If you're fairly certain you're going to stick to a certain route regardless of traffic, is there a way to turn off Google Earth's real-time traffic feature to cut down on data usage?

 

I don't find it worth the data consumption to leave Google Earth enabled. All you're getting, basically, is satellite overhead views. Or, ooooooo, 3D terrain and some buildings. It's fun, for the first few tries and then it's probably best just disabled. I leave the traffic info enabled.

 

I leave traffic enabled and do an occasional online search. I don't use Google Earth. I use <<1G per month.

 

Yea, I don't use google earth a ton. That said, my traffic info doesn't work most of the time which is the biggest reason I got the data plan. Anyone else have a similar issue?

 

Doesn't Google Earth cache data like on a phone? If so, the data usage would only be to refresh images when occasionally needed or when traveling to a new area.

 

There is zero technical information from Porsche on this. That's why I"m trying to figure out how to estimate data usage. To date, I've only driven around town and clearly that's an out/in from home scenario so the data should be buffered. However, I'm sure it's overlaid at some point. I"d sure like to know how often it updates. I would also like to be able to stop google earth from updating but still display it on the map...but not disable things like google traffic. Cant' do that now...you can turn google earth layer off (which presumably stops the updates, but who knows) or you can disconnect from the network which obviously would stop the updates, but will stop everything else as well.

 

I have posted several notes to the forum on data usage. Sorry, but I don't know how to link my posts to this reply.

I have examined data usage while streaming internet radio using the Radio.net App in the PCM. I have a PCM 4.0 with Connect+ on my '17 Macan. I have found that that streaming internet radio with the PCM broadcasting with 128 BPS uses at least 240 MB/Hr. That number should be closer to 60 MB/Hr. I have verified the PCM4 data usage in two ways: Using the ATT SIM card to connect to the ATT LTE network, and connecting using an iPhone as Hotspot, (connected to the ATT LTE Network). Both approaches result in 240+ MB/Hr data usage. Independently, my iPhone connected to ATT LTE network and using the Apple Radio.net App uses 67 - 70 MB/Hr. Therefore, something is wrong, and I suspect that it is either a problem with my particular PCM or an inneficient implementation of Radio.net on PCM4 in general. If anyone else has already made data measurements while streaming internet radio, I should be most interested to know the results.

Thanks, Gordon.

 

The only thing I'd be interested in is traffic.

I know with my current car SirisuXM has it as an add-on option for a couple extra dollars per month. It's usually pretty accurate, but I've found the traffic using Google Maps is even better.

That's what I'm most interested in using the data for.

 

Traffic uses very little data....I've had it on for a couple of months and it's almost unmeasurable.

One comment on the traffic display. When you activate the traffic overlay, traffic on major roads will show as green/yellow/red....but it won't show on any lesser roads. However, if traffic slows/stops on local roads, the PCM will display yellow/red on those sections of local roads. This leads to a far less cluttered display since most of the roads would just show up as green.

 

This leads to a far less cluttered display since most of the roads would just show up as green.

I've noticed the same thing. Apps on the phone tend to show more green lines than the PCM. It first makes you think the PCM isn't showing traffic data. It's just not cluttering up the screen in the same way. It's different and I'm not sure it's better but that's how it seems to work. Truth be told I think most of us that notice this sort of thing are WAY more competent using the phone apps and have much higher levels of expectation. I can't use the PCM at the same speed with which I can pinch/zoom/move around on the phone. They're different, to be sure and in situations where my level of patience is low, matched with congested traffic, it's sometimes more effective to use the phone. But that has more to do with my impatience than any real limits of the PCM nav setup.