPhone, we are on Google Fi which - though maybe not the least expensive plan - is very reliable (uses T-Mobile as the data carrier) and has no hidden gotchas - on my "Unlimited Premium" plan we each get 100GB of data after which the speed gets limited, but even when we were forced to use our phones tethered for internet close to two months while Comcast sorted out our cable issue we did not hit the data limit. Can buy additional full-speed data if we run out but it does get pricey.

(Funny that when we were having the cable problem Comcast dragged it's feet for weeks until I called them and told them I'd be buying a Starlink terminal, after which they sprang into action and we had a new cable (buried from the distribution box to our house) in record time - about three weeks - which included having people come out and find buried power lines as well as mapping out the water feed with a ground-penetrating radar.)

I should setup my phone to use the built-in hotspot on the Maverick just to see of AT&T has good coverage out here.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Most "unlimited" plans have a data cap after which the data rate is throttled.

I'm an Android user and my wife uses an IPhone, we are on Google Fi which - though maybe not the least expensive plan - is very reliable (uses T-Mobile as the data carrier) and has no hidden gotchas - on my "Unlimited Premium" plan we each get 100GB of data after which the speed gets limited, but even when we were forced to use our phones tethered for internet close to two months while Comcast sorted out our cable issue we did not hit the data limit. Can buy additional full-speed data if we run out but it does get pricey.

(Funny that when we were having the cable problem Comcast dragged it's feet for weeks until I called them and told them I'd be buying a Starlink terminal, after which they sprang into action and we had a new cable (buried from the distribution box to our house) in record time - about three weeks - which included having people come out and find buried power lines as well as mapping out the water feed with a ground-penetrating radar.)

I should setup my phone to use the built-in hotspot on the Maverick just to see of AT&T has good coverage out here.

My wife and I are on separate plans.
As is our finances. In 34years we've never had a argument over money.
My wife started using a cell phone before I did. She started with Verizon.
It was 1998 when I decided I wanted to buy a phone, mainly to have a camera handy.
I didn't really care about the phone or the service. I bought a "burner" flip phone off the rack at Target and started monthly service with T-Mobile. My wife now has T-Mobile with an unlimited plan. I still have a monthly pay as you go plan with 5GB Of 5G a month. I upgrade and buy my phones separately and unlocked.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

You have

Most "unlimited" plans have a data cap after which the data rate is throttled.

I'm an Android user and my wife uses an IPhone, we are on Google Fi which - though maybe not the least expensive plan - is very reliable (uses T-Mobile as the data carrier) and has no hidden gotchas - on my "Unlimited Premium" plan we each get 100GB of data after which the speed gets limited, but even when we were forced to use our phones tethered for internet close to two months while Comcast sorted out our cable issue we did not hit the data limit. Can buy additional full-speed data if we run out but it does get pricey.

(Funny that when we were having the cable problem Comcast dragged it's feet for weeks until I called them and told them I'd be buying a Starlink terminal, after which they sprang into action and we had a new cable (buried from the distribution box to our house) in record time - about three weeks - which included having people come out and find buried power lines as well as mapping out the water feed with a ground-penetrating radar.)

I should setup my phone to use the built-in hotspot on the Maverick just to see of AT&T has good coverage out here.

You have to buy an AT&T data plan to use the maverick

 

[El Kabong]

I realize that I would if the added connectivity package was not active, but it is. Have not used the hotspot yet.

 

[HeyBales]

I drive a 2023 Lariat that does not come with Bluetooth feature. To get Bluetooth connected I purchased a 3rd party thumb drive which is connected to the USB port. I use Google Maps via my iPhone 15 all the time and experience zero added data usage! Driving from VA to FL, no data usage!

That's the difference between the comment that maps DO consume lots of data (unless someone downloads map data), and I have no additional data usage on plan.

You likely have like others have stated - free map data usage with that carrier.

The carrier has found a buyer of that info probably, so it can offer to give it away.
Or so it appears free.

I wonder if that is just Apple they are willing to do that on.
Doesn't Apple restrict the Google maps advertising of businesses?

Anyone with Android on these same carriers getting free map data too?
Seems like that would be stepping on Google's toes.

 

[HeyBales]

I also have an SE. I DO have the Ford app. I'll try turning that off and see if it makes a difference.

Bit of contradictory messages on this thread; someone above said GPS uses data, you say it doesn't. My impression from using it for years is that it is all satellite based, and does not use cell data.

GPS usually get's an assist from the carrier since they know what tower you are connected to, which is GPS located, and can share what satellites to look for as you keep going in that area.
Phones are doing that too without carrier help - so just depends.

But that little blip of info for assisted-GPS is so small, and unless you have no GPS receiver - should not be any continuing data.

 

[HeyBales]

Is yours broken? I thought Bluetooth connectivity was standard on all trim levels. I have it on my XLT...

Isn't that where the Lariat got the BT for data to phone, whereas ours is just for the voice, maybe text features?
We can't do BT Android Auto without a cable, or that BT adapter into the USB-C port.

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