How much data does a PoC radio use per month?
Here’s a clear estimate of how much cellular data a PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) radio uses per month — because it’s important for choosing the right data plan and avoiding surprises on your bill.
📊 Typical PoC Radio Data Usage
PoC radios use data for voice transmission (compressed voice), group presence, and optional things like GPS and messaging. The exact amount depends on how much you talk and what features are on, but general industry estimates are:
🗣️ Voice Traffic (Most Data)
- About 15 – 40 MB per hour of talk time during active push-to-talk sessions — similar to a VoIP call.
- For example, 10 hours of talk time per month might use around ~150–400 MB.
📍 Idle / Background Data
- PoC apps and radios may use a small amount of data even when not talking (e.g., keeping the connection alive, presence updates — similar to a PTT app behavior).
- Estimates for a PTT app show ~20–30 MB per month while idle (without much talk).
📱 Additional Features
- GPS location reporting can add a small amount (often <1 MB/hour of use).
- Messaging, presence icons, or data-enabled features will add additional usage, but usually modest amounts compared with voice.
📆 Estimated Monthly Usage Examples
| Usage Scenario | Estimated Data per Month |
|---|---|
| Light user (occasional calls, mostly idle) | ~50 – 150 MB |
| Moderate user (regular talk time) | ~200 – 600 MB |
| Heavy user (many hours of talk + GPS/texting) | ~600 MB – 1 GB+ |
| Very heavy / extended features | 1 GB – 2.5+ GB (rare) |
These are approximate figures — your real usage will depend on your actual talk time, group messaging, and whether features like GPS are enabled.
📌 Practical Tips When Choosing a Data Plan
✔️ Start with a Budget Like:
- 500 MB / month per radio – sufficient for light to moderate talk usage.
- 1–2 GB / month – gives plenty of headroom for heavier use or occasional data services like GPS and messaging.
✔️ Monitor Real Usage
Check your carrier’s monthly data usage reporting so you can adjust the plan if you consistently go over or under your target. Data usage can spike if you leave extra features running or if you’re in areas with poor coverage requiring retries.
✔️ Wi-Fi Connection (If Available)
Some PoC radios also support Wi-Fi, which can reduce cellular data usage when Wi-Fi is available (e.g., in warehouses or offices).
📍 Notes & Considerations
- Some suppliers bundle a SIM with a fixed data allowance, such as ~500 MB per year in some plans (not monthly) — but this is often very conservative for real talk use.
- PoC systems compress voices efficiently, so they generally use much less data than you might expect for voice calls.
- Data use will spike if you enable multimedia features (like photo/video sharing) or if you frequently check maps.
📌 Summary
- Voice talk is the main driver: ~15–40 MB per hour.
- Moderate daily use typically falls in the 200 – 600 MB per month range.
- Heavy use with lots of talk and extra features can push usage toward 1 GB or more.
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