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Posted by: runningtiger

Right now I'm bummed 'cuz my i-mate SP5m and wireless router are not playing nicely with each other. They've worked perfectly for several weeks and now for the last week I can't access web pages or email on my phone. I can still connect to other wireless networks and look at web pages and get my email...just not on my own wireless network at home. HOWEVER, my home network is working just fine with our laptops...just not my phone. I've posted another thread regarding this and am hoping to get some help. Setting up a router is not my forte.

So, I'm wanting to go out in my yard right now and work all afternoon. Usually I'd connect to my home wifi and stream a radio station to my phone and listen while I work. But, I can't do that due to the problem I mention above.

This gets me wondering...if I had Cingular's SmartPhone Connect Unlimited plan, could I stream a radio station for hours like I want to do today? That would be an ENORMOUS amount of data. Is that really OK to do, or would Cingular disconnect me if I did this daily (or, even once)? Would they take note and terminate me?

Posted by: GrYph0n

I know you have since fixed your router problem, but figured I would chime in anyway. With the unlimited connect you would be able to stream, surf, etc. as much as you want as long as it is via your phone and not teathered to a computer or laptop as a modem. I stream using Orb all the time, not to mention all the surfing, emails (mainly junk ), etc that I do on a daily basis, and I don't get charged anything for it. Although I am not using the "Smartphone Connect Plan", I am using the $19.99 Media Max 200 plan (Unlimited data, and 200 SMS/MMS Bucket).

Posted by: runningtiger

warning...it's late...I'm tired...a long ramble ensued

Is the "Media Max 200 plan" a holdover from awhile back? I don't recall seeing that plan. Are there any talk minutes included, or is it just data? The price you pay is the same they are charging for their current plan called "SmartPhone Connect Unlimited w/Xpress Mail" (no SMS or MMS in this plan...data only). Since they charge $9.99 for 5MB (the minimum you can buy), this means it's only $10 more for unlimited. That's not bad IMHO. What is bad (for me since I don't use my phone much for phone conversations - so, lots of minutes is just not necessary) is that the minimum voice package cost $39.99.

$19.99+$39.99 = $60+ after all taxes and fees etc. <ouch>

I'm soooooooo flirting with the idea though. Plus I could get the 3125 and be carrying a flipper once again. I'm flying through the minutes on my pre-paid account and would use even more if it was all "unlimited". I've become addicted to streaming!

Gryphon, are you streaming music from your home computer, or something else via Orb? (Are there Orb "stations" for instance?)

My router is fixed...sort of. It won't stay connected to my phone indefinitely. It seems like it goes for quite awhile then loses the connection then after a few seconds works again. For instance, I usually can't stay connected long enough to finish updating AvantGo. If I'm streaming a radio show, I can sometimes listen for an hour or so - or - I can lose the connection several times in an hour. It's very irregular. Actually, this is the same behavior I had before I could not connect for a week. So, the intermittent connection thing isn't anything new. Basically, my router is back to working just as it was before...which is in spurts. It behaves the same with my laptop I've noticed. Truth is I say the problem is with my router, but I really have no clue. I suppose it could actually be the modem. Dunno.

I was driving around trying different wifi signals and found one named "Linksys" that was incredibly fast. I didn't try to see how long I could stream. I was just trying to see if I could connect to another wifi when mine wasn't working. I currently have a D-Link router. Even when my setup is working good it's not as fast as that "Linksys" was. I have a Hawking Wireless-G router sitting here I've been thinking of giving a try but have been putting off since I've always had problems dealing with anything concerning setting up my D-Link router. I've always had to call customer service and let them walk me through the software part of the setup. Apparently it's not in my pay-grade.

Posted by: The Undude

I have an SMT 5600 with Cingular -- and $20 unlimited data. Yes, I also listen to the radio on my phone. Nice. And cheap. :-)

Posted by: runningtiger

Undude - what voice plan do you have to go along with the unlimited data? Is it less than $39.99?

Posted by: GrYph0n

I mainly stream from my home computer, but mess around with some of the orb stations from time to time. No the Media Max 200 doesn't include any minutes, it is only data and the 200 MMS/SMS. I pay a small fortune a month on my two lines (family plan) with all the "features" I have on each line. My wife is big into SMS so I got her the Media Net Works which is $15 for 5MB internet and 1000 SMS/MMS. Also have things like roadside assistance (comes in handy), and a few other things, it does add up quick that's for sure...

Posted by: runningtiger

I'm going to try setting up my desktop computer that is hard-wired with a cable modem for internet access and see if that works better than trying to access my laptop which is connected to the internet via wifi. Both links of the chain I'm currently trying to use are wifi...and that might just be asking too much. We'll see...

I'm also still considering graduating to a post-paid plan so that I can buy an unlimited data plan. It is quite a bit more $$ than what I've been spending, but I use it everyday...a lot. So, per minute it would actually breakdown to be quite inexpensive entertainment. Still thinking about it...and rationalizing it obviously.

Posted by: omega2008

I have an old MEdiaWorks package. 19.99 unlimited data, 2500 sms and 1000 mms.......I use almost 10GB of data a month...they never say nothing but of course its all from my 8125 or 3125.

Posted by: runningtiger

But, do you also have a separate voice plan that you pay for? If so, how much? If not, which plan that you named here has voice minutes included?

Posted by: omega2008

I have family plan...so yes I do have a voice plan and yes I do think you have to have a voice plan to get a mediaNet package...however I am not sure. Cingulars Data plans and voice plans are seperate. So you can have any voice plan you want and get a medinet package.

Posted by: hkdkat

Is it a scam, or is it legit...I don't know but I was warned (and read on other boards) to not use the unlimited medianet at $19.99/mo for an 8125 from Cingular. I read and heard from the sales guy that people were getting $400 bills for abusing the media net from the 8125 type phones so I got the 10mb for $24.99/mo and then realized I wanted unlimited so did that for $39.99/mo and I use it to watch slingbox and crazy data items like that. I also have the $59.99/mo voice plan.

Posted by: runningtiger

Setting up my music library on a computer hard wired to the router/cable modem made all the difference in the world.

Unless, I just got lucky today! I streamed (via my phone's wifi) my personal music collection for over 5 hours with NO dropouts. Yeah!!!!!

I always had good luck streaming content other than my own (i.e. internet radio). So, I figured the problem was on my end. At first I thought Orb, was at fault...and tried another option (Avvenu) which seemed to work better in some ways, but not as well in other ways. Orb is more feature rich for sure.

My only complaint now is that I've created a playlist of over 700 songs and have set it to "shuffle" but it doesn't jump around as much as I'd hoped. I've had it on as background music much of the day, and so haven't paid complete attention, but I think it's repeating the same artist's songs over and over and hasn't played any other artists. It's shuffling around the different "albums/folders" of that artist, but never moving on to another folder (as they exist on the hard drive). Other than that, it's working OK.

Posted by: The Nipponese

Hey all, this is my first post here!

So, hkdkat, are these rumors confirmed by someone for real? I also asked a cingular rep what would happen if I tethered my $20/month data plan to a PC for data use and was told that "there is no way that a phone could handle so much data, so [cingular] would know I am violating my terms of use." I am not sure how that's possible, but I certainly can't afford to loose such a gamble.

Posted by: GrYph0n

Just found a great Mobile Radio Streaming list. I can even stream KROQ 106.7 (LA).

http://www.jamwam.com/radio

Posted by: lil14kid

actually cingulars cheapest voice plan is 29.99 only availble on the phone or at a store i think its 200 anytime cingular doesnt like ppl 2 kno bout this plan

Posted by: runningtiger

Thanks for the info lil14kid. I'll have to check into that 'cuz you're right, it's not mentioned on their site at all. When you say it's only available on the phone...what do you mean? Do you mean if I call 611 and speak to an agent about my account that they can give me that price? How did you find out about this plan?

Posted by: lil14kid

yea 611 dont ask them tell them cingular reps like 2 keep it on the DL theres also a 50dollar family plan, i found out about this from a frend who worked for cingular i was on it b4 i switched 2 family plans

Posted by: GrYph0n

How many minutes does the $50 family plan come with? I have the nationwide 700 minute plan at the moment ($60), but wouldn't mind downgrading a little bit. I am just wondering how many minutes that $10 is worth.

Posted by: lil14kid

550 i dont rember if unlimited is included tho

Posted by: GrYph0n

Thanks, I found the info about the plan on their site. It looks like my plan has gone up in price since I had signed up for it. For that reason I don't think I will be changing to save $10 considering if 550 wasn't enough (which it wouldn't be all the time), then it would cost me $20 more to come back to the plan that I have. Good info though, thanks.

Posted by: hermes323

fromhermes323:

Hello I am a newbie..
I am being told my Att 8525 cannot connect to the Internet without a data plan. The account is on a family plan ( no data ) just for calling home or other ATT cell users.

CAN ATT charge me eventhough they insist I cannot connect to the Internet via WIFI without a Media plan?
Several hours wasted with CSR ( that know only to parrot " it is not possible without a dataplan" )

I guess what I am looking for is opinions on the usage of a smart phone connecting through WIFI without getting ripped off by ATT.
The managers are know saying I have "media usage charges of $1.00 eventhoug i.0 I do not have a Media plan, ii.) my 8525 has internet? block on it and iii.) NO subscription NO Internet via WIFI?

They cannot get it straight but are LOOKING to scam /defraud money from customers!!!
I use a Tmobile pay as you go SIMM ( no more money balance ) in the 8525. As they say I cannot access the web with my own home WIFI network without a data plan.

Help anyone.

Help....
Really help us with the need to connect without a data plan.


This gets me wondering...if I had Cingular's SmartPhone Connect Unlimited plan, could I stream a radio station for hours like I want to do today? That would be an ENORMOUS amount of data. Is that really OK to do, or would Cingular disconnect me if I did this daily (or, even once)? Would they take note and terminate me?
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Posted by: smeg36

AT&T has no control over wifi use. If you use wifi, the data is free. Especially if you are using a T-Mobile SIM. The only reason I can imagine they would make the claim that you must have a data plan through them is just in case you are connected via wifi, but the connection accidentally gets broken somehow. Then the phone would try to connect via the carrier data. If you didn't have a data plan, and it did connect via the carrier data, that could get expensive very fast. But if you're not even using the phone on Cingular, and are using a T-Mobile pay as you go, then that isn't a concern.

Posted by: hermes323

THanks..
by the by..
they gave me a $15.00 credit for the trouble.

I could not find others with the same experience with ATT trying to FOrce me on to a data plan

Can I make the 8525 go to wifi or lan ONLY.
And temporarily disable any data usage from a carriers sym ( ? GPRS ?)

thanks again