DataManager Help

What is DataManager?

It's a PC application that monitors overall data usage with your Cellhire Data Stick (USB modem) or Mobile Hotspot (MiFi). It sits quietly in the task bar on your desktop, keeping an up-to-date total of the data used and alerting you as required when you're approaching the limits you've chosen.

Where can I download DataManager from?

Click here to download the software from our website.

How do I install DataManager?

Once DataManager is downloaded, follow the simple prompts in the setup wizard. For more details about installing the software, view our Installation Guide.

Do I need to monitor my data use – surely I know how much I'm browsing the web and using email?

There are many ways in which PCs and laptops use data without you being aware. Operating system updates, virus checker downloads, news tickers and other programs all use data. It doesn't matter if you're using your home or office network or free wi-fi, but the amount of data can mount up, which will eat into your quota when you're using a data stick or mobile hotspot. So you could run up an unexpectedly large data bill without realising. Read our guide on how to minimise this sort of usage.

Also, most data products are sold with some form of bundle and it's very useful to know whether you are close to your inclusive amount.

What if I use wi-fi or my company or home network as well – does it count that data?

DataManager will only monitor the data used through the USB modem so if you connect to a wi-fi hotspot or a company or home network, this won't be included in the usage figures.

How do I use it to warn me when I'm getting near my bundle allowance?

DataManager has a quota facility. You set your chosen amount – such as 5GB a month - and then ask it to warn you when you are approaching that quota. The reminders will pop up on your screen: you can reset, dismiss or postpone them.

What happens if I keep my USB modem more than a month and I have a monthly bundle?

Just click the Reset button on the Usage Statistics screen at the end of the month and the counters will return to zero. You can then use your quota again to warn when you near the bundle allowance for the next month.

Does it know whether my data is roamed or domestic?

No. DataManager only knows the total amount of data – it doesn't know whether you are based in your home country or your destination (or roaming). If you have a product that has separate roamed and domestic bundles, we suggest that you reset your quota when you move into and out of the home network country. For example, if you have a French data card, reset it on entering and leaving France.

Why do you need the rental agreement (RA) number?

The usage figures are also accessible to Cellhire. This means we can contact you directly by email and screen messaging if your data usage is running at unexpectedly high levels, to make sure you're aware of it. Because we can see your DataManager information, we don't have to wait for billing information from the network and we can act quickly to check on and prevent excessive use.

Why do you say that the figures are an approximate guide?

The figures that DataManager records are not approximate – they are an accurate measure of how much data has been used through the USB modem whilst the tool has been monitoring. However, they are an approximate guide to the amount of data you will be billed for because networks round up small amounts of data usage to the nearest suitable unit. Also, DataManager doesn't know whether the data used is roamed or domestic and hence different pricing or bundle constraints may apply.

Using DataManager's main functions:

Pop-up Menu

Right-click the DataManager icon in the system tray to bring up the menu. The menu lists the available options.

If you left click on the DataManager icon, you will see the current totals.

The pop-up menu options are:

• Show Graph: shows a moving graph of current usage
• Reset Graph: starts the graphing from scratch so that the scale is recalibrated
• Speed Meter: shows current speed of data transfer
• Usage Statistics: shows your data totals for today and overall
• Quota: allows you to set a warning level for your data use
• Settings: customises the presentation of the application. Generally you won't need to change anything in this tab. Monitored Interfaces should always be set to “All Dial-up connections” for USB modems.

Usage Statistics

This is the most important screen because it shows you your use today but more importantly your use overall (or since you last reset the counters).

The first page shows the daily total and usage to date. On the top bar you can reset the counters. Remember that if you do reset the counters, the figures in the right hand column will only show from that date onwards.

You can view the data usage by day, week, month or set a custom date range.

Quota

The My Quota screen lets you set up a warning level so that you'll receive a pop-up message when you get close to the level of data use you've specified. You can use this to check whether you are close to your monthly data bundle level.

Click the Setup button and chose the Quota type (typically this will be monthly), the allowance and the volume unit. So if you had a 3Gb monthly bundle then you would configure your quota as follows:

On the main page, you can choose to display a message when you get to within a certain percentage of that value. So you may choose something like 80% if you use data quickly.

When you reach this level you will see a warning box as follows.