Limit bandwidth on individual networks

[wigglesworth]

Hi guys.

I have a home network that is basically unlimited bandwidth; It's not, but try as I might I never reach the limit.

Then I have wireless internet through cell service in my truck; it only has 2gb of bandwidth.

My problem comes in when I leave things downloading on the home network; and then get in my truck; I end up with really large bills on the wireless network ~$150. Obviously the simple solution would be to turn all the downloads off, when I get in the truck; but it's harder to remember than one might think.

I want to leave the internet on to download map data and receive emails; on the go so just turning it off and on, is not solution.

Is there a way I can set my mobile network; to only allow; OSX Mail; Firefox; and Google Earth (these are just examples there will be others that work in tandem with Google earth). The router is basic and does not appear to have a feature to do that; so what I am envisioning is a program on the mac, that allows free flow on the home network; but automatically restricts the network when it connects to the wireless network.

Thank you ahead of time for any help! all my search's have turned up empty; maybe I just don't know what to ask.

 

[MisterMe]

There is a data plan with every cellular contract. The data plan for my iPhone is unlimited. You don't even need to dedicated network in your truck. Unless you have some compelling reason for the network in your truck to be active while you are not in it, you are wasting a lot of money. Your iPhone can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot for an additional $30/month.

 

[wigglesworth]

I do not have an I phone, nor do i want one. I wreck phones to easy so I carry a cheap $30 phone with me (I am a welder and an outdoors man). I have a mifi hotspot thingy in my truck to download my map data as I move. I use it for satellite imagery GPS location and tracking sometimes I travel ~1000kms and have to zoom to really close ranges to see the details in the terrain to see where to park and then where to hike. Map printouts don't often work cause the plan changes so often when I encounter obstacles the satellite cant see and I use logging roads and FSR's that are not labeled in most maps.

I am nothing but happy with the current setup I have; I just would like to find a way to restrict the Mifi network so I don't get such extreme bills.

I have a fixed line at home. if I stay under the mifi limit its only like $60/month to have it; and it just stays in the truck. my problem comes when downloading; usually utorrent; but auto updates have cost me money also.

 

[BrianBaughn]

What's the Mifi router model number?

 

[MisterMe]

I do not have an I phone, nor do i want one. I wreck phones to easy so I carry a cheap $30 phone with me (I am a welder and an outdoors man). I have a mifi hotspot thingy in my truck to download my map data as I move. I use it for satellite imagery GPS location and tracking sometimes I travel ~1000kms and have to zoom to really close ranges to see the details in the terrain to see where to park and then where to hike. Map printouts don't often work cause the plan changes so often when I encounter obstacles the satellite cant see and I use logging roads and FSR's that are not labeled in most maps.

I am nothing but happy with the current setup I have; I just would like to find a way to restrict the Mifi network so I don't get such extreme bills.

I have a fixed line at home. if I stay under the mifi limit its only like $60/month to have it; and it just stays in the truck. my problem comes when downloading; usually utorrent; but auto updates have cost me money also.

It is your money and you can spend it any way that you want. However, the solution to your "problem" is to purchase a data plan that fits your usage pattern better than your current data plan. Don't want an iPhone? No skin off my back. Perhaps, there are other smart phones that provide Mi-Fi. I suggested the iPhone because it provides this service for $30/month. Dedicated hotspots from my cellular provider provide the service for $60/month plus the purchase price for the device.

Despite your opposition to the iPhone, you will pay for the equivalent of several iPhones when you consider the price that you pay for your device, your data plan, and overage penalties. Some of us prefer to curse the darkness. Others prefer to light a candle.

 

[wigglesworth]

Model number is Mifi 5792.

And I have no opposition to the Iphone; its a great phone. I just keep my phones on me at work and with the grinding dust; magnetic fields; and welding spatter from welding they were only lasting 3-5 months; it was getting grossly expensive. So now i use $30 dollar phones; and keep a spare in my glove box. I use my laptop which does not go on the job site for all the "smart" things that come on a phone.

the mifi router costs me nothing to have (as I have already purchased it); and I don't know where you are located but the data on cell networks in BC Canada is gross; and my mifi is just under half the cost of data for a cell phone; even though they share the same network; seems illogical to me but 3 cell providers (telus; bell; and a bit rogers) have a monopoly up here and like to price gouge on cell phone users; I would assume MIFI networks are not as common so they give a break on the data to encourage usage; but I could be very wrong. this month it came to $67.20 as my laptop was down for about two weeks. so I did not use it as much. I have the data alert set; but if the bandwidth is used early on; I cant just not use it, so i continue on overage. The $150 was the most extreme end; but it will commonly hit $90.

If there is no Laptop side measures to stop this I will probably just have to up my plan to a 4gb plan; and pay a little more per month to cut down on overage charges. but I know from the months I kept extremely close eye on it (like the couple months after the $150 bill) that 2gb is plenty for my intended uses. I just would like to find a way to stop my laptop from using "unnecessary" bandwidth when on the Mifi network. but allow full bandwidth on the regular network.